Till the next time, I would prefer to keep my life and thoughts under wraps.

Cheers all, have a great 2010 ahead!

:*)

I can't CAN'T believe it .... I'm surfing those blardy budget airline websites again!!!

Arghhhh I have to lock my fingers or ban those websites from my laptop.

When are they having promotion on the air tickets??? I can't wait man....

Oh dammit! I need to stop!

Taken in Vientiane, Laos

I've not listed down my resolutions for this new year as I was on the road traveling the past 1.5 weeks. The countdown in KL is awesome... Me thinks fireworks is one of the most beautiful things ever.

Goodbye 2009, you've been kind to me, thank you for the wonderful memories and taught me so many things. I grew stronger and more independent and definitely happier. I enjoy the freedom to decide and go wherever I want and my bank allows. Most importantly, I'm thankful for good health, friends in my life and the continuous support I get from here and there.

Hello 2010, let's continue the good fortune and embrace what's ahead together :)

Simple loves the feeling of travelling on the road at night. Once a blue moon, but it feels great.

Thanks for the coffee!

And thanks for the ride home.... though the driving skills need some improvement :)



I'm in a festive mood! It's a fab Saturday

6 more days to the last trip of the year. Everything seems to go in fast motion these days. Really have no time to catch a breather at all.... so many things to plan and change and plan for this trip. But I know all will be paid for... aww I'm really looking forward to it!

Work has been pretty peaceful recently. I guess everyone is in the holiday mood. The management just released the list of people who got promoted. I'm really happy to see many familiar names in the list, happy for them because they put in so much effort and time into this job, they deserve every aspect of this recognition. Of course there are a few losers that made it to the promotion list because they belong to certain race and color. And this sets me thinking, what do I want to achieve in my career? My colleague asked me this same question during lunch today, I simply gave him a shrug. I really do not know. I'm not ambitious, yet I know if I set my mind on something I'll really focus and go for it. It's like running a marathon or planning where you wanna visit during your vacation. Focus and go for it . Ah well... I really need to give serious thoughts about it.

I really love 2009. I hope it will go on forever... and that there are 100 more months after December and not go into a brand new year. It's just so good that I know when I grow old, I'll think back and remember this year as a fantastic year. Maybe I'll have more fantastic years in the future, but this year I tried my hands on so many things, met many people, and experienced many. I took up a new sport, Muay thai, and much to my amazement it's not a temporary craze. I actually went for it almost every week except those weeks I was on a trip. Met many new friends outside and at work place, and I'm glad almost all them are nice people. The best part of this year is the travelling. Like what my friends commented, I travel almost every month.

Feb: Malaysia (Malacca)
Mar: Cambodia/Vietnam (HCM, PP, Siem Reap)
April: Camping in Malaysia (Jerangkang)
May: Batam (cable ski)
June: Batam (volunteer work)
Aug: Vietnam (Hanoi, Halongbay, Sapa)
Oct: Malayia (Kota Kinabalu)
Nov: Thailand (Bangkok)
Dec: Laos (Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang)

I'm terribly broke but yet rich with wonderful memories and happy times with friends. I accomplished my plan for the year to travel around SEA. I also completed my goal to do an overseas running race which I did, a half marathon in Kota Kinabalu. In fact I wanna run at least an overseas every year and I've already made plans for the coming new year... registererd for the race and air tics booked. It's scary but it's an addiction that cannot be cured. I love being sick this way... :D

And coming to year end, need to set new resolutions again. I really love 2009 ... a few more days to go before it ends. I'll miss you... and thanks for all the wonderful memories.

Today I bid farewell to a friend, someone whom is always so cheerful and happy whenever I met him. An instructor who can be fun loving and yet serious at the same time.

It's sad to see him go back to Thailand for good because of reasons that are beyond his control. I understand the feeling of final farewell to a country whom you call it your 2nd home... the friends you made, the people you met, the things you did... everything shall be a memory.

Sobs... dear Ah Bo, we will miss you!

Muay thai will never be the same without you around :"(

A blow up of the photo we gave him.

Boxing buddy and me :)

Farewell to an ole good friend and instructor... I'll always remember the fun memories together during muaythai sessions!

Today as I return back to workplace I was pleasantly surprised by the greetings and congrats from fellow colleagues as they eagerly asked me about my race. I was really touched by their concern and the next best thing is, all of them are motivated to join in for next year's SCSM either in the 10km or 21km race. I'm really glad that my boss and I made an impact to them. My boss, another funny character, constantly asked me about my trainings every Monday, I think he is more excited about my race. Today he came to me first thing in the morning to ask about the condition of my legs, and for my race bib number because he wants to see the analysis of my results online. Classic. And he did a 1:50 for 21km without any much training... is that crazy or what?

A few people to thank when I decided to pull my socks up and seriously train for this race alone. It was a daunting thought of going ECP for long runs but encouragements along the way really help give that extra push.

1) My parents for the silent support when they willingly accomodated my time on Saturdays just to drive me to ECP because they know how inaccessible the place is. I can't imagine travelling 1hr just to go there to run.
2) My boxing buddy L for her constant encouragement as she kept telling me "You can do it one lah!" I am, in some ways, also motivated by her spirit when she told me she wants to do a 21km next year as her first step to take running seriously.
3) My senior aka shi shiong who brought me to ECP for the first time this year in his new convertible and bluffed me into running a 21km. That ignited a spark in me to do a long distance run again. And later a few runs in Maritchie before we went on to Muaythai.
4) My new boxing buddy B who is also into running. We would share tips on running, and once I jio her to run in ECP, but ended meeting her only at the 16-km mark before she ended her run shortly. She is the one that tells me "every little step counts" and that line was in my mind during the race. How true. She'll be running the Tokyo marathon next year, the same day for my HK half. I wish her all the best!
5) My camping friend S for driving me back home after a nice dinner and an awesome night drive after my longest training at ECP. Kinda made me forgot the pain in my legs and saved me the agony of taking the long bus journey back home.
6) My batam-build kaki S whom I clicked with almost instantaneously, she always tell me "tiff you are one good lady runner" but sadly I'm not. But she always makes me feel that my trainings won't go to waste, though I failed to make her interested into running. And many thanks for the sms before race day!
7) My 2 bosses, R and H, they constantly asked me about my trainings, making me feel very stressed if I didn't do any long runs... I duno why but they were really excited about me joining the full... I wanted to keep everything as low key as possible because I don't really like to broadcast the fact that I run. On the last week before the race they kept asking me whether I was ready... It's like an employee answering to an employer... the default answer can only be YES. Ever ready, i told them.
8) My colleague J for jio-ing me in her Tuesday run from ORL to her house in Queenstown, and for the free 100plus before I run back to office. I really enjoy the route from ORL-->Boat Quay --> Clark Quay --> Robertson Quay --> Redhill --> Queenstown. She is also one mightly lady, a mother of one juggling with a busy job and yet still able to squeeze in so many activities in her lifestyle including a long run on weekend. Kudos to her!
9) To all my friends for their understanding that I can't meet on Saturdays... I'm sorry but training is really essential, cannot skip leh...

And lastly, just like my previous races, I want to dedicate my medal to my brother who left us in 2002. He is my constant motivation to continue running. When he was alive he couldn't really walk and I know he always wanted to run, happy and free. I want to run for him... and with him, in my heart, and I know he will always be watching me from above. To my dear kor, another medal for you :)

One week before the race I fell ill and it was a week of jitters and worries that I wasn't able to go for the race. The cough and flu took a toil on me that I had nightmares almost everyday and feeling really weak even walking to the mrt station. Thank goodness for Vitamin C drinks and constant sleep that I finally felt better on Saturday, as if I finally saw the light.

I really enjoyed this year's race because I was blessed in many ways:
1) Free pasta party @ the Padang. Compliments from my company and got 2 friends in for free too. Great fire show!
2) My company has a tent @ the Padang on race day! I can't believe this... deposit of baggage, free massage, free food, free drinks, free seats...
3) Good weather! It was almost perfect for running except for the high humidity during the start of the race. Hardly any sun, cool temperatures...
4) No tummyache this time!
5) No leg cramps (never had leg cramps during running. The only time I had it was during shopping @ BKK... it was a full-fledge shopping craze)
6) Spotted EY walking opposite the road in the half category and the surprised look on this face when I shouted his name. Good to see him this year after we missed out each other during last year's race.
6) A stranger sprinted the last 2km with me. Without his constant encouragement I wouldn't have ran that fast because my body ran out of fuel and I was really really tired. He's really my angel!
7) And because of that.... I completed the race under 5h @ 4:58:37 !!! WOOHOOOOOO!!!!!

Luckily I never go toilet !!!!!

Of course, the legs now are pretty much in pain but lucily the knees are feeling alright after a day's rest. Yippiee! I conclude glucosamine really helps for knee pains. I'm really happy because all the weekend long runs finally paid off. I have to thank my parents for the free rides to ECP every Saturday afternoon and friends for accomodating my schedule to meet me on Sundays instead. And thanks to all the encouragement and congrats after the race! It's really heart warming to read all of your writings :)

Running is indeed addictive and now it made me fall in love with it even more. Marathons are no longer that daunting anymore and I'm looking forward to the next one. Trainings can be torturing but the rewards are really sweet :) And of course, have to take great care of the feet, legs and knees.

In the meantime I'm gonna enjoy the next off days from running and guilt-free snacks at night.

The photos are out!

No more surrender pose this time (it was on my mind during the last km) :D

I can't believe but it's true... it's here... it's HERE!

The month of anticipation... the month of adventures.... the month of changes....

Await, awaits :)