Boon's Myanmar (Burma) Trip

Just completed my travelblog for my Myanmar trip:

http://boon-burma.blogspot.com/2008_12_01_archive.html

.

.

.

Decided to complete it fast, before I forget everything.

Enjoy =)

Marathon Photos & Statistics

Big Smile @ the finishing line

(btw, the man on the right with yellow tag was completing his half-marathon, not full one)

Walking with pain
(My stupid face!! haha...)

I am amazed that the organiser has all kinda statistics available.

Section 1: First 10km - 55min 5sec (10.9kph)

Section 2: Next 11km - 1hr 8min 11sec (9.7kph)

Section 3: Next 9km - 1hr 15min 51sec (7.1kph)

Section 4: Last 12.195km - 2hr 4min 56 sec (5.9kph) - embarrassing!!!

.

.

.

Placing:

Result based on CHIP time: 4,473rd place out of 12,393 finishers

.

.

From 30Km to Finish :

I passed13runners

And 1,696 passed me!!!

.

.

.

Statistics speaks alot. haha...

Boon sucks @ Marathon

Yeah. The Verdict is out, and I sucks @ marathon. =(

My Timing is 5hr 24mins.

My training-mates' timing are 40-70mins better than mine.

.

.

.

This is my timing:

First 21km: Less than 2hrs

Next 15km: 2hr ++

Last 6km: 1hr ++

.

.

.

Jon was saying that we only trained up to 30km, and the rest is in the mind.

During the run, I know that my condition was not as good as 2 or 3 weeks back while i was training. While I believe that my flu & sore throat do plays a part, but the gap between my training mates and myself is abit too big.

.

.

.

However, there are some experiences that I would remember for a some time:

- the embrassment of jogging and realising that the walkers were walking at the same pace as you

(As though I was literally jogging on the spot.)

.

- even while i was walking, other walkers just walked pass me

(My long legs were useless)

.

- the pain of not able to control your urinary track

(No Kidding. I had to walk SLOWLY as I could not control it. I had to go to toilet whenever there was an opportunity. At least, I now i could relate those old folks with urine problems. BTW, I am fine now. thankfully!)

.

.

.

anyway, my flu & phlegm is back again.

Hopefully, i could recover in time for my backpacking trip to Burma in 5 days time!!!

woohoo.... =)

2 Days to Marathon

After seeing the doctor last night,
she told me that it was viral infection, so anti-biotic won't help. =(
She just gave me some medicines for phlegm, sore throat & inflammation.
Today, the body starts to ache.

After reading some forums, it seems that it is pretty normal to have flu during the tapering period

http://www.letsrun.com/forum/flat_read.php?thread=2359083
Hope I could recover in time.

Wish me luck! =)

3 Days to My First Marathon

I guess everybody has their own stories about marathon.

This is mine:

Back in 2005, 2 weeks before the marathon, I had a very bad viral cough which lasted 5months.

Back in 2006, my CFA exams fall exactly on the same day as the marathon.

Last year (2007), I had knee injury.

.

.

.

This year, I am determined to finish a marathon.

Once is enough.

However, last few days, I was down with flu.

Today, I am having sore throat.

.

.

.

I would not be in my best condition to run,

but I hope I could complete this Sunday's marathon.

There are so many things beyond my control - falling sick, injuries, bad weather.

This is life,

certain things are beyond our control and all we could do is to do our best.

=)

That moment...

The mundane routine life has blinded me
I was too comfortable and had taken things for granted

Feeling lazy and restless
I forgot the daily miracles of life –
Sunrise, Fresh Air, Blue Sky, White Clouds, Nice Music
That awakening moment came
I felt the warmth of the sun on my skin
I thought of the people who I knew and were no longer around
The awareness made me happy and appreciative

I know that I am alive

I am grateful
Being Alive is already a blessing in itself
.
.
.
I just wanna capture that moment in writing

A Fashion Event

Recently, I attended a private fashion event where my colleague asked me to attend at the last minute for work related stuff.
Obviously, my outfit was not in tune with the "glamorous chic" dress code.
There were alot of the beautiful people in expensive-looking clothes and accessories.

People were trying to look "chic" and mingling around.
Naturally, I felt quite out of place.
In fact, feeling uncomfortable.
My most valuable accessory was my 7-years-old Seiko Watch.

haha

.

.

.

Surprisingly, I was quite happy after the event.

I did not have any desire to buy any expensive accessories/clothes.

I did not want to be like them.

I am just happy with the way I am.

Not trying to be someone that I am not.

Simple . Straightforward . No Pretence

.

.

.

This morning before leaving for work,

I spent 5 mins playing with my 9 month-old niece.

The Joy is priceless and real.

=)

Well Done Guys!!!

http://www.citychase.com/finals.asp?nav=champ

Even though Jon and myself did not win the Singapore Leg of the City Chase 2008, I am proud to be beaten by a strong team.

They won the international competition. They have done Singapore proud.

Kudos to them!!!

=)

Quote

"It is easy in the world to live after the world's opinion;

it is easy in solitude to live afer our own;

but the great man is he who in the midst of the crowd keeps with perfect sweetness the independence of solitude."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quote

"Wars arise from a failure to understand one another's humanness.

Instead of summit meetings, why not have families meet for a picnic and get to know each other while the children play together?"

-H.H. the 14th Dalai Lama

A Cup of not-so-warm Milo

I woke up this morning.

I saw a cup of not-so-warm Milo on the table.

Mum must had prepared it around 5am in the morning before leaving for airport.

I drank it.

It was really warm.

No big hugging.

No kissing on the cheek.

No saying "I love you".

This is my mum's way of expressing love.

Thanks.

周杰倫 - 稻香

(The original clip was taken off from youtube

and I think this person did a horrible job in translating the lyrics)

主唱：周杰倫

作曲：周杰倫

填詞：周杰倫

對這個世界如果你有太多的抱怨

跌倒了就不敢繼續往前走

為什麼人要這麼的脆弱　墮落

請你打開電視看看

多少人為生命在努力勇敢的走下去

我們是不是該知足

珍惜一切 就算沒有擁有

.

還記得你說家是唯一的城堡　隨著稻香河流繼續奔跑

微微笑　小時候的夢我知道

不要哭讓螢火蟲帶著你逃跑　鄉間的歌謠永遠的依靠

回家吧　回到最初的美好

.

不要這麼容易就想放棄　就像我說的

追不到的夢想　換個夢不就得了

為自己的人生鮮艷上色　先把愛塗上喜歡的顏色

笑一個吧　功成名就不是目的

讓自己快樂快樂這才叫做意義

.

童年的紙飛機　現在終於飛回我手裡

所謂的那快樂　赤腳在田裡追蜻蜓追到累了

偷摘水果被蜜蜂給叮到怕了　誰在偷笑呢

我靠著稻草人吹著風唱著歌睡著了

哦　哦　午後吉它在蟲鳴中更清脆

哦　哦　陽光灑在路上就不怕心碎

珍惜一切　就算沒有擁有

.

還記得你說家是唯一的城堡　隨著稻香河流繼續奔跑

微微笑　小時候的夢我知道

不要哭讓螢火蟲帶著你逃跑　鄉間的歌謠永遠的依靠

回家吧　回到最初的美好

.

=)

I am a flexitarian =)

Flexitarianism-

is a semi-vegetarian diet involving the practice of eating mainly vegetarian food, but making occasional exceptions for social, pragmatic, cultural, or nutritional reasons.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flexitarianism

Quote

"We make a living by what we get,

but we make a life by what we give"

--- Winston Churchill

The Cycle of Life - Bye Kin

Sun will continue to rise and set...

.

.

.

Bye Kin.

Hope you had a good journey.

http://ahboon80.blogspot.com/2008/02/end-of-journey.html

.

.

.

Kin was brilliant, friendly and very warm.

It's the cycle of life.

Everyone will go through it.

That's the Impermanence of Life.

.

.

.

There was an Ancient Sanskrit Saying:

"When you were born, you cried while the world rejoiced.

Live your life in such a way that when you die, the world cries while you rejoice."

"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today."

"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today."

- Actor James Dean

.

.

.

Today, I read on the paper about Nicole Lai.

http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking%2BNews/Lifestyle/Story/STIStory_282468.html

TWO weeks ago, an unknown local back-up singer became the fourth most searched-for name in the local Google website. But fame came to Nicole Lai a little too late. The 36-year-old, who had sung back-up for the albums of top regional artists such as Aaron Kwok, Sammi Cheng and Jolin Tsai, had died on Sept 6 after a year-long battle with skin cancer. Her friend, Singapore's top singing export Stefanie Sun, paid tribute to her by sponsoring the printing of 400 CD copies of a single titled Freedom, which Lai wrote and sang. They were distributed at her recent wake and at the music schools where she taught at. At least 60 more people have asked for a copy. 'That's the only thing she had ever wanted, to have an album of her own,' Sun, 30, told Life!. 'It was the least I could do for her.'

.

.

.

Apparently, before Stefanie became a big star, Warner Music was choosing between Stefanie or Nicole to sign on. Nicole was not selected. The rest was history.

.

.

.

Sometime in life, a decision would just change a person's life entirely.

Imagine if Stephanie was not selected, would Nicole become a mega-star?

For Nicole, what's the feeling of dying with regrets?

At least, Stephanie helped her to fulfill her last wish - to have an album.

.

.

.

Many people have dreams...

Many people work really hard for their dreams...

However, success is only when hard work meets opportunity...

Despite working really hard, there are still many people who won't achieve their dreams...

May be they lack an element of luck...

Does it mean that they have failed?

It really depends on every individual perspective on life...

if reaching the destination/goal is the yardstick, these people have failed.

However, I believe that

if a person dared to take on the journey and enjoyed the journey, he has nothing to regret and has succeeded.

The true failure is not someone who tried and failed, but someone who failed to try.

Life is an attitude

Success is an attitude

.

.

.

Society might judge you

Friends might judge you

Family might judge you

But at the end of our journey,

we will be the only judge.

=)

.

.

.

"Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today."

Photography: Images of Singapore

Singapore - A land of ...

Oppression or Protection?

Ex-Supreme Court...

Fighting Cancer by Ex-DJ (Billy)

This is a rare public appearance, apparently, his cancer relapses and he is undergoing treatment again. Media reported that he wanted to create news by fabricating the news about his cancer relapse. Why would anybody use this excuse to create buzz? Why would anybody want to hurt another person (esp someone who is trying to stay alive)?

Lines...

Controlled Grafitti...

Sad...

Red Lanterns...

Shophouse...

Gate Guardian...

Layers...

Saturday Night Karaoke Session.

This is my favourite photo.

A group of elderlys were singing loudly (with microphone & speakers) on the bridge at people's park. I was puzzled if they were street performers as they placed a box for tokens of appreciation. However, their singings were horrendous, but it was a great form of entertainment for me. Their "I don't care my singing sucks" attitude and their enthusiasm was great. Some of the passerbys frowned at their singings, but others just smiled.

.

I like the fact that it is original.

Singapore is really a boring place... All the shopping malls look the same, all the shops sell the same goods, everybody thinks alike, even grafitti is controlled, everything is in order. too orderly and homogenous, unfortunately.

Nothing creative Nothing different

No Diversity

These folks were oblivious to the surrounding and just sang to their hearts content. =)

On a deeper note, they were singing "Wang Shi Zhi Ne Huai Wei" - Reminiscing about the Past. They had lived more than half a century already, may be their journey is ending soon. Are they thinking about the past glories? Are they singing about their regrets? Are they thinking about their youth, their previous adventures, their love lives, their careers and their friends who are no longer around?

A Good life is definitely worth reminiscing.

Book: Shambhala

Just finished reading this book.

I could not stop reading it.

I hope it will never end.

Shambhala: The Road Less Travelled in Western Tibet

by Laurence J. Brahm

http://www.selectbooks.com.sg/getTitle.cfm?SBNum=39361

About:

In a shop in Lhasa, Laurence Brahm stumbles upon an ancient Buddhist sutra, Shambhala Sutra. His purchase of this ancient sutra sets him off on a journey in search of the mythical Shambhala, known to the rest of the world as "Shangri-La". In this illustrated account of his journey, Brahm uses the sutra as a guide as he ventures into some of the most remote places in Tibet. There he meets monks, living Buddhas, nomads, and a Bodhisattva in disguise, who point out to him how they thought the road to Shambhala should be followed. Finally, the road leads him to Tashilumbo Monastery, where the Eleventh Panchen Lama resides and it here that the Shambhala Sutra calls home.

.

.

.

Now, I had a strong urge to explore the Western Tibet, which I did not cover the last trip.

It reminded me of my Tibet trip, which covered Central & Eastern Tibet.

On the way to Shigatse from Lhasa...

Scenery along the way...

Tashilumbo Monastery, Shigatse

where Panchen Lama and Shambhala Sutra resides...

.

.

.

My favourite phrase:

THE BODHISATTVA

"There is a Bodhisattva, a beautiful girl, who wishes that all people crossing from here will not be poor"

- Shambhala Sutra

Finding simplicity in a messy world

Just came back from a business trip from Shanghai and Hong Kong.

The world is going crazy now.

The political situations are worsening around the world.

The sub-prime issue is affecting the whole world.

(AIG might collapse -> there goes my insurance policy)

Another great depression might be around the corner.

People lie, cheat, bully, plot and all sorts of nasty things

.

.

.

The source???

Greed, Attachment, Ego, Ignorance

.

.

.

Fortunately, I know that I can always sleep well at night.

My bed might be cheap, but a peaceful sleep is priceless.

The photo below encapsulates my current feeling:

Taken @ Hong Kong Airport

.

.

.

My Cheap Slipper

Nothing fanciful

Nothing complicated

But very comfortable and reliable

Just a simple slipper bringing me around the world

.

.

.

In the end

I am just a passerby trying to enjoy my journey

Photography: City Chase Singapore 2008

Continuation from

http://ahboon80.blogspot.com/2008/08/city-chase-singapore-2008.html

.

.

.

Photos taken from official website:

http://www.citychaseasia.com/Welcome/Top_nav/Flashback/2008/Photo_Gallery.htm

The winning team and the runner-up team

HAND

This hand fed me when I was an infant crying out loud in hunger ...

This hand pulled me up when I fall down while I was learning to walk...

This hand guided me when I was lost...

This hand cared for me when I was sick...

This hand hitted me when I was naughty...

.

.

.

This is my mum's hand.

I am enjoying its warmness while I can.

I am eternally grateful to this HAND

News Paper Article: Jet Li

When I was young, Jet Li was one of my favourite actors because of the flim "黄飞鸿".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_Upon_a_Time_in_China

Jet Li displayed excellent martial art skills and righteousness in the movie

.

.

.

However, as I grew older, I was no longer keen in all the Kung-fu shows and blockbusters movies. I did not take much notice of Jet Li and his films.

.

.

.

Recently, I found that Jet Li was a changed person, as I found him to be more philosophical.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jet_Li)

He championed alot of Charity Works in Mainland China, especially the Sichuan Earthquake Disaseter. Whenever he spoke at press conference, his words made alot of sense and it appealed to me alot. Below was a recent article about him:

“。。。成功是几千万分之一的几率，不过失败和成功都很正常。”

“这个世界没有什么是不变的，我接什么戏都有可能。”

.

.

.

I saw Jet Li 6 months ago in Shanghai airport (alone), but I did not approach him for photograph. Missed opportunity. :(

A Missed Call & A very simple kinda happiness

Last evening, I had a missed call on my phone at 9.30pm.

+91........

A call from India.

This number was not in my phonebook.

I was thinking that it must be my Indian Colleague calling me.

He used to call me at odd hours.

He might have changed his number.

If it was that urgent, he would call me back.

So I just left it as it was.

.

.

.

This morning at work

Surprised that there were no emails from my Indian Colleague or any India counterparts.

until I talked to Hanyang (My India Travelmate) on msn.

Our Nepali-Indian friend (Wang Di) called him last night at around 9.30pm

Then it started to dawn on me

my missed call was from a kind friend we met during our backpacking trip

.

.

.

Despite being quite frustrated with work

it brought happiness and joy instantly

It was a very simple kind of happiness

It brought back fond memories

Kindness, friendship

.

.

.

Wang-di and his sister
http://boon-india07.blogspot.com/2008/01/bodhgaya-bihar.html
.
.
.
Their simple kindness will always be remembered.

.

.

.

A Nice Text Message from Wang-Di:

"Hello my friends HAN,BOON n SIS....Hope u n ur families r in good health. imreally hapy that u all respond my homly hospitality. i praise u all because u remembered me and my family from a great distance. i do hope u all will visit india again and not miss my home in DARJEELING too. I contact my family this morning and share them about u all they became very much excited and express their LOVE,GRACE and BEST WISHES to uall. this much for today love u all."

.

**He still thinks that peiyun was my sister. While we were traveling in India, we told the local that yun was our sister, as India was still a very conservative society.
.
.
.
I remember asking Wang-di if he would like to stay in City or Darjeeling (Foothill of the Himalayas). His immediate & firm reply was "What's great about city? Pollution was so bad". He mentioned that he couldn't wait to go back to Darjeeling to breathe fresh air.
I am really happy for him.
He knows that he is living in paradise.
A place with fresh air, good weather & the view of the most majestic mountain ranges - the HIMALAYAS
Nice people and great culture

City Chase Singapore 2008

This is my second time participating in the City Chase Singapore.

My team (Jon & myself) - Boong - last year's ranking was number 15.

As for this year, I kept telling friends and jon that I had already packed my bag for Morocco Trip (where the winning team will represent Singapore for the International City Chase in November).

I was really kidding, as we were quite slack and did not really meet up to strategize or plan, however, we had a rough idea how to do it from last year's experience.

.

.

Prior to the race, we surveyed the competition landscape and this year's competitors (221 teams) looked much fitter and prepared than last year's participants. This year's hints for the pit-stops were much more difficult than last year. There were17 hints/clues given for 17 pit-stops. To complete the race, all the team must finish 10 pit-stops (correctly solving the hint for the pit-stop and finishing the task at the pit-stop).

.

.

Example of one of the hints:

Brainfreeze.

It is where a Dutch Icon stands, but look for the Rock and not for the sand.

.

.

Pit-Stop: It is an ice-cream shop in Holland Village.

.

.

My team took ONE HOUR to roughly solve around 8 hints (not even 10) and plan our route, before we set off.

By the time, we left the starting point, we were already the last few teams.

.

.

Guess What?

After 4hrs 17mins, We came in No. 2

It was a pleasant surprise as I thought we would be No. 10.

I knew that we were doing well, as at pit-stop No. 5, they were already reporting our progress to the organiser.

.

.

Even though we were happy that we came in second, we felt abit disappointed that we only lost out to the winning team by only 9 mins.

So no prize for runner-up.

No Morocco Trip.

But at least, our names are mentioned in the website below.

haha... Cheap Thrill!

.

.

http://www.citychaseasia.com/Welcome/Top_nav/News.htm

"August 23rd 2008, Singapore… 221 teams flagged off at Central today for Nat Geo City Chase Singapore with Cameron Richards and Greg Shand coming in first with a time of four hours, eight minutes and 57 seconds. Boo Wei Jie Jonathan and *** **** *** finished second and Audrey and Scott Mitchell came in third with a time of four hours 17minutes and five seconds and four hours 29 minutes and 16 seconds respectively."

Winning Team

.

.

As part of the rules, only Singapore Citizens or PRs could represent Singapore for the event. So when I was crossing the finishing line, I was quite happy to see 2 Ang Mos. The first 2 questions that I asked were "What's our position?" and "Are they Singapore PRs?"

.

.

.

Unfortunately, both of them are PRs and have been living in Singapore for around 10 years.

Anyway, in the event that they couldn't make it for the Morocco event, the runner-up team will replace them.

Boong Team
(Winning team were getting interviewed at the background)
.
.
.
Boon: "We are the No. 2 team"
Jon: "We are the first Asian team"
Nobody cares about runner-up team, so we gotta do this to make ourselves happy.
haha...
.
.
.


It was raining quite heavily during the race, and I had a fall after clearing the 3rd Pit-stop.

I was thinking... "Damn! We still have 7 pit-stops to clear, and I do not have plaster etc..."

At least, I learnt that there are alot of nice Singaporeans. =)

One guy gave me a plaster, and advised us how to get to the next pit-stop via bus.

He wished us good luck and alighted the bus.

nice!

It's a simple act of kindness that made me happy and grateful!

THANK YOU!!!

.

.

.

Highlights:

- Jumping off from a 5m platform into the pool

(I have a new found respect for all the olympian divers who could do so much turns and twisting within that short time.)

- Eating 3 worms

(The kind that you feed to birds. At least, it's tasteless.)

- Jogging in the rain

- Don't care about others' expression when I looked drenched and dirty.

- Not blaming each other for mistakes (We are a team!!!)

- "Don't care about results, let's do our best!" attitude

.

.

.

At the end, it's the journey that matters!

Photography: Happy 43rd Birthday Singapore!!!

My way of expressing my patriotism...

.

.

.

Wondering where did I get my inspiration?

.

.

.

I would say that it was a good effort...

I gave myself 2 pats on my shoulder. haha...

.

.

.

CBD as the background...

.

.

.

Sea of Red and white...

.

.

.

Aerial Display...

.

.

.

Majulah Singapura...

.

.

.

I want to be a pilot...

.

.

.

The view is better than the performance... sadly...

(I guess the reason is that I saw the opening of the Beijing Olympics the previous night)

.

.

.

Like this picture

(excluding that person...)

.

.

.

Fireworks display...

A Random Dream or An Omen?

I had a weird dream.

Sometimes, I am wondering if dream is a chain of random thoughts strung together, or is it an omen for change?

.

.

.

I saw a table full of FOOD.

roasted chicken, pork...

then, a roasted headless-human body.

.

.

.

Yes, it's scary.

The image was very vivid.

In fact, I was wondering where is the head.

.

.

.

Is it a random dream or thought?

Is it an Omen to become a vegetarian?

Kinga Freespirit - "Life is a journey...enjoy it"

Freedom! - 'Tame birds sing in cages - Wild ones fly free.

Taken from:

http://www.kingafreespirit.pl/kingaen/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=6&Itemid=7

.

.

.

Hitchhiking Around the World

.

.

.

"We are learning a lot along the way. Learned that the way and what you experience along it is often more important than the destination itself. But every person may learn a different thing. Everybody will learn what they need. For us hitchhiking is one of the best ways. Hitchhiking is not always easy. It's not for everybody either. You get stuck for hours or days in one place, you feel powerless, hopeless and frustrated... But it has its rewards and we feel it's worth it. If you really feel like this is what you want to do - just go and do it. Don't plan much. Just go and let the journey show you what it has in store for you - it may be well beyond your dreams."

.

.

.

Photography: Pulau Ubin

Life!!!
Solitude 1

I like this pic alot. =)
Solitude 2

Autumn???

Tropical Coconut Trees...

Zen Bamboo...

Still Zen...

Bye Aunt. Hope you had a good journey.

Actually, I am not in the mood to pen this down, but I am taking this as a constant reminder of the impermanence of life. My Aunt who lived in Indonesia, passed away this morning suddenly.

.

.

.

Frankly, I am not especially closed to her, but I still do feel quite sad.

Last Friday (6 days ago), by sheer concidence, I saw my Aunt in train station while I was on my way home. She was in Singapore for a short visit. I did not know that it would the last time I bid farewell to her. I was telling her that I would visit her in Indonesia (Tg Balai) soon.

.

.

.

I am keeping my promise.

I am attending her wake next week.

My mum said that it was fate that allowed me to see her 6 days ago.

.

.

.

I hope that she had a good journey.

I dedicate this picture sunrise at Varanasi, India to her

http://boon-india07.blogspot.com/2008/01/varanasi.html

.

.

.

The sun will still rise and fall, the wind will still blow

the World will still go on without you
.

.

.

"Om Mani Padme Hum"