Xmas at Orchard Road Singapore in 2009

It says let your hair down but not your guard!



When we arrive the crowd has just started to come in. We took the MRT and went for some dinner. Some shopping was called for @ Wisma Atrium. Then we proceeded to walk Orchard Road. The people was packing the road but the main street was not closed as in most years before.

So, we just watched people doing their things, photo-taking, chatting, and waiting for the count-down.

Being older now, I was getting bored fast. Yet, with a camera in hand I could document with photo and provide a photo-essay later for the blog. "ahhhh, so I want to take this, this and that" I heard myself say. I imagined a scrap book story-board in my mind and was busy capturing photos to present that story.

Special touring roofless double deckers are called Hippotours bringing tourist and visitors to Orchard while ushering in Xmas 2009.













So many tourist and Singaporeans walking at Ion Orchard, Orchard road.
















She must be waiting for someone, she was standing for a long time.

To Singapore for Xmas, AEROLINE

I created a little montage photos for Aeroline.

It happens that we wanted to go on a short vacation and as some would put it, after the planning, we found ourselves on the bus (Aeroline) moving South.

The journey started on 24th December 2009, at 11am departure time. The Aeroline from Bandar Utama to Singapore would take 7 hours. We tagged our luggage and waited for the bus at 10am.
In the bus:
OK, the bus has entertainment, food, drinks and space to relax. We got treated to 2 movies, one I do not know the title and it was not great to watch. The other, Bride's War, and that was really fun.

Food (our's were vegetarian) was great, nothing fancy but good for the trip. My wife sudoku game on her mobile was so entertaining that phone ran outta juice and had to be charged mid-way, luckily there were :"light" usage power points in the bus!

I forgot my headsets, but AEROLINE did not, they loan us FOC! That's better than First Coach.
(First Coach charges the same rates (almost) for less value).

I liked the bus and it's friendly attendant. The experience was great and I give it 8/10, will recommend for others!

Singapore Immigration Embarkment forms















Headsets on loan!

Singapore Night Safari-Xmas 2009, a photo essay

Date: 25th December 2009 (Xmas)
Time: 8pm-11pm
Venue: Singapore Night Safari
Cost:SGD$42 inclusive transport from hotel, and tram rides,

Part of the "creature of the night!" show. Animal handlers in action and acknowledging the crowd.

Some motion blur with slow shutter speed and grains(noise) from high ISO used.
Good for black and white. Edited with CS3, 3D effect was the by-product.





With over 6,000 visitors needing to board the trams, the queue was long and difficult. Some elderly folks were helped away from the crowd. The zoo staffs were helping to ease the wait by photographing their visitors.





Due to the crowd, lots of people were getting annoyed, unwell and irritated.

Malakoff 20 December 09

Nice and fun race, but hilly. Start/Finish at Bukit Kiara. 12Km and 7km runs, we took the 12Km !

First hill 1km (Science Center): Very slow run, not fully warmed up although I did manage to slow jog before the start. Surprisingly I still overtook some runners that surged right after gun start.

Flats 2km: Flat runs are always welcome after hilly ones. Kept my pace, but when I pushed faster, I had side stitch (pain below my ribs, left to my stomach). That kept me slower, but I kept massaging it and then it went off after 2Km.

Hill (again), this one really sloppy, Push more and imagine I am a balloon. But my balloon have little air. So I tried to overtake and gain ground. Mid-hill I had to walk a little to catch my breath.

Water station: Normally I don't take in so much water, but I went for it, half cup water, I sipped half of that. Did not know if it affected my race later on but it was satisfying to have a drink. I am pampering myself. I checked my watch; less than an hour, good timing!

Downhill (woohoo), I was taking it slow dowhill, then went faster and faster, those who overtook me uphill was taken by surprise downhill. I kept my pace as best I could but I took in most absorbed impact to save my knees.

First loop completed: 7Km runners are departing to finish line, 12Km runners doing second loop.

Uphill (again), this one really "kaw" massive steep uphill! Push and Push and even my wife gets to catch up with me. I was really surprise because I zoomed off rather early in the race.
"my timing going to be way off the mark if I see you now" I said
"keep running and stop talking" she blurted

I waved to the RELA and Polis, then to some cars that had to wait for us runners as we are king of the hills , so to speak la.

FLATS : Wife was pacing with me, then I said I going to go faster to meet race qualifying time of 1h 35 mins. She nodded. I zoomed like a speeding Mat rempit.

Hills (last one) : I feel like a 3 ton lorry climbing this final hill. Tried all ways to master this hill climb but to no avail. I looked to my right and this lady was brisk walking at my jog pace. walau! so I joined her instead. Save energy la. Also, must be smart in racing. I consider this a race strategy. Later, downhill can unleashed the power.
Then I got a pat in the butt. Oii, who's touching me? Turned to my right, ohhh, it's my wife! Bloody fast uphill.
"how come you're so fast, dear?" I asked
"Uphill is so easy for me,housework helps! but we are going downhill now" She replied.


DOWNhill (to finish line) ; We ran side by side as man and wife, zooming downhill. You can feel the envy of other runners as they watched us zip by like F1 cars.
Most olders runners have to save their knees so they cannot make a fast deccent .

We glided to the finish line hand in hand.
"it was fun!" she commented.
"wow, you're very fast dear!" I responded
"OK, now to spot and pose for the photographers" I quipped

We got in in very good timing. It's amazing for us to have the same time of completion. Haha.
Very good race indeed!






I'm waiting for photos captured during the run.
Note: Photos taken from PM Tey Eng Tiong (who takes lovely shots by the way!)

Malakoff 2009-upcoming!

Then there was this race or should I call it, run for 12KM, called Malakoff 2009.

What's this Malakoff? I ask myself. It's a company! The pacesetter club (an athletic runners club) that organizes such runs.

In truth, I was certain running was not an activity that normal layman likes. I mean, I visualize men and women sweating, huffing, choking with fatigue and with messy hairdo dressed in sleeveless, singlets-like attire, finishing 12Km on foot.

So why is there a huge following in running?

I visited Adidas and Nike to get some ideas. These retail shops dedicates a section in their premise for running and football. Now, I understand why football is a craze (the fans are just watching and pretending they are Ronaldo, Beckam etc). Running merchandises are equally plenty.

Not really blessed with many "stars". Kenyans runners are leaders in this sports. Nike, they have one lady called Paula Radcliffe that may inspire many women runners. As for most Men, I presume any Kenyan will do for now. I respect Kenyan runners because they just run with no fancy equipments required. Some even barefoot!

Huge following or not, lots of runners are there for health reasons and some for social networking.

In Malakoff 2009, the runners shall shine and conquor 12 Km on foot equally well.

Zoo Negara, National zoo, Malaysia

The leopard pacing because it got bored.

Giraffes, are normal for zoos

Looking at this elephant, I just had to take a photograph.

This baby Hippo looks really cute!

Zoo Negara / National Zoo, we got the tickets plus a free T-shirt for RM 15.00 that paid the T-shirt cost in parts. The deal was too good to be turned down and hence we succumbed . We thought it would be a great way to visit a place we have not seen in the last 8 years. So with newer attractions (hopefully), we mostly loved the photography opportunities.

Bended baby giraffe

The King...well an old and sleepy one

Mr. Elephant will and can be fed by tourist (buying bananas).

The cute little deer, asking for food I presume?

Lots of birds, especially after the rain!

Star attraction: Penguins in water reflections

Brrrrr.....cold!