Hike up Mt Washington

This morning, as planned, Olga K from Russia and I took the breakfast together before heading down to Jewell trail head to start our hike up Mount Washington.

Of cos this is also my first one hiking up a 6000 ft mountain. Well I don’t know Bukit Timah Hill is how high but sure Washington is many times more difficulty to conquer.

The way up is surprisingly easy. Well, this is only on the initial stage. Olga was like flying up the trail with me playing a catching game. God gracious. If you have watched Kungfu Soccer, you’d have thought that she possess some form of qing gong. She was sweet to wait for an old man and everytime she would check back to see I’m not too far from her.

Well actually we can take a train up via the Cog railway but then the price is just way too expensive. 59 bucks for 2 way trip? !@#$%^ NO WAY. I’m not going to be the next cabbage head.

We (or rather I) toil past the woods and come to the opening where we only see trail running past short shrubs. It must be the weather or altitude doesn’t allow tall trees to (3800 ft). Another hour hike, we come into just rocks and lichens growing on top of it with the trail marked by rocks piled up (5200 ft and above). Lichens turn out to provide very good grip for my shoes ^^ Along the way, we had low visibility due to the clouds. We can’t see anything more than twenty meters away. It’s really that bad!

Soon, the weather gets so cold at 5000 ft that we had to wear a sweater and wind breaker. I can’t make up whether it’s sweat or rain but water keeps dripping from my hair. Well the mist is salty too.

My hope comes when I finally saw the building. Yes we’ve reached the summit! Hooray, next comes our break for food. We had cookies from the kitchen and for me lots of water. That girl had cookies and chips and took just a few sips of water. Amazing right? Hike up 6000 ft just with a few sips.

Next, we visited various shop on the summit and of cos cam whore a bit. Well the weather is not that great (strong wind and rain) and it wont be wise for me to expose me lens for too long.

We can’t find the trail head for Crawford Notch and ended up going down and up the old route (cos it showed a sign just further down). We asked and finally got on our way. Well Olga doesn’t feel anything at all and just wanna continue to hike without even thinking of the old man hiking with her…. 6000 plus ft leh…

Her way of hiking got the attention of a few guys. They were simply amazed to see her hopping her way down. They even suggested me to do the same. No los, I’m not going to break my back. This is Mt Washington not brokeback mountain. Plus the rock is slippery due to the wet weather. I would put myself at the 75 percentile of the hikers in term of speed. But I would rate her double my speed. The difference is just that huge.

An hour or so has passed before we reach lakes of the cloud. Well due to the weather we can’t take a good photos of it. Sad right? Further down, we reached the Lake of the cloud hut. Well we should have took our lunch there but Olga was too impatient to head down. As part of the AMC employee, we can eat there for free los. Sigh…

The toilet part is interesting cos its so high up on the mountain. It’s a chemical maintained toilet and not only that my pee emitted out smoke. Freaking Cool!!!

We continue with our hike and here comes the interesting part. We hollanded. I should have check with the map instead of just listening to what she said. Well woman can’t red maps ma. I think I will get slammed again. Just a joke k?

I only figured out like 3/4 of our way down. Well the trail is suppose to run on the ridge line and thus should be relatively flat. Second, the trail runs parallel to the river and as shown on map, it should be the ammonusuc trail down to the railway station. My conclusion was later confirmed with a couple on our way down.

I did not tell her straight cos I’m afraid she might be sad about it. The tough part of this trail is that rocks were big continuous and flat. Also with the weather, it has become hell of a hike. It’s so slippery that I had no choice to go down by my buttocks and slide down instead. But this doesn’t seems to apply to her. Weird.

Only like halfway down did I tell her about it. She was disappointed about it but I think I did well to console her. The hike down is long long journey. I guessed I’m tired and every step seems painful to me. We’re so happy when we reach the trail head out to the carpark. We rest at the grass patch overlooking the train before we decided to hitch a ride back.

Forunately we had a couple from Massachusetts that is willing to give us a ride. I had a few scare as the car was going zig zag while the guy is meddling something with the car temperature. It’s a 15-20 minutes ride and guess how long we would have to walk! I bet you don’t get to do that in Singapore.

Even though we did not see anything which is a pity but life is more about the process. I really did enjoy hiking with my Olga. I also did reach the top of Mount Washington and Lakes of the Cloud which I can take comfort with it.

But I think for my next hike, I will spend like 28 bucks to take a bus up the summit and hike down instead. Well I should do it during the falls where all the mountain turns red and brown.

p.s: I din really expect this post to stretch so long… thanks for the patient

Full truth or nothing at all

I always hate half truth or in simpler terms, people only saying the stuff that is true to what you want to hear. They ain’t lying. See the point? It’s used by many people and professional in the world.

My conscience doesn’t allow me to do that and thus I feel real shitty if I had to do it.

Withholding information creates a gap in our knowledge or even worse our brain tries to link the two end together without substantial information. So what it gets? Rubbish of cos.

And when one tells one half of the story, one creates problem for himself. Especially when the person is very smart or at least ask smart question.

The best thing is to tell the truth so that you don’t have to remember anything. I cannot remember who said this but its quite true.

Especially not for me cos I don’t have the brain to keep track of all the lies.

Justice is not cheap

Have you wonder why hiring a lawyer is so expensive? My guess is that it is structured in a way to reduce the workload of chief judge and etc. So its not a solution for common people like us to work things out.

Hence it also means that the rich can play this game while knowing people will not take up lawsuit against them. Even if they report to the police, there’s too many loopholes and stuff the police can’t be bothered.

One word of advice? Just be careful not to put yourself in the position to get sued or have to sue someone else.

Marriage

The image of marriage has been flashing in my head quite frequently recently. I don’t know what has actually happen to me. Maybe it’s just a feeling of getting older to see many of my friends getting engaged.

It’s kinda disturbing to see myself in another 5 years time, I will be married to a girl (whom hasn’t arrive yet) I hope will be my special one, to own my own HDB flat and had to carry the responsibility of managing the family. And especially have to think of a way to cope with the inflation.

Big headache ain’t it? Sound like mid life crisis?

Just a CS joke, ROM (registry of marriage) also represented as CD-ROM cos once WRITTEN, you’re stuck with the data FOREVER.

But on the other hand, you know that it’s nice to have a complete life with family that cares for one another.

People that will support you during your up and down.

People that will be part of your life till death.

Any married people to share your thoughts with me?

Help needed: Cost cutting technique?

Its the first time I spent so much money on a single day, especially when it’s in USD. (close to a hundred USD) Heard that USD appreciate against SGD (exchange rate is 1.4) and it’s good to save money. =.=”"

In addition, I’ve bought stamps that cost me 80 USD in total. I never expect to spend so much on stamps. But at the same time I wouldn’t want to think back and lament home that I should do this or that.

Shucks and I still have to buy something for other friends. Help! Any cost cutting techniques to share?

Change of hiking plan

Today will do a whole day of full body maintenance for tomorrow trip. And of cos spiritual maintenance by going out at noon shopping.

It means I won’t be staying overnight at Lake of the Cloud hut

And also it would be a one way trip and thus saves time

And of cos the motivation is to get to hike with a babe

Huat ar.

3 days off

After two consecutive week of double shift cum morning shift, finally, I can get my much-awaited break. It feels so good to finish my morning shift and to get to see the new schedule out with a 3 day consecutive break.

Well for friends in NTU, take care, I know it’s not possible to get such a break.

Muahaha…

On the serious note, what am I suppose to do with the 3 days off?

Tomorrow 8am, adieus, I will be on my way to Mt Washington. It’s a 7 mile hike to the top of Mt Washington (6288 foot). On the way, I will be visiting Mizpah hut (around 4k ft), Mt Pierce (4312ft), Mt Eisenhower (4760ft), Mt Monroe (5372ft), Lakes of the cloud (5k ft) and then finally to Mt Washington.

Total distance 8.7 miles.

Gosh it will be a hell of a hike.

God bless me.

p.s: Dear don’t miss me, it’d only be for 2 days.

Snam

Tianhong

“Lesson” learnt from staff lunch

This is the first time I attended the staff lunch - when I’m still working. But there’s a few things to take note.

Why do we have OUR OWN people doing the meal?

Why do we have OUR OWN people doing the dishes?

Anyway we’re quite sick of the food already.

Well I don’t think we (the kitchen staff) enjoy at all. What’s the point of having a staff lunch in when people have to go through so much effort to prepare and clear the things up.

And have to watch the horror of plates piling up like Mt Avalon and Mt Washington.

It doesn’t really make sense but maybe this is how staff works. Anyway, even though we don’t appreciate but still must smile at the boss for holding this staff lunch.

And still have to go through the art of polishing apple. =.=”"”

Romance through persistence?

WELL a lot of my female friends told me persistence do help (a lot) for a relationship but personally I’m not into it.

I always feel that chemistry is either there or not there. Maybe after some time of being together, bud of love will blossom.

I’ve been going after some girls this year. One at a time hor.

The first one I did not really expect it but due to some incident brought us together (as friend). I showed interest but was quite fed up cos she always said she had a lot of boyfriends that care about her. Well maybe its past experience that made me this way. I wish her all the best with all her “bfs”.

So after a few months, start a new chapter of my “love life.”

The second one I got to know through a course in school Of cos it is only the last semester before something miraculous happens. More than a hundred sms exchanged between us in a day was quite a record for me. I though we’d have the chance to move the friendship further. Tt never happen. I tried but maybe I did not tried enough. Still I wish her all the best in my heart.

When I’m taking a break from courtship in states, well it’s kinda tired playing a game of tennis alone. The ball cannot always stay on a side of the court right? Guess what, the first said she kinda miss me…

Law of attraction at fault?

Life is really interesting, ain’t it?

Are you prepared for marriage?

Well the truth is yes and no. No because the partner is not there yet. Yes because I think I’m prepared to settle down.

I’m a cancerian (family guy) after all.

It’s not that I want to bring headache to myself, but I was asked by a guy while serving dinner for him and his family (just to make sure there’s no misunderstanding). I told him NO. Reason is because that particular person has not appeared yet.

Do I long for marriage?

.

.

.

.

I don’t think it’s anything in particular in marriage I’m longing for. Marriage is just an effect. The cause is finding the partner that you can be together, not just being able to complement each other.

And who say you are able to find that one person that can complement you perfectly. Must be quite impossible.

Well too sad, in this game of life, it is not a zero sum game. Not that I sure sure will be able to find that person.

Thinking about this question also knock me out of my normal routine of work. I’ve been working like a zombie day in day out. Lots of double shift and lots of morning shift for the past two weeks.

I felt tired.

Not that I don’t like the job. But somehow it just doesn’t bring me the happiness I really wanted in life. Maybe that’s life…

On the other hand, lying on my back on the stone bench after work, looking at the starry sky, I felt so blessed to be working in such low pressure environment. I get all the chance to think about what I want to think. And to be so close to nature.

So am I prepared for marriage?

Hmmm if the time comes I know I will have an answer.

Vitas

Thanks to Peekaboo, I finally know who is Vitas. Man, this guy really can sing. Don’t believe watch this clip los.

Shit demon? Nope it’s …

At first I thought the shit so power that cause the blockage for the toilet bowl. Remind me of my times as a RECruit and heng heng kernna clean toilet and heng heng kerna the shit demon.

Well, it’s been difficult cos the only toilet bowl for guy toilet is stuck for 4 days. Damn.

It turn out it’s not the shit demon that’s causing the blockage but pot (a kind of drug) with towel.

Jesus, Buddha, Allah. Who the hell will do that man….

How to watch videos while driving

How to watch videos while driving: ”


This gentleman likes to watch videos while he drives at night. He places his iPhone on his car’s dashboard and watches the reflection on the windshield.

He wears a headset while he watches, but usually with just one ear bud inserted ’so that I can hear the traffic and whatnot.’

‘It’s great — I can watch my stuff while I’m driving’ (Book of Joe)

(Via Boing Boing.)

Anyone dare to try this in Singapore? Will it be ban? Cos watching video will be likely to cause a drop of attentiveness to the road situation. I guess a few crash here and there will be needed before the traffic police will take action on it.

Hanako, the fish who lived to 226

Hanako, the fish who lived to 226: “My friend Justin Ried just sent me the fascinating story of Hanako, a koi fish who apparently lived to be 226 years old. During the last decades of Hanako’s life, her caretaker was Dr. Komei Koshihara, president of Nagoya Women’s College. Koi Adventures has a translated transcript of a 1966 talk given by Koshihara about Hanako, who in 1977 went to the great koi pond in the sky. From Koi Adventures:

This ‘Hanako’ is still in perfect condition and swimming about majestically in a quiet ravine decending Mt. Ontake in a short distance. She weighs 7.5 kilograms and is 70 centimeters in length. She and I are dearest friends. When I call her saying ‘Hanako! Hanako!’ from the brink of the pond, she unhesitatingly comes swimming to my feet. If I lightly pat her on the head, she looks quite delighted. Sometimes I go so far as to take her out of the water and embrace her. At one time a person watching asked me whether I was performing a trick with the carp. Although a fish, she seems to feel that she is dearly loved, and it appears that there is some communication of feeling between us. At present my greatest pleasure is to go to my native place two or three times a month and keep company with ‘Hanako’.

Story of Hanako (Koi Adventures)

(Via Boing Boing.)

First, I’m quite shock to know a fish can live for so long. For more than 200 years? How can that be possible. Secondly, is it possible to develop friendship with the fish? I know fish has SSTM (super short term memory). My guess is that the fish linked the image of her keeper with food instead. Must be must be.

Like that how to have kids?

This is a reply on the post by SimplyJean, it really set me thinking. Cos if I’m putting myself in the shoe as the guy peer, the job would just be a job. It will be painful and tiring and not something one can enjoy for 8 hours everyday for 2-3 months.

But if I’m the girl, the whole situation will change again.

Imagine if I’m working much more to cover the pregnant colleague’s workload and yet being paid the same, how would the guy feel? Injustice right?

If the company hire someone to help out the guy and when the pregnant lady comes back, is that someone going to be sacked? Cos business is still eventually a business. In the states, there’s law to protect the woman. Women have every right to sue the company if the company sacked them due to pregnancy.

But to the business owner, what should he do? Should he force that guy to overload and take on all the task left by the pregnant colleague? If you’re going to hire one to help out, what are you going to do with that person when that pregnant lady is back?

There’s too much interdependency going on around. If it’s knowledge work, we can always allow the woman to work at home as long as she has a computer and internet access. But what if it’s on the service line and she needs to be physically in the workplace?

I don’t have the solution but if you do have please leave a comment.

Like that how to have kids?: ”

I was shocked beyond words reading the letter by Yeh Siang Hui in the ST Forums. In particular, I was put off by his declaration that ‘a pregnancy in the workplace is nothing but bad news’. With narrow-minded people like him, I wonder how many of his female colleagues will suffer should he become their superior one day.

As I read through the letter, I realised too that everything that he mentioned seemed to go against not just government efforts to encourage higher birth rates, but also throwing the call for more grace to the dustbin. It is also people like him who will probably and can only rule with an iron fist; not that there’s anything wrong, but I feel that this impairs creativity at work and spells a mundane work life.

Ever wonder why people enjoy working at Google?

Maternity leave not a perk

I REFER to Tuesday’s letters, ‘Working mums penalised in other ways’ by Ms Mabel Tan and ‘Pregnant employee bullied by manager, now stay-home mum’ by Ms Swee Bee Lan.

Their letters suggest they expect employers to reward pregnant employees in the same measure as other employees, even though a pregnant employee who takes maternity leave is (other factors being equal) inevitably less productive than her single or non-pregnant colleague in a similar position in the company.

This would be unfair, not only to the employer, but also to other employees who have to cover the duties of their pregnant colleague.

Consider this: Two employees each have 120 units of work to complete in a year. One becomes pregnant and goes on maternity leave, completing only 90 units. The other has to cover her duties, thus completing her own 120 units, as well as the 30 units of her pregnant colleague - a total of 150 units.

In such circumstances, it is right and legitimate for an employer to reward the worker who has been more productive, more than the worker who has been on maternity leave, whether by a bigger year-end bonus, better promotion prospects or more days of leave.

The rationale is simple. The measure of reward and recognition an employee receives is commensurate with the level of her contribution. An employee who chooses to become pregnant and take maternity leave chooses to compromise her level of accountability to her employer.

In the same way, if I cover the duties of a pregnant colleague over and above fulfilling my own duties, I rightly expect to be recognised by my employer.

There is nothing discriminatory in an employer rewarding one employee over another on the basis of different performance levels, regardless of the reason for the disparity in productivity. Ms Tan and Ms Swee’s labelling of such corporate practices as acts of discrimination reeks of petulant resentment.

A pregnant worker surely cannot expect her employer or colleagues to regard her pregnancy with the same joy and excitement as her family or friends - as, after all, a pregnancy in the workplace is nothing but bad news.

In respect of colleagues, their workload will increase (not necessarily with any assurance of extra reward). In respect of the employer, the pregnant worker not only does not contribute to the company during her maternity leave, but she actually causes loss to the company as she continues to draw pay for zero productivity during that period.

It is therefore perfectly understandable - and human - for an employer or a colleague to exhibit signs of dissatisfaction.

Ms Tan and Ms Swee should therefore think twice before labelling the less-than-enthusiastic response to their pregnancies as ‘discriminatory’.

Yeh Siang Hui

Source: Straits Times Interactive, http://www.straitstimes.com/ST%2BForum/Story/STIStory_267806.html

And oh, if I were you, I’d be careful on what I say about him:

NUS- Faculty of Law - Alumni Directory

Notices

The Law Society of Singapore (no longer available)

Article extracted on 18th August 2008

”

(Via Simply Me. Simply Jean..)