Saturday, August 31, 2013

Putrajaya Fireworks Competition Team China

Putrajaya Fireworks Competition Team China, 31 Aug 2013, Saturday at 10:00 p.m … Team China also staged a 30-minute fireworks display on Day 2 of the event, the duration is similar to Team Malaysia on the eve of Merdeka Day. 

Compare to Team Malaysia, the fireworks of Team China exhibits less brightness, less intensity and less firepower; many a time, the balls of flame were also smaller. The lower or supporting fireworks (that were above the water) were displayed with lesser brightness. There were a few void moments where there were no fireworks were been launched. We were relief to see later that the show continued.

Overall, Team Malaysia was better in term of more firepower, brighter, better patterns and bigger flames.

Do click here to view xxx photos courtesy of yours truly (KC).

Next fireworks competition: 

  13 Sept 2013 - France 
14 Sept 2013 - Korea
15 Sept 2013 - Dubai
(above dates clash with TMBT Ultra Trail Marathon running event near to Mount Kinabalu where yours truly is participating)

01 Oct 2013 - USA









Do click here to view photos of Team Malaysia on eve of Merdeka Day ... Putrajaya Fireworks Competition 2013.

Posted by KC Leong

Putrajaya Fireworks Competition Team Malaysia

Putrajaya Fireworks Competition Team Malaysia, 30 Aug 2013, Friday at 12 mid-night in celebrating 56th Anniversary of Merdeka Day.

The displays of fireworks lasted for 30 minutes much to the Wah's and Wow's of the spectators and folks.


The fireworks of Team Malaysia exhibit with much firepower, brightness and intensity. There were a few moments of climax with ball of flames getting bigger and bigger engulfing the sky above. The lower or supporting fireworks that were above the water were also having their own pattern of display.

Do click here to view 102 photos courtesy of yours truly (KC Leong).

Close range – Notice the three green boats … they are ferrying spectators or tourists in witnessing the fireworks display









Do click here to view Putrajaya Fireworks Competition Team China 2013 (Day 2)

Do click here to view previous competitions at Putrajaya in August 2008 (five years ago).

Posted by KC Leong

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

RHB Mt Kinabalu Team at Fraser Hill

Away for a 3D2N trekking and teambuilding outings at Fraser's Hill from 23-25 August 2013 … This is the team preparing for Mount Kinabalu Climb in end October 2013 in celebrating RHB Bank 100th Anniversary.

The team has a good time staying up at the cool mountain with trekking and teambuilding activities. Other than the good food, that was good camaraderie chatting with colleagues who share the same interest and mission.

After the selection process at Gunung Nuang (Ulu Langat) on 1 June, with staff from all different regions (North, Sough, Central, East Malaysia), this is the first time that the team gather together.

Do click here to view 95 photos courtesy of yours truly (KC).

 Fine weather on Day 2, 24 August 2013, Saturday at 6:50 a.m. – a cool morning with mist hovering above the golf course

 With Deeno, the main outdoor facilitator of Punchak Event

 Safety briefing by Deeno

 A group photo before the start of trekking at Pine Tree Trail at 8:30 a.m. The team start walking from Clock Tower to trail head of Pine Tree Trail. 

 At the peak of Pine Tree Trail. The fastest group takes 2 hr 30 min (inclusive of walking from Clock Tower to trail head). From trail head, the timing would be about 2 hours.

 At Twin Peak

 Group photo at the second peak – Twin Peak. 

 Care for the environment -- they collect the rubbish, put them in a bag and carry it all the way descending the mountain. Bravo! 

 hmmm ... nice aroma of freshly prepared coffee by Patrick Yee

 Twin Peaks ... with SuWF

 Day 3 morning for teambuilding games ... the weather changed suddenly with clouds engulfing the entire area; slight drizzles followed.

Outdoor teambuilding games in progress


Posted by KC Leong

Saturday, August 10, 2013

Gunung Nuang Trail Running

Photos of trail running at Gunung Nuang on Day2 of Raya Holidays, 9 August 2013. If you look at the group photos, the faces are different as we meet different group at different locations.

Depending on one's commitment in the next trail running event, i.e. TMBT on 14 September 2013, some would end at Kem Pacat; some arrive at Nuang Peak. For some, they would traverse to Janda Baik (Genting) and return -- an extended loop.

Do click here to view 24 photos courtesy of yours truly (KC).

 At the start of the trail

 At the Pondok area, end of Jalan Balak

 Crossing stream - Carrie and Dannie

 A host of activity trying to cross this stream

 At Kem Lolo area, just before ascending to Kem Pacat

At the signature tree of Kem Pacat

Do click here to view all trail running postings at Gunung Nuang; scroll down the pages.

Posted by KC Leong

Sunday, August 04, 2013

Mount Ijen

Mount Ijen is the third mountain in this Mt Semeru, Mt Bromo and Mt Ijen 10D9N trip at East Java, Indonesia from 20-29 July 2013. 

Each mountain has its own beauty and characteristic. This mountain is about sulphur, gasses, the miners and the turquoise-coloured acid crater lake. 

Do CLICK HERE to view 150 photos courtesy of yours truly (KC Leong).

Yeah! Raring to GO for the white-water rafting activity !!! At water rafting outfitter site, Pekalen River. (left): Joseph, KC Leong, Jesslyn, Marie, SK, George, Fiona, Sharon Tan, Wong FK.

 Adrenaline rush ... The inflatable raft of Boat A: Joseph, Jesslyn, Marie and Wong FK. Note: all water rafting action photos are being shot by the cameraman of rafting outfitter.

 Boat B ... KC Leong, Sharon Tan and Fiona (face hidden by hand)

This is a Grade 3 or 4 of white-water with small waves, small drop and rocks with significant maneuvering by the Raft Guide. Raft Guide maneuvering the raft with his oar and throw his weight for balancing … Fiona, Sharon and KC Leong.

 Against the background of a waterfall ... V pose by yours truly ... :-)

 Mount Ijen, East Java … Fiona trying out to lift the baskets of sulphur, which is about 70-80 km in weight.

As decorative items ... Sulphur is a very colourful chemical substance. At room temperature it is bright yellow. When its molten, its red and it is electric blue when burned. Each item (with real sulphur) is sold at RM 1.50 (Rp5,000). Note: do not buy many of these thinking to help the miners as sulphur may be deem dangerous substance and would be confiscated at airport when going through the security checkpoint. But small quantity and put in the check-in luggage is OK.

A worker measure the weight of the sulphur being brought out from Ijen volcano. The tensile strength of rattan that can take almost 80km without being snapped. The incredible strength of human that can carry a load heavier than the carrier.

 Arriving at the crater rim … nothing grows here with the sulphur gasses

The wind blows the gasses away revealing the turquoise-coloured acid crater lake … yours truly (KC). Seeing the smoke and the water, that reminds me of the song "Smoke on the water" ... a signature song by Deep Purple.

The Magnificent Seven engulfed in gasses with full masks … (left) WongFK, Sharon Tan, Fiona Goh, SK, George, Marie, Jesslyn. According to WongFK, the effect of the sulphur gas can be seen in the photo where Fiona is holding up a closed umbrella and his thumbs up sign is down.

Erick, our hardworking and committed trekking chef and coordinator who takes care of our food and drinks since trekking at Mount Semeru, the first mountain. I was truly impressed with him when we were getting ready to ascend Mount Semeru at the base camp at 1:00 a.m. In the very cold morning, after preparing our food, he handed me a cup of hot cereal drinks, and said, “minum supaya Mr. kuat untuk summit!” (Sir, drink … so that you will have strength to summit the peak).

 Jesslyn, Fiona, Sharon and KC Leong preparing to descend into the crater with the steps and ladders.

 Here comes the gasses ... a miner is seen taking a breather; swiftly and surely the gasses are going to engulf him.

 A different world that is so colourful … workers mining sulphur in the heart of the volcano

A sulphur miner carries baskets containing sulphur and walk up a gradient of 45 to 60 degrees and then as far as 3 km down the mountain for weighing. Carrying about 70-80 km per trip, the reward is about RM 15 (Rp 50,000); the most is two trips a day. Risking their health, sulphur miners often use insufficient protection while working around the volcano. We could hear them cough while going up the slope.

Back to Surabaya after a 5-hour travelling in the trusted 12-seater Izuzu van. The next morning ... visit House of Sampoerna cigarette house. We also visited Cheng Hoo Masjid/temple; shopping for outdoor gear at Surabaya, mostly Indonesian brand. No international brand here.

The final evening at another hotel at Surabaya; there is a balcony overseeing the traffic below and we enjoyed ourselves with the local street food. Having drinks and chit chatting while going online with the free Wifi from the hotel.

Day 10 final shopping or window shopping at Tunjungan Plaza, Surabaya. It is as big and posh as Mid-Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur. Final dinner at 6:00 p.m. courtesy of trekking agent; after dinner, the group return to Kuala Lumpur at 9:10 p.m. via Air Asia flight.

Surabaya is Indonesia's second-largest city with a population of over 3.1 million (5.6 million in the metropolitan area). Located on the northern shore of eastern Java, it is the capital of the province of East Java. 


Do click here to view video of sulphur mining in an active volcano - BBC News.

Do click here to view Part 1 (Mt Semeru), click here for Part 2 (Mt Bromo).

Posted by KC Leong