Saturday, December 23, 2017

Race Review: Viper Challenge Cyberjaya 2017

I was on the fence about writing this review/recap about the last Viper Challenge in Cyberjaya on 2 Dec. I did a video on it, following my experience all 21km of it throughout Cyberjaya and realised that the only thing that inspired me to churn out the video so quickly were my friends and teammates. Which you can watch here...



Because to be frank, the course had nothing to inspire. Majority of the obstacles were built over water which added to the safety aspect and gave it an element of fun. And also helped keep participants cool throughout the blazing hot day.

Friday, December 15, 2017

Kagelow Mt Fuji Kawaguchiko Hostel review

I really didn't want to blog about this place. Mainly because I want to keep it all to myself. But that would be irresponsible of me as a writer and also unfair to the hostel because I did love my stay at Kagelow Mt Fuji Kawaguchiko hostel.


To my understanding, Kagelow was once an old Japanese inn turned into a modern day hostel for backpackers. It was a 10 minutes walk from Kawaguchiku station, depending on which way your Google maps takes you. Kagelow was located smack between Mount Fuji and Kawaguchiko Lake and on two of the three mornings I was there, I could glimpse the mountain from my dormitory bed.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

Race Recap: Spartan Race Beast Johor 2017

The Spartan Race Beast was supposed to be in October but due to unforeseen circumstances, was moved to December and to Johor Bahru. This of course raised a lot of protest amongst the participants and with this hanging over their heads, Spartan Race Malaysia had better not screwed up the last OCR event of the year.

Sunday, December 10, 2017

The Many Views of Mount Fuji part 3 - Haneda Airport

PART 3 - The first time I saw Mount Fuji at ground level but from a distance was from the arrival floor of Haneda Airport.

Taken on 2 July 2017 - Oh hai Mount Fuji. Nice to see you again.
My family and I had just landed into Tokyo the night before and we stayed overnight at First Cabin hotel. The following morning, we headed to the bus stop for the bus to Kamakura at around 10am and from the first floor windows of the airport before heading down to the bus terminal, we could see Mount Fuji. At first, we weren't sure if it was Mount Fuji because it seemed impossible. But it was and she looked majestic that morning. There were streaks of white snow on her cap and we pondered how cold it might be up there because at the end of our trip, we were going to climb Mount Fuji. Nevertheless I took it as a good sign

Friday, December 8, 2017

AirAsia BIG Loyalty launches eStore

To many Malaysians, AirAsia is no stranger. But did you know that by setting up an AirAisia account, you can also collect AirAsia BIG points via their loyalty point programme as you purchase flights?

But unless you're a frequent flyer with the airline, point collection can take a while before you can actually redeem something. Enter AirAsia BIG eStore, the latest lifestyle offering from AirAsia’s loyalty programme, where BIG Members can shop online to earn BIG Points faster than they fly.

Wednesday, December 6, 2017

4 Reasons to get a Samsung S8

"Why?" was the question my mother asked me when I suggested for her to change her current super laggy phone to the Samsung Galaxy S8. To that I had no response because truth be told, I was an iPhone user having combed my way through the iPhone 3G, 4S and now the SE.
But my mom on the other hand was an android user and has flipped between Samsung and Sony. Right now, her phone is a three-year-old Sony Experia 3 with a dented body, cracked screen and a 10 second delay on the touch screen response time.

Okay, she really needs a new phone and I suggested the Samsung Galaxy S8 for these four reasons alone:

Sunday, November 26, 2017

The Many Views of Mount Fuji part 2 - From a Chuo Highway Bus

PART TWO - This was the first time I actually saw Mount Fuji in all her naked glory from a highway bus passing by Fuji Q Highland and it had been at the most frustrating of times.
Taken on 2 September 2015 - I ascended Japan's highest mountain in the worst possible weather ever; heavy rain, directionless winds, sub-zero temps and no sunrise. I'll be back, Fujisan. Please be kind to me then. 
I had actually just descended from Mount Fuji that morning after a cold and miserable hike up the previous day in torrent rain. A typhoon was just passing off the coast of Japan and we got to experience its rain and winds throughout our hike right into the morning when we summited. We never saw the famed Fuji sunrise. Oh well, at least we climbed Japan's tallest mountain.

Read about it here and here:

My travel companions were dozing off when our bus back to Tokyo hit the highway and I happened to glance out the window and saw this seemingly taunting view of clear blue skies and a bare top Fuji looking down at me. I learnt (via Instagram-stalking) that the sunrise the following morning was stunning. It was there and then I promised to come back and conquer Mount Fuji again.

And I did - two years later. Read about it here.

Thursday, November 23, 2017

Starbucks Malaysia Christmas Offerings 2017

Share the joy this holiday season and make this holiday even merrier with Starbucks’ two brand new handcrafted beverages namely the Starbucks® Peppermint Dark Mocha and Starbucks® Teavana™ Apple Black Tea which will warm your hearts during your holiday celebrations and gatherings. Not forgetting the return of all-time favourite, Starbucks® Toffee Nut Crunch Latte.

Starbucks® Toffee Nut Crunch Latte: A returning favourite with less sweet toffee nut syrup combined with velvety steamed milk and espresso shots and topped with whipped cream and crunchy toffee nut crunch toppings. The perfect blend of subtle caramelly sweetness and nutty treats – one of Starbucks’ all-time favourites!

Sunday, November 19, 2017

The Many Views of Mount Fuji part 1 - From the Airplane

Hello, people and welcome to PART ONE of the Many Views of Mount Fuji. This kicks off my series of picshorts (picture-shorts) dedicated to the beautiful, the mysterious, the ever volatile active volcano - Mount Fuji!
Taken on 28 Feb 2017 - Mount Fuji peeked out at me from under the blanket of clouds on my flight home. Very lucky considering how shy she is. This is like a teaser to my next crazy thing to do for 2017.
This shot was my most memorable shot of Mount Fuji from afar. I was on board a 5pm flight on ANA back to Kuala Lumpur from Narita Airport after the Tokyo Marathon and had lucked out with a full row to myself. As soon as the seatbelt sign went off, I scooted over to the window seat and whipped out my laptop, headphones, phone charger, laptop charger and phone. I made myself quite comfortable across all three seats and about 30 minutes into the flight, peered out the window to watch the sunset across the carpet of clouds. And as there she was, peeking out shyly from the clouds was Mount Fuji.

It seemed kinda meaningful because back then I had attempted to climb Mount Fuji once and did so in a typhoon, thus missing the sunrise. I vowed to climb it again and did so on my 30th birthday with my family and and it was worth it.

Friday, November 17, 2017

Spartan Race Super Japan, Sagamiko Pleasure Forest [21 Oct 2017]

On a whim, I flew to Japan to participate in the Super leg of the Spartan Race, intending to complete part of my 2017 Trifecta in a country I absolute adore. Also because I missed the local Spartan Super because I was in the country I absolute adore. Go figure.

Anyway, this trip was...different from my other OCR travels because 1) it was in Japan, 2) I was running solo and finally 3) I can't converse fully with other racers. I was excited and nervous and admittedly, a little scared because it would my first Spartan Race abroad without my teammates whom I found myself missing midway through.

Race morning was rainy rainy rainy.  It was so rainy that the race village became a mud pit with people tiptoeing across the field to get to the bag drop tent. If it wasn't for my trusty Inov8 Ultra shoes, I was sure I would have face planted multiple times. It seemed that Spartan Race Japan needed to work on the bag drop system because it took racers over an hour to bag drop! I think the fact that we had to pay 500yen for the big plastic bag to store our bag made it worst because we were slowing down to dig into our bags and had to step aside to repack and etc. MOVING ON.

I missed my 10am flag off time but managed to wiggle my way to the startline for the 1030am flag off. After the usual Aroo Aroo Aroo and Who are You, I am Spartan ceremony (I really missed Australia's Spartan Races at this point because the spirit wasn't the same), were unleashed into the course.

To sum it up, the route was hard. Sagamiko Forest was an amusement themed park on a hill and boasted a beautiful forest with leaves turning red and yellow to greet autumn. The first half of the course led us up up up and away into the hill right up to its ferris wheel at its peak. The route alternated between road and trail keeping it fast and slow all at once. Scenery-wise, had it been sunny, it would have been stunning. As it were, it poured the whole way, a teaser to the torrent rains of Typhoon Lan that hit the following day. The rain made the trails twice as slippery and muddy, the obstacles twice as hard and the river crossings twice as fast.

The difficulty in obstacles varies. Obstacles I used to struggle with like the atlas carry, I found easy here and obstacles I would usually ace were surprisingly challenging such as the rope climb and the herculean hoist. Due to my stunned growth, wall obstacles can be a challenge. It was here I had to open my mouth and say, "Onegai tasukete..." aka, "help me please."

In all fairness, I only had to use it once out of the three times I needed help. The other two times I lucked out and had two english speaking westerners help me out. Somewhere along the 10km, I was chitchatting with an American dude who had come to Japan on a holiday and was conned into doing the race by his friends.

I know how you feel, dude. I am still wondering how I conned myself into spending RM666 (17,500yen) to participate in this race. ON THE BRIGHT SIDE, I am just glad that my race wasn't cancelled due to the typhoon because the Sprint race on Sunday was called off due to Typhoon Lan hitting mainland Japan hard.



All in all, I think this video of the race that I compiled on my iPhone while waiting for the train in the shivering cold, gave a good walkthrough of the race. I really need to get myself a GoPro if I am going to be doing more of these races solo. (ehem coughsponsorGoProcough)

I am giving this Super a 4 out of 5 Buck Furpees because the weather brought on a whole new set of challenges to the course.

Some tips for racing in a foreign country abroad (where English is NOT the first language)
1) Learn the local language of 'help me' and 'thank you'
2) Contact the organiser on transport plans. I found out too late that the organisers had buses through back and forth to the race site from Shinjuku. Having said that....
3) Try to stay as close as possible to the race site or somewhere accessible to the race site.
4)  Bring extra money because sometimes the organiser might neglect to mention additional costs such as the connecting buses from the station to the race site costing 250yen one way. It wasn't mentioned in the race guide.
5) Plan ahead. Seriously, don't leave everything to chance and luck in a foreign country.
6) If you don't want to bring your passport to the race site or in my case, forgot to bring it, snap a pic of it beforehand and keep it on your phone/camera.

Thanks for reading/watching!

Spartan Race Trifecta 2017 
Sprint in Semenyih 
Super in Japan 
Beast in Johor Bahru (coming soon!)

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

SCKLM Bags Two Gold SPIA Asia Awards

Guess who won an award recently! Me! #shamelessplug

Okay, I am not the only one who won an award recently. The Standard Chartered KL Marathon (SCKLM) cemented its position as the premier running event in the country by clinching Gold in two categories at the annual SPIA Asia event (Asia’s Sports Industry Awards and Conference).

Wahhhh!

If you ask me, their wins were well-deceived because the event was organised as heck (in my humble opinion). Dirigo Events, the owner and organiser of SCKLM, won for the Best Mass Participation Event and SCKLM technology partner MYLAPS earned the Gold in the Best Sports Digital Platform category for the SCKLM App.

Sunday, November 12, 2017

Starbucks Works with Hope Worldwide MY to help post flood Penang

Starbucks Malaysia has teamed up with Hope Worldwide Malaysia (HOPEww), and Penang State Assemblyman for Kebun Bunga, YB Cheah Kah Peng’s officers to distribute coffee, tea, and bread to affected flood victims at Jalan Lumba Kuda in Bukit Gantang, Penang after the flood subsided.


Sunday, November 5, 2017

Kuala Lumpur 2017 - The Music Run™ by AIA Vitality

The 2017 Music Run™ by AIA Vitality just wrapped up and it was a blast! I should know, I was there! When running a run with booming speakers at every 50m or so, it seemed about right (at least to me) to do the 10km distance. More mileage, better pacing, better for health.

Friday, November 3, 2017

One Sleep Away to The Music Run™ by AIA Vitality

One sleep away to prepare for #LiveTheBeat. Whether you are walking a gentle 5K, running the 5K or training for the 10K run, preparation is key to crossing the finish line this 4th of November at the The Music Run™ by AIA Vitality. If you're new to running, keep these six tips by Madhat in mind to enjoy yourself at KL Sports City for The Music Run™ by AIA Vitality!


1. Get ready


Saturday, October 28, 2017

Tsuta Tokyo, Michelin Star Ramen

I do love my ramen and it seemed natural that I would try to hunt down the best ramen place in Tokyo. To me, Ichiran Ramen currently holds the title for that. However when I heard of two ramen joints in Sugamo that had been awarded the Michelin star, I knew I had to try at least one.

So I picked Tsuta simply because their ramen had truffle in it. I thought, how much of a difference can truffle make to something that was meant to be comfort food? Initial research informed me of the odd ticketing system the restaurant had in place to avoid customer disappointment as they only had 150 bowls a day.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Imano Tokyo Hostel, Shinjuku review

Shinjuku is the home to Kabukicho aka Golden Gai and of course, the hub of the busiest station in the world. Staying within the vicinity of Shinjuku means access to almost every part of the city and even to the outskirts. It is also easily accessible to and from Narita and Haneda airports via train and bus.

On my recent trip to Japan for a Spartan Race, I stayed at Imano Tokyo Hotel, a 10 minutes walk from Kabukicho. For only 7,533yen (RM280 est as of Oct 2017), I got myself a bed in the 4 bed- female dormitory room for two nights.

Saturday, October 21, 2017

2017 Climbing Mount Fuji with Willer Express Tour

You know that famous saying about Mount Fuji...something something, only a fool would climb it twice? Well, say hello to aforementioned fool *waves*

On my 30th birthday, I summitted Mount Fuji for the second time in my short life on earth. The first time I DIY-ed the entire trip. But having dealt with the hassle of it, I wanted a stress free adventure on my second time and so and this time, I did it with the Willer Express Mount Fuji Tour. This meant everything from the bus to the accommodation to the timing of the climb was managed and overseen by the experienced guide and mountain guides under the Willer Express group.

Friday, October 20, 2017

The Music Run by AIA Vitality 2017 is back

The fourth edition of The Music Run™ by AIA Vitality will take place on 4th November at a new home at the rejuvenated world class sporting complex, KL Sports City. This year’s event will be the first in the world to see the addition of a new timed 10k track, allowing Music Runners in KL to take their fitness game to new highs.


This year, the Music Runners can choose their level – either the 5k or 10k distance – and run through either one loop or two loops of an upgraded run course, dubbed as the Sound Track. 

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Nagoya Women's Marathon 2018: Ballot Results

Last year, on a whim, I balloted for the Nagoya Women's Marathon. I didn't get it but I did get into the Tokyo Marathon 2017 so it was cool. In September, I balloted yet again for the Nagoya Women's Marathon because I really wanted a handsome hot guy to give me a shiny Tiffany necklace after running 42km.

And on 10 October, exactly 2 weeks after the balloting opened, one week after it closed, I got the results.

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Where to Next?

Where to next?

That seemed to my theme of 2017 so far. At work, in life, in my fitness. Where to next ie: where do you go from here? Say, wasn't there a song that had that line?

The answer is quite simple. Japan. Everything falls down to Japan. Maybe not work wise because lord knows that getting the work visa there is a bitch. Everything I've done this year has all led me to finding myself and my place in the world in...Japan.

So from 18 to 29 October, I'll be in Tokyo for three monumental things.
1) A Spartan Race Super
2) Yet another tattoo
3) A potential future in Japan? We'll see.

And oh, I also got the ballot for the Nagoya Marathon. I am open to sponsorship right about...now.

Bye.

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Direct Flights to Jeju, South Korea via AirAsia X

So the other day I was reading the news on how China is boycotting South Korea due to the feud with North Korea and this had caused the number of Chinese tourists going to Jeju to nosedive by 80% compared to this time last year (Source: Aljazeera)

But fret not, South Korea and everything that is K-Pop and kimchi! Because starting 12 Dec, AirAsia will be commencing its direct flights from Kuala Lumpur to Jeju island which means you no longer have to fly into Seoul first.

Monday, October 9, 2017

Wine and Dine at Lafite, Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur

Experience an evening of pure indulgence with fine French cuisine, dainty canapes, exquisite wines and more at ‘Wine and Dine’ at Lafite, Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur every last Friday of the month starting 29 September 2017 from 7pm to 10.30pm at RM 290nett per person.

Sunday, October 8, 2017

Slide the City Malaysia Kicks off First Ever Night Slide in SEA

Slide the City Malaysia has officially launched their first ever premium night slide in South East Asia happening every weekend on Fridays (5pm-12am), Saturdays and Sundays (9am-12am) from September 30th - October 29th, 2017 at Car Park C, Setia City Convention Centre in Setia Alam. Slide the City is not new to the Malaysian scene. The premium slide was first brought to Malaysia in December 2015 by Monkey Theory Sdn. Bhd and has since journeyed across Malaysia and landed in states such as Penang, Melaka, Kuantan and Johor Bahru.

This time around Slide the City is back in Klang Valley and sliders are in for a twist! Previously, fans were only able to enjoy the slide during the day. Now, they can slip n’ slide under the moon! Night Sliders will just need to change into their summer attire and have a splashing fun time without worrying about getting sunburned!

Thursday, September 28, 2017

Travelling to Philippines? Learn Common Filipinism

By Patricia Evans 

Are you planning to travel to Philippines? More than just the places you will be visiting, familiarize yourself with the idiosyncrasies of the Filipinos. Filipinism is one such thing you ought to consider if you want to be able to communicate with the locals more effectively.


Filipinisms refer to words that Filipinos have loosely translated from Tagalog words or expressions, causing confusion when used in conversations with native English speakers. Familiarity with these words is especially helpful for backpackers who prefer to interact with Filipinos on a deeper level.

"For awhile" 



After asking for room availability, the hotel receptionist may respond with "For awhile." You may get confused and think she means "Wait for a long time." What the receptionist is actually saying is "Wait for a short time," the American equivalent for the phrase is "Just a moment."

Gimmick
Locals may invite you to join them on a gimmick. Don’t get the wrong idea. While the word may mean practical joke back home, it actually translates to a night out with friends in the Philippines. Its American equivalent is party or hang out. Be ready to hear this a lot in Philippines, a known party destination.

"What is your course?"  
If you are a student, one of the first things Filipinos may ask you is, "What is your course?" This is sure to confuse native English speakers. What Filipinos actually want to ask is, "What is your major?"

Masteral  

You may also hear locals talking about taking a masteral. What they actually mean is that they are taking a postgraduate degree. Masteral is the term Filipinos commonly use when referring to a master’s degree.

“Get down” / “Go down” 
You may hear the phrases “get down” or “go down” a lot while taking public commute in the Philippines. Although it does not sound right, most travelers manage to get what the speaker is trying to say. And yes, it means disembark or get off.

Green jokes 
While drinking or partying, you might get into a friendly banter with the locals and start hearing them talk about “green jokes.” Although there may be enough context for you to understand what they mean, it would still help to know its American equivalent. The term refers to jokes of a sexual nature, or what you would call “dirty jokes.”

"I'll go ahead" 
You would often hear Filipinos say "I'll go ahead" when they are just about to leave. What they really mean is that they are leaving in advance of others. It is also the equivalent of "See you later!"

Nightclub 

Be wary when someone invites you to a nightclub. While the term will have you thinking of a regular restobar, Filipinos actually use it to refer to a sex-oriented establishment or what you would call a strip club.

Ballpen 
If someone asks you for a ballpen, don’t go thinking of any specific kind of pen. Filipinos use the word ballpen to refer to any kind of pen.

Polo 
Locals might invite you to a swanky party and request that you wear a polo. Note that in the Philippines, this means a button-down dress shirt, not the short-sleeved collared shirt or casual, knit, short-sleeved shirt you use the word for.

"I am a professional driver"  
If a local starts telling you that he is a professional driver, he is most likely just saying that he is a capable, well-skilled driver. Although the term literally means he gets paid for his driving services, “professional” is often just a word Filipinos use to say that they are good at something.

"Your English is very slang"  
While the word slang is commonly used to refer to informal English words, it has a different connotation in the Philippines. When the locals tell you that your English is very slang, what they are actually trying to say is that you speak fast and with an accent that they find difficult to comprehend.

Tomboy

Someone in the Philippines might tell you she’s a tomboy. The first thing that may come to your mind is that she’s a girl who likes sports and other boyish things. In the Philippines, the word tomboy usually means a lesbian.

"I will be the one" 
If, say, you hear your guide saying "I will be the one," you might either get shocked or find yourself on the verge of laughing. Get a hold of yourself. It is simply his way of offering to do something, or the equivalent of “I'll do it.”

"You are mature"  
If a local tells you he thinks you are mature, do not get flattered. Much unlike what you may be thinking, he’s not telling you you are wise and sophisticated. In the Philippines, this is commonly uttered when someone thinks you are already old or you look mature for your age.

"You are advanced" 
This is yet another expression that could easily be misconstrued. When a local tells you, “you are advanced,” what he is actually saying is that you are ahead of schedule or that you are early. So no, it does not mean you are knowledgeable/skilled.

“Come again?” 



While this may have you thinking of being asked to return, it is really just an innocuous term for Filipinos that could mean any of the following: “I’m sorry would you please say that again?” / “Excuse me?” / “I didn’t get quite get that.”

Open / close the computer  
This is something you are bound to hear only from locals who do not have a good command of the English language. From time to time you may hear someone asking you to open / close the computer, the light, the TV or any appliance. What they actually mean is that they need you to turn on/off the appliance or the light. Now don’t worry about having to assemble or disassemble the computer.
Hand-carry

While at the airport, the term hand-carry may be repeatedly mentioned. This is a term the British and Americans do not recognize. In the Philippines, it is used to refer to carry-on luggage.

Comfort room 
This is yet another word that is not common back home. CR or comfort room is a common term in the Philippines that is used to refer to toilet, shower room, bathroom, powder room, and restroom.

Keep in mind that just because something does not sound right to you does not mean it is necessarily wrong. Just as color is spelled differently in the UK, English has evolved into a different form in the Philippines. As long as you keep an open mind, communicating with the hospitable Filipinos should be a breeze.

Have fun in the beautiful country of Philippines!

~~~

About Patricia Evans 
Patricia Evans is an interior designer, Huffington Post UK blogger, and a full time mother. She worked in Marketing before but she quit her job to pursue her true passion: interior decorating. She is also into green and simple living; she loves traveling, cooking, and having tea."

Twitter: @patricia016
LinkedIn:  Patricia Evans
Website: www.articletuts.com

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Introducing the all new Huawei Nova 2i and its ambassador Hannah Delisha!

Phones nowadays are more than just phones. They are our lives at the palm of our hand. Our contacts, our entertainment, our memories - all captured and stored in one device. It's no wonder that phone brands are constantly improving their products to keep up with the era of selfies, instagram shots and daily vlogging. 

Following the introduction of the iPhone 8 and X as well as Samsung Galaxy Note 8, Huawei today launched the all new quad-camera Nova 2i, the latest member of the Nova 2 series. The event also introduced Hannah Delisha as nova 2i's ambassador at the event held at Ryi and Lynn, Bangsar.

Friday, September 22, 2017

UberEATS Launched in KL - at last!

Being a true Malaysian, food remains an integral part of my daily life. Just ask my colleagues and family. I'll be the one running around the office at 12noon sharp asking the all important question...

"What to eat ar?"


Of course, being the lazy bum that I am, I end up eating around the office area most of the time or bringing food from home simply because traffic jams, looking for parking and queuing/hunting for table scares me. I am sure many of you can relate.

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Fly to Europe with KLM's Dream Deals

Flying to Europe on a grand adventure is the dream for many. Just imagine landing in romantic Paris and having a whirling journey through the countryside until you end up somewhere in Moscow. Just a dream, you say?

Well...

Not anymore because from 19 to 29 September 2017, KLM will offer Dream Deals for air tickets from Kuala Lumpur to selected European and American destinations. Promotional fares are valid for travel from 01 November 2017 to 30 June 2018. 

Friday, September 15, 2017

Explore Authentic Japan with Erwan Heussaff on Life INspired

Set to premiere on Tuesday, 19th September at 10pm (MY/SIN/HK) with back to back episodes, the all-new Life Inspired Original Series- Japan Authentic, a 2 part series follows Erwan Heussaff as he explores the road less travelled in cities such as Iiyama, Hida, Noto, Sasayama, Ine and Tanabe, where local produce are at its freshest and the people are most welcoming.

In the series, Erwan,  who is also a lifestyle video creator and culinary enthusiast, meets up with some locals along the way to truly experience a side of Japan not many may know off. From activities like jungle trekking through the Shin-etsu Forest, mountain boarding at Madarao Kogen Ski Resort, experiencing a Kiriko Festival or tasting the fresh local produce straight from the farm, the series aims to open a different chapter from the book of Japan.

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Coolblog adds Malaysian-spired drinks to its menu

Let's face. Malaysians do love their local flavours. Case in point - Nasi Lemak, cendol, salted egg yolk and durian.

In conjunction with Hari Malaysia, CoolBlog Malaysia has launched Rasa Rasa Malaysia, its new range of colourful flavours catered to Malaysian taste buds. The new drinks were unveiled in conjunction with the celebration of Merdeka and Malaysia Day, incorporating flavours that are distinctly Malaysian and derived from local desserts.

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Viper Arena 2017 race recap

Another round of Viper Arena and what a fun round it was. 6km, 15 obstacles all within the vicinity of Shah Alam Stadium which just not too long ago, was a Sea Games venue. And once again Team Huh now upgraded to Team Fuh made an appearance, all decked out in red now. 

Here's a video compilation of our fun night out. 



Video captured and edited with iPhone SE using VivaVideo and Splice app. To read my other write ups on Viper Arena: 

Saturday, September 9, 2017

AirAsia Launches World’s First Freedom Flyer Programme

AirAsia yesterday unveiled the world’s first Freedom Flyer Programme aimed at making it easier, faster and better for loyal guests to earn AirAsia BIG Points. The overhauled loyalty programme, powered by AirAsia BIG Loyalty, is based on a unique membership status system determined by how often guests fly - the more guests fly with AirAsia, the faster they will earn BIG Points, regardless of how much they spend on fares.

 AirAsia BIG Loyalty CEO Dato' Eddy Leong flanked by AirAsia Executive Chairman Datuk Kamarudin Meranun (centre left), AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes (centre right) and cabin crew at the Freedom Flyer Programme launch. 
How it works 
The four-status system starts with Red status for guests who fly 13 or fewer one-way short-haul flights in the preceding 12 months, through to Gold and Platinum, and all the way up to Black for those who fly 50 or more times with AirAsia.

Friday, September 8, 2017

30 in Japan: Tokyo Michelin Star Shinjukukappo Nakajima restaurant [Day 3]

When it comes to good food, Japan has plenty, possibly due to the attention to detail and care the locals put into the preparation. But more often than not, good award-winning food is often associated with expensive.

Not at Nakajima. Located in an obscure road/alley in Shinjuku, this unsuspecting basement restaurant is the winner of one Michelin star for one simple ingredient. Sardines.

Sunday, September 3, 2017

30 in Japan: Kamakura and Enoshima [Day 1 and 2]

I am officially 30 years old. I am officially in my 30s now. I am..still mentally in my 20s so basically nothing has changed.

Except achieving one of my dream of spending my birthday in Japan. Like any true Japan-fan, a birthday getaway to the Land of the Rising Sun was the goal and on my 30th birthday, I was in Japan at the top of Mouth Fuji.

But I am getting ahead of myself. Let me start with the first town we visited upon arrival in Japan during our trip on 1-9 July (summer season). Kamakura was beautiful, peaceful even except on weekends when it's becomes the ideal beach getaway destination for visitors from Tokyo. I booked our two night stay at Webase Hostel Kamakura, near Yuigahama beach and two train stops away from Kamakura station.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

OCR News: Spartan Race Malaysia Changes Date AND Venue for Beast

So just to quickly make sure everyone is on the same page on what I will be talking about - Spartan Race Malaysia was supposed to have its Spartan Beast on 8 October at a tbc location in Kuala Lumpur. The key details here being: 8 October and Kuala Lumpur.

This has been promoted and pushed in their offers, partnerships and promotional materials including the APAC poster.



And then...two months before the race, we learnt that Spartan Race had decided to move the date to 9 December and the venue to Johor Bahru still at an undetermined address. It will be a three race-event consisting of an Ultra-Beast, Beast and Sprint now and is also part of the Singapore Beast leg (well, seeing as they have literally no room for a Beast on that island...)

Monday, August 7, 2017

MyBurgerLab Nasi Lemak Burger

Okay, this is me riding on the craze that is the Nasi Lemak burger fisco because I managed to get a bite of the famed Nasi Lemak Ayam Rendang (NLAR) burger from burger experts, MyBurgerLab just yesterday.

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Webase Hostel Kamakura, Kanagawa review

After a comfortable 7 hour flight and a one night stay at First Cabin Haneda airport (a comfortable capsule-concept hotel which I blogged about before), I was ready to head down to Kamakura. I had booked my group near Yuigahama beach at a rather new hostel, WeBase Hostel. Upon arriving it was clear that the better term should be postel.
source: tripadvisor
Kamakura was a popular seaside destination for international AND local tourists with Enoshima Island within easy access. Yuigahama on the other hand was blissfully void of people and WeBase was the ideal base for us to start our adventures in Kamakura.

Saturday, July 22, 2017

Viper Genting KOTM 2017 race recap

Viper Genting once again has proven itself to the OCR event for the highlands with a cooling weather, an instant uphill stretch to get the heart pumping and a repertoire of old and new obstacles to keep things interesting for any OCR junkie out there.

The first obstacle was dragging myself out of my warm comfortable bed at 430am on Saturday, the day of the event. It had started to drizzle outside and I immediately dreaded running Viper Genting in the rain. Cold plus rain equals a miserable me.

Sunday, June 18, 2017

Quick Update: OCRs and Mount Fuji

Okay, so things have been a bit quiet on the blog. Work has been 'bitch be cray cray' crazy. I have picked up my creative writing once to deal with the stress hence the lack of updates here. Sorry about that.

Thursday, June 8, 2017

Berbuka Puasa Buffet at Lemon Garden, Shangri-La KL

This festive season, indulge in a grand and lavish dinner buffet featuring the best of authentic Malaysian and international cuisine at Lemon Garden, Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur between 7pm to 10.30 from 27 May to 24 June 2017. The culinary team at Lemon Garden has carefully put together a wondrous buffet menu which infuses rich Malaysian flavours to its wide spread of specialities.

The festive dinner buffet will have a live action corner with a barbeque pit at the terrace serving an array of sumptuous delights such as Iranian Kubbiedeh (Charcoal Grill Minced Lamb), Shish Tawouk (Charcoal Grilled Chicken Cubes), Iranian Tikka Mastih (Charcoal Grilled Beef), Barbecued Chicken Wings, Fresh Water Prawns, Grilled Oysters, Scallops and more.

Tuesday, June 6, 2017

SCORE Warzone: Urban Assault kicks off

Update: The SCORE Warzone has been postponed to 20 Jan 2018. 

Another obstacle race is entering the Malaysia OCR scene with an exciting line-up of four different terrain races for OCR junkies to participate it. Established for their Zumba and running events, SCORE now ventures into the obstacle racing field with SCORE Warzone, a four series OCR events that kicks off on 18 November. 

Friday, June 2, 2017

Touch Your Memories with Droprint app

As a writer, I always felt that there was something personal about writing down my thoughts. As a photographer, being able to hold my photos in my fingers seems to bring the images to life. It's almost as though you are imparting a part of yourself into ink when you write or print out these thoughts and memories.

While Instagram and Facebook do have their appeal when it comes to sharing photos, there is nothing quite like printing out your photos and pinning them up over your desk. Thanks to modern tech and a little niffy app called Droprint, you can have your photos selected, printed on nice glossy photo papers or as a memorabilia photobook and delivered to you.

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Viper Arena Penang 2017 race recap

Say Penang and the first response you will probably get from any local would be "FOOD!".

Now ask any OCR junkie from Penang and they would tell you it was the venue of Viper Challenge's second event of the year on 25 March after Viper Singapore in February. In short, it was the perfect state for any true food loving, OCR addicted Malaysian to head off to for a weekend getaway up North.

Our planning included two things: eating and Viper Challenge Arena. And after a day of binge eating all over Penang, my team was gearing to go as we gathered at Batu Kawan Stadium on the mainland part of Penang. Compared to the crackled, lackluster walls of Shah Alam Stadium (the other venue for the Viper Arena series), Batu Kawan Stadium looked amazing especially when the sun went down and the lights and fireworks came on. It wasn't as big as Shah Alam Stadium although this resulted in a course that amounted to 5km of stairs, ramp-running, obstacles, tarmac and obstacles.

Tuesday, May 23, 2017

Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2017 Results

The results for Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2017 are in! 

Check out your standings here. Use the ctrl+F function to find your name or bib number.
42km- www.kl-marathon.com/…/downl…/2017/05/22/fm-result-2017_1.pdf
21km- www.kl-marathon.com/…/downloa…/2017/05/22/hm-result-2017.pdf
10km- www.kl-marathon.com/…/downl…/2017/05/22/10km-result-2017.pdf

Download your e-cert from https://register.kl-marathon.com/2017/scklm17/RegScklm17/result_check

Top 5 Highlights of Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon 2017

21 May 2017 was a huge day for Dirigo event, owner and organiser of Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon with almost 36,000 runners flocking to Dataran Merdeka to take part in the Standard Chartered KL Marathon.

Here are five event highlights of Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon 2017!

1. 36,000 runners! 
Almost 36,000 runners participated in Standard Chartered Kuala Lumpur Marathon 2017! As they always say, a picture is worth a thousand words. This picture is worth almost 36,000.


Saturday, May 20, 2017

Raya Hampers and Goodies from Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

Ramadhan is but a week away. Oh my, where did the time go? Before you know it, it's time for Raya and that means prepping gifts and hampers for all those fun open houses and company makan-makan with clients. Bestnye.....

So instead of waiting until the last minute to place your order, why not plan ahead and pick one of 
two Hari Raya hampers offered by Lemon Garden 2Go at Shangri-La Hotel, Kuala Lumpur?

Monday, May 15, 2017

Milo Breakfast Day Run 2017: Putrajaya

For the third year in a row, I ran the Milo Breakfast Day Run. Getting a bib for this run was like scoring the lottery. All 15,000 slots were snapped up in less than 24 hours. Luckily for me (maybe not), I was staying back late for work in the office when the registration opened up and managed to register 16 of my colleagues and their plus ones.

Fast forward to a month later and it was race day on 14 May at Anjung Floria, Putrajaya. Flag off was scheduled for 7am and at 645am, none of my colleagues were in sight....save for one. My colleagues has officially taken Malaysian timing to a whole new level.