Dunno what I want

Bui is right. I dunno what I want in life. I really don't.

Shall go up to the mountains this weekend to reflect. Ohmmmmm.............

Belumut, to be more specific.

Nothing to blog about

Yah. I have nothing to blog about. Nothing to do, no sms. No sms. No sms.

Life after the big depression

Yah...Monday was one of the overwhelming days I've had in the Service so far. I really felt like leaving. Dr Lu replied, saying that he's not going to China this year but going to Burma for fieldwork and Guangzhou for conference. I replied and told him to let me know if he needs my help. Looking at things, it seems like going to China to further my studies seems further than it already is. Of course, if I wanted to, I could be a bit more thickskinned and ask Dr Lu if I could join him in Burma, or ask him for the contacts of the Kunming Uni lecturer (forgot his sirname) and contact him directly. I couldn't bring myself to do so over the email...

I really felt very miserable then. I talked to a few people in my workplace. Slowly, I found that I'm not the only one who thought of leaving. There were others whom I thought were "doing well" who also thinking of leaving. It made me feel better, not because I was happy that people wanted to leave but it's a subtle kind of bonding that you have with these people, like you've had enough and really tired of this job. Yet, all of us have commitments and do not have the guts to quit and leave the service. We do discuss about options and alternatives, and most of the time, the clearest option would be that we have too much commitments and too comfortable to move on in life.

I had a talk with a colleague from my workplace this week. She came to me because she was depressed, and like me, overwhelmed by work. While talking to her, I saw my predicament in a better light. Working in an all-female environment somewhat made my emotions volatile. When I felt happy, I felt as though I could take-on a hundred and one tasks, assignments, committees and projects. Yet, when I felt depressed or sad, one minor comment would trigger an avalaunche of negative thoughts and feelings.

At this point in time, I feel empowered once again. I think it's more than talking to people. It's a multitude of factors - a newly-acquainted friend sms-ed me to ask if I was ok and said I could always call (him) and talk. Knowing that there's someone there for you is really a heartwarming feeling. Haha... After management meeting on Valentine's Day, I felt that Supt is not giving me that-kind-of-look anymore.

Things are looking up - for now. But like what I told my colleague, sometimes we can't help it when juz fall into depression again. Like what Elizabeth Wurtzel wrote in Prozac Nation, "Rock bottom is everything out of focus. It’s a failure of vision, a failure to see the world as it is, to see the good in what it is." We are bound to hit the bottom once in a while...

Chemistry

Ah Bui asked me something about a relationship and I told her "alkaline + acid = salt + PPT". Yah..something like that lah.... So, if you add alkaline and acid, and you get PPT, it is an irreversible process. Period.

Like this song cos' it sounds really sad

孫燕姿 - 了解

等於結束的愛情　我和你　從兩個窗口看出去
往事遠遠地　演著一場無聲的電影　沒人注意

躲著回憶的生體　帶領我　和你的名字向前進
作廢的曾經　留在離開你那天　揮不去

因為太了解所以很傷心　沒有你只好聽著風的呼吸
卻有種叫做時間的東西　說沒問題　最後我們會痊癒

因為太了解我無法堅定　這一次會要掉眼淚的決定
有些遺憾只能一個人聽　很對不起　我還是珍惜　所以的事情

I'm so tired

It's my first day back at work after a long period of leave, and I feel down and out already. As I was stamping on the letters today (ya, I cover my staff when they are not around, my boss as well...and my boss was on long leave, and now she has been posted out.) I realised something. I'm not cut out for this job. It's very clear that it's a job misfit. I was angry to be exact as I heard comments that training was messy and stuff. This came from someone who does the deployment of staff herself.

I was very discouraged. I work extra hard to ensure that our staff go through adequate training. I call for quotations, draft specs and find out more about courses that my staff can go for. Some feedback from the recent in-service courses were : course is boring and not relevant and it came from a SPO. Last week, someone from the management hinted that I'm not doing as well as my predecessor. Felt really down cos' I knew what my predecessor had done, or rather, had not done. Why is that I work so hard and still, nobody appreciates?

I'm not sure if I'm only hearing the negative remarks and being affected by them. Who wouldn't be if they were in my shoes? Who cares if you've work until 12 midnight to ensure that people go for courses? Who cares you that you've spent hours compiling briefing slides, only to have them sleep throughout briefings? Who cares about everything else except themselves? And it is my job to care for everybody else, when I feel so miserable myself.

Ada came to discuss some training plans with me today. I had asked her to help me in planning for exercise plans for staff with BMI above 25 and IPPT. She told me that my would-be boss was unhappy that I had engaged her. My heart sank. Once again. I had to do everything myself and when I delegate, my bosses feel as though I'm pushing the buck. If I do everything myself, they'll just say "you need to get people involved. SDO can't this all by herself." I feel I've been slapped left and right. All the time.

Sometimes I get so sick and tired of such comments that I just shut myself out and just keep working and working. I can't carry on working in such an environment. I dropped Dr Lu an email today, asking him if he's going to Yunnan for fieldwork again. If he's not, I'm going to drop the Kunming lecturer a mail if he still wants to offer me the scholarship. I've wasted 3 years of my life to prove that a uniform organisation is not my cup of tea.

I bumped into Venus today. She's leaving next month. I told her that I heard that AD(SD) wanted her to stay by offering her the counsellor post within a month. Venus told me that she's not wanted by the dept. Huh?? Not sure if she meant that she was still not offered the counsellor's post. The bottomline is, our dept is not doing enough to retain worthy staff. I'm not sure if it's the dept or my unit per se. Anyhow, they are going to lose more than Venus.......

Victim of life

Ya. That's how I feel right now. I know it's damn lousy to say one is a victim of life but can't help it. I just returned from Thailand and dad told me that I need to send the car for servicing. So changed 2 drive shafts and shock absorber and other stuff, cost me $309. Just collect back from service centre on Friday evening. Now Saturday evening kenna lang ga and now my car is back to the workshop again on Sunday!!!!!!

4.20am at Yishun. Traffic light's red. I stopped. Saw a car coming from behind then suddenly got a loud bang and my car jerked forward. Heng ah bui and I wore seatbelts but the impact was still pretty strong. Bloody taxi driver must have fell asleep!!! Wahhh!!! My first reaction was I wanna beat up the driver!!! Then guess what the uncle said when he came to look at my car? "A little bit only. I pay you $100."

Uncle. $100 ah?? For topping up my washer fluid is it? Or change my car plate?? I 1 mirror already $200. You bang into my bumper at such a high speed, you think I sleeping like you ah?! KNS!!! By the way, he is Mr GOON - SHB 5936L. Shld have called himself Mr Koon but Goon is also good enough.

Walaoz. Tell me. Why me har? My whole family is saying that I drive lousily. People bang into me. I drive lousy? Tell me lah...I which way drive lousy?! My car collect from showroom, and on the 10th day got one bloody asshole eyes grow in the backside. Cross the road in my path. I jammed brakes, he fell on my car then become traffic police case. Walaoz!!! Bloody hell!!! If killed him then I lousy lah... Now Papa say I 2 years accident 3 times. He 30 years drive never even claim insurance one time. Jiejie tell me to go and do self-reflection?!?!?!

I think I need to change a car. Or get it blessed or something....

3rd realisation...

It always rain when I send my car for servicing. Whyyyy???? Anyway, after coming back from Thailand, papa told me that there's something wrong with the steering of the car. KNS...wait until I come back then fix. Like that how to travel to work right? But nvm, gotta get it fixed asap cos' once I start working and clearing emails, where to find time to crawl to the service centre at bloody PANDAN CRESCENT?

Ya. So it happened again. When I arrived at the service centre, I got out of the car, went to take a queue number, yada yada yada....the mechanic would come out and check the car. Bloody hell. It always rain at this bloody juncture!!! It really doesn't matter if it rains or snows but cos' the bloody car is in the service centre, I got to take the bloody public transport.

Went to collect the car today. Mdm Tan Gek Eng dropped me outside PGP cos it would be nearer for me to reach bloody ulu Pandan Crescent. Waited for about an hour in my skirt and court shoes for a bloody cab. No cabs!! Had to walk to NUH and wait somemore for a cab. Still no cabs!!! Toes were beginning to feel more than a little squashed and blistered... In the end, I dialled for a cab. For that short distance, paid $9.70. This seems aligned to my idea of driving a cab instead of a car. Can earn extra income while travelling around. Dun wan then juz take it as owning a car. Good nah?

Anyway, the nice mechanic waited till I arrived. Boh bian. These days service excellence mah. Gotta make up for whatever shortcomings of their cars. And I tell you, Suzuki cars got A LOT of shortcomings. Dunno whether it's a standard practice or what. Think they vacuumed the interior. Good nah! Really making up for their shortcomings. Good nah...especially I haven't cleaned the car since Sep last year. I was happily using the vacuum cleaner that ah chew gave me....until the car battery died. Haven't vacuumed my car ever since...kekeke

So I didn't go to the gym to meet ah bui loh. Then ah bui told me that she went for Joel's bodypump class and KC was one of the participant!!!! Very sad. Very very sad. We no fate lah....no fate.......

More photo links

Ryan's photos @ http://albums.photo.epson.com/j/AlbumIndex?u=4197323&a=32076814

Vincent's photos @ http://sg.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/vinnysgp/album?.dir=/dc56&.src=ph&.tok=phKGcXEB0lJh6O3f

Photos for the trip

http://community.webshots.com/user/platyplat5

Only uploaded selected photos cos' too many!

Day 9 (Round island - Phuket)

Distance : 87.5km

Terrain : Walls (crazy slopes were so steep that I think they shld be walls and not slopes)

Ryan left on Sunday, Eddie and Vincent left on Monday, Yun went to Phi Phi and Eng Lock checked into a hotel in Patong (well well...), so Bruce, Yong Siew and I decided to take our bikes and ride around Phuket after we returned from Similan. I was contemplating whether to go or not or just bum around and go for Thai massage. Bruce said it was only 30km one way, so it didn't sound that difficult.

Alas!! The slopes were killers. Each headland = 1 major hill and I gave up trying to ride up, so ended pushing bike. Was wearing sleeveless without sunblock, and by the time we reached Promthep Cape, I was already burnt. The journey back was miserable once again cos' I was baking and burning under the sun. Now I'm red as a lobster. :(











Five of us finally met up again in the evening. It was eventful cos' the restaurant that we patronised ran out of rice. Haha! Dunno why the rest are so frustrated when it comes to small things like that. I mean, yahh..we're a bit hungry but what's the point of scolding the poor waitress for not bringing the rice before the dishes? Anyway, Bruce couldn't stand Eng Lock and both of them started attacking what the other was saying.

Eng Lock was saying about staying in Patong is better cos' it's nearer to the pubs. Then Bruce asked "so did you check if your wallet was still there when you woke up?" I found it quite funny lah... I mean, it was quite original and sarcastic at the same time mah. Of course Eng Lock didn't find that funny... Of course it didn't stop there. After dinner, we walked past a table with all the seafood laid out on the table, and a guy was barbequing the food. He called out something to us. Couldn't quite catch what he was saying cos' of Thai accent.

Yun : Did he say massage??
Yong Siew : No no!! He was asking us if we wanted catfish!
Yun : No leh?? I heard him asking us if we wanted massage but howcome massage at this hour???
Bruce : Maybe they call their Thai chickens catfish and he's asking you (Eng Lock) if you wanted some!

In fact, it went on and on until the next morning when we were in the cab on our way to the airport, in the airport, and so on...Anyway, both of them, together with 8 other people (not including me of course) will be cycling from Phuket to Bangkok come December. I give them my blessings.... :D

It was overall, quite a nice trip. Tested my endurance more than anything. Total distance on bike - 632.93km. Total amount spent = :~(

Going to keep my cycling shoes away for a while....for now........

Day 7 & 8 - Similan Islands

Woke up early cos' we had to drop Ryan off at the airport before heading towards Khao Lak, where we had to catch a speedboat to Similan Islands. Speedboat was really nice and spacious, unlike the small and congested one I took when I transferred from Koh Samui to Koh Tao. Anyway, Similan was disappointing. Didn't see much during the dives, except that Similan was crawling with plenty of garden eels. I think our DM was not experienced with the dive sites and couldn't show us much. I missed the frog fish, manta ray and sharks that the other groups saw. Hrumpf!

Bruce did run out of air pretty fast. Out of the 6 dives, he only remained with us throughout for the night dive (cos' it was really short) and the last dive (cos it was shallow). I didn't feel like drowning him in the end. Yeah...he's sarcastic on and off but if he doesn't dislike you for any reason (like he really dislikes Eng Lock), then he's not that nasty. In fact, I was kept pretty amused whenever he argued with Eng Lock.







It wasn't a really comfortable liveaboard. Cabin was small and cramped and only had 2 pathetic toilets. Had to just rinse myself with fresh water and blow dry (cum freeze a bit) in the upper deck while having dinner, then go to sleep. Food was somewhat ok. Not particularly hungry cos' wasn't cycling.

Day 6 (Phang Nga - Phuket)

Distance : 82km

Terrain : Some big hills, gradual slopes along the way

Vincent was telling me to go slow and maintain high cadence before we started riding. Eddie's a bit sarcastic but oh well, I'll forgive him cos' he gave me a glucosamine rub for my knee the night before. Everyone was telling me to go slow and take my time. Ya..thanks guys! Go ahead and cheong and I'll crawl behind. Thanks..I'll manage somehow.

I was riding alone most of the way. Since it was the last day of riding, I might as well take my time cos' I won't have to be baked under the hot sun for another day. Was listening to my mp3 songs and singing along while crawling up the long slopes. It wasn't that bad actually. Felt that it's a weird thing to do things by yourself cos' you'd start talking to yourself. Just like when I was alone in Yunnan...





Reached the hotel finally. First thing Eddie asked was "How's your knee? How you find (the ride)?" He's always asking me how I find the ride after each day. I mean, what is he expecting me to say? Like "Waliewwww.....very cham ahhhh....I felt like I was going to die...." or something to that effect. I always gave him the indifferent look and "like-that-loh..." reply. Haha!

Bathed and waited for the rest to go to Phuket town for dinner (we stayed at Surin Beach). While waiting, Eng Lock came to talk to me. Somehow, he makes me uncomfortable ever since that "I-wanna-take-a-walk-back-to-the-hotel" incident. He lagi best, for the umpteenth time, told me to buy a road bike and join them to continue the journey north (Phuket to Bangkok) in December and also ride around on Sundays.

Bruce recommended a beach that we could all go and watch the sun set. It was quite a nice, neat beach (if you don't mind the beach chairs and umbrellas too much). It really has very nice sunsets. Can't remember the name of the beach though...



After the sun had set, we headed towards Patong Beach for dinner. Had dinner at one of the roadside zi char stall. Food was ok but I had a pretty bad cramp out of a sudden and didn't have the appetite. Yong Siew gave me looks of disgust, as though I was trying to act gu niang or smoething. Come to think about it, I WAS the gu niang of the trip!!! Hahaha....

Eng Lock was sitting next to me and kept asking me if I was ok. He asked if it was stomach ache, then diarrhea and finally best guess - ULCER!! Jialat. How to tell him?! Gu niangs have gu niang problems like cramps. He probably hadn't come across any before. Don't think women working in the night life would work when they are having menses or they'd be taking contraceptives anyway. Urgh! Dirty old man! Disgusted at the thought of it.

Guess what? After dinner, he said he wouldn't be joining us back to the hotel cos' he wanted to go look for a friend. Bruce had a good laugh about it cos' we all knew what it meant.

Day 5 (Krabi - Phang Nga Bay)

Distance : 100km

Terrain : Hills, big and small, all the way.

The ride started off well. We had views of limestone cliffs all the way while riding out of Krabi. Particularly nice to ride when the morning sun was not that hot and great for taking photos. Really felt motivated and the hills didn't matter.



Slowly, the limestone cliffs and hills disappeared behind us but the hills didn't stop. In fact, it was entirely hilly! It wasn't that bad at first cos' I could go really fast on the downslopes to give me the momentum to rush up the upslopes. I was doing that for as long as I could remember when suddenly, I felt a sharp pain on my left knee when I hit 55km. Then it began to hurt badly. When I exerted strength using my left knee, the pain would jolt through my knee and it will go numb for a while.



I had to use the lowest gears possible to go up the slopes and then let the bike roll down the downslopes. I was going between 10-15km/h. It was really miserable cos' I still had some 40km to go, and the sun was unbearably hot. The uncles in the support vehicle kept asking me if I wanted to load up. It was tempting but I managed to push on anyway.

Wanted to dump the bike and cry at some points, as the pain was somewhat unbearable. Started thinking about training back in PSTS then...the never-ending runs that Staff Mike (now he's a chief) made us do. I imagined that when I was this tired in PSTS and still had to do push-ups and sit-ups when people fell behind. That took my mind off the pain and somehow I managed to reach the hotel.

Day 4 (R&R)

Nice feeling to wake up and not having to rush around, pack and get ready to ride. Woke up, had breakfast then went out to check out Krabi with Eng Lock. The tsunamis evacuation signboards were everywhere. Hmm... Eng Lock's a nice guy. He offered to look after the bikes while I go walk around the beach and take photos. Sand's bad for bikes, especially expensive bikes. I wouldn't give a damn actually to push my bike across the sand but mine's not a Titanium bike...so......





Ran into Ryan while cycling around and the three of us adjorned to a cafe to escape the heat from the sun. Nice feeling to chill out at a cafe on a hot day like that. Since we didn't have anything to do after that, we decided to go for massage. Bruce, Yong Siew and Eddie went to some island to climb, so there were only five of us left.

It was kind of awkward going to a massage shop with a guy (Eng Lock). He asked if I'm going to do a Thai massage, and I said no. Well, actually I was a bit apprehensive about the pain but more importantly, *ahem* massage helps a lot in improving blood circulation. At that rate, I'd bleed to death. Get the picture? Don't think he understood that, so I just told him that I'm afraid of the pain to entertain his questions.

Ended up doing facial and got a big pimple the next day! Jialat.

We went jalan-jalan at Krabi town after that. Wanted to buy boxing gloves but was contemplating and contemplating and then it was time to meet the rest, so didn't buy in the end! It was so cheap!! Next time must go Thailand and buy boxing gloves and targets.

Dinner was horrible. The restaurant really had poor service and the rest were really impatient. They were scolding the waiters and complaining all the way. In the end, we were all ripped off and feeling a bit pissed.

After dinner, most of us wanted to go back to the hotel but Eng Lock insisted on taking a walk back to the hotel on his own. Not surprisingly, a Thai woman was hot on his heels, soliciting for business. It was quite sad to know that a nice guy like Eng Lock would fall prey to such desires. For info, he is still single, if that matters. Anyway, 2nd realisation : men are born with high sex drives and women with PMS. Life's unfair eh?

Anyway, I was disgusted and started looking at him differently from then onwards... The rest as well....particularly for Bruce. More on that later...

Day 3 (Trang - Krabi)

Distance : 150km

Terrain : Uncountable long gradual slopes

The ride was getting tougher by the day. It wasn't really about the 150km cos' I just plugged in my mp3 player all the way. It was having to be in the sun for that 150km. By 12pm, I was baking in the sun and felt so miserable. The headwind was really strong, even stronger when trucks passed by in the opposite direction. Slowed me down and made me lose whatever little momentum I had.

Slopes were long and gradual so we couldn't go fast, plus the sun - it was miserable. That was when I started thinking of UST and PT training. I thought about Ramli who was made to carry the shield and run around the field. Thought about Yanli who dedicated the "rubbish truck" song by May Day (listening to that song at that time). Cycling in the hot sun for so many kilometres didn't seem that bad. At least I had a choice to cycle or not. Since I wanted to come, might as well just endure and keep going.



It was more motivating when we were nearing Krabi. Limestone hills and cliffs were breathtaking in the setting sunlight. However, limestone cliffs = more slopes for cyclists. Just had to grip the handlebars and push on till we reached the hotel. Really chao tar-ed just from that day. Cycling in the sun made me really grouchy. Fortunately we had 1 day of rest the next day. Didn't have to cycle.

Day 2 (Bang Keao Beach - Phathalung - Mountain Pass - Trang)

Distance : 93km

Terrain : Flat roads, gradual slopes and up and over a mountain range, followed by wide roads leading into Trang.

Ride was better than Day 1's. Probably muscles beginning to warm up. 1st realisation : cycling once every few years is bad for body. Appetite beginning to come back after bout of constipation. Thai food is rather healthy. At least healthier than the junk that I've been eating in Singapore, especially for the past few weeks.

First stretch of the ride was nice. Wide roads, a bit hilly but that's ok. Paddy fields and mountain range in the background. I would have enjoyed the scenery better if it weren't for the nagging thought that the mountain ranges were very far away, AND I have to cross it eventually. We were actually crossing from the east coast (Ban Keao) to the west coast (Trang).



Cycling up the mountain range was crazy. I thought about the time when I was cycling through a mountain range in Hatyai. We took almost 6 hours to traverse 35km. Looking back, it was comforting to know that at least I wasn't risking being killed by flying off the winding mountain roads or flying over my handlebar with the potholes around each bend. Still, I thought we were crazy going through that mountain range. As though we have too much money and don't know how to spend than choosing to cycle across a mountain. Like who would have nothing better to do than say, cycle up and down Mount Faber 20-30 times?



The roadies all went ahead that day. That left Yun and I to take our time to reach the hotel. We even stopped to feed an elephant and take photos. It's quite nice to stop by little stalls by the roadside trying their local goreng pisang and sugarcane drink. Didn't LS...but that would also do my constipation some good anyway.



Reached the hotel eventually. Got backache and leg cramps in the evening. Not from the riding but cos' I was squatting there trying to wash my clothes. It's pathetic.

We went to town for dinner. The rest didn't have their fill and had a 2nd round at the pasar malam. I still didn't feel like eating. "Good nah" (quote Tic, the Thai Divemaster, 2006). At this rate, I'd be detoxified by the time I go back to Singapore.

Day 1 (Hatyai - Khao Chai Son - Bang Keao Beach)

Distance : 80km

Terrain : Mix of long climbs, gradual slopes and hilly sections. Last 25km was a butt-killer due to poor road condition and extremely strong headwind.

We started off by putting the bike together. The others were really technical and precise with the adjustments of their bikes. I was standing around and thinking of how to put my handlebar and wheels together. Got everything together somehow, after some "Waliew eh! You damn jialat!" and "This one you also dunno?!" from my sister after asking her how to fix the parts together.

The ride was ok. Managed to keep up with the roadies, cos' Vincent had a puncture and most of them stopped to give him a hand. I'm not of much help. So Eddie and I went ahead first. He was trying to draft me but he couldn't keep a constant pace. So in the end, I gave up and braved the wind myself.



The small road that led into Bang Keao was a killer. Our butts went numbed cos' the road condition was really bad. Headwind was also very strong cos' we were going towards the east coast. It was really, really miserable riding that 25km.

I was so glad when we finally reached the resort. Food was nice and seafood was really fresh. We even had soft shell crabs!! Good food is really a morale boaster. Had to tell myself that it's not that bad to cycle 80km a day cos' it was only the first day. Anyway, forgot about having to endure the rest of the ride when I was lying on the beach chair. Dozed off in the breeze. ZZZzzzzz.....

Tour de Thailand

What a ride! We have finally reached Phuket. Looking back, the ride wasn't so bad. In fact, it's not that tough. It would have been if I had cheong-ed the mountains and slopes together with the rest of the roadbikers. Yun (my sis) and I were the ones with mountain bikes, so we were a distance behind the rest. It doesn't really matter actually, juz that we reached the hotels later than the rest.

We spent 3 days riding, from Hatyai to this beach resort in the east coast of Thailand, then cut across a MOUNTAIN RANGE and hit Krabi. Rested 1 day in Krabi before going onto the road again. Trouble hit for me after we left Krabi. The terrain was really, I mean, REALLY hilly. I was cheonging all the way when suddenly I felt a very sharp pain in my left knee when I hit 60km.

It was quite bad. The pain was so bad that I felt like crying. At certain points, it hurt so bad that I wanted to buang the bike and walk. Since there was no shade to buang the bike, might as well juz continue cycling. Was going between 10-15km/h at that time cos' I couldn't stretch my left leg nor bend it, so I was depending on the down slopes to bring me away.

The pain and scorching sun reminded me of my training days. Images of marching up and down, left and right with helmet and shield and stuff all donned. UST made cycling seem like an easy feat. At least I'm seated. That was of coz' what I thought between the bouts of sharp pain in my knee. I also thought about Ah Bui and her deranged knee. It must have hurt so badly for her as well. Therefore, my lunar new year resolution is not to make fun of ah bui's deranged knee again. :D

So anyway, somehow, I made it to the hotel in Phang Nya, many hours after the rest arrived. The uncles kept asking me if I wanted to load up my bike. Nah... It was painful and agonising but if I don't endure, how to excel right? Yah...so anyway, images of the PTI training went through my head as well. I thought of the bloody runs, sprinting with 2 4kg medicine balls and the bloody long runs...that if I don't catch up with the guys and 2 pseudo-women (Chen and can't-remember-her-name (I think they are men trapped in women's bodies :P)), they had to keep doing calisthenics till I reach them. Ya...so cycling didn't seem that bad after all.

Had to go really slow today. Went at my own pace. Cannot cheong down slopes cos' the pain will come back. So metre by metre, I finally reached Phuket. KNS. And the first thing Eng Lock asked was "How's your knee? Go back Singapore buy a roadbike lah. December we cycle to Bangkok?" Ermmmmmmmmm..................... Maybe I drive the safety vehicle? keke...

Cycling in a group like that can be interesting. There are 8 of us in all. We have :
1 and 2 : Yun and myself
3 : Eng Lock - friendly uncle who works in the construction business. Seems like a typical nice dinosaur who blends in so well in a pub. And ya...he drinks A LOT.
4 : Ryan - friendly Mauritius guy who looks and behaves like a typical Singaporean. Nice chap. Very humble and easy-going. The kind of guy that you'd want to travel with.
5 : Bruce - aka Hao Lian. He's actually quite a nice guy. Initial HL-ness could be due to his American blood. Haha! He's quite good actually. Quite a good rider, and yah, he can belay lead and whatever stuff.
6 : Vincent - very quiet and shy guy. Poor thing that he had pretty bad backaches, and was told that he couldn't go fast. HUH?! If he didn't have the backache, he'd probably fly on his bike.
7 : Eddie - didn't quite like him at first but he's actually a nice guy if you strip off the sarcasm. He came over and gave me medication for my knee at night and told me to wrap with towel etc.
8 : Yong Siew - the 3rd lady in the group. Can't believe she's 50!! Really fit and tough lady! Very Singaporean and bargains like anything.

We also have the 2 uncles in the support vehicle. Really interesting group.

Anyway, this is not a good place to blog. Cos' I wouldn't know if any of them comes in and see what i type here. Haha! Afternoon after Thai massage. Not in the mood to blog. :P

Tomorrow I'll be transferring out of Phuket to Khao Lak. Taking a 2-day liveaboard diving trip to Similan Islands. Costs $400+++. TMD....really broke already.