Brunei Oh Brunei...(updated)

Going to Brunei for HSBC Olympic Games, SouthEactAsia version. As usual, Im taking part in badminton.

Enjoyed very much (even losing) in my last 2 training sessions because, there's a very good player in my team now.

OK. All I know is, no selling alcohol in Brunei... Must be quite boring then... But, Im ready for any surprise...

Updated
It's a fun trip indeed. Fun to meet new fren like Dex, a local. Fun to meet back old frens from Msia. Most of all, fun to win & lose because every match was a tough match. I did a lot of jumping smash this time, mainly because I have finally put on contact lens. No more jumping-smash-then-adjust-spec routine. Try to nail each point, when the shuttle was lifted high. The point system now is very nervy as each point counts.

Dex had cordially brought me around Brunei on the 1st day. And, we finished round-the-country in 1hr. Some interesting facts abt Brunei:
- Petrol is $0.53.
- $50K can buy a Merc C Class.
- Only 30 taxi in Brunei, since everyone owns a car.
- Every buildings can't build higher than their mosque.
- Their Sultan portrait is everywhr. Absolutely everywhr.
- Underground beer can be bought at $5. Else, drive 2hr to Miri, 1 can costs you $1.
- Education is free.
- Civil servant can apply for very nice landed gov hse. Rental: $150 (!@#$%^)

Morning parade with a super tight track bottom.
Our loyal fans, soccer team and net ball team. I smashed harder for them ;-)
My partner & I. Learnt that he did jumping smash too. Later he told me it's because 'You jump, I jump'!
Acrobatic! Trust me. If you possess the correct & basic badminton skills, you will have a nice body line. It's my toughest sports.
My roommate cum star of my team.
My favorite pic. Jump Jump!
We got 2nd eventually. The best result we could get.

I was having a severe backache for the following 3 days. Too much jumping smash I think;-) Age does catching up.

CCG Games 2008

Captained the Mixed Team.

Good thing about being a captain is, you are the center of 'attraction'. Captains' group photo, captain armband presentation and get called by the control every time there's an issue. Even during gift exchange, there's a special gift for Captain.

It's cool to be the-Captain.
The team. We didn't do well. Knocked out at the group stage. But, I think the defeat is the perfect wake-up call for some who felt guilty. Hope we shine in our coming event - our very own HSBC Olympic Games, Brunei.

Badminton was the 1st sports that I picked up, along with my brothers. And, we started it RIGHT. A good volunteer coach passed on the basics but essential skills and foot work and it is very much relevant why I can still play good (not bad la) badminton once I pick it back.

No doubt, badminton had given me a strong fitness base me to excel in subsequent sports. When I was the fittest me, pumping & sit-up in 100 counts were sweatless. My light weight was a reason though.

Sadly, it's no more the passion that I felt once. It's now more like a social games, only when there's a tournament to play. Probably, it's due to difficulty in finding a bunch of players with the same standard. Perhaps, the really cause is I always want to try new things. But definately, I still enjoy any tough games in double though. With a good partner, and a good opponent, I always feel great even I lost.

Brunei, here we come! Pls serve us beer...

Poor oh poor KKK... (2)

Deja vu. The current national coach vented his displeasure on his player again, publicly! What on earth is his intension?

Certainly, that's not the way to motivate a player.

He's my brother. 请多多支持! (Malaysia Open 2008)

Since he entered the arena by wining the World Junior Champion (twice) at such young age, I have no doubt that his pair would the the world beater. It's only matter of time.

I was half right.

Injury is a mammoth enemy to an athelete. Ask any runner how frustrated they are if it happens. I scare of it too. Not kiasi, but, when you cant give your best, it depleted the Ummp to go in full force.

Tonight, the 'new' pair vs a top China pair. Gotta watch because never expect them to reach this stage ;-) It has been some time that I do not watch a live badminton games. Since the 21 points system, the game is actually bad to your heart! Heart beats faster and make me cold sweat especially when the score is close ;-)

*** They lost. Not a surprise but seems they were just enjoying the games. Which is good.

Please help to snowball the news. Thanks!!!

Corporate Community Games 28.07.2007 - 29.07.2007

Thanks to Khong Lean for the write-up.


"We were blessed with a nice breezy weather on games day which was a welcome relief to the high humidity resulting from the afternoon showers from the previous days. A sweeping glance revealed that the runners from the various corporates were as diverse as you could imagine. From muscle-toned quadriceps to lean veteran running machines, the participants were all geared up to do their best. The race was a relay style where a team of 4 runners was each required to cover a distance of 2.5km around the Botanic Gardens. HSBC was the proud winner of the mixed-team category last year and we were determined to maintain that record. Our first runner, Simon Lu (CIB), was quick off the mark and came in 1st for his leg, passing the next leg to Eunice Yeo (HTV). Eunice did incredibly well to match the pace of other male runners and maintained our advantage. Our 3rd and 4th runner, Chong Wah (TSV) and Alen Sim (HTSG), gathered more steam and stormed ahead, eventually running out winners with a combined timing of 38:47 min. Once again, we managed to retain our championship position. The icing on the cake was that we managed to better the timing of the winners of the All Mens team".


*I clocked 9:27; 3.71min/km. It is a very nice star-fish like medal.

The route

The Team: (from left) xxx, Emmannuel, Khong Lean, fast-man Allen, ME, iron-man Simon (clocked under 9min!) and wonderwoman Eunice.

Continue another event on the next day and won the 3rd in badminton. The Team: (from left) xxx, Lazarus (my partner), PeiFun, beer-beater Pramodh, Captain Diana, Care Taker Calvin, single player Alphonsus and ME.