Tomorrow is my last day in Sudan. Back to Malaysia and running at KLCC park. I am not quite sure the level of my fitness after not running for more than 2 weeks. I guess I will find out this weekend.
I won't be running in the Ipoh half marathon this year. I have run in Ipoh HM for 4 consecutive years between 2002 to 2005. The race route itself is not that great as it mostly goes through Ipoh town. However the medals are easy to get if you run within the qualifying time of 2.5 hrs.
Good luck to the runners running in the Ipoh half marathon.
I would have liked to write more about Sudan but I don't think the company will be pleased on some of the things I would say.
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Sudan Post #4 - Taxi Ride
Friday is the start of the weekend in Sudan.
In the afternoon, myself and a colleague went to the first shopping complex built in Khartoum. The place was called 'Afra' actually located near the airport.
The complex consists of three floors. The 1st floor had a supermarket and shops. The 2nd floor had retails shops and the third floor, a food court and offices. The size of the complex would be about the same as the Giant supermarket complex in Kelana Jaya, P.J. The retail shops were all closed.
We went to the supermarket. It was set up with like a hypermarket selling a range of goods like food, toys, TVs etc ala Carrefour and Giant. There is not quite the variety and quality found in similar hypermarkets in Malaysia but the basic stuff were there.
After we had completed our shopping (biscuits and some local food), we went out to find a taxi. The taxis here are yellow coloured and universally of ancient lineage and in semi working condition (no air-cond.).
As we made our way in decrepit taxi , 2 km on , the engines suddenly sputterred to a stop. We ended up on the side of a busy road. A policeman sauntered and asked the taxi to be moved to a side road. How was this task to be accomplished? By the two of us pushing the taxi and the driver handling the steering wheel. All done in 40 deg Celcius heat.
We assumed that the car had broken down and looked for a passing taxi to flag. The taxi driver opened the car boot and took out a small plastic container (about 2 Litre ). He gestured towards the container and looked at me, he said "Bensen". With his fingers, made the universal sign for "money". The answer the taxi had stopped - it had ran out of gas!. It seems this was a regular occurrence for this particular taxi driver , hence the plastic container.
Anyway we found another taxi and boarded it. I gave SND 500 (USD 2.00) to our previous taxi driver. As we moved off, I saw him walking no doubt to find petrol and later perhaps the next victims to push his ancient taxi when it stops again.
In the afternoon, myself and a colleague went to the first shopping complex built in Khartoum. The place was called 'Afra' actually located near the airport.
The complex consists of three floors. The 1st floor had a supermarket and shops. The 2nd floor had retails shops and the third floor, a food court and offices. The size of the complex would be about the same as the Giant supermarket complex in Kelana Jaya, P.J. The retail shops were all closed.
We went to the supermarket. It was set up with like a hypermarket selling a range of goods like food, toys, TVs etc ala Carrefour and Giant. There is not quite the variety and quality found in similar hypermarkets in Malaysia but the basic stuff were there.
After we had completed our shopping (biscuits and some local food), we went out to find a taxi. The taxis here are yellow coloured and universally of ancient lineage and in semi working condition (no air-cond.).
As we made our way in decrepit taxi , 2 km on , the engines suddenly sputterred to a stop. We ended up on the side of a busy road. A policeman sauntered and asked the taxi to be moved to a side road. How was this task to be accomplished? By the two of us pushing the taxi and the driver handling the steering wheel. All done in 40 deg Celcius heat.
We assumed that the car had broken down and looked for a passing taxi to flag. The taxi driver opened the car boot and took out a small plastic container (about 2 Litre ). He gestured towards the container and looked at me, he said "Bensen". With his fingers, made the universal sign for "money". The answer the taxi had stopped - it had ran out of gas!. It seems this was a regular occurrence for this particular taxi driver , hence the plastic container.
Anyway we found another taxi and boarded it. I gave SND 500 (USD 2.00) to our previous taxi driver. As we moved off, I saw him walking no doubt to find petrol and later perhaps the next victims to push his ancient taxi when it stops again.
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Sudan Post#3
Yesterday I had lunch at a well known Sudanese restaurant. I couldn't eat most of the stuff on the menu. The local food has a lot meat based dishes ; chicken, mutton and beef. Mutton is especially popular. The Malaysians here say the mutton here tastes better and "healthier" than the ones in Malaysia.
I ordered fried fish, rice and salad. The fish came with a huge amounf or rice. It was not bad although there is very little cooked vegetables here. The local food is similar to Middle Easternt or Turkish food, mainly based around meat which I don't eat.
I haven't run in Khartoum and I am not planning to do so. In the morning, the temperature is reasonably low to run but there are no large parks to run in. Sand and dust is everywhere on the roads. The hotel fitness club is a wreck.
Last night, I found out there are 2,000 Malaysians living in Sudan mainly working in the oil industry.
I ordered fried fish, rice and salad. The fish came with a huge amounf or rice. It was not bad although there is very little cooked vegetables here. The local food is similar to Middle Easternt or Turkish food, mainly based around meat which I don't eat.
I haven't run in Khartoum and I am not planning to do so. In the morning, the temperature is reasonably low to run but there are no large parks to run in. Sand and dust is everywhere on the roads. The hotel fitness club is a wreck.
Last night, I found out there are 2,000 Malaysians living in Sudan mainly working in the oil industry.
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Sudan Post #2 : The Yellow Stuff
Everything outside is tinged with yellow colour now. The air is filled with fine yellow colour sand from a dust storm which has been going since 11.00 am. Visibility is down to 50m.
Yet there are local people siting and playing in the park. The sand makes me blink repeatedly and my throat itchy and dry.
Yet there are local people siting and playing in the park. The sand makes me blink repeatedly and my throat itchy and dry.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Sudan Post #1
I am now in Sudan, 9.20 am local time, 2.20 p Malaysian. Sunday is a working day here. Only Friday is a day off for the company here.
It was along journey from Kuala Lumpur to Khartoum on Friday. It was impossible to get shorter flight routes for example KK to Cairo to Khartoum. So I had to fly to Frankfurt (12 hrs), transit at Frankfurt airport (6 hrs) and fly from Frankfurt to Khartoum (6 hrs). Altogether 24 hrs of travel - enough time to fly around the entire planet.
Fortunately I managed to get about 3 hrs sleep on the KL to Frankfurt flight on Malaysian airlines flight MH 06C. I think I dozed off at about 3.00 am. Suddenly I woke up at about 6.30am. Immediately I thought about the PJ half marathon is starting precisely in that instant.
I could not go back to sleep after that. For the next two hrs, I lay on the bed looking at my watch and imagining I was running in the race.
When I checked my watch at 7.19 am, 49 minutes atfer the start , I would have been running on the flyover at Subang airport road. At 8.20 am, I think I would just about turned left from the airport road running towards P.J. Alas, I was only doing these things in my imagination and was instead sitting on a Boeing 777-200 aircraft , 11,000 m high flying over the Mediterranean sea. Today I realised I had imagined the race one day earlier than the day it took place which is this morning.
For the reports and results on the PJ half marathonn, please visit PM1's site.
It was along journey from Kuala Lumpur to Khartoum on Friday. It was impossible to get shorter flight routes for example KK to Cairo to Khartoum. So I had to fly to Frankfurt (12 hrs), transit at Frankfurt airport (6 hrs) and fly from Frankfurt to Khartoum (6 hrs). Altogether 24 hrs of travel - enough time to fly around the entire planet.
Fortunately I managed to get about 3 hrs sleep on the KL to Frankfurt flight on Malaysian airlines flight MH 06C. I think I dozed off at about 3.00 am. Suddenly I woke up at about 6.30am. Immediately I thought about the PJ half marathon is starting precisely in that instant.
I could not go back to sleep after that. For the next two hrs, I lay on the bed looking at my watch and imagining I was running in the race.
When I checked my watch at 7.19 am, 49 minutes atfer the start , I would have been running on the flyover at Subang airport road. At 8.20 am, I think I would just about turned left from the airport road running towards P.J. Alas, I was only doing these things in my imagination and was instead sitting on a Boeing 777-200 aircraft , 11,000 m high flying over the Mediterranean sea. Today I realised I had imagined the race one day earlier than the day it took place which is this morning.
For the reports and results on the PJ half marathonn, please visit PM1's site.
Friday, June 16, 2006
PC Problem
I enjoyed yesterday's run at KLCC park. I ran with Newton and I was surprised to discover I could run 4 laps (8 min per lap, total 5.2 km). Just 2 weeks ago, I could only run less than 2 km. I guess my endurance has improved a fair bit. I have hit on a plan to maintain a reasonable level of fitness until I can run without too much problems.
- Once a week I will run a 5.2 km subject to the condition of my right knee.
- Two or three times a week, run 3 km.
For a report on Jason's five lap PR , visit PM'1 site.
With the exception of Phyllis who ran 11 laps and Ah Long (8 laps), the other runners (Tony making a surprise appearance) were taking it easy just 4 days before the PJ half marathon.
My PC LCD monitor is not working and I am still here on Saturday, I will have to buy a replacement.I will be on my way to Sudan tonight via a horribly long route (12 hrs to Frankfurt) and xx hrs to Khartoum. Probably I will have to endure 20 hrs of travel time.
Good luck to eveyone running the PJ half marathon.
Thursday, June 15, 2006
Sudan again!
12.00 pm today : I am on my way to a shop to repair my PC.
Suddenly I get a tel. call informing that I have to go to Sudan tomorrow morning. W.T.F.?
For 2 weeks.
From then on, rush, rush.........
........ to the bank to get $$$
....... to get the money changer to get US$ (credit cards cannot be used in Sudan)
........... to Kinokuniya to buy books to read
.............. to the office to arrange for the flights and check my e-mails.
As of 5.15 pm , the flights are still not available.
W.T.F.!
Suddenly I get a tel. call informing that I have to go to Sudan tomorrow morning. W.T.F.?
For 2 weeks.
From then on, rush, rush.........
........ to the bank to get $$$
....... to get the money changer to get US$ (credit cards cannot be used in Sudan)
........... to Kinokuniya to buy books to read
.............. to the office to arrange for the flights and check my e-mails.
As of 5.15 pm , the flights are still not available.
W.T.F.!
Sunday, June 11, 2006
Thursday, June 08, 2006
Wednesday's Run
I had an enjoyable run yesterday at KLCC park. The weather was cloudy and colder than normal due to the afternoon's rain. I ran the first lap alone. About 400 m into the 2nd lap, I saw Newton running in the opposite direction. I joined him and we ran together while talking to ech other. We ran a relaxed pace of 8 min per lap 1.3km. It's has been two months since I ran more than 2 km.
After the 3rd lap my right was getting sore but I didn't want to stop immediately as I was enjoying the run too much. I kept going another lap until I could not tolerate the soreness and had to stop near the Bench.
Later, we (PM1, PM21), Ah Long and Newton hung around to talk .
Today the weather is good as yesterday. I regret that I cannot run today because a sore knee.
After the 3rd lap my right was getting sore but I didn't want to stop immediately as I was enjoying the run too much. I kept going another lap until I could not tolerate the soreness and had to stop near the Bench.
Later, we (PM1, PM21), Ah Long and Newton hung around to talk .
Today the weather is good as yesterday. I regret that I cannot run today because a sore knee.
Monday, June 05, 2006
A Letter from Thailand
I received a letter from Thailand last week (click letter to enlarge but it is too small to be seen on IE; if you save the file, it is legible on any graphic software). The story behind this letter is I filled in a survey form about Thai International Airline. The survey form was available in a stationaries "file" with some postcards. Not only did they took the trouble to sent an e-mail but receiving the letter from Thai International was a surprise.
Another nice surprise was the rice congee I had for breakfast in the same flight had spring onions. On my previous flight in March from Bangkok, I suggested they put some spring onions to give some colour to the congee. They have done just that.; that's what I call listening to your customers.
Sunday, June 04, 2006
20km Long Run Route - Bird's Eye View
The 20km long run route from the Bukit Aman carpark to the Petronas petrol station at Sri Hartamas is a favourite among many runners every weeekend. The route map is available at Pacesetter Malaysia website here as Hockey Stadium/Hartamas.For a different perpective, I have partially plotted the route from Jalan Duta/hockey stadium to Sri Hartamas using Google Earth.
This alternate map is shown below (please click map to enlarge) :
This alternate map is shown below (please click map to enlarge) :
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Pacemaker Annual Run 2006
The Pacemaker Annual Run (PAR) 2006 was held at KLCC this morning. Unlike the previous two PARs (2005 and 2006) , there was no press coverage of this self organised "Runners Event".
The event was organised as a relay race consisting of 4 runners in 9 teams. Each runner had to run two laps (2.6km) with a total of 10.4km for each team. The starting time was 7.30am.
I had the honour of flagging of the runners and time recorder; I wrote down the runners times shouted out by PM21.
What struck me about this event was not the finishing times but the other things:-
For results, visit PM1's site here.
The event was organised as a relay race consisting of 4 runners in 9 teams. Each runner had to run two laps (2.6km) with a total of 10.4km for each team. The starting time was 7.30am.
I had the honour of flagging of the runners and time recorder; I wrote down the runners times shouted out by PM21.
What struck me about this event was not the finishing times but the other things:-
- Everyone had the spirit and determination to give their best run. I think every runner gave 100% effort.
- Every runner got tremendous support from other runners regardless of their team .
- Everyone had a good time.
For results, visit PM1's site here.
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Meeting at the Bench
It was great to meet the runners again at the Bench yesterday.
I started running alone at KLCC park. After one lap, I saw Yong and we ran together. Unfortunately my fitness level is not up to the mark and I had to stop near the Bench (600m). Met Jamie there and we had a chat. He told me the runners are planning to run a one lap trial. In a short while, the "competitors" arrive near the Bench after their warm-up run.
You can read the report and timings at Ronnie's website here. I was a bit surprised to see Jamie and Dk able to run so fast (5 min 12 sec for 1300m or 1 min 36 sec for every 400m).
I couldn't run the time trial but I was glad to meet the guys again after a long time.
This Saturday the PAR relay run will be held at KLCC. I will have the honour of flagging off the runners .
I started running alone at KLCC park. After one lap, I saw Yong and we ran together. Unfortunately my fitness level is not up to the mark and I had to stop near the Bench (600m). Met Jamie there and we had a chat. He told me the runners are planning to run a one lap trial. In a short while, the "competitors" arrive near the Bench after their warm-up run.
You can read the report and timings at Ronnie's website here. I was a bit surprised to see Jamie and Dk able to run so fast (5 min 12 sec for 1300m or 1 min 36 sec for every 400m).
I couldn't run the time trial but I was glad to meet the guys again after a long time.
This Saturday the PAR relay run will be held at KLCC. I will have the honour of flagging off the runners .
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