Climbing k3

I love Penang

2009-03-22T09:53:00.005+08:00

pickles for sale

Life has become more intense in a good way I suppose; this month has been somewhat an industrious one. Well at least from my point of view hihi…

But we’re not really going into all the details of all the things that went through. Possibly I’m gonna be a bit sentimental this time, we all do that some times don’t we.

U know, Penang has a special place in my heart but then again certainly many others would share the same sentiment as I do. Well, there was a period in my childhood when my father was studying at USM, and those were the times when it was not so crowded, the KOMTAR was like KLCC and the Penang bridge could still accomodate the traffic both ways in and out of the Island. I still remember the crispy oversived groeng pisang which is extinct now I suppose, the sweet putu piring and the fish head curry which sadly I could not recall the place.

the bike zx10r

I was in Penang earlier this month, spent a few days there for work and the other times getting lost in the island in my juvenile quests :) Oh... did I tell u that while waiting for my colleague, before dinner I spent some time watching some big bikes being unloaded from a truck at a shop. There were two beauties that really struck me. Just pleasure for the eyes now, but I'll get one soon.

I had these mission prioritized in my head when I get to know that I'd be staying there for a few days in Penang. Of course I've been here so0o many times but this is ultimately the first time ever that I scoured this island on my own. M definitely excited about this and some of the things that I did was to purchase pickles for my Aries and officemates, finding my way to Penang street savor the ever addictive Line Clear nasi Kandar and the final destination must be the cheap DVD's in Ferringhi !

overdue...

2009-03-03T18:38:00.008+08:00

hihi...

these photos were meant to be with the the previous posting, since I badly need the first one for the month I've decided to just create a new post instead ;)

Now it's evident that I'm surrounded with fun loving people and lotsa love around!!!

Now that's not a lot of food...
only love is plenty not the food lol... !

excuse me...
who said I have the lesser appetite???

just ask our 'head honcho', he'll say
"Life is measured by the total sum of experience"
that's according to him is his motto, the other is "Have Fun!"

So u see, when we have fun and share the love, then everyone around us would feel the vibe!

We bring love and fun everywhere!

Weekend Getaway...

2009-02-14T10:50:00.002+08:00

so its not just the two of us having a good time at a place not so far from the hometown...
we're the back benches, got the best seat in the house..

this is what we call having fun at work...
lips pouting, eyes wide awake.... hihi.....

Brain Talk...

2009-02-11T00:56:00.013+08:00

Out of all parts of our body, one that we give the utmost protection should be the head.

At least that’s what common sense would tell us to do right? But then, some people do insured other parts of their body instead of the one on top aite? Wink wink…

No offense to the nose, the eyes and ears and mouth though all of them are placed on our head but essentially it’s due to the vulnerable 1400g object that we call brain. That’s why we HAVE to protect it; after all it’s the one that pulls the strings. Sure we all have that don’t we? The helmet… has been the safekeeping of our precious brain for thousands of years, acting like the second skull to the brain. We talk about soldiers, motorcyclist, technicians so and so, almost everyone has got to wear them the common purpose of avoiding hazard that may squash the brain.

So what’s all the fuss about wearing a helmet when u climb? Most people don’t use them anyway. Have you seen anyone or any top climbers wearing a helmet? Why bother wearing a helmet, because it’s not convenient at all, expensive, a waste of space in your bag plus the not so macho look while climbing. Aaarrrghhhh…!!!!

In sports climbing when a climber attempts a difficult route, they need to be able to move freely and with real concentration. One just can’t do that with the helmet wrapping your head, at times blocking when you need to turn your neck, then it becomes the hazard instead of protection. Most upper grades routes are known to be massive roofs and overhangs. This makes the fall less dangerous since u’d be hanging from the roofs instead of falling on the rugged wall. Furthermore, an experienced climber could possibly assess the situation and danger better.

Now tell me, if u have a small kid would u want them to climb without any helmet? True, there’s only a small chance that some loose rocks would fall during the climb and yeah, probably there are other safety measures like the rope, harness, grigri so they’ll never end up hitting any parts of the wall don’t they? I’m not preaching over here, but just for the love of the sports and the people. I read in Simon’s blog last month on the death of Nick a climber from Australia at his favorite site due to scrappy boltings. No we don’t want to loose anyone for such reasons or anything of that sort.

One of the best things I've learned from climbing is that we should not learn from mistakes, instead we should LEARN NOT TO MAKE MISTAKES.

Dude, your LIFE IS WORTH MORE THAN A HELMET, someone promised to get me one ;)

*Prayers to our fellow friend Azamin a.k.a.Labit who passed away last month. Admiration for his contribution to the outdoor scene in Perlis and Malaysia.

Dream Big

2009-02-04T10:46:00.004+08:00

When I was a little boy
I swore that I would change the world when I grew up
Nothing else would be enough

I see it everyday
We settled for safe
And lose ourselves along the way

'Coz if you don't dream big what's the use of dreaming
If you don't have faith there's nothing worth believing
It takes one look to make the stars worth reaching for
So reach out for something more

Took a well perfected plan
For me to finally understand
But it's not me
Faith is something I can see

I've wiped my tears away now it's time for a change
No I can't waste another day

'Coz if you don't dream big what's the use of dreaming
If you don't have faith there's nothing worth believing
It takes one look to make the stars worth reaching for

'Coz if you don't dream big what's the use of dreaming
If you don't have faith there's nothing worth believing
It takes one look to make the stars worth reaching for
So reach out for something more!

*pic by Vexing art & Amelee at Deviant Art

-David Cook's song

Of Ballet n' Shoes

2009-01-27T02:23:00.011+08:00

The first thing that pops in my head whenever I think about rock shoes is ballet.
Never in my entire life had I need to wear a pair of smaller than size shoes..
Think about ballet, the tip-toeing moves, the air tight space and the pain before getting used to it.Both perhaps resemble each other in most ways but I don't know whether ballet shoes stink as much .. lol..
I'm curious as whether someone could actually comment a pair of ballet shoes like a typical one..
One thing for sure, they don't use velcro do they?

I have enormous respect for ballet dancers, their grace comes from the painstaking trainings.
A fact we must all acknowledge, that beauty comes from hard labor...
We love seeing the intricate moves but we'd appreciate more if we know
what does it take and how much sacrifices to be made in attaining such splendor.

Now, I don't have that much experience and the privilege of wearing so0o many different pairs of different brands and models. Nonetheless this pair of Katana has been of great service and the one I would recommend to anyone. Katana is a sword in Japanese, this 'Katana' is worthy for any climbing Samurai indeed.

A very comfortable pair and I do think it's a versatile shoes both for gym and outdoor climb. It's actually in the right mix, not a pure technical shoes and great for long routes. Having said so, it still serves as good as any for the tiny foot hole or no holes at all. These are due to a good blend of stiffness and flexibility, superb for fun climbing and tricky crags. Ultimately, for a person who has narrow feet like me would definitely fell in love with the use of velcro that gives as much grip and comfort. Yup, the velcro is my favorite part of the shoe besides the Japanese alphabet on the heel. Looks cool right?

This is however not about ballet or review on shoes but rather...
A tribute to my beloved Katana... now that I have to get a new pair which may not be a Katana after all :)

Magic Words

2009-01-14T22:39:00.012+08:00

Consistence and perseverance...
the magic words are CONSISTENCE and PERSEVERANCE

No matter how terrible it is we have got to be consistent...
to be a successful blogger u have to be consistent with
the regularity of the postings, keep it updated and make it look like someone's maintaining the page. It's not that hard is it? Just need that 'little' push...

At the moment I'm trying really hard in making sure that I keep posting in here..
It doesn't really matter how crappy it is the subject...
Whether it's of the interest of everyone, or within the theme of this blog.
Not that writing of this sort is a massive task, it's just
.... nothing ......

So, instead of just staring blank at my new 19" LCD monitor (hihi.. u should know that was coming ;)
I've made up my mind to simply do something.
Nothing will come to fruition if I just wait, as the cliche' goes 'action speaks louder than words'.
So starting from today onwards, it may just be another posting....

Maiden Climb

2009-01-13T10:54:00.012+08:00

Here goes the first entry in the year 2009...

It's nothing much really but just flashing back on Katharina Saurwein, the European Youth Cup junior champion who came along with David Lama and the rest of Mammut team showing off their inhuman skills at bukit Keteri.

This was taken from the wall on the other side of the hill which is only accessible by going up the hill and through some 'ancient' caves. Could be dangerous so heed my advice to be careful. For those who dare, it could be wonderfully rewarding!

Most of the routes are 6C+ and above so u could try the challenge of curvy overhangs against the backdrop of a mosque and padi fields. To see her climbed with ease is sure enough to make u guys out there want to get a piece of the crag.

Let's get on the rocks!

The Last Remnants...

2008-12-29T23:53:00.009+08:00

It's been more than a month now since I last posted...
Just wouldn't want to miss the month of December without any. Well, I have been frantically busy during this month and barely had the time to write plus there haven't been anything much going on in the scene (that i got to know).. It's just the combination of everything that made me wished for a 48 hours day, barring more troubles that comes with it..

As u can see, the wall now is officially dismantled and waiting to be rigged at a new location, which is on the other side of the Youth and Sports Complex of Perlis. Umair, Ucu, Husin were the people who labored hard for the first two days before we had to call the old hands of Pak Non to come back and assist the work. Pak Non himself would draw the new design, he hasn't had any in mind the last time I asked.. hehe... Possibly a new challenge by modifying the structure... hope so.. after two years, we practically need a breath of fresh air !! Anyway, millions of thanks Pak Non for coming home from KL.
Do u know how hard it is to dismantle the bloody wall? It's only 12x6 panels but damn it's hard work. The structure is made of iron, and these guys had no machinery whatsoever to bring the heavy loads up and down. I think those who want a fast track in reaching 7b grades and above could really use this as a workout ..haha... Tired of training and not improving that much? Try to dismantle the wall and put it back, money back guarantee... The buffalo in Husin even lost his cool when I took these photos..

The dismantling part is done, I do wonder how many days would they need to put it back together. And I also wonder how much longer do we need to abstain ourselves from climbing the bedroom wall !

Wind of Destruction ...

2008-11-24T21:58:00.007+08:00

The latest update, the Sports and Youth Complex in Kangar ground is undergoing a major reconstruction. At the moment half of the recreational area has already been demolished. We were informed that a new building will be erected on what used to be the playground for skateboarding, BMX, wall climbing and the ever present netball players.

There is mix feelings among us, we are happy that now the Youth and Sports Department will be expanding but we do wonder how soon would it take for the wall structure to be moved and assembled at a new location. It's the only wall that is accessible for the public (there's another one at Timah Tasoh Camp but not for the public) and for the past years has been our training spot and rendezvous. As you can see from the photos, it's so close now to the wall and we expect it'll be a matter of days before they're going to dismantle it.

We do hope it's not going to take that long as we have nowhere else to climb. One can't expect us to make the Keteri hill or Gua Kelam (Cave of Darkness) to be our daily destinations..!

The Beginning...

2008-11-17T13:01:00.009+08:00

The Keteri hill has always been overshadowed by its elder brother, the iconic Chuping hill (which is almost in a non existent state now). Located less than 10 kilometers from the town of Kangar (the capital town Perlis), it is now the centre of attraction to rock climbing enthusiasts. You can spot the hill if you take the route to Padang Besar bypassing a cement and chemical factories (irritating foul smell?.. shucksss..).

It started when the Crown Prince of Perlis, Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin Jamalullail in collaboration with Camp Five (one of the leading sports climbing centre in Kuala Lumpur) initiated the project that aims to explore the natural resources we have in Perlis to popularize healthy lifestyle. Hence, in March 2007 Swiss Mammut Pro Team rock climber David Lama and fellow international climbers scaled almost 60 climbing routes at the Keteri hill.

For those in the know, the Mammut Sports Group AG, a Swiss mountaineering and sports equipment manufacturer established since 1862, sponsors some of the world's top young climbers. While the locals were busy harvesting rice at that time, we were hosting a group of world ranked climbers in our backyard !! They took two weeks to complete the Keteri hill's bolting on two free standing craggy rock outcrops. I should also mention that the team came to Perlis after they had finished a similar project in Ipoh..

At the current time, the available routes are ranged between 4a and 8c+ according to the Frech grading sytem, so there's a lot to offer for beginners and advance climbers. Anyway, it's a privilege to own some really wicked climbing routes now in Perlis.. Cheers to all.. !!

After all these while......

2008-11-06T15:27:00.003+08:00

After all these while...
yesss... i know...
the guilt of not following up with any entry for so0o many months is all over me.. sobsob...
A lot of things happened since then..
Some really have altered the course of my life..
and yesss.. I know, this blog is dedicated to the team of k3..
but i guess why not spice it up.. with my story of course! haha..
Well that's one of the changes that occured..
Maybe I would tell and maybe I wont..

keep ya posted till then..
-cheers!

the home of k3

2008-04-28T22:13:00.000+08:00

Hola... well, first of all I should clear this out.. This blog is not meant to be about me but rather about something that is close to my heart and that is the k3 family. ..
So.. what is the k3 family anyway? The name was chosen (though not unanimously haha..) to represent a group of rock climbers based in the tiny state of Perlis in Malaysia. Similarly to our dear state, we are also small in numbers but i guess that has made our bond grew stronger. The sheer love to sports climbing has spurred us to try anything within our capacity promote it and of course with the beautiful, untouched rocks available in this state of Perlis there is enormous potential to be explored. Hence, this blog is dedicated to the purpose of promoting sports climbing and of course to keep track with the k3 activities. So those of you may get in touch with us and are most welcome to the home of k3!