After running Penang Bridge International Marathon 2011 (PBIM) and after almost 5 days since the ordeal, I finally have the time and strength (???) to share my experience of the Full Marathon Ordeal.

Of course, what better way than to tell the whole story from the start. It was 6am on Saturday 19th November 2011. The people who would be going up by car would be me, my bro and Kyuzo. As Kyuzo would be driving, we all decided that we would have to leave earlier to Penang to avoid the afternoon jam. Along the way, it was an okay journey with very little traffic. Finally after some stops and rest areas and we have finally reached Penang Island. The first thing we did was to collect our race packs. Time to go to Queensbay Mall for the collection.

Surprisingly hot weather, I started to think that it would rain again on the marathon just like the year before. Anyway, collection of the race packs was a breeze. I have even gotten myself some sexy shorts. Sexy????You will understand it later.

After collecting our precious running kits, it was time for some food hunting. Well we did reached around 12pm and it was time for some food hunting. My smart brother asked us to go to Port Weld for some nice food.

After reaching the place, we soon found out that it was seafood that he was craving for. Oiiiiiiiii….. seafood go Teluk Kumbar la~~~ but then since we were already there, we decided to go along with it and order some food. Funny thing was my brother asked me and friend to order as he says this same thing when I first stepped my shoes in Penang.

“I cannot speak hokkien la~~~” Bwahaaha!!! Actually same case for me.

So me and Kyuzo (Klang fella here… so Hokkien also okay okay) went to order our food. We ordered Lala, Fish, Vege and to top it all off, we used Cantonese instead. (We’re finished ~~~ sure charge us high kao kao knowing we are not local). Random fact: I ate a lot of rice.

Anyone knows where is this building and the name of it?

After our meal, it was time to go off to our host place to have our rest and also to meet the rest of the group. Thank you Su Lynn for accommodating us. After our great dinner (Spaghetti and Mash Potatoes and salad), we all proceeded to take our rest and also some hours of House Sitcom?? The run for the 42km starts at 2am and we have to get our asses to bed around 5pm. Only thing was that I slept at 10pm. Bummer.. I was up at 12am and it was time for our journey towards Queensbay Mall for the start of the run.

Reached early. Ample parking space along the road. So glad we were there early. I see some people in their tents at the parking bay. Not a bad idea to overnight in the tent. Alright after some catching up with some runners, it was time for the run to start.

I started the run and I felt a small pain in my knee. Well, armed with my yellow sexy shorts (I am crazy of bright stuffs to show during a run) and my New Balance shoes and the running vest, it was a non stop run all the way in the first 10km.

• 10 KM: For the first time (or rather the third time) I ran without feeling tired. Newcomers would replenish their drinks at the first 5km but I opt to skip that due to the not thirsty factor and also it was not required.
• 15 KM: Had a slow run and then walked for awhile. Due to insufficient practice and wondering why did I sign up for 42km.
• 20KM: Where’s the water?? No water at 2 water stations at 20km and 24km. Lucky I had my power gel to keep me from continuously hungry.
• 25KM: Hooray!! Water station and bread. Finally something to push me onward
• 31KM: Ahhhh… still a long way to go.
• 35KM: With the time at 6 hours, looks like there’s no need to run anymore. I will be able to make it get the finisher T. Also made a new friend as I chatted with a friend called Mawar.
• 40.7KM: It is a dash to the finish line as I go through all those Fun Run participants. Boring~~~
• 41KM: Mission accomplished. Got a XL Finisher T.

Finally I finished the run. The first and most probably a very long time before I start running another full marathon. Here are my results based on PBIM website.

Name	:	Daniel Chew the Weird
Status	:	Active
Collect Method	:	Queensbay Mall (18th & 19th Nov 2011)
Category	:	Full Marathon Men Open
Bib No	:	A00456
Event Results
21KM CheckPoint	:	2:57:44.12
33KM CheckPoint	:	5:03:41.74
ChipTime	:	6:30:11.39
GunTime	:	6:31:38.67
Ranking	:	756/1190

Finally, what can I say? I am satisfied that I finished the run, but am not satisfied with my timing. I was thinking maybe I should take it slow. Start with consistency and do a proper 10KM run to get myself faster. Okay, that is what I would do.

After running it was time to go back to the house and everyone was finally gathered. Time to have a photo shoot of the group. Opps not the above.

From Clockwise Top Left: Kyuzo, Audrey, Sook Mei, Kevin, Daniel

Time to display our proud achievement to the world. It was definitely worth it. As the day goes by, we had seafood dinner at Teluk Kumbar and also another dose of Dr House. The dinner was worth it, you may refer the old post somewhere around. Also something happened during dinner. While we were eating, Sook Mei just had to say, imagine if suddenly it were to rain. Just as she said that, suddenly rain drops came pouring down so fast, we were all saying, “Aiyoh~~~~ you are the cause of it!”. Opps.

The following day, time to leave for home. Time to leave Penang that I usually only drop by once a year. Saddening right? Before we left the island, we saw a sign to keep us remember the time here.

TAK NAK!!!! LOL

Left Penang using the Jetty. We decided to have our lunch/dinner at Ipoh. What can one eat? Beansprout Chicken Rice/Noodle.

Superb…. it was finally great. A food to end the post. It made me hungry. I am going to make some coffee and eat some bread right now. As we come to the end of the post, nothing interesting happened after the Ipoh stop. We just went back and had a great sleep.

I am looking forward for my next run which is the MPSJ 10KM Run next. Woo hoo!!!

And now for the final preview. Wonder how short I wore my shorts? How short were they? Wonder no more as I reveal them below.

Whoa… wrong one. By the way, that is my brother.

Just look at me. Ahahahaha!! Short right?

 

 

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The Penang Bridge International Marathon 2011 is just another 2 days away. Well, sort of and this will be Daniel Chew’s first full 42km marathon run and the venue is Penang. Why Penang? How do I feel right now? Though I ran the PBIM 21km last year too.

It makes me feel super excited to run my first full marathon in Penang because the venue is on the bridge itself. I also feel that this place also bring back lots of memories which goes back all the way to 2008. Well, let’s talk about the marathon first. I am also afraid if I could actually finish the marathon and get the medal at least. Have I taken enough precautions? Am I actually ready to run my first marathon? Can I do it within 6 hours? All these are making my adrenaline rush.

Anyway, like I said, it brings us back all the way to 2008 when I had my first crazy time with the people I knew then.

Imagine how much we all changed? I might not be as thin as before. Well time flies. It was 2008 and during that time, I do not even know the meaning of running in any runs. Fast forward 3 years, and now I am taking part in running events. By the way, that’s me and Aaron at the foreground. If you can squint your eyes a little, you can actually see that it is Willaz and Wendy at the background. It has been such a long time since I met them.

Well, all thanks to a cute chatbox that brought most of us to get to know each another. Thank you ShoutOut (formerly shoutoutlounge.com) for letting us know each other even though most of us have already past that stage, and moved on with our different daily lives. The chatbox is now dead though, so no girls for newcomers to ‘buaya‘.

Those funny times. Maybe we can relish those memories once more. I am sure we can. The time when we were known as the Southern Trio. Anyway, too excited about the run, I cannot really concentrate as to what I am writing right now. Maybe that is how it should be. So wish me luck as I will be running on Sunday. By the time this post is up, I should be on the way or already in Penang.

Welcome back Char Koay Teow, Koay Zhiap and Assam Laksa. Woo hoo!!! All this I will enjoy after running the PBIM 2011.

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Walking around (Jalan Jalan) Pulau Pinang (Penang Island), after my Penang Bridge Half Marathon 2010 I had one half of a day to go around the island. Well, particularly it has been almost 2 years since I set food foot here. It’s also like 3 years ago when I first came here in 2007. So what is Pulau Pinang famous for? Of course, it’s the variety of food one could get to eat.

What happened after the run, me and Kyuzo were practically asleep until 2pm and got up to find lunch. Decided to eat at the mee goreng (fried noodle) stall. Well, enough to satisfy the hunger I supposed.

Soon it was night and our host, Ms Su Lynn brought us for food. I decided to opt for Lok Lok (food dipped in hot water) for dinner.

Fret not, this is only a part of what I had.

Secret: I do eat a lot BUT I also don’t really gain weight. *BISH*

So after that it was a drive to Batu Feringghi in the night and time for some night shopping for *ahem ahem* DVDs. After that about 10pm, decided to head back to Penang town to try the Koay Zhap (pork lard in starchy sauce) which I haven’t had for 2 years. ARGHHHH… didn’t get to. It was close that day. I was wondering did the uncle took a break? Maybe he ran the Penang Bridge Run also.

Soon we just head back to the house and had our fair share of watching DVDs and doze off soon after.

Next morning, it was a working day, Su Lynn needs to go to work, so were dropped off at Original Kayu Mamak Restaurant. Me and Kyuzo ate Nasi Lemak (Scented Coconut Rice) and Tosai (Indian Thin Crusted Flour Bread) and Vadai (Indian Biscuit with chillies) each. Well, that’s what you get for running in a run. Appetite has grown bigger.

Nasi Lemak is still a local delicacy. Though excessively eating this could lead to very high cholesterol level.

On the first day, I still remembered taking photos of how my weird mind perceived them to be. Here are a few shots.

BEWARE OF DOG…. errrr where’s the dog?

Fire Hydrant?? What’s the use if it’s already opened?

Of course let’s come out of my weirdness and look at something else instead.

Now where is this place? Some people might recognize it though. I am sure the next picture will roughly tell you where I was.

Ahem… still ain’t sure? No kidding.

Ahhhh.. finally, something familiar? Yes, it’s a sculpture of a snake. One of the 12 Chinese Zodiac animals. The most magnificent one. Of course, how about me taking a picture of myself with one of the animals that somehow would finally reveal my age.

It’s been a hard day’s night, and I am working like a dog. Seems to me that’s what it means.

It’s just so many pictures one can take here. Even a signboard can look better than normal. It’s all about the angle.

Sometimes angle plays an important part when taking a photo. How one position their photos and camera. This is something I would talk about in a new website that I am doing and preparing. Learn more about it there.

If you’re still clueless as to where’s the location. It’s at Ke Lok Si, the temple up on the hill near to Ayer Itam. Speaking of which, there’s a famous food up around Ayer Itam. Wait for it… wait for it….

AYER ITAM ASAM LAKSA

Look at how thick the gravy is. Yes, it was me, Chin Ann and Kyuzo once again when Chin Ann fetched us from Original Kayu restaurant and from there we headed towards Ke Lok Si and now for some food before we head home to Kuala Lumpur again. It’s better to eat some Asam Laksa (Sour Assam Laksa).

What was the response after eating this? Here’s what.

Chin Ann had 2 bowls of Asam Laksa and Kyuzo smiling after having his fill of Asam Laksa. You can see how delicious it is.

Then finally it was time for us to leave Penang. It will be many more days before coming back to Penang once again. Who knows, it could be the year after with only a few more months to 2011.

Though some people took it too seriously as he looked upon the shores of Penang Island and wondered to himself.

Yes, we took the ferry back to the mainland. It was then a drive all the way to Kuala Lumpur. So see you again Penang Island. Who knows, I’ll be there most probably next year Penang Bridge Marathon 2011. This time aiming for the 42km run.

BYE BYE PENANG!!!

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This post was way backdated, but yes, I had the privilege to visit Penang Island again shortly before my Tibet trip. Yes, it’s way before my Tibet trip which was like half a year ago. Now how far back that was.

Ahhh… Penang reminds me when I am back at Malacca. All the old buildings, the unique buildings which you can hardly see in the now modern city of Kuala Lumpur. Not to mention a lot of history back then, which we get to visit now.

Some really old means of travel, the trishaw.

Up till now, I don’t think I’ve ever sat on a trishaw after I was 12 years old. Darn, that reminds me of my age. I am getting older. Nevertheless, the older one gets the more things one can do, eh wait, the more responsibility. Arghhhhhh!!!

Unlike previous trips to Penang  (Pulau Pinang), this time I got the liberty to go on a tour of historical buildings and places of interest as this time we’re being guided by our guide, Su Lyn and also we were to guide a German national (plays Volleyball) to tour around Malaysia’s Pearl of the Orient.

One of the places we get to visit is the Khoo Kongsi. Well, seemingly is like a house full of Khoo’s (people who come from the ancestry line of Khoo). Superbly big, and the Khoo Kongsi is the biggest Kongsi in the whole of Penang, the street you’re looking at is the Cannon street. The reason : A cannon was fired towards this street. Huh?? Yup, during the war.

But I thought Penang is a strategic location to defend the Island???

Take a look at Fort Conwallis. Once long time ago, it was the fort to guard the city from the attack from the ocean. Now only a few remains of the Fort is there. Guess it again, this time I did go in after many times trying to visit the place only to find that it’s close on Sunday.

The cannon is now rusty, but look Jonas (the German guy I was talking about) just had to pose alongside the cannon. I should have asked him to do a photo shoot. He’s tall, way way tall. When I say tall, it means…..

This TALL. I only reached his shoulder. If you’ve met me, you will know how tall this German Volleyball player is. (pssst.. he’s from Saxon, girls, too bad he’s taken)

Of course, a fort won’t be called a fort if there’s no defense area, and a place to produce gun powder for the cannon. We need gunpowder and so that one can POW POW POW.. KABABOOM!!!

As light was insufficient, this is the best I can do. Though one can just put sand and call it gunpowder, noooo.. it’s the real thing.

Being in Penang, it’s not only the places of interest. It’s the food too. Well, food can come another time as I am writing this when I haven’t had my dinner. So I ain’t gonna show some food pics. But of course, going to Penang, you just had to buy those biscuits from Him Heang. Where’s that? I ain’t sure cause there was a guide to bring me there.

Look at the obscene amount of queue just to buy BISCUITS. Serious!!!!!

After talking about food, I am so hungry I can SUCK A BALITONG. What’s that? Have a view from my previous Penang Trip.

Suck Suck Suck~~~ Even Jonas had a try. Seriously I ain’t a fan of this sea mussel but if a tourist from another country can do it, so should I.

One response : WOOOT~~~~ I wanna eat again!

Finally after all that, meet the gang and the place we bunked in.

From top: Charles (rockers)
From bottom left : Khong Wai, Weird One, Su Lyn

Purely traveling and having food and sightseeing. A different experience for me. Should do this more often as I am not Penang lang (penangite).

Finally ending with a photo of a food in Penang. Anyone can roughly guess what’s this?

HUNGRY~~~~~~~~~~~~

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First I want to rant, why oh why is it that where I am now is not having a holiday. No public holiday… NOOOO… and the hoo haass all in Permatang Pauh for the By-Election.

Another side note though, it’s not necessarily a compulsory public holiday for all though, as mentioned by Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib.

Quote from NST Online

“If it was for the people to come out and vote, then the private sector employees or factory workers could have been given one or two hours to exercise their right before returning to work.” – Najib

Now now now, though there are actually certain companies not observing the holiday because they need to service clients from around the globe and country and in a way it’s true too. Imagine a backlog for those not working. But let’s just say the hype about this by-election is more of actually putting Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim back into the parliament and the Dacing is trying it’s very best to prevent that from happening. With the Penang an opposition stronghold, it’ll be a task of a battle for the Barisan Nasional to wrest the seat out from the latter.

Though after a brief walkthrough background of who is going to contest the seat in Permatang Pauh under the Barisan Nasional, one must not write off Ariff Shah. Well, seemingly unknown until now (not really unknown, just that not as outspoken as others), he seems to be doing a great job going village after village. Funny though, that was what the opposition used to do in Penang years ago.

A man (known as Peh Moh) with the capability to speak Hokkien which is the native Chinese voters here who speak that dialect really is one of the many points. Unlike other politicians from the fray, the capability to have the first hand discussion with the public due to his master of language of both Mandarin and Hokkien helps the Chinese there to convey messages to him. Permatang Pauh though has a majority of Malay settlements and this is where the makeshift of the power struggle for Ariff Shah to convey over. Well, all in all the votes of the chinese there would be crucial to a point too.

The Makeshift Balance

Now the only thing if BN were to lose the seat, they should actually try to reduce the deficit loss they suffered during the General Election.

Another key point is the establishment of another party which could actually rocked apart the votes and practically bring some individual support out of the competition.

Prediction

A win for Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim would be imminent for his grass roots in the contested seat. Though, sometimes it’s hard to predict the outcome of Malaysia’s politic saga with a vote can just downturn and go into another way. Malaysia Politics is never what it was, and I expect a good fight tomorrow.

Nevertheless, the only thing I am fuming about now is, Why am I getting no HOLIDAY??? ROARS!!!

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