Tuesday, April 24, 2007

The 2007 Pagoh Challenge: Treasure Hunt on a Motorbike, In Johor

March 24th 2007, Saturday



Have you ever played before treasure hunt or scavenger hunt?
But I bet that you have never played before this type of treasure hunt: treasure hunting on a motorbike.

It is organised by Spectrum, who is full of ideas and very creative. Not only is it played on a motorbike, the playground is not even in Singapore: It is in Johor covering an area 3 times the size of Singapore!

Sounds like a recipe for disaster right?

He called it 2007 Pagoh Challenge. Maybe next year will have version 2008.

The local bike magazine, Motor Culture is going to feature this event in their coming issue. Guess who wrote the article? A-gu (me in Malay) ok !

So remember to buy the next issue of Motor Culture to read my article on the Pagoh Challenge!
Support support local talent leh!


A Woman in Blue

At the Singapore 2nd link custom on my way to play this Pagoh Challenge, I kena long queue at the custom.

And as you know, the Singapore immigration custom at 2nd link puts up signs to tell us to turn off our bike engine when queuing.

Bu my 1,000cc Frost is heavy. If I use my legs and paddle Frost, by the time I reach the custom officer, I will hey-hu hey-hu.

So I boh chap (don't care) the signs, I just leave my engine on to advance along the long queues.

When I reached the window pane of the custom officer, I accidentally dropped my cash card onto the floor. Behind me is a long queue of impatient motorcyclist waiting for their turns.

I switched off my engine. Dismounted and bend down to pick up my cash card on the floor. Then I heard the custom officer said “Sir,…”

I was thinking, “Must be some chao bin (bitter faced) old hag officer going to nag at me for being so slow.”

I looked up, saw the custom officer and was shocked. She was a comely young thin thing. And she’s got a *metal stub* on her nose.

She purred in her low voice, “…is that a Fazer?...Nice bike…I like.” *Gulp*

Somehow I forgot about stamping about my passport. Instead I thought of an SM-scene complete with handcuffs.

I got a bit of problem inserting my cash card into the reader.


Don't believe Singapore custom got such a custom officer? Maybe she works regular shift. It was 8.05 am Saturday, 2nd link custom. 2nd booth from Singapore side. U can go and check. Got her telephone number must zi dong hor.


Gelah Patah Petronas

I reached our meet up point at GP Petronas. There were 6 teams and 18 bikes participating in the Pagoh Challenge. I am happy to see some of my friends, whom I have not seen for quite a while. I walked over and said hello to them.

Instead of “Endless, long time no see? How are you?”, they go:

“Endless, where is your chio bu?”,
“Ai yah, how come chio bu never come?” They were referring to Ms Huppy (see previous entries). How come all my friends are all so ji hong (chicken wind)?

Some of them even asked me, “Endless, don’t bluff lah. That one is your finger right?” Alamak, they think Ms Huppy is not real and is I impose one.

I wish to make a public declaration that, I am not chio and I am not bu. I am Endless. Ms Huppy the chio bu is not me.

Today we are joined by Patrick, the photographer from Motor Culture. This is the second time I met him. First time is when Spectrum and Denden and I gave a riding safety talk in NTU (see Motor Culture Issue 4, pg 32). Once all are here, we convoyed off to Ayer Hitam for breakfast.

















Swan Leg.
This is what you can do when you ride a Harley. Crammed legs from a long ride? Why not just take a streeetch.




The TP Strikes Back

Riding up rear as the sweeper, now and then I will daydream when I ride. I looked up and observed the clouds in the sky. People say that the shapes of clouds that you see review what kind of person you are.


What kind of person am I?


What shapes do you see? I don’t know about you, but for the upper layer of clouds, I see bak chor—you know the raw meat meshed up by a chopper the manual way.
The lower layer of clouds looked to me like cotton candy.

My thoughts of food were broken when I saw the traffic ahead starts to bunch up. Malaysia TP road block!


For the past 6 months, I didn’t encounter much harassment from the Malaysia TP. Maybe the anti-graft campaign was in vogue. But looks they are back in business!
















A whole group of Singaporean big bikes. What a catch for the day!
But we really never speed.



Ayer Hitam Kopi Tiam
We exit at Ayer Hitam. T-junction turn left. Go straight. First cross-junction on your left is the kopi tiam that we stopped for breakfast.

After breakfast, Spectrum briefed us how to play the treasure hunt. Each team is given one map and one sheet of clue. Each team can go to any of the 5 objectives using any sequence and any route.



All the things you need for Pagoh Challenge: A clue sheet and a map.
The map and clue sheet are available for you to download and play the Pagoh Challenge yourself at: http://www.moto-v.sg/forums/index.php?showtopic=324



I was grouped with ST11 BornFree and his pillion Wenee, and V-Strom 1000 Denden and his pillion Roof. Then Spectrum announced, “Own Time Own Target, carry on!” Means the treasure hunt starts.

The girls are xiao on one. Plot and plot. Write and write. Whereas the guys are boh chap or blur.
















Roof is smart and on. Good. Save Endless for having to think.


But Endless is smart also. My plan is no need to plan.
Simply follow one group all the way. Then last part open my throttle and overtake them and then win! Simple right? Hiak hiak hiak!

One by one, each team set off for their own objectives.

NorthSouth Highway

My plan to follow the group in front quickly failed. Because the group consisted of class2B (<200cc)>

1. Labis--find hot water spring

2. Segamat--find Roti Kay shop

3. Bukit Kepong--find armour

4. Tangkat--find beef noodle shop

5. Pagoh--find chendol by road side














Gunning down Route 1 and J151 on our way to Labis’ Hot Spring, our first check point.


I will not go into detail of what we do during the treasure hunt because:

1. In case you want to play the Pagoh Challenge yourself, I shall not take away your fun.

2. If you want to know more, go and buy the next issue of Motor Culture.




The entrance to the Hot Spring of Labis.
Note the 3 handsome men.

















Arriving at our second check point, the elusive Roti Kaya shop of Segamat.


















The girls are at it again. Doing the thinking.




Nice picture of the bluey sky over Bukit Kepong. Taken by BornFree.
His standard so good compared to my bak chor (miced meat) sky hor?


















Where to find a V200 Armour in the middle of a kampong?
At our third check point, Bukit Kepong kampong.
No machine gun on board.


















There are two armoured cars. This is the smaller one.



















It is really very small.



















Puff puff puff. Finally squeezed myself in.
Damn. I am sure some dogs or cats have poo-poo-ed in here before.

















Inside the tin can.
Let me out of here! It’s bloody hot and crammed inside.

















Next check point, a nice bowl of cool chendol by the road side.
Actually, we are supposed to go to Tangkat beef noodle. But I topo wrongly. End up we found the Chendol stall first.




Another nice scenic shot of Pagoh town by BornFree.

















Our final check point, the Beef Noodle shop at Tangkat.
I espeically like the logo.
















A singaporean girl cannot don’t go shopping one.
So we bring Roof to buy some biscuits from Tangkat Biscuit shop. I hear that girls find shopping very therapeutic. I find shopping very stressful.


I also went shopping. I walked into a provision shop at Tangkat.
Look here look there, “Alamak, everything here I also can buy back in Singapore. What's there to buy?”

So I asked the provision shop tow kay, “Ah Jek, you have something I can’t find back in Singapore or not? If you have, I buy from you!”


The old uncle with a pair of thick glasses think for a long while. Then he exclaimed, “Yes! I have!” I was thinking, what can you possible have here I can’t find from NTUC, Giant, CarreFour, Cold Storage?
















Then the Uncle showed me this. “This one! I bet you can’t find this in Singapore!”
What is this? Basket, it is Chicken Feed. 1 kg 2 ringgit niah.
Don’t ask me whether I got buy or not.





Test Rode a V-Strom

A Suzuki V-Strom is quite a rare bike. So I switched with Denden. He rode my Fazer. I rode his 1,000cc V-Twin V-Strom.




This is Denden and Roof on my Fazer.



The V-Strom is a very comfortable bike. It is very good for cruising around in town and going for long-distance touring. It’s very torquey because it’s 1,000cc is spread over 2 cylinders.

At town cruising speed, I can feel the burble-burble of the individual firing of the two cylinders on my butt. Pretty interesting feeling as I don't get it from my Fazer.

The V-Strom pulls well right from very low revs, but it’s pull is not imitating and not fierce like that of 4-cylinder bikes such as Fazer and other sportsbikes. Now I understand why for a long time, twins keep winning the MotoGP over 4-cylinders simply because the rider can better utilize the power of the twin power. I read somewhere that Honda configures its potent 5-cylinder RCV211 to fire its cylinders to imitate a twin.


The not-so-good points of a V-Strom is that it gets a bit vibey when the revs get high >5,000 rpm. So don’t buy a V-Strom if you want to cruise at 200kmh from Singapore to Thailand. It is also a slightly tall bike. It is not that tall but you need to get use to it.

















Spectrum struggles a little getting onto the tall V-Strom.



Ending

We started at 11 am and completed the Pagoh Challenge at 5 pm.
It took us 6 hours because the entire route was almost 500km. But it was very fun. I encourage you to try the Pagoh Challenge yourself. Just go to the url I mentioned earlier.

In the end, guess who win?Our team ok?! Believe it or not? Ha ha ha.

U know why we win or not? It is not because we got big and fast bikes.
It is because we are good at managing girls! I'm serious.

First, we let the girls go and plan. Because nows a day, the girls all think they very smart. And they are. And if we guys don’t let them plan, we sure kena from them one. So never mind, we let them plan the route.

But the thing is that girls are not very good at reading map and topo-ing. So we ride that time, the girls think that we are riding according to their planned route. But actually we are not.

Then when we reach the checkpoints, we tell the girls they very gao (clever), their routes are very good. So the girls are happy and we are happy. So we chop chop, very fast.

That’s why I say Endless is quite clever. Don't you agree?


Parting Shot



I leave you with another beautiful shot taken by BornFree. Dusk over Kulai.


In case you are still wondering I am chio bu Ms Huppy, I let you judge for yourself.















This is Endless’ finger.
As you can see for yourself, my finger and Ms Huppy's fingers are very different.
Her fingers are so long, thin and delicate. Mine one is chor chor liao liao (rough and wrinkled) like elephant trunk.
So do you believe by now that Ms Huppy is for real?

Monday, April 16, 2007

The F1 Experience....by Chio Bu

Hey fans of Endless Loop!

The self proclaimed Chio Bu is back!

I think you guys should give Endless a beating! Till today, he has yet to update his blog. At the rate he is going, I better charge him for entertaining his fans.

Btw, I heard (from who? of course Endless la!) that some of you suspected my existence.... one even cited that probably Endless was impersonating a lady

Hmm..... you all think I very stupid is it??

Use "ji jiang fa" (provocation) technique and I will show face?

"Xiang de mei!!" (dream on....)

Now laggi I won't show face. I was just about to show all of you how I look with my super~big sunglasses which frames my pretty face and I was in a body suit hugging my 34~24~35 figure.....a photo taken when I was in Sepang.

Just too bad.... nah nah nah.... ;)

Guys! dun you know one of the traits of Streetsmart~Chio Bu is to let the men "See but can't Touch" but in this case "can't see... can't touch....?

Let us just indulge in virtual intellectual stimulation :)

Ho Ho Ho :)

Btw, I know I owe all of you my "Hiong Hiong" (fierce) driving theory on how to "Qiong" (dash across) red lights....but let's just hang on..... what's I am sharing now should be more interesting and impactful!!!

Let's rewind back to that fateful day when I travel to KL for F1........


Ms Huppy (dun forget my nickname hor!) and partner decided to take a coach down to KL for a 3D2N shopping cum' F1 experience.

As I am a super-pampered "xiao jie" (lady), I only ride on 1st class coach whenever I travel to KL. That day, I just give Endless a earful when I realised that he took Tiger Airways to Phuket! I really can't imagine having to "Qiong" for a seat :( that's TABOO to me!!!

Before I talk about F1, let me just do some soft selling why we should travel in style and in luxury....

The 1st class coach (from Transtar the best!) comes with personal coach steward or stewardess, leather seats, 9" inch personal LCD screens that comes with multi-cultural videos, music audios and games), massage chairs and you can almost lie flat on the chair.... (pretty ideal for a quickie)... It's a single deck bus and there's only 16 seats per coach. Recently, they upgraded to a double deck coach and you get a karaoke lounge below with leather seats as well!! A 2-way fare is only slightly above $100 and if you are a member of Transtar, it's about $90 plus.

Sigh...... but talk so much no use. I was humbled to ride on a SuperVIP cos' no more tickets liao, not even the Premium class. And cos' I desperately wanted to watch F1, I decided to try the SuperVIP.

Note: In case u think Ms Huppy so vain, got SUPERVIP coach also complain, let me tell you that SUPERVIP is a fictitious term to make you free good only. What SUPERVIP?! I think the coach is for Very Important Pigs.... probably cos' they need to be pampered prior being sacrificed.

Let me tell you the agony of travelling up to KL in the SUPERVIP coach...

We supposed to set off at 8a.m. in the morning.


All the SUPERVIP passengers waiting for the coach

It's already 8:15a.m. and still no sign of the "Ka Yu" SUPERVIP coach driver..... :( really frustrating!! @#$%@


All the passengers were already fidgeting impatiently....

















TRANSTAR staff in maroon tee searching for the coach

At 8:30a.m., still no sign of the coach.

Ms Huppy really feel like one of those foreign workers waiting to be picked up to work @#$%!

By 8:40a.m, the driver finally cruised into Kitchener road.

When the coach approached, all of us elbowed our way onto the bus and Ms Huppy, being "hiong" in driving, also has a pair of "super~electric" legs. I was able to "chop" the 2 front left seats!!


The road was clear.


The journey was smooth initially....









But we got jammed near the Malaysia immigration! & cos' we need to change coach. As we were only given the coach number...... we spent like 30 mins "touring" the entire bus terminal..... so much for being a SUPER VIP!

The journey up to KL took us 7 1/2 hours due to the peak season traffic congestion and cos' we need to search for coaches.... :(

Ok Ok thanks for bearing with my grumbling..... what to do? I woman wat? sure will grumble.... can u imagine I took more than 3 screen page just to get to the point?! It's a woman thingy la....like to nag nag nag..... Endless sure won't behave this way cos' he's a man!

So believe him. I am for REAL!!! ;)

Back to serious business! About my trip to F1.

On that eventful day, we booked a taxi there. Ms Huppy, a super good bargainer (i used my charm la), brought the price down from RM250 to RM180 to & fro Sepang.

We reached Sepang around 12 plus.....
It was a hot sunny day.... really "zhuao4 si lan" (very hot)









The nice scenary around the Sepang Circuit






As the Taxi cannot enter the circuit area, we need to take a shuttle bus. We got to squeeze with many "niam ti ti" (sweaty) bodies and bear with the BO!! Arrrrrghhhhhh...... F1 better be good!!





All of us rushing for the shuttle buses









Btw, for those who was wondering what type of tickets I bought? I got the RM800 platinum tickets (see below)!!It was given to us FREE!!!
















The centre pic is the bang tied around our wrist to identify that we are platinum ticket holders. The bottom pic is a map of Sepang Circuit




Let me just tell you how hot the sun is! Just making my way into the stadium, I got "roasted" liao... I got those spaghetti strip marks on my shoulders to clearly distinguish what's white and what's brown.... I probably will be chocolate in color if I sit under the hot sun!


Let me show some other pics..... before we enter the stadium.













Tents selling merchandize & Big Billboard to welcome us to Sepang F1 Circuit


















The top pic ~ BMW racing car

The bottom pic ~ Ferrari merchandise store








The Mercedes Benz tent







We were told that the race will start at 1:30p.m. so we happily shopped at the Ferrari store till 1:20p.m.




And to our horror, we realised that we went to the wrong entrance!


By the time we reached the stadium (cos' need to take the shuttle bus again), it was almost 2p.m....


The race has yet to begin.....

















The stadium view from where I am seated


I was sooooooo fortunate to be under shade :)



Initially, I bought the RM50 hilltop tickets, recommended by the "kiam siap" (stingy) Endless la! I really thank God that I was given the RM800 tickets. I would probably have strangled Endless and threw him into the Kallang river if I were to sit under the hot sun !!





Human BBQ









We waited and waited...... and waited........




Still no sign of the race starting at 2:30p.m...... sian ah (boring)!


Then we were entertained by the vintage cars parade below......













At 2:45p.m., we were told to rise to sing the Malaysia National Anthem....







Spot the Malaysia flag!









Finally, the wait is over! The race is starting...... and the crowd cheered wildly and so did Ms Huppy.......




Vrooooooom...... Vrooooooom....... out come the racing cars!!!























The noise is deafening..... let me show you some ways to block off the noise...



The shiokest way ~ get someone to cover your ears for you.....








Just like how the Mummy covers the ears of her child







The cheapest way ~







Use tissue papers or toilet papers to stuff your ears









The easiest way






Cover your ears yourselves













These cars went round and round and round till I felt so dizzy.....@@@@@



After like few rounds, the initial cheering crowd seemed to go into hibernation...... I was beginning to feel bored after I have taken many photos and videos.



When I realised that the cars will have to go like 56 rounds...... I was like...... Oh! SO Boring!! Why the hell am i here? I should go shopping instead!!!



I remembered that Endless said that usually sure can catch some crashes, skids and I was half anticipating...... (not that I am mean and cruel but wat else to look forward to??)

5 rounds......


10 rounds.....



I exclaimed...."wow! that car was really fast!! It kept a far distance away from the rest !!


"My dear, it's the last car!"



huh? I felt so Paisei... wat my mind is thinking? then I realised that I just cant be a F1 fan though I drive like one of them at times.....


20 rounds (yawn yawn.....)



I looked around and were very happy that I wasnt the only one feeling bored.






Looking around feeling bored



















Reading magazines









"Dear! look over there! A car skidded into the sand!!"
















By the time I react, it was too late! I was only able to capture the clouds of sand :(


30 rounds...... (zzzz.....zzzzz )


40 rounds......must go back tell Endless next time pay me a million bucks also dun want to come...


50 rounds (Yipee!!)


Final round!!


















"Yipeee!!! I shredded tears of joy.....



When I knew that my suffering has finally ENDED :)



Who won?


Sorie.... I dun know......and have no idea......


You must be thinking..... "wau lau Ai"..... wasting your time



What to do.... I am "BIMBO~TIC" when it comes to F1 races...... what to do..... born like that but only discovered today.




Even the Ang Moh below couldn't help but to wonder what have happened? It's the smile of relief and ignorance......
















Next we got to GET OUT!!


















Headache la.....so crowded.....





I spotted a Harley group on my way out











My conclusion from this entire F1 experience is that it's not my cup of "teh" (tea). I think watching F1 on TV will definitely be more interesting. Minimally, I know whether the drivers are "yen tau" (handsome) or not..... I am BIMBO wat, so I talk and think like a BIMBO....


Tips for first timers going to F1 ~

1. If you are "kiam siap" and yet want to stay under the shade. Buy tickets at hillstand nearest to the Grandstand. When the race starts, climb over the barriers.... a family with a 5 yr-old kid and an aged father just did that and was seated right in front of us... I can just imagine, the obstacle course was just not very tough. Otherwise, make friend and "buddy buddy" the security guard.

2. Unless you like chocolate and want to look like one, please apply min. SPF 50 sun block and bring a big umbrella (also in case of rain) if you are sitting at the hill side areas. Bring along a big mat so the worms wont sneak into your "teh col" (brief)

3. Bring Binoculars, camera with preferably 10x zoom lens so that you can see the racing cars clearly. If you want to see the drivers clearly, you better hide in their changing room overnight.

4. Find ways to entertain yourself cos' you will have much free time when the cars are going round and round non-stop. Either you can bring books, MP3, portable DVD, playing cards or you can bring potato chips, ice cream, char kway teow, laska, peanuts, hokkien me and have your own mini pot luck party.

5. Buy ear plugs la unless you have not digged your ears for at least 3 years.

6. Rent/buy the ear phone to listen to the commentaries so that you know what the hell it is going on. I heard it would cost you another RM50. Alternatively, bring the radio and tune into the relevant station.

That's my ZZZ views on F1.

On my way back, the taxi driver told us Mercedes benz got 1st and 2nd place. Ferrari got 3rd placing.

hmmmm..... I really felt that my cab fare was very worth it..... otherwise so "lau qiu (ashame)"... none of us know what's happening?

So that's all!!!

I will be back again! to talk about my "hiong hiong" theory.

Bye Bye!!! kiss kiss!!



P.S My ride back to Singapore took another 8 hours via coach :(