Where to go?
Sunday, May 08, 2005
Saturday, May 07, 2005
Off to Sydney
Sydney, Australia May 7 to may 14, 2005
Friday May 6th and Saturday May 7th , 2005 – Off to Sydney
A medical check up with Dr. Zainal, the Vascular Specialist, following the findings of the CT Scan two days ago, went ok. I had an early morning appointment and was done by 9.30am. “Come back in six months time”, he said. That meant I am ok for the time being, I guess. My scheduled appointment with my regular doctor at the University Hospital in the afternoon also went ok and I got to replenish the same medications. At the same time I got additional medication for my cough which had been lingering on for the past three weeks or so. I was done here by 3.00pm. So, we were clear in our minds that it is ok for us to proceed on our Sydney trip. Continued with packing our clothes and got ourselves ready to go.
Tessa had gone to Pasir Gudang, Johore for her work . So we left home by cab for the airport at 6.30pm for our flight that was scheduled for 8.40pm. All ok with checking-in for the flight, immigration, the flight itself and the immigration and customs inspection on arrival in Sydney Airport. We arrived in Sydney at 6.40am Sydney time, two hours ahead of KL time.
We were warned by others, before we made this trip, not to bring any foodstuff, raw or not, and that customs in Australia is always very strict. Indeed they were. They were really very thorough in their inspection. They went through every luggage and bag and asked many questions. Since we had declared the medicines we brought along, the Officer that attended to us, although asked many questions, just cursorily went through our luggage, but every piece of luggage nevertheless, and we were off in just a short while. We were done by 7.15am. It is still too early to get into the city or to the hotel as check-in time at the hotel is 2.00pm. We decided to while away some time at the airport.
I checked out the facilities at the airport, the flight departure area, tourist information booths, money changer and changed some cash. I also checked out a prayer room made available to the public, that’s convenient. At the tourist information counter I confirmed most of those information gathered through the internet. I decided to purchase the 3day Sydney Pass ticket which includes the train ride into the city from the airport. We had breakfast at one of the airport cafes and then caught the 9.00 am train into the city.
Using the city map as a guide we stopped at the station nearest to the Apartment Hotel and walked slowly to the hotel, luggage and all. It was not a hassle as our luggage bags are wheeled and this day being a Saturday, the streets were empty that time of the morning. We got to the hotel ok, and checked in. Our room was already available then so we do not have to wait until 2.00pm. Our one room apartment was very comfortable and the facilities made available in the room are indeed as described in the internet when we made our reservations. After washing up and catch up on sleep I decided to scout around the vicinity of the hotel. There were a number of convenience stores nearby in all directions and not too far away is Chinatown, a food court with shops selling a wide variety of food from various parts of the world and I found shops selling foods that are suitable to us. There is also a wet market, a ‘flea’ market called Paddy Market, and various shopping complexes and supermarkets, all within walking distance from the hotel. I bought some food, fruits, bread, salads and laundry stuff. We had lunch/dinner and rested the rest of the day.
MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Sydney, Australia
Friday May 6th and Saturday May 7th , 2005 – Off to Sydney
A medical check up with Dr. Zainal, the Vascular Specialist, following the findings of the CT Scan two days ago, went ok. I had an early morning appointment and was done by 9.30am. “Come back in six months time”, he said. That meant I am ok for the time being, I guess. My scheduled appointment with my regular doctor at the University Hospital in the afternoon also went ok and I got to replenish the same medications. At the same time I got additional medication for my cough which had been lingering on for the past three weeks or so. I was done here by 3.00pm. So, we were clear in our minds that it is ok for us to proceed on our Sydney trip. Continued with packing our clothes and got ourselves ready to go.
Tessa had gone to Pasir Gudang, Johore for her work . So we left home by cab for the airport at 6.30pm for our flight that was scheduled for 8.40pm. All ok with checking-in for the flight, immigration, the flight itself and the immigration and customs inspection on arrival in Sydney Airport. We arrived in Sydney at 6.40am Sydney time, two hours ahead of KL time.
We were warned by others, before we made this trip, not to bring any foodstuff, raw or not, and that customs in Australia is always very strict. Indeed they were. They were really very thorough in their inspection. They went through every luggage and bag and asked many questions. Since we had declared the medicines we brought along, the Officer that attended to us, although asked many questions, just cursorily went through our luggage, but every piece of luggage nevertheless, and we were off in just a short while. We were done by 7.15am. It is still too early to get into the city or to the hotel as check-in time at the hotel is 2.00pm. We decided to while away some time at the airport.
I checked out the facilities at the airport, the flight departure area, tourist information booths, money changer and changed some cash. I also checked out a prayer room made available to the public, that’s convenient. At the tourist information counter I confirmed most of those information gathered through the internet. I decided to purchase the 3day Sydney Pass ticket which includes the train ride into the city from the airport. We had breakfast at one of the airport cafes and then caught the 9.00 am train into the city.
Using the city map as a guide we stopped at the station nearest to the Apartment Hotel and walked slowly to the hotel, luggage and all. It was not a hassle as our luggage bags are wheeled and this day being a Saturday, the streets were empty that time of the morning. We got to the hotel ok, and checked in. Our room was already available then so we do not have to wait until 2.00pm. Our one room apartment was very comfortable and the facilities made available in the room are indeed as described in the internet when we made our reservations. After washing up and catch up on sleep I decided to scout around the vicinity of the hotel. There were a number of convenience stores nearby in all directions and not too far away is Chinatown, a food court with shops selling a wide variety of food from various parts of the world and I found shops selling foods that are suitable to us. There is also a wet market, a ‘flea’ market called Paddy Market, and various shopping complexes and supermarkets, all within walking distance from the hotel. I bought some food, fruits, bread, salads and laundry stuff. We had lunch/dinner and rested the rest of the day.
MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Sydney, Australia
Sydney, Australia - The Plan
Sydney, Australia May 7 to may 14, 2005
Sometime in February 2005, we read an advertisement that there will be a travel fair by Malaysian Airlines on 19th. February. Oh oh, that was the day we were to fly out into Bintulu. However, going on-line on arrival in Bintulu, I found that I can make bookings on-line all the same. I did, and this time Sydney was my targeted destination. I have always wanted to go there but never had the opportunity. Furthermore, a former colleague and a close family friend, who is now resident in Sydney, had several times invited us to visit Sydney. I thought it is now a good time to visit Sydney. I managed to get a much reduced fare for Ram and I through the travel fair. Apparently MAS only accepts cash bookings on-line and that was very convenient.
For accommodation I went on line again and browsed for a reasonably priced accommodation. There were quite a few to choose from and I chose the one that was close, walking distance if possible to the train station, to shopping malls, to the main attractions, etc. I picked an Apartment Hotel that was offering a fully furnished one-room apartment at a weekly rate of AU$ 935.00. “That is a very good deal”, many who are familiar with Sydney said. The apartment offers a fully furnished kitchen including a microwave oven, a dishwasher, a washing machine and dryer, iron and ironing board. Very convenient indeed for us.
I then went into the chat-rooms and travel forums, to get tips on Sydney, to gather information from other travelers who have had experiences, good or bad, traveling in Sydney. There were many useful tips gathered through this chat-rooms and forums. With these I started making plans of what to do and see when I do arrive in Sydney later.
I also checked the websites of the train service, the bus service and so on. I found them to be very informative and were indeed very traveler friendly. There was something that keeps cropping up on this transportation thingy. Even the advice given in chat-rooms and forums are often repeated on them. That is, there are offer tickets that one can purchase and save on transport costs. There is the day tripper ticket where one can use any of the rail transportation (limited stations), ferry service, and bus service at a discounted rate. Another offer is the Sydney Pass, for 3, 5 or 7 days ticket that one can use on any of the train services (limited stations), the bus services, the ferry services, the hop on hop off Sydney Explorer tourist bus, the hop on hop off Bondi explorer tourist bus, the river cruises, morning cruise and or afternoon cruise and or night cruise. The combined cost of these tickets would be at about a 50% discount of the individual tickets added together.
I checked out where the markets are, the malls, parks, museums, convenient stores and so on and formed some sort of plan for my stay in Sydney. It may just be a hit and miss plan, but a plan nevertheless. I would know what to expect and what to look forward to. I would know where to go to and be prepared. Or am I ???.............
MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Petaling Jaya
Sometime in February 2005, we read an advertisement that there will be a travel fair by Malaysian Airlines on 19th. February. Oh oh, that was the day we were to fly out into Bintulu. However, going on-line on arrival in Bintulu, I found that I can make bookings on-line all the same. I did, and this time Sydney was my targeted destination. I have always wanted to go there but never had the opportunity. Furthermore, a former colleague and a close family friend, who is now resident in Sydney, had several times invited us to visit Sydney. I thought it is now a good time to visit Sydney. I managed to get a much reduced fare for Ram and I through the travel fair. Apparently MAS only accepts cash bookings on-line and that was very convenient.
For accommodation I went on line again and browsed for a reasonably priced accommodation. There were quite a few to choose from and I chose the one that was close, walking distance if possible to the train station, to shopping malls, to the main attractions, etc. I picked an Apartment Hotel that was offering a fully furnished one-room apartment at a weekly rate of AU$ 935.00. “That is a very good deal”, many who are familiar with Sydney said. The apartment offers a fully furnished kitchen including a microwave oven, a dishwasher, a washing machine and dryer, iron and ironing board. Very convenient indeed for us.
I then went into the chat-rooms and travel forums, to get tips on Sydney, to gather information from other travelers who have had experiences, good or bad, traveling in Sydney. There were many useful tips gathered through this chat-rooms and forums. With these I started making plans of what to do and see when I do arrive in Sydney later.
I also checked the websites of the train service, the bus service and so on. I found them to be very informative and were indeed very traveler friendly. There was something that keeps cropping up on this transportation thingy. Even the advice given in chat-rooms and forums are often repeated on them. That is, there are offer tickets that one can purchase and save on transport costs. There is the day tripper ticket where one can use any of the rail transportation (limited stations), ferry service, and bus service at a discounted rate. Another offer is the Sydney Pass, for 3, 5 or 7 days ticket that one can use on any of the train services (limited stations), the bus services, the ferry services, the hop on hop off Sydney Explorer tourist bus, the hop on hop off Bondi explorer tourist bus, the river cruises, morning cruise and or afternoon cruise and or night cruise. The combined cost of these tickets would be at about a 50% discount of the individual tickets added together.
I checked out where the markets are, the malls, parks, museums, convenient stores and so on and formed some sort of plan for my stay in Sydney. It may just be a hit and miss plan, but a plan nevertheless. I would know what to expect and what to look forward to. I would know where to go to and be prepared. Or am I ???.............
MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Petaling Jaya
A Series of Medical Check Ups
As I mentioned in my previous post we had to return to PJ from the East Coast even though we were not too well to travel. We had a series of medical check ups scheduled for the 4th, 5th and 6th which we just could not give a miss, especially for the one on the 4th. Hence we proceeded with the trip back even though I was not too well to drive. But we thought there are rest areas every 40 kilometers or so, or every 15 to 20 minutes of driving on the highway, which would be convenient for us to stop and for me to do the necessary ‘job’ if I have to. Praise be to the Almighty for the protection he provided us when we made the journey back to PJ. We only need to stop twice to rest and we arrived home none too worse for it.
As planned, we went early to attend the scheduled full medical check at the designated location. This check up is a membership type annual check where they do full screening of one’s condition. From these screening tests done you will know your condition and if need be seek further professional advice on any specific condition found. A couple of years ago we joined a health club that promotes healthy living and provides facilities for them. The main attraction is the annual medical screenings and check-ups, apart from the use of the various health facilities provided, the gymnasiums and fitness centers, swimming pools and similar facilities, health and wellness talks, brochures and fliers and so on. So, the check-up on the 4th is one of the annual screening check-ups.
Wednesday, 4th May 2005. There were not many members scheduled for check up today, so it was quite a leisurely morning for us while we go through the various phases of the checks, starting with the complete urine and blood tests and followed by others like ECG, hearings, eyes, bone mass etc. One test that was done this year is the CT Scan. I have not gone through the scan before and the doctors there say that it not necessary to do the scan annually. Even three yearly would be too often but it is good to have it done just to see the conditions. I agreed and had the scan done.
All the above tests took us until about lunch time. We were given a choice of local or Japanese lunch. We chose Japanese. After lunch we had a session with the doctor who went through the results of the test in detail and provided advice on what to do, what to eat or to avoid, and in general how to take care of our health. However, the scan that I went through indicated something that is not so good. There is aneurysm, the doctor called it ‘infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm’ or swelling on the lower aorta at the abdominal region. The swelling is about 5.7 cm in length. The doctor advised me to seek further professional help from a specialist and prepared a referral letter. Meanwhile I made a phone call to Ram’s niece, who is a doctor, to help identify a specialist for me to see. She identified a Vascular Specialist and made an appointment for me to see the specialist two days later.
I went early, on Friday morning, 6th May, for the appointment with the Vascular Specialist in KL. He took a long look at the various CT scan films, did a physical check on me and advised me not to worry about it. Don’t all the doctors say that to their patients? Anyway, he explained that the aneurysm is small and could have developed over a long period of time or could have just happened recently. He would wait to see if there is any further development later before deciding if there is a need for physical intrusion for which the risk could be much higher than the effect of the aneurysm itself. The worst that can happen is that the swelling ruptures and an immediate operation to correct it become necessary then. Otherwise it is better to leave it as it is and see if there is any further or adverse development. I am to see him immediately if I develop any pain in the stomach region or numbness in the legs. He scheduled me for a review in six months time and do an ultrasound check then to reassess the condition. That indeed was a relief to me. I hope and pray that the aneurysm is just a passing discovery and does not develop to a worsening condition and that I can get on with my life as normal as can be, with the blessings and allowance of the Almighty.
The other scheduled appointments we had were those regular and periodic ones for Ram and me to get our prescriptions and continual medication. Those went without much ado and we got our prescriptions alright.
Having gone through all the test and check ups, and were assured that everything is ok for the moment, we were happy then to proceed with our plans. We were scheduled to leave for Sydney at 8.20pm that night. We started packing and got ready for the trip.
MKI Ramblings UnlimitedPetaling Jaya
As planned, we went early to attend the scheduled full medical check at the designated location. This check up is a membership type annual check where they do full screening of one’s condition. From these screening tests done you will know your condition and if need be seek further professional advice on any specific condition found. A couple of years ago we joined a health club that promotes healthy living and provides facilities for them. The main attraction is the annual medical screenings and check-ups, apart from the use of the various health facilities provided, the gymnasiums and fitness centers, swimming pools and similar facilities, health and wellness talks, brochures and fliers and so on. So, the check-up on the 4th is one of the annual screening check-ups.
Wednesday, 4th May 2005. There were not many members scheduled for check up today, so it was quite a leisurely morning for us while we go through the various phases of the checks, starting with the complete urine and blood tests and followed by others like ECG, hearings, eyes, bone mass etc. One test that was done this year is the CT Scan. I have not gone through the scan before and the doctors there say that it not necessary to do the scan annually. Even three yearly would be too often but it is good to have it done just to see the conditions. I agreed and had the scan done.
All the above tests took us until about lunch time. We were given a choice of local or Japanese lunch. We chose Japanese. After lunch we had a session with the doctor who went through the results of the test in detail and provided advice on what to do, what to eat or to avoid, and in general how to take care of our health. However, the scan that I went through indicated something that is not so good. There is aneurysm, the doctor called it ‘infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysm’ or swelling on the lower aorta at the abdominal region. The swelling is about 5.7 cm in length. The doctor advised me to seek further professional help from a specialist and prepared a referral letter. Meanwhile I made a phone call to Ram’s niece, who is a doctor, to help identify a specialist for me to see. She identified a Vascular Specialist and made an appointment for me to see the specialist two days later.
I went early, on Friday morning, 6th May, for the appointment with the Vascular Specialist in KL. He took a long look at the various CT scan films, did a physical check on me and advised me not to worry about it. Don’t all the doctors say that to their patients? Anyway, he explained that the aneurysm is small and could have developed over a long period of time or could have just happened recently. He would wait to see if there is any further development later before deciding if there is a need for physical intrusion for which the risk could be much higher than the effect of the aneurysm itself. The worst that can happen is that the swelling ruptures and an immediate operation to correct it become necessary then. Otherwise it is better to leave it as it is and see if there is any further or adverse development. I am to see him immediately if I develop any pain in the stomach region or numbness in the legs. He scheduled me for a review in six months time and do an ultrasound check then to reassess the condition. That indeed was a relief to me. I hope and pray that the aneurysm is just a passing discovery and does not develop to a worsening condition and that I can get on with my life as normal as can be, with the blessings and allowance of the Almighty.
The other scheduled appointments we had were those regular and periodic ones for Ram and me to get our prescriptions and continual medication. Those went without much ado and we got our prescriptions alright.
Having gone through all the test and check ups, and were assured that everything is ok for the moment, we were happy then to proceed with our plans. We were scheduled to leave for Sydney at 8.20pm that night. We started packing and got ready for the trip.
MKI Ramblings UnlimitedPetaling Jaya
Wednesday, May 04, 2005
TO THE EAST COAST
My youngest sister’s eldest son is getting married. He met a girl at his working place and decided to get married. She comes from the North Eastern state of Kelantan. We were quite surprised that he is getting married so soon and we asked how come? He agreed but was not sure himself how it could happen so fast. His younger sister explained that he once asked permission from the girl’s mother to befriend the daughter. The mother gave permission provided he makes a proper commitment. She does not want her daughter to be made just a friend. So, not wanting to lose her, he decided to commit and the whole process of recognition, agreements, exchange of gifts and finally marriage were set into motion. Then came the wedding solemnization ceremony and the wedding reception. Dates were set for these and close relatives began planning a trip to the East coast for the wedding, my wife and I included. The plan was for the solemnization ceremony be held in mid-morning, Sunday at a mosque near the girls house followed immediately after with a reception in the girl’s house. So most of us made plans to be there the day before and return after the reception on the wedding day. That would give us some time, on the day we arrive, to do some errands and meet up with old friends. But it was not to be. The plan was modified and coupled with the circumstances of the period our plans to run errands and meet up with friends could not take place.
I have had flu and a slight cough two days before leaving PJ for the trip to the East Coast. We had driven to Sita’s house three days before the wedding and planned to stay overnight in Sita’s house, one night in my sister’s house in Kuala Terengganu and then proceed to Kota Bahru, Kelantan and stay a night there. On the day we left for Sita’s house we received a message from my brother-in-law, that the Officer-in-charge for the marriage solemnization ceremony has to bring forward the solemnization to a day earlier and immediately following the mid-day prayers. That change had thrown many peoples’ schedule haywire. My mother, flying from Johore Bahru to Kuala Lumpur and then catch a flight to Kota Bahru had to give the marriage solemnization ceremony a miss. Her flight from Kuala Lumpur was scheduled to leave at 3pm the same day and it was too late to change to an earlier flight. My sister and family, the bridegroom, his parents and his siblings, and my wife and I, had to leave Kuala Terengganu early in the morning. We left in a convoy of three cars and made it to the mosque about an hour before the mid-day prayers.
The mosque was undergoing renovations and is partially closed. There were still quite a lot of work going on and it was very dusty. This very dusty condition is not conducive for Ram, especially to her eyes. We decided to go away from the mosque and stayed away until it was time for the mid-day prayers. The solemnization ceremony went on without a hitch but the officer-in-charge left immediately after the ceremony, apparently to another function. He could not even wait to join us for lunch at the bride’s house. After lunch we had to await the arrival of my mum. The arrival of the Prime Minister in Kota Bahru that afternoon, his routine visit to the state in an attempt to gather increased support of the people, had many routes to the airport closed. This only delayed the arrival of my mum. We finally get to meet her at about 5.30 in the evening.
Another adverse and very serious condition in Kota Bahru then was the typhoid epidemic. We had to be careful of the stuff we eat or drink. We watched and made sure that we eat only cooked food and boiled water. In spite of that Ram showed signs of being affected or infected as early as the next morning, just before we attend the wedding reception. However her condition the next day worsened. She had to go the toilet several times. I thought I was alright as I did not feel anything on Monday but I thought wrong. I came down with flu, my cough got worse and I was purging and vomiting the next day. I slept most of the day.
We have to be back in KL by Tuesday evening as both Ram and I have a full medical check up on Wednesday, followed by other check ups on Thursday and Friday. So we braved it out and drove back to KL. Sita and Fahrul offered to drive us back to KL but we declined. Sita would have to take leave from work if she sent us to KL. I was feeling a little better anyway, while Ram was much better. We left at about 6pm and I had to go to the toilet only once while on the journey back to KL. Later I found out that many others in our group who attended the wedding had the same problems of purging and vomiting. It appeared to be a delayed effect as most got the symptoms one or two days after the wedding. Even the bridegroom was not spared. Mum was the worse hit. She had to be hospitalized and stayed there for three nights.
All those affected are ok by now. It was a very bad experience but we can blame no one. Ok ok, maybe the local council is to be blamed for allowing the epidemic to happen, for allowing the typhoid germs to flourish, for not having proper vector control, proper health monitoring and control, failing in their duties to the public. BUT WE, we were aware of all these, we knew of the epidemic and yet we took the risk. It’s a risk we had to take for the sake of my nephew who was getting married, for the sake of my sister and her family. We went there, and we went with our eyes ‘wide closed’……..
MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Petaling Jaya
I have had flu and a slight cough two days before leaving PJ for the trip to the East Coast. We had driven to Sita’s house three days before the wedding and planned to stay overnight in Sita’s house, one night in my sister’s house in Kuala Terengganu and then proceed to Kota Bahru, Kelantan and stay a night there. On the day we left for Sita’s house we received a message from my brother-in-law, that the Officer-in-charge for the marriage solemnization ceremony has to bring forward the solemnization to a day earlier and immediately following the mid-day prayers. That change had thrown many peoples’ schedule haywire. My mother, flying from Johore Bahru to Kuala Lumpur and then catch a flight to Kota Bahru had to give the marriage solemnization ceremony a miss. Her flight from Kuala Lumpur was scheduled to leave at 3pm the same day and it was too late to change to an earlier flight. My sister and family, the bridegroom, his parents and his siblings, and my wife and I, had to leave Kuala Terengganu early in the morning. We left in a convoy of three cars and made it to the mosque about an hour before the mid-day prayers.
The mosque was undergoing renovations and is partially closed. There were still quite a lot of work going on and it was very dusty. This very dusty condition is not conducive for Ram, especially to her eyes. We decided to go away from the mosque and stayed away until it was time for the mid-day prayers. The solemnization ceremony went on without a hitch but the officer-in-charge left immediately after the ceremony, apparently to another function. He could not even wait to join us for lunch at the bride’s house. After lunch we had to await the arrival of my mum. The arrival of the Prime Minister in Kota Bahru that afternoon, his routine visit to the state in an attempt to gather increased support of the people, had many routes to the airport closed. This only delayed the arrival of my mum. We finally get to meet her at about 5.30 in the evening.
Another adverse and very serious condition in Kota Bahru then was the typhoid epidemic. We had to be careful of the stuff we eat or drink. We watched and made sure that we eat only cooked food and boiled water. In spite of that Ram showed signs of being affected or infected as early as the next morning, just before we attend the wedding reception. However her condition the next day worsened. She had to go the toilet several times. I thought I was alright as I did not feel anything on Monday but I thought wrong. I came down with flu, my cough got worse and I was purging and vomiting the next day. I slept most of the day.
We have to be back in KL by Tuesday evening as both Ram and I have a full medical check up on Wednesday, followed by other check ups on Thursday and Friday. So we braved it out and drove back to KL. Sita and Fahrul offered to drive us back to KL but we declined. Sita would have to take leave from work if she sent us to KL. I was feeling a little better anyway, while Ram was much better. We left at about 6pm and I had to go to the toilet only once while on the journey back to KL. Later I found out that many others in our group who attended the wedding had the same problems of purging and vomiting. It appeared to be a delayed effect as most got the symptoms one or two days after the wedding. Even the bridegroom was not spared. Mum was the worse hit. She had to be hospitalized and stayed there for three nights.
All those affected are ok by now. It was a very bad experience but we can blame no one. Ok ok, maybe the local council is to be blamed for allowing the epidemic to happen, for allowing the typhoid germs to flourish, for not having proper vector control, proper health monitoring and control, failing in their duties to the public. BUT WE, we were aware of all these, we knew of the epidemic and yet we took the risk. It’s a risk we had to take for the sake of my nephew who was getting married, for the sake of my sister and her family. We went there, and we went with our eyes ‘wide closed’……..
MKI Ramblings Unlimited
Petaling Jaya
Saturday, April 30, 2005
I SPY ON THE EXERCISE CIRCUIT
A former colleague of mine wrote in his blog that he makes it a routine to walk around the neighbourhood daily. I personally feel that this is a very good practice and I have been doing it regularly for many years. Friends always tell me that they have not enough time to do it, that they have other priorities to attend to and so on so forth. Hello hello!!….. time is what you make of it my friends. You take charge and you control. You make the time and never allow it to slip by. If you keep saying you have no time you WILL have no time.
In my younger days I used to jog or run around the jogging track or along the roads in the neighbourhood but since quite a number of years ago I just go for brisk walks and mostly in the mornings before getting ready to go to work. I would do it before the sun is up. Nowadays however, since retiring from active work, I am more flexible but I do prefer to do it before the sun is up. It is more pleasant at that time of the morning. Once in a while I do it in the evening too. I will go for a swim in the pool whenever I get the opportunity, either at the PD house, or the club or when we stay in a hotel somewhere in our travels. On rainy days I get onto the motorized treadmill at home and walk on it at speeds of 5 – 6 km/hr for about 45 minutes and then do weights for a while. We have had these equipment for many years now, we do utilize them but it gets pretty dull when using them. I used to have a small TV in front of the treadmill but the TV is ‘kaput’ now. The preference is still to go around the park.
Walking around the park is interesting. Most of the folks in the park at the time that I go there are elderly folks although there are the odd couples of younger ones who, I believe, make the time to exercise in the park. They are the wiser ones!!
It is interesting to see the behaviours of these folks as I briskly walk along.
I spy one man walking around with a broken golf putter in one hand. He walks briskly but he will use the stick to collect discarded plastic bags, or plastic bottles, or packet drinks and deposit them into the nearest rubbish bins, and there are plenty of these bins around the park. He does this every day. Interestingly, these bins are almost always full!!
I spy a man, fully dressed every time, long-sleeved coloured shirt, dark office trousers, not rubber but leather shoes and socks, walking not briskly but normally, around the park. He wears no tie though, ha ha. He holds a digit counter in one hand (the type stewardess use in the airplane when they go up and down the aisle counting the number of passengers on board). I hear the thingy clicking as I go pass him. I do not know whether he is doing a mantra softly and counting, or counting the number of steps he made, or perhaps counting the number of people who pass him, I wonder.
I spy a (very) elderly man, lanky and tall, sweat-shirt and shorts, baseball cap, rubber shoes, walking usually in the reverse direction as I do. (Notice how most people when they get into their routine would not change anything? Enter through the same entrance, same side of the gate, walk on the same side of the road, sit on the same seat at the same location, walk in the park in the same direction, every time?) This man, I think, walks faster than I do as we always pass each other before I get to be half way around the circuit!! Looking at him I used to put him at being 80 or so. I had an opportunity to briefly talk to him on one occasion. I commented how fit he was walking faster than me. I asked how old he was and he said that he was born in 1912. Eh hem! 1912? That makes him 93 years old. I asked for his longevity secret and he said eat natural food, drink a lot of water. No canned or preprocessed foods full of additives and unnatural flavours. That short answer tells me a lot. How we have abused our bodies all these while, hmmm!!
I spy a group of ladies, elderly and with Indonesian maids in tow, dressed for exercise, jogging shoes and all, chit-chatting while walking leisurely, very leisurely in fact, not a care for other users jogging or walking in the park, occupying the whole jogging track as they walk along. All others can go onto the grass for all they care!! They gossip under the guise of exercising?? Noisily too!! The maids gossip amongst themselves as well. Can’t blame them. The opportunity is there.
I spy another group of ladies, standing in rows, with a radio playing some kind of music, and a leader infront showing the moves. All the ladies will synchronise their moves with the leader and its a pretty sight to see. It is not aerobics, more of a dance but its exercise.....
I spy another group of ladies, smaller in number, maybe five or six each time, standing like statues, yes statues. They do not move. They stay that way for quite a while. When the leader change position then only the others follow and change position. Is this exercise?
I spy one man walking in repeated moves of one, two, three steps with arms swinging, stop on the fourth step, and slowly turns his head and upper torso to the right. He then proceeds to walk one, two, three steps and again stop on the fourth step, slowly turns his head and upper torso to the right. He repeats this and all the time turning to the right. After a while he turns to the left and keeps turning to the left. Why for I wonder?
MKI Ramblings Unlimited,
Petaling Jaya
In my younger days I used to jog or run around the jogging track or along the roads in the neighbourhood but since quite a number of years ago I just go for brisk walks and mostly in the mornings before getting ready to go to work. I would do it before the sun is up. Nowadays however, since retiring from active work, I am more flexible but I do prefer to do it before the sun is up. It is more pleasant at that time of the morning. Once in a while I do it in the evening too. I will go for a swim in the pool whenever I get the opportunity, either at the PD house, or the club or when we stay in a hotel somewhere in our travels. On rainy days I get onto the motorized treadmill at home and walk on it at speeds of 5 – 6 km/hr for about 45 minutes and then do weights for a while. We have had these equipment for many years now, we do utilize them but it gets pretty dull when using them. I used to have a small TV in front of the treadmill but the TV is ‘kaput’ now. The preference is still to go around the park.
Walking around the park is interesting. Most of the folks in the park at the time that I go there are elderly folks although there are the odd couples of younger ones who, I believe, make the time to exercise in the park. They are the wiser ones!!
It is interesting to see the behaviours of these folks as I briskly walk along.
I spy one man walking around with a broken golf putter in one hand. He walks briskly but he will use the stick to collect discarded plastic bags, or plastic bottles, or packet drinks and deposit them into the nearest rubbish bins, and there are plenty of these bins around the park. He does this every day. Interestingly, these bins are almost always full!!
I spy a man, fully dressed every time, long-sleeved coloured shirt, dark office trousers, not rubber but leather shoes and socks, walking not briskly but normally, around the park. He wears no tie though, ha ha. He holds a digit counter in one hand (the type stewardess use in the airplane when they go up and down the aisle counting the number of passengers on board). I hear the thingy clicking as I go pass him. I do not know whether he is doing a mantra softly and counting, or counting the number of steps he made, or perhaps counting the number of people who pass him, I wonder.
I spy a (very) elderly man, lanky and tall, sweat-shirt and shorts, baseball cap, rubber shoes, walking usually in the reverse direction as I do. (Notice how most people when they get into their routine would not change anything? Enter through the same entrance, same side of the gate, walk on the same side of the road, sit on the same seat at the same location, walk in the park in the same direction, every time?) This man, I think, walks faster than I do as we always pass each other before I get to be half way around the circuit!! Looking at him I used to put him at being 80 or so. I had an opportunity to briefly talk to him on one occasion. I commented how fit he was walking faster than me. I asked how old he was and he said that he was born in 1912. Eh hem! 1912? That makes him 93 years old. I asked for his longevity secret and he said eat natural food, drink a lot of water. No canned or preprocessed foods full of additives and unnatural flavours. That short answer tells me a lot. How we have abused our bodies all these while, hmmm!!
I spy a group of ladies, elderly and with Indonesian maids in tow, dressed for exercise, jogging shoes and all, chit-chatting while walking leisurely, very leisurely in fact, not a care for other users jogging or walking in the park, occupying the whole jogging track as they walk along. All others can go onto the grass for all they care!! They gossip under the guise of exercising?? Noisily too!! The maids gossip amongst themselves as well. Can’t blame them. The opportunity is there.
I spy another group of ladies, standing in rows, with a radio playing some kind of music, and a leader infront showing the moves. All the ladies will synchronise their moves with the leader and its a pretty sight to see. It is not aerobics, more of a dance but its exercise.....
I spy another group of ladies, smaller in number, maybe five or six each time, standing like statues, yes statues. They do not move. They stay that way for quite a while. When the leader change position then only the others follow and change position. Is this exercise?
I spy one man walking in repeated moves of one, two, three steps with arms swinging, stop on the fourth step, and slowly turns his head and upper torso to the right. He then proceeds to walk one, two, three steps and again stop on the fourth step, slowly turns his head and upper torso to the right. He repeats this and all the time turning to the right. After a while he turns to the left and keeps turning to the left. Why for I wonder?
MKI Ramblings Unlimited,
Petaling Jaya
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