Mind Over Miles: Where Resilience Meets Instinct

The cool air of Cameron Highlands carries more than just the scent of tea leaves this July — it breathes life into a new generation of endurance athletes as they tackle the Cameron Ultra 2025. Wrapped in mist and silence, the trail becomes a canvas for perseverance, painted with every stride and heartbeat. 

Among the participants this year is Syarifah Balqis, a rising name in Malaysia’s trail running scene. From completing her first ultra-marathon in 2022 to conquering a solo 100 km race at Trans Jeju, Balqis has steadily built a reputation for grit and quiet determination. 

Hiking Bukit Guling Ayam

Easy hike with massive payoffs was how one of the blogs described Bukit Guling Ayam. And I agreed! 

With Bukit Tabur closed off to the public due to the danger it poses, Bukit Guling Ayam is perhaps the next best site for a hike along the quartz ridgeline. To even call it a hike seems like an overstatement but what else can I call it? 

3 Jeju Olle Trails to Hike in Autumn [including checkpoints, elevations and tips]

If you're looking for a different way to see and explore Jeju Island that isn't hopping on and off a bus or a self-drive around the island, I've got you covered in this blog post

A little known aspect of Jeju Island is its 425km worth of walking trails otherwise known as Jeju Olle Trails. That's right. You can actually explore Korea's most southern island by foot. Circling its coastline and cutting inland, you can take your pick of 26 different walking and hiking courses all across the the island, courtesy of Jeju Olle Foundation. 

Mirror Lake Shah Alam: Nusa Rhu Entrance

After killing my knees on my previous hike, my lazy ass was determined to find the easier route to the Shah Alam Mirror Lake via the Nusa Rhu entrance. When I checked Google, there were a couple of confusing reviews left by visitors claiming that the entrance was closed to public and that the security guard would chase away anyone trying to enter the gated community of Nusa Rhu where the entrance was located. 

Mirror Lake Shah Alam: Setia Alam Community Trail

This place has been going viral over social media, sending doves of people to the furthest parts of Selangor to see this beautiful serene lake hidden inside Setia Alam Community Park. 

With a surface to still and calm, the teal waters reflect the skies in a whimsical mirror image hence earning its name. The water is so blue that it might looked like an auntie had tried washing her blue freshly dyed sarong in its water. But don't worry about chemicals contaminating the lake because its blue comes from the algae that has flourished at the lake bed. 

Isn't nature wonderful? 

Head South to Desaru Coast - Malaysia’s Hidden Holiday Retreat

As more Malaysian residents begin to venture out of their homes for a much-needed getaway, the spotlight beams brightly on the plethora of destination options available within the country. Local tourism has witnessed a boost in recent weeks as holidaymakers make a beeline for popular hotspots. However, very few, if any, can claim to “have it all” in one place while at the same time, ensure a proper, physically distanced holiday, far from the maddening crowds – with one exception, perhaps.

This Merdeka, one hidden gem on Malaysia’s southern coastline is all geared up to entice visitors to rediscover what makes this country truly great, with the best that it has to offer. Boasting wide open spaces across 3,900 acres along a 17-km unspoiled beachfront, Desaru Coast Destination Resort (Desaru Coast) certainly has it all – globally acclaimed hotels and resorts, nature pursuits, one of the biggest waterparks in the world, golf, as well as a host of retail and lifestyle offerings, all nestled within a rich bio-diverse location which is easily accessible via road, air and sea.

Nagasaki, Kyushu [Day 4 Part 2] - Meganebashi Bridge

One of the places I've heard so much about when researching Nagasaki was Meganebashi aka the Spectacle Bridge. It runs over Nakashima River in downtown Nagasaki, near China town and against a backdrop of the hills and slopes, makes for a very pretty sight. 

The bridge got its name from its double arches when reflected in the calm waters of the river will look like a pair of glasses from the neighbouring bridges.

9D8N Kumano Kodo Pilgrimage Itinerary

After exploring many of the main metropolitan of Japan, what else is there to do that spirals outside of the beaten path? I would say embarking on a pilgrimage route. There is just something so sacred about following the trails of religious and spiritual individuals while immersing one’s self in the beauty of Japan’s nature. But of course, times have change and no longer do those wishing to embark on a pilgrimage route have to traverse city to city when we now have trains and buses. Nor is a pilgrimage route exclusively for the religious anymore. 

Kumamoto, Kyushu [Day 2] - Kumamoto and Miyazaki in One Day

Let's face it. When travelling, there will be the sunny days when everything goes as planned and there will be rainy days when everything just falls apart and leaves you soaking wet on the sidewalk. The second day of my Kyushu trip was the latter. Quite literally.

This day was the wettest day of my entire trip and it was also the one day when we had the most outdoor activities in the outskirts of Kumamoto and Miyazaki. I could have cancelled everything but decided ya know what, we have the car, let's just head out and see how the weather holds up.

[Race Review] KLSCM 2019 Half Marathon: Chasing that Pacer Balloon

2.5km into the race, I turned the corner into Jalan Raja Abdullah  and I could see those two giant yellow balloons bopping up and down in the air ahead of me. At this point everyone around me started speeding up, trying to overtake the 3:00 hours pacers. I did too even though the Chinese in me had already done the maths and I knew if I held my current pace, I would eventually overtake them anyway.

Inaugural Ironman 70.3 Desaru Coast set for 17-19 April 2020

Imagine this. Swimming in the beautiful waters of Desaru Coast, cycling along its scenic roads and going for a run along a shady route. And to end it all, end your vacation with a medal and the elusive title of Ironman.

Because this is exactly what the unaugural Ironman 70.3 Desaru Coast Multisport Festival is set to offer participants on 17 - 19 April, 2020 at the beautiful luxurious resort space of Desaru Coast, Johor Bahru. This weekend event is the first of its kind in Asia and will comprise of an Ironman 70.3 triathlon, 5150 Triathlon, Ironkids and Sprint Races. There is literally something for everyone looking to venture into the sport of swim, bike, run.

Artbox Malaysia 2019: ASSEMBLE!

Artbox Malaysia 2019: Assemble, the largest retrofitted creative market housed in its iconic metal shipping containers is coming back to Malaysia on the 6 - 8 and 13 - 15 September at Sunway City Outdoor Open Air Carpark once again with free admission for everyone.

Viper Arena 2019 Bukit Jalil Stadium

I am back at last with yet another Viper Arena video. Viper Arena has quickly become one of my staple OCR events since it started because it's a quick course of 5-7km, dry and often less than 30 minutes drive away. The recent race in Bukit Jalil stadium was no different with a mix of old, improved and new obstacles.

You can see for yourself.



Were you at the event? If you were, leave a comment and follow me for more OCR "fun". Next up...SPARTAN KUCHING!

Riding Japan’s Smallest Horse

This article was first published on Unlock Japan on 5 May 2019 (link)

While a part of Japan, Okinawa has always been a unique prefecture with an unusual history that dates back to the Ryukyu Kingdom. Made up of a sub-tropical chain of 160 islands at the southernmost tip of Japan, Okinawa not only has a colourful cultural blend of Chinese and Japanese but is also home to the smallest and rarest horse breed in the entire nation.

Making Waves with Mermaids at Sunway Lagoon

Hans Christian Andersen inspired the magic of these creatures with his fairy tale "The Little Mermaid" that Disney took and warped into a children movie. Mermaids — legendary half-human, half marine creatures — have fascinated people for centuries and inspired many "sightings."

This March, Malaysians and families from all walks of life have something really unique to expect at Sunway Lagoon. Specially planned to coincide with the upcoming Malaysia school holidays, Sunway Lagoon’s Waves of Fun programme presents Mermaids Alive!

Top 5 Whale Watching Spots along the New South Wales Coast

From late Autumn to early Spring, the waters along the New South Wales coast burst into life as thousands of whales migrate north from the cold Southern Ocean to feed and breed in the warmth of the Pacific.

The Humpback Highway runs right alongside the New South Wales coast and each year more than 30,000 whales make their annual migration from Antarctica to the Pacific (and back again). Nature lovers can watch the show from numerous scenic coastal lookouts and walking tracks.

5 Spots in Sydney to Whale-Watch

Whale-watching is a must do for first time visitors to Sydney and great news! You don’t need to leave the city to get a good look at a whale. These giants of the deep cruise close to the coast and have even been known to pop up inside Sydney Harbour. There are lots of excellent vantage points, from popular beach lookouts to hidden bush trails, or you can get right in the thick of the action on a boat cruise.

Picture: mattkemp.com

The annual whale migration runs from May to November, peaking in July and September. Whales migrate north to breed in warmer waters. They return south with their calves to feed in the southern oceans. You’ll find more information at the Wild About Whales website.

OCR Up North: BDB Extreme Jitra 2018

Head up north this June for the BDB Extreme Jitra 2018 set to take place on 30th June 2018. Look forward to an exciting 8km course with 10 obstacles across Darulaman Park, Jitra. 

Nagoya Women's Marathon 2018: A New PB!

I’ll admit, after last year’s horrid performance at Tokyo Marathon, I was a bit disheartened to attempt another marathon. But when the ballot for the Nagoya Women’s Marathon 2018 opened up, I couldn’t resist throwing my hat into the ringer. Lo and behold, by some twisted luck, I got in and on 11 March 2018, found myself waiting outside Nagoya Dome along with 21,900 other women for the flag off at 9:10am.

The 2018 edition of the Nagoya Women's Marathon was quite an important affair for the local elite runners as it was the last race of the season for them to book a spot in the marathon Grand Championship, Japan’s qualifying race for 2020 Olympics. Apart from that, the date was also the anniversary of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake and through this event, it felt as though the whole of Japan was rallying to remember that tragic day. None of these facts really sank into me until after the race though.

Brooks Returns as Official Apparel for Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2018

Official Apparel Sponsor Brooks returns to the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2018 (SCKLM2018) for the event’s 10th Anniversary, providing more than 38,000 registered runners with Running Tees and outfitting SCKLM2018 Official Pacers with a complete set of running gear.

The Standard Chartered KL Marathon (SCKLM) 2018 Pacers will be clad in highly visible bright yellow tops. Out of a total of 29 Official Pacers, 18 were on hand to receive their Pacer kits at a handover ceremony at the flagship Brooks outlet at MyTown in Cheras. Pacers received their exclusively designed Brooks singlets with Equilibrium Technology, along with a pair of running shorts and shoes. There will be 23 Pacers assisting runners in the Full Marathon category and for the first time, there will also be another 6 Pacers for the Half Marathon category.