Mount Kinabalu I - First Day Jitter

When I signed up for this Mount Kinabalu trip, there are a lot of concerns about the success of this trip. First, whether we can make it that month with our job commitment. Second, can we really make it to the top by being not so active and fit? The answer to first question is you can’t really think much. Climbing Mount Kinabalu is like climbing Mount Everest. The mountain is always there but whether you can book the accommodation at Laban Rata is another concern.

You must bear in mind they only allow 200 climbers per day. Since Mount Kinabalu does not catch the attention of just the locals, there are many foreigners who constantly look for the opportunity to topple the highest peak in Southeast Asia. For that instant, we booked this climb 9 months ahead. You heard a lot of people’s advice regarding the fitness level required to climb this mountain. Some claimed you need to practise very hard. Some even say they don’t do any workout at all. I had a colleague in Hong Kong who told me they enrolled for the climb while they were holidaying in Kota Kinabalu. With no prior expectation of what sort of physical torture they might encountered, he told me:

“It’s very easy only la. Piece of cake.”

After listening to so many people’s “experiences”, I find one advice which I think share the same tone of mine.

A good preparation MIGHT prepare you for an easier climb to the peak. A bad preparation MIGHT also get you there BUT you might be slower during the journey or very tired at the end of the journey if compared to those who did a good preparation.

I fall in between of those two.

The night before first day

Met my fellow climbers; Han Ching, Jien Hooi, and Jay at LCCT Tune Hotel. Stayed a night at the so-called 5 stars SLEEPING experience hotel at 1 star PRICE. Certainly live up to its name. The best thing in the room is the bed itself. Tune Hotel never cheats people. What you see in the brochure or Internet of their room is what you get. In the brochure they show the picture of a comfy bed and how modern the toilet is. Wa la. That is what you get. Toilet and bed. Don’t expect any extra spaces in between. With hot shower available and optional air condition for RM 13.49 (12 hours), it suits every pockets of budget traveller like me. Clean environment. Even though that night was quite hot because of dry season, the powerful ceiling fan and a good cooling shower before my sleep were enough to last me through the night.

First day

Met up with Puah at the airport. Check-in. I was preparing to finish up all my water before entering the custom gate. Jay had forgotten that he still had one whole 1.5 litre bottle of water. Surprisingly, the customs didn’t ask us to give away his drinking water. Jien Hooi informed us that the 100 ml liquid regulation only applies to international flight. With the like of Han Ching who boasts the record of having to change her passport in 2 years because no more space to stamp due to extensive travelling, this served a shame for her and me too. So much for all those international flights that I thought I’m expert with aviation regulation only to land myself into such embarrassment by being ignorant of such exemption.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by Derek who flew from Miri to join us for this trip. A guy holding my name was already waiting at the arrival gate. We went to the town to get ourselves some refreshment. We decided to enter any local Chinese shops to get something. We went to this ancient authentic old kopitiam called Fortune. The shop here is a bit different from KL. Why? You can see Malay and Chinese residents mingling around. Where on earth can you find Malay and Chinese sit in the same Chinese style eateries shop except the one that can show “halal” certificate? Here they don’t even need a “halal” certificate.

After some detour around the city, our driver fetched us and we soon embarked on our way to the foothill of Kinabalu Nature Park. Along the way he stopped us at the local souvenir shop. They have a viewing platform and most of the visitors take picture with the mountain as background. Our package includes an entry to Poring Hot Spring. Being grown up in Jalan Air Panas or Hot Spring Road, I’m sure you know this spring won’t spring anymore surprise to me. I was hoping this location will be at the end of my trip when all my legs and toes were fully battered. Well, since Poring Hot Spring belongs to Sutera Sanctuary Harbour, I guessed they have some sort of business in it. We went to Ranau to hunt for this shoes Derek called “Kampung Adidas” shoes which fellow hikers claim to be as good as Columbia hiking shoes! Borrowing Tune Hotel’s motto:

5 stars performance hiking shoes at 1 star price.

After bargaining our way to a RM7 per pair shoes, we head to our base camp to register for our hike. We were brought to our lodge. Man, I must say this is beyond what we expected. I was thinking some bunker beds but instead, we were based in one huge lodge with even fireplace! This is better than Tune Hotel! My master bedroom is even bigger than two Tune Hotel room combined! A good rest is essential to our early hike tomorrow. After attending a short briefing and treated ourselves with a sumptuous buffet dinner, I told everyone:

“Gee, I guess our tour agent must have mistakenly swapped our details with other group. This is absolutely beyond what we expected. Nice lodge & free buffet dinner.”

Judging from the price list hanged on the wall our buffet itself will cost around RM80. And that is only the first. More buffets to come. I’m sure it will exceed the price of our package itself of RM 550 all-inclusive. After all the hassles, a cosy bed was greatly welcomed.

to be continued....

Obama vs Susan Boyle - Inspirational vs Inspirational II

With the current situation I'm in, I lost touch with people around me. The only thing that keeps me up-to-date with Malaysia and the world is the The Star online newspaper and Kenny Sia's blog. One thing they share in common is that they highlighted things which I eventually "youtubing" it. Recently, two videos caught my attention. Both shares the same effect. "Inspirational" should be the exact word to describe it. I came across The Star Newspaper about one journalist's experience with President Obama. Well, Mr President went to Cairo last 2 weeks to deliver a speech. An address to the Muslim around the world. The word "Assalamualaikum" became a hit in online search. Why? Because it came from the mouth of Mr. President himself on that day. So, I did a copy and paste (which Apple finally introduced to their upcoming IPhone) of that word to Youtube. Wala. I was led to the official video by the White House. I'm proudly to say that I'm watching legal video here.

10 minutes speech is the limit anyone will want to hear from every speakers before they get tired, bored and distracted by the person sleeping beside you. 1 minutes is all it needs for me to get attracted and glued my eyes to watch his 1 hour speech. Talk about inspirational! If only my Prime Minister can talk like him. Every words came out directly from his mind which is supported with facts, history, quotes and figures. One could wonder how on earth can he do that? I remember my public speaking script of 10 minutes duration and practise it day in day out for 2 weeks prior to my competition. 60 minutes speech? I suspect he must have a very strong capabilities in memorization. Watch this clip. His calmness and powerful gaze caught my attention. You must remember this. Every words that come from him if it turned out to be wrong, missiles alert might be switched on and his address might turned backfire.

The first audition that shot her to global fame

The second clip is what Youtube claimed to be the one of the highest search in their "tubing" history. "Susan Boyle". 27 millions search worldwide and still counting. Now, who is this 47 years old lady? What has she done that would render people to search for her? I would use the saying "Don't Judge a Book By It's Cover" to the max to describe this magnificent contestant of Britain's Got Talent show. Some sort of American Idol. Entering the hall as a laughing stock and sneer from the audience, Simon Cowell even poke a fun on her. When the music began to play and her voice began to be heard, standing ovation from the crowds and even loud applause ensued. The judges were gobsmacked by her strong vocal. That night itself has caught the attention of Britain and soon the world. All the breakfast shows in America wants to host this simple lady from Scotland. I'm sure her first CD will be instant hit in store.

Her semifinal appearance

What make her so special is that when the world is looking down or negative in this case on her, she turned that perspective around and proved to them that they were wrong. People who look down on her initially, suddenly feel repent and sorry from the inner side of their heart. This sudden change of emotion has turned most of the viewers to teary eyes. Some celebrities even cried. As for me, I'm touched. So sad that she didn't manage to win. But sometimes coming first is not necessary the big deal. When she lost in the finals, pictures of her conquer the front page of the local dailies in Britain. Though she was pipped at the post but her prize was massive global news coverage. Frankly speaking, I don't even know to whom she lost to. Who cares? From this event I learnt:

Loser Is Now The New Winner

Modern Day Robin Hood

One day, I was dealt with a situation which suddenly struck an ideology in me. That night itself I woke in the middle of my slumber thinking about it. It's a simple concept.

When some of the wrong things you do are right.

or

When some of the right things you do are wrong.

Alright, before some of you guys jump into conclusion that Au Yong is going insane for being too long at Hong Kong, just give it a thought. I remember a story from my secondary school about a saint who lies. From the first impression, you might think this saint is a bad guy and does not deserves the holiness he portrayed. What he did was wrong. Let me finish the story. On that day, the saint was walking and came across an innocent and weak lady who is running for her life. She told the saint that one group of fierce people is trying to kill her. She begged the saint to mislead the chasing pack behind to the other direction.

The lady then ran away. Not long after that, the saint saw the group of brutal looking people with weapons approached him and asked whether the saint saw a lady they were chasing. Being a saint himself, he knew telling lie is not right according to his life principle. The saint lifted his finger pointed to the opposite way the lady was running. The group went to the direction the saint pointed. I'm sure you know the moral of this story, right? To certain people, telling lie is wrong. But when we see a bigger picture into why the saint did such an act, he was actually trying to save someone's life which is a right action. But if he pointed the direction the lady was running which he thought is right by telling no lies, then he is wrong by getting that helpless lady killed by the ruthless group.

Now back into reality, have we encountered a situation where the things we do which we thought are of no harm to others are indeed the other way round or vice-versa. I would prefer the vice-versa of course but you will never know. In engineering, I would like to use the term"conflict of interest" to describe it. Of course, cunning people comes up with imaginative idea to accomplish one task but it is our duty to not fall into their trap and persuasion. Now this bring us to the theory once again. What this cunning guy thought is wrong but he insist the thing he did is correct. We must be able to take our own judgment by making the reversal of what they want is wrong and what we believe to do is correct. Sound head spinning, right?

Let me give you an example. Recently, I've been to this Hong Kong Racing Course in Happy Valley. To visit. I don't like gambling. I would like to witness what makes the people in Hong Kong to flock into the jockey club every weekend and Wednesday with newspaper tucked under their armpits. The government allows the setting up of this gambling activities. Knowing that gambling is not a good exemplary to the youngsters, they went against the ethical perspective to allow such activities. It's like your parents encourage you to gamble. But, please don't jump to conclusion so fast again. The government looks at it from a different angle.

Knowing that majority of Chinese people are of gambling enthusiast, instead of them gambling away their money to Ah Long or illegal gambling center or even international gambling center which will create more social problems and also draining the countries money away, why not they become the Ah Long or "legal" gambling center. By doing this, the money of their people will only circulate around their own country, creating job opportunity, and the money lost by the betters can be used to fund charitable deed such as setting up of school, sport facilities and hospitals. It's like taking money from the people and give it back to the people. Modern day Robin Hood I would say."Stealing" is wrong but giving the "stealing" of the rich to the poor is right at the end of the day.

So by looking into the bigger picture, setting up gambling center is right by of no means in generating jobs and economy. Recently, the jockey club here opens up betting for soccer too after knowing that large chunk money went to illegal betting of soccer during World Cup, European Cup, Premier League, Scottish League and so on so forth of any soccer leagues that can be gambled. Don't be surprise Malaysia League will also one day be drafted in!

Riders.. Ready..

Get set....

Go!!!

Number 6... Number 6... Go...Go...Go...

Some tips when you enter race course:

1. Don't bring any readable materials that resemble books.
2. Don't tap on anyone shoulder's to ask them of anything.
3. Don't bring monks and pregnant ladies.

You might scold Au Yong is such an old-fashioned superstitious thinking chap. How can gambling be influenced by such things. Em. If you don't believe me, please look at how McDonald's in there boost their sales by renaming their set meals?

Filet-O-Fish Meal = Golden Pool Meal
Chicken McNuggets = Six Win Bonus Meal
McWings Meal = Fly To Win Meal
Big Mac Meal - Big Winner Meal
Double Cheeseburger = Lucky Double Meal

Location: Happy Valley Racecourse

How to get there: Causeway Bay MTR station (Exit A), walk for 20 mins along Wong Nai Chung Road.

Admission fees: $10 HKD

My Name is Earl (When East & West Collides)

There's one popular song from Pet Shop Boys titled "Go West" which boasts the chorus like this:

(Go West) Life is peaceful there
(Go West) In the open air
(Go West) Where the skies are blue
(Go West) This is what we're gonna do

Well, I've seen the West. It's time to go back to the East.

Having been to UK's Madame Tussauds, I was a bit reluctant to spend some amount of money seeing the twins of Brat Pitt, David Beckham and Tom Cruise. Therefore, this time my primary target was to shoot with Asian theme in mind.

Nowadays, my car chit-chat session with the local driver revolves around our work. I grew bored of another demoralising talk about the situation we are in. So, I decided to divert the talking point to another topic. Seeing my assistant outside, I jested him, "Why you choose your English name as Edwin?" He paused a while recalling how he got his name.

"Those day, my English teacher asked whether I have an English name and I say no. She then told me in other to improve my English, it's better for me to have an English name so that she can call me easily. She's the one that proposed the name Edwin."

I shared my experience about an European friend of mine who used to ask me why some of my friends have English name while I don't have (well, he calls me by the name Au Yong). He added, "Is it shown in their passport that they have the name Johnny for example in front of their actual name of Lee Chun Keung?"

"Well, not all actually has the English printed on their identification. Some I knew really carry the names since they were born, while others just adopt the name", I replied.

He looked puzzled, "That's really funny. How can you have another name when you already had a name?"

To him, it's like David Beckham suddenly has another a name in Freddy David Beckham.

If you look carefully, most Asian Chinese love to have an extra English name for example:

Kelly Chan,

Louis Koo,

Leon Lai,

Gillian Chung and Charlene Choi,

Leslie Cheung,

Andy Lau,

Jacky Chan,

Aaron Kwok,

Joey Yung,

and Michelle Yeoh.

I'm pretty sure that most of them do not carry that English names on their identification cards. There are many reasons I came across having an English name. One of them is easier reference in European country. Secondly, is because of religion. And another is what I don't agree much....

An English name makes you look cool.

I've been to UK and interact with the people there. I go by the name Au Yong even though at first they try hard to twist their tongue by not pronouncing Ah Yeung. Eventually, they managed to call my name with fluent pronunciation. Sometimes, this misconception of Caucasian people can't pronounce a Chinese name is unfounded. Some of their names are even harder to pronounce than us. How do you pronounce these few names:

Ruud van Nistelrooy
Dirk Kuyt
Jan Vennegoor Hesselink
Ole Gunnar Solksjaer

You can come up with all the pronunciation but on how to pronounce it properly, you can ask Shebby Singh, our local football pundit. Since their name are so tongue-twisting than Pepsi Twist, do they adopt another name for easier reference. The answer is no.

The driver sitting beside me in the car joined in the fray and added, "It's cultural thing. You must embrace the culture of the country you are visiting. You enter a village you must follow the village's rule."

He recalled his UK experience where he was asked to fill up a form. If you are in Caucasian country and you are happened to be an Asian, you'll probably end up getting you name printed out as Thean Seng Au Yong or Yong Thean Seng Au. Your ancestor won't be happy to see how they change their descendant's surname into Thean or Yong. I'm sure most of you know, Caucasian goes by the surname at the back of their name for example David is the given name while Beckham is the family name.

Ironically, this only happens to Asian in Caucasian country. It won't happen the other way round. If you write Ruud van Nistelrooy, then we Asian will key in Ruud van Nistelrooy. We won't go bold changing the name Nistelrooy Ruud van. I came into an argument once when I was in UK. I was asked why I write the name Au Yong Thean Seng on the front cover of my report. I answered in a simple manner, "Well, it's my name."

I know what he wanted to tell me but I was stating my claim. This is my name and that is how it should be printed out. Eventually, I told him, "Fine, you have your own view, I have mine too. Since that's the case I will write my name with underline on my surname. How a about it?"

I then told the driver how my girlfriend's aunt used to teach her how not to have your surname being changed by the hotel receptionist as Mr. Y.T.S, Au. You just fill up your name and then put an underline on your surname, for example, "Au Yong Thean Seng".

Blending into one's country culture is one thing, but let me ask you one simple question. You don't need to answer me. When Caucasian enter an Asian country, will they adopt an Asian name?

See Toh David Beckham or
Mustapha David Beckham or
Balakrishan Subramaniam David Beckham?

Now this is what I call, "If you enter a village, you must follow the village's rule"

Sometimes, those ancient grandparent gave their newborn grandson the name. Of course, some of the names are nice while those who are unfortunate might end up with names like Tang See Hang or Lee Ah Kow. That's why some prefer you just call them by their English name. That how they see it, but the true meaning behind those Chinese characters are of different materials or species of what crop up in their grandparent's mind. If you know the real meaning behind it, you will be impressed with such a nice name. Take a look at the advertisement by Petronas about this Indian granny scolding the youngster that abandoned his real name and go for some hippy name instead.

Talk about weird name, you have celebrity's name Snoop Doggy Dogg. Everyone knows Snoopy is a dog. Not satisfy with his claim that Snoopy is dog enough, he added the adjective "doggy" into it to strengthen his claim. Funny right? Human to be called animal. That's is why Leo Ku can find the click in his song on why it's better to become a dog or cat than a human.

I have one Malay friend's brother who loved punk style music. Guess what they named their first born son?

Amy Ikon!!

Now that's when East & West collides.

And I happened to collide with Mr President, Barack Hussein Obama..... erm... Obama Hussein Barack..... arghhh .... whatever.... as long as not Osama, ok?

Location: Madame Tussauds Hong Kong

How to get there: Central MTR Station exit J2 & take tram ($33HKD - return) @ Peak Tram Terminus
Admission fees: $150 HKD

(If) I Could Change The World

I had a chat with Han Ching last month regarding how we would like to mould someone into the way we want him/her to be. This reminds me of how I keep on telling people that Hong Kong Disneyland is not as fun as Hong Kong Ocean Park. I keep on telling and people who has not been there won't believe me unless they entered it. That is how people's mind are shaped. They won't believe you unless they've actually witness it themselves. Once they had experienced it then, they will say:

"You are right man. I should have listened to you."

I came to a conclusion that sometimes we can't make others think like the same way we think. And when that person happened to be closed to us for example closed friends or relatives, we will feel angry and puzzled as why they won't think rationally. I've witnessed physics-mad science student turn to become accountant, food science student changed profession to venture into a whole new field and even a bank officer jumped from banking to hair stylist. Well, not to mention far, a civil engineer turned electrical and mechanical engineer in the shape of me, myself.

I believe that our education system is one of the reason of this orthodox thinking. A civil engineer student must design buildings. An accountant must do accounts. A sway away from the course will be deemed a sway from the direction of life. Now, I'm reading a book on "The Airasia Story". Do you know that Mr Tony Fernades is actually in music industry before turning into a totally new field of aviation.

I bet he does not even knows what a taxilane is then! The book tells the magnificent story of how a RM 40 million debt-ridden aviation company being bought for RM1 and got profit within 7 months! Years later, they are the World Best Low Cost Carrier and boast the biggest fleets of Airbus in the world. Does a sway from his profession a sway of life direction? Yes. A successful life direction to be precise. If not because Wilbur's brothers swayed away from thinking that hot air balloon is the only mode of air transportation, Airasia won't be able to boast the famous tag line of:

"Now Everyone Can Fly!"

I offered some words to those who are mad or disappointed with his/her friend for doing thing against what other people thought is a norm. You can advised them or let them know how you feel, but don't demonise them. Let them sit down for themselves and make their own decision. Anyway, it's their life. You don't have any right in law or regulation to control them.

Well, of course please don't mix those who go for drugs or crime into this context please. They are of different story with this one. A friend of mine once thanked me for telling him to be not choosy with the university because of his decent STPM result. He told me if he's too ambitious going for hot universities then he might land himself with course he don't intend to study or worst still, not even a place in tertiary education. Eventually, he got himself a degree in the course he wanted at budding university. I told him, well what I can offer you as a friend is an advice. The final decision is yours. You made a decision and you are happy with that, me as a friend shares the same happiness.

With me watching how the dolphins jumping our from the pool and pandas shitting inside their enclosure at Ocean Park, I was enthralled and told myself,

"This is better than watching Disneyland's 'The Mermaid' or 'Kungfu Panda'!"

Location: Hong Kong Ocean Park

How to get there: Citybus Route 629 from Admiralty MTR Station or Central Pier Nos. 7 ($10.6 for adult and $5.3 for child)
Admission fees: $2o8 HKD