Highway

It is always very stressful to drive on the North South Express Highway. On days when the traffic is smooth, one may find it difficult to stick in one lane and enjoy the journey from one to another. On most part of the highway, the speed limit is 100-110 km per hour. The average speed of vehicles driving on the left lane is around 60-80 km per hour. The average speed of vehicles in the middle lane is 80-90km per hour. The average speed of vehicles driving on the right lane is, however, 120 – 180 km per hour. That means if I wish to drive 100-110 km per hour throughout the journey, there is no one I can go except to constantly switching lane between middle and right lane. This is very stressful and no wonder nobody enjoy driving in Malaysia, even if there are no traffic jam and the road are in mint condition.

Down again

I am down again with sickness. Ever since my holiday to Melaka, I was constantly being surrounded with sickness, starting with a food poisoning, then serious sprained neck, then flu and then now the cough, in a short time span of 6 weeks. It has been very irritating and exhausting for myself and my family. Got to get better and for good soon.

Sprained Neck

After spraining my neck twice within a month, I am living my life with a very limited vision (unable to fully turn my neck) in the past month. I have yet to resume my old self after numerous therapies, and I do believe the head to neck proportion is as much of a factor as stress and weak muscles.

Bukit Hartamas

First ever participation of Hash-Run like virgin jungle tracking. It is as difficult as I ever anticipated. Apart from hitting a tree with my eye, sliding down the terrain full of mud and falling a few times, everything is fine. Best thing about this hash run – is the food after the run. Makes it all worthwhile.

Gunung Dato

Successfully conquered yet another mountain - Gunung Dato. At the height of 2,900 feet or 884 meters, this mountain is the 220th highest mountain in Malaysia.

This is a list of top 300 highest mountain in Malaysia:-
http://www.malaysia-traveller.com/malaysia-mountains.html.
The following are some of the mountain that I have climbed.
Rank 1: Mount KK – 4,100 meters
Rank 6: Mount Tahan – 2,190 meters
Rank 220: Gunung Dato – 884 meters
Rank 241: Gunung Angsi – 824 meters
Rank 291: Bukit Tabur (Melawati) – 446 meters
Rank 296: Bukit Saga – 421 meters

Gunung Mulu National Park

Located near Miri of Sarawak, Gunung Mulu National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is famous for the Pinnacles and Caves.

There are many tours available, including

[1] Pinnacles Only
http://www.mulunationalpark.com/tour-packages-3D2N-Mulu-Pinnacles.php
Day 1: Airport - Longboat - 3 hours jungle trek to 'Camp 5'
Day 2: Ascend 3 hours to Gunung Api with view of Pinnacles and return to Camp 5
Day 3: Back home using the same way.

[2] Caves & Pinnacles
http://www.journeymalaysia.com/rainmulupinnacles.htm
Day 1: Airport - Deer Cave & Lang Cave
Day 2: Longboat - Wind Cave & Clear Water Cave - 3hour jungle trek to 'camp 5'
Day 3: Ascend 3 hours to Gunung Api with view of Pinnacles and return to Camp 5
Day 4: Back home

Sound easy enough, there are a warning issued by the tour agency however, that the climb is difficult and consist of many vertical climbs and that one afraid of heights are not recommended. I am seriously considering if this is something I should strive for even with plenty of training; if so this would be mission 2013.

Birthday Party

Baby Hong Yi first year old party is held over the weekend. Thank you everyone for their participation and gifts. I am sure he has a good time. For those who miss out, his real birth date is on the 15th. Never too late for another presents :)

Culture

Australian's favorite introduction topic - Weather. Oh its beautiful, its freezing, its freaking hot, bla bla bla.

Malaysian's favorite introduction topic - Traffic. Its Jam, its very Jam, its super unbelievably not movable, yada yada yada..

Take note or you'll be cultural shock!

Username and Password

What has been really troubling me lately is on all the websites username and password. To me its an absolute hustle and frustration. First of all is the username issue. Its hard to get a username for all the websites as some requires full email address and some username has already been taken up. The password is even more frustrating as it constantly forcing one to change password. How in the world are we going to remember tens of username and password, particularly if one need to constantly change their password and the old password cannot be re-used in the future? (Yes I am particularly referring to you- stupid Hong Leong Bank!!)

New Skin

I have finally updated the blog's skin as the previous version is more than two and a half years. This new skin does not involve too many high-tech java script or picture; just plain simple and easy outlook. A few extra irrelevant pages are also added to the blog.

Quest for 2070

Lot 2070 is a plot of land in Serendah, a land owned by the family since grandfather time. It has always been one of my quest to conquer (or should I just say to visit) the land. It is somewhat difficult due to lack of direction and road access. On 5th of July, 2012 we set out to conquer this quest. It took us more than 8 hours in total (including travelling time) and visit more than 7 person (who are suppose to be very familiar with the area) to get pretty close to the target (after going through other people land, security gate and gravel road), however, we are not quite there yet; and even if we were, we can never be sure. All we can say about this is- We'll be back. We will conquer this land. We will never give up!

Land covered with trees are expected to be the target land, although one can never be sure.

Superb Bank Negara Malaysia

Bank Negara Malaysia is technically advanced !! It has implement a system that all applications have to be done online. I guess it is implemented with purpose of environmentally friendliness and greater efficiency. The fact that the website never works and nobody can never launch any application and the staff can conveniently sit around and do nothing is irrelevant.

Whats' even more interesting is that the main login page issue an interesting warning:-

Note : a) Online application will not be available from 6.00 pm 10 Nov. 2006 until 7.00 am 13 Nov. 2006 b) Online reporting will not be available from 7.00 am until 12.00 noon on 11 Nov. 2006 for maintenance purpose.

The note is 5 and a half years old and its still highlighted and bold. It must have been an extremely important maintenance exercise.

New PC

After having a new pc on my wish list for months, I finally obtained one over the weekend. The cost is RM 3.7k, which is 23% higher than initial budget. I just learn a rule of thumb from the computer sales person- that a pc will stay in touch with the market for X years if it is X thousand dollars (ie. 3 years if it is RM 3k). After that, it will be deemed as an old model pc and should be replaced. Having said that, my previous pc (which is still operational in office) was RM 3,000 but I have been using it for more than 4 years. Absolutely time for replacement / upgrade.

Golf

Today I play golf at Saujana – the first time I set foot on golf course since second half of year 2010. Play terribly as expected, first nine holes – 60 points (way above my previous average) and did not even complete the second nine, due to exhaustion. Did score 2 par however (both on a par 3), which is a pleasant surprise. I really need to work on my driver & woods, its absolutely killing my game.

Radio Station Dilemma

People often ask me why I rarely listen to radio in the car after working hours (6-8pm). Seriously, you can’t blame me for that. I mean, what choices do I have? Should I listen to the station whom male DJ pretends to be sensitive via talking using his feminine voice at 988? As a public figure, doesn’t he realized that he is a terrible example and role model to our next generation? I know he isn’t a gay nor that girly after working hours. His so call ‘public stunt’ to raise his popularity is totally selfish and unacceptable. Its simply disgusting. What other choices do I have? My FM enjoys having their audiences “sing” during these hours. I wish they are entertaining but unfortunately it often leaves me no alternatives but to switch station. Last but not the least, FM 88.1 and its ‘Beh-Tahan’ program during these hours. If there is something that makes myself “Beh-Tahan” for the day, that’s by listening to this stupid program. In conclusion, just turn on the USB or CD and avoid all unnecessary frustration.

Signal

If I were being asked to give an advice to foreigners planning to drive in KL, I would have advised them to be extra cautious in the usage of signal. Signal prior to changing lanes or directions are not advisable. As a matter of fact, one should just assume that the signal light isn’t working at all. This advice is recommended by someone who has been driving more than ten years overseas and in KL.

The point of signaling, after all, is to ‘signal’ to adjacent drivers of your intention, therefore not do anything abnormal that could lead to unwanted results. In KL, however, once a driver ‘signal’ his intention, the adjacent drivers (or motorbike riders) will some how feel that their territory are being threaten (like a dog’s natural reaction when another dog pee at their grounds). As a result, they will accelerate (even the motorbikes) or change to the lane before you do. If you were to proceed changing lane after your signal like what you do in overseas, the end results will be disasters. On the contrary, if you don’t signal before you change lane, you will find it a lot easier. The adjacent drivers will not be offended because you did not give them enough time to react and they will be able to ‘forgive’ themselves for not defending their territory. And this is how it is done in KL.

Finally

It may takes more than a year but our wedding photo is finally on the wall.

PC or Mac

I have recently upgraded my TV, which is a great enjoyment. The next target is to upgrade my computer, which is around five years old. Should I upgrade to a Mac or remain a PC?

6 months

Baby is 6 months old today. Compliments to my wife Sacha who is able to breast feed baby for six months consecutively, exceeding everyone’s expectations. I guess one should never underestimate the will of a mother.

Happy CNY

The Koo Family wishes everyone a Happy Chinese New Year. Gong Hee Fat Choy!!

Banks

I just open another bank account with OCBC bank for the purpose of having a safety deposit. That makes me having accounts with almost all banks in the country.
For my company: Maybank
For loan account: Standard Chartered, UOB
For current account: Public Bank, HSBC
For credit card: CIMB & City Bank
For safety deposit: OCBC Bank.
For share trading: Hong Leong
That’s total of 9 banks. Simply ridiculous. Next objective is to start eliminating some of this accounts.