Cruelty of Sports (Life)

Those who are close to me know I am a big fan of sports. I absolutely love the way I was raised ; outdoors! I was never really a homey person who plays computer/video games albeit a period of time when i was all crazy over fifa, prince of persia and the blue brothers to name a few:)

First and the only game I still play frequently these days is badminton. My dad drew a badminton court at the backlane of my home and I started playing with my brothers and dad since I was 3! Then we would cycle around the neighbourhood together with my cousins, even made new cycling friends:) When I moved to Pulau Tikus (where the all so good chiu chang ka char koay teow is btw), there was a nearby army training camp. We would go there on the weekends and play war games. It does sound pathetic now as the furthest we have gone was using gunpowder. It must have been great if paintball was already famous back then lol! Not to mention the frequent swimming sessions as well. Hiking up no.84 (halfway point of pg hill) was almost a weekly affair with my dad and siblings.

I think kids my time were pretty creative when it comes to the outdoor games. Kids these days I see are all computer/video gamers...boring. then again, i think it's a non-city kid thing too considering when I share my stories with my kl friends, they sounded pretty amazed. haha
badminton can be played over the house gate, ping pong using the dining table and tennis at home, how about that!:) I have to say we were pretty resouceful and we would settle for anything just to play. short dining table? extend with a platform supported by chairs!

My cousins, brothers and I would also gather for mini-futsal sessions as well at my cousin's pretty huge garden. Sadly, I have not played much football ever since I started wearing specs. No contact lens for me as my eyes are too sensitive:p I used to play tennis and squash too, basically i get interested in whatever is thrown at me, but the only game I really like was and is still badminton.

So now I have to settle at only watching football. A big fan of Man Utd, supported them since I was young. I remember those younger years when their style and never-say-die spirit really impressed me and got me following. great players have come and gone, yet the team's still at the top! 3 years running and they just thrashed arsenal 3-1 last night, totally outclassing Ars. Which was my point of the title having detoured quite a bit (lol), I am also a fan of Arsene Wenger's style; attacking football, a great scout and the ability to develop young players. If there had to be one opposing team to win the league, I would respectfully give it to Arsenal. I think they deserve it after all the hard work Arsene has put in. Sadly, football and sports generally are cruel. Winners will continue to win and losers will continue to lose most of the big competitions. I reckon it has got a lot to do with having a strong winning mentality.

It is something that great winners like Sir Fergie, Roger Federer and Lin Dan have that you can't take away from them too often. You can only give credit to these winners as they always seem to up their games in major competitions. More so when they are written off by the media critics. Just look at federer, he had a bad end to 2009 and most people thought he's off with a total of 15 grand slams. It was just amazing seeing him play yesterday, back to his best and adding to another grand slam. Nobody knows how much more will he go on to win!

I am also a big fan of Chong Wei as I think he has been the most consistent player Malaysia has ever seen since Rashid. I honestly think it's just too bad he is in the same era as Lin Dan. I feel people just got to understand that there are some natural talented winners like Lin Dan but at least Chong Wei makes it up by training hard. The coach has always been very proud of his training ethics and that alone earns my respect. I've always been very critical of Malaysians who criticised him for losing so badly in the olympics final. Yes I was disappointed too but I thought he lost most of the matches against Lin Dan only down to mental strength. These highly critical people did not even watch how he got to the final! Skill for skill, I think he's better but he just got to play the same attacking way against Lin Dan which he has failed to do so far. Hopefully he can get the better of him this year, especially it being a Thomas Cup year.

I sure hope most people understand the level of commitment sportsmen have to put to get to the winning level. It's obviously not as easy as people who sit at home munching on junk food highly criticising the players. As life has taught me, hard training/work does not guarantee you success, that's the cruelty of life! some people are just smarter or more talented in whatever they do. Don't know about you, but I prefer supporting someone who is down to earth and true worthy champions like fergie, federer and chong wei!

Reflecting on 2009

It's the time of the year again to look back on how the year has gone for me.

January 2009
I had a great family trip to Macau and Hong Kong. Can't wait to do it again in May 2010.


February 2009
Celebrated my 25th birthday in Phuket. This was probably our best Thailand trip, no scams and all fun!


March 2009
Had a few trips to Singapore as Jiin was working in a project here. If 2008 was bangkok jazz, 2009 was definitely crystal jade kitchen for its amazing shrimp dumpling noodles and dim sum:)

April 2009
Made quite a huge career decision which I am glad I did.

May 2009
Visited Siem Reap with old buddies. It was a great discovery trip and the highlights were the ATV and Tonle Sap lake tour.

I then made my way back to London and Poland for work.

This time around, paid my uncle a visit in his home in Dartford. It felt good to finally get to hang out and know my uncle and family.

June 2009
Jiin visited me in London and we made our way to Bath, Stonehenge and Paris:)

The amazing gardens in Paris and not forgetting the best steak I've ever tasted!
Then I spent a weekend in Amsterdam with Kam Tat.


July 2009
Back and away to Bali with old buddies! Nice trip. Man Utd was in town too.


August 2009
Celebrated mum and dad's 60th birthday. Amazing how far they've come!

September 2009
Celebrated our 3rd anniversary in Nexus Karambunai, Sabah. Had a very relaxing weekend all to ourselves.


October 2009
Probably the most uneventful month of the year, but we did have some dinners and a hotel stay in Westin!

November 2009
The birth of Jon, my first nephew whom got everyone in the family very excited:) Was also in Cherating for the company treasure hunt.


December 2009
Had a nice trip back to JB with ex-coursemates and then to Singapore for a long weekend break and then off to Penang next week!

Looking back on the year, did not accomplish much 'firsts' except for the travels. However, all in all a good year and can't wait for the new year, new goals! No resolutions, no targets so I need to have some:)
1. Get the damn 6-pack - every year's failed resolution:(
2. Watch a football match, preferably in Old Trafford - failed 2008 resolution
3. Excelling at work
4. New Zealand and a few relaxing holiday get-aways
5. Good financial management

Reflection of 2008
January
Toughest start to a new year, losing my grandma. Tasted Bangkok Jazz's superb tom yam for the first time.

February
Celebrated my 24th birthday in Cameron Highlands. Road trips are always best given the good food along the way:)
March
What a night in Luna Bar, reunited with my best ever buddies, 5 people played the number game but 1 person finished half the bottle! lol
April
Had my first white water rafting experience with great company and the night in Cameron where we found out how kiasu the girls were, even in a game of Monopoly :p Bought over my brother's car and got banged by a motorcyclist 2 weeks later.
May
Planted a few trees for the first time. Tasted real good sharks fin and expensive chinese cuisine in Noble House.

June
Hiked Bukit Melawati for the first time. Revisited JB and Singapore with the BTAs.

July
Celebrated graduation from the BTA programme which came with a promotion and a new role. Experienced cooking for the first time in a teambuilding.

August
Flew to Langkawi for a good weekend getaway. Company trip to save the turtles in Terengganu.

September
Attended a church wedding for the first time. Flew business class for the first time, all the way to London, best ever city I've visited. Loved the weather, the people, the work and everything really! Touched down and flew to Bangkok the following day for our 2nd anniversary!

October
New role again, had to be away from Boleh-land for 6 weeks. Spent 3 weeks in Guildford, UK over sandwich lunches. Visited Emirates Stadium and Old Trafford for the first time!

November
Thank god for the proper lunches again in Lisbon and Hamburg! Visited Berlin and experienced snow for the first time.

December
Participated in Penang Food Hunt with best buddies and girlfriend. Weekend getaway to Tioman for the first time. Certified a Six Sigma Green Belt.
All in all, an eventful and fruitful year. So many firsts and so many wonderful experiences both in work and life. Now, the 2009 resolution!
1. Gain and build on experience from current role
2. Get the damn 6-pack and be slightly built!
3. Visit more holiday destinations
4. Watch a football match, preferably in Old Trafford:)