Sunday, March 30, 2014

Singapore City Race: I completed my 15km race!

If you read my 2014 resolutions blog post that i did earlier at the start of the year, you would know that my #6 resolution/ goal would be to join at least 3 runs this year and now i accomplished 1/3 of that goal because i signed up for the Nathan Singapore City Race and completed the short distance race of 15km! Was thinking whether to just go for the 5km one and clock as 1 run but the registration fee for the 5km and 15km difference is only a few dollars so i might as well go for the longer distance, LOL (the 25km and 45km one is seriously too kua zhang for me already, HAHAHHAHA)

Prior to this race, i told myself i need to prep up by going for runs at my estate area but i kept procrastinating and gave excuses such as the weather is too hazy, lol. In the end i did not even go for a single prep run. When i tell people i'm going for the 15 click run, everyone was like - "You sure a not, confirm give up one lah." Wah lau eh. All no support one. Was really excited for the race day because this race that signed up for is not the conventional one way marathon run!

Instead, we will be given a map on the day itself and we have to decide on the routing to get to the different designated checkpoints before returning to the start point eventually. The quickest route will will be about the distance you signed up for, OR even longer if you plan a longer route. Just like an Amazing Race around Singapore, but on foot :D
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Selfie in the lift while making my way to Marina Barrage, the start point. Told myself to sleep early the night before but ended up sleeping at 2am because i was watching Running Man. Had only 5 hours of sleep before making my way out :|
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Among all my lazy friends, only Joyce agreed to join this race with me. LOL Partly because the registration fee is about $48/ pax and they see no reason why one should pay to run. Quite true lah but it's also about the experience! Had no time to have breakfast together so i grab egg muffins for the both of us along my way there. WE ARE READY! :D
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While people try to bring as little things as possible for a run, i bring the most absurd things. HAHAHHAHAHA

There's a reason for everything i brought along lor. My mentality is "THIS IS AN AMAZING RACE" and for example since we have to plan our own route - portable charger because we might need to use our phone GPS to navigate, umbrella in case it rains, Markers to draw on the map etc. All sounds quite practical and logical what! (except for maybe the Pepero snack, can eat along the way, lol) I put everything into this tote bag and this 2 girls behind us exclaimed in Chinese "他这样拿,可以跑 meh?" (Translate: "He like that hold can run meh?") Not sure whether they are referring to me though...

In my mind i was like, "What you bitches want hellooooo?"

Obviously i'm not going to hand carry my tote bag and run 15 kilometer -__- On the official website they mentioned they will be giving out a drawstring bag each to all the runners so obviously i'm going to transfer everything in my tote bag into THAT drawstring bag and carry it (like a bag pack in case you have no idea what a drawstring bag is) during the run.

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Pinned on my race tag. By the way "Shutter" is the team name for me and Joyce, LOL Anyway, we have a total of 5 stations to clock for the 15km race and at each stop, we are supposed to get a sticker and paste it on my tag (:
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First time getting a Race time Shoe tag (like a time chip) which i have to secure to my shoes so that their system can record our timing accurately. Technology nowadays, so advance that i don't even know it exist. HAHHAHAHA
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Early Sunday morning at Marina Barrage. Pretty good weather for a run!
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Saw Josh at Barrage too! He joined with his group of 3 other friends. Apparently it's their 2nd year joining.
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Finally got our map and was given about 30 mins to plan our route before the race officially starts!
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Joyce and i decided to go from the furthest and slowly make our way back to the Barrage so we plan to go over to Bugis area first (Arab street - Masjib Sultan Mosque) then over to Shaw house in town. The Shaw House checkpoint was at the top level so you can see all the escalators occupied by the runners, damn epic. Thereafter Sri Thendayuthapani Temple, up Fort Canning Park, Buddha tooth relic temple at Chinatown and back. First 30 mins into the race was pretty much wasted as me and Joyce were figuring how to get out of Gardens by the Bay and going to the washroom. LOLOL #FAIL
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Found a photo taken by the official photographers at our first checkpoint where there's a water point :D
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After a few hours of walking, running and complaining, we finish clearing all the 5 checkpoints which concludes our 15km race! Really an enjoyable experience going around the city of Singapore on foot. So happy to get my first medal that i must camwhore with it like a million times. Don't understand how 15km is considered "short distance", it's like soooo far omg. The distance category is - 5km: "Mini distance", 25km: "Mid distance" and 45km: "Long distance" Oh wells, i'm a short distance finisher without a doubt. Lucky never go for 5km, "Mini"finisher like quite noob. HAHAHHAHA
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After arriving at the finishing point, there was free flow of sandwiches, ice cream, fruits, drinks and even beer! You can see everyone happily sitting in groups relaxing and chit chatting after a long run on a Sunday. Like a happy only (:
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Shall not spam all the "me-and-my-medal" camwhore photos here, just one will do! :D

Overall it was a really good experience and i'm glad i signed up for this race! 2 more runs/ race to go before i hit one of my goal for 2014! If there is this Singapore city race again next year, i would definitely join and this time, i would persuade more friends to join me in this "amazing race"! So.. what are the upcoming runs and who wants to join me?

Did i mention in this post that along the race i went into Mcdonalds to get a cup of Coke light? How about when Joyce and i saw a Gong Cha outlet with no queue so we decided to buy a cup each to drink along the way? No? Okay. LOL

Friday, March 21, 2014

Sunday, March 16, 2014

D.I.Y Pancakes at Nook!

Have always wanted to visit Nook but it's all the way at the other end of the island. (I stay in Pasir Ris by the way) and Bukit Timah isn't exactly a place i would visit unless there is really a need to. Just nice that day i was in the west and looking for a brunch place and 2 places immediately came up in my mind - #1: Carpenters and Cook, #2:Nook! I didn't know they are just side by side until i arrived there, LOL In the end decided to have Nook for brunch instead :D
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What really entice me to Nook is the Do It Yourself pancakes! You know how pancakes always comes in a circle shape when you order them outside? At Nook you get to create your own pancakes. Just choose what pancake flavour you want (quite a lot of flavors to choose from!) choose your sides/ toppings and have fun making your own pancakes!
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On top of the DIY Pancakes they also offer all day breakfast so Jing long and i got a set each (:
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Red velvet batter and cream cheese topping! #ultimatecombo
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Humpty Dumpty - Poached eggs on Brioche bread also known as Eggs Benedict. LOL
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Oh my omelette! Fluffy omelette with cheese, spinach and mushroom with Brioche.
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Had a lot of fun creating different shapes with the batter and the red velvet taste is not bad! Soon we ran out of ideas what shapes to make (and the fact that we only have 1 colour to play with.) so we started making lots of mini circle pancakes. LOLOLOL If you are those lazy people who wants to eat without getting your hands dirty, you can also order pancakes through the menu and have the experts do it for you! They have this rainbow pancakes which looks so good!!!
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Trying my best to stack up the mini pancakes as high as possible. #fail
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DIY pancake stack by Jing long, LOL Took the tomato from our brunch and placed it on the stack and drizzle maple syrup on it. With the perfect lighting and photoshop-ed lens flare, it looks like a dish on it's own right! HAHAHHAHAHA
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Ended up with quite a lot of red velvet batter left in the bottle (thank goodness we only order 1 bottle!) and i started playing around with random designs, trying to finish up everything. #didntyourmumtellyounottoplaywithfood LOL
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The end result like a cool. We finished every bit of the pancakes fyi.
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Had to write my own name at least once with the batter. HAHAHA #Narcissism
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 Nook D.I.Y House of Pancakes
21 Lorong Kilat, 598123

Overall it was quite a fun experience being able to create my own pancakes and have brunch at the same time. The initial plan was to have brunch at Nook then head over to Carpenters and cook next door for coffee or something but we were too full! Had to give it a miss, oh wells. The total bill at Nook was about $30 which i think is really affordable for 2 pax! 2 brunch set + a bottle of batter and topping. Secretly hoping that they open another outlet in the east, LOLOLOL

Checkout my list of cafes that i have visited by clicking the image below:
http://www.imandystorm.com/2014/02/cafe-hopping-in-singapore.html

Sunday, March 9, 2014

#ForestadventureSG on a Saturday!

Last weekend i was invited by Forest adventure and One9ninety to take on the 2.5 hours forest adventure grand course located at Bedok Reservoir! Was really excited because it's not gonna the "usual" brunch/ shopping kind of Saturday but one full of adventure! Got to bring 3 friends along so i got Jiaqi, Jing Long and Joyce to take on the challenge with me!
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Staying in the east for almost all my life, i've heard of Bedok Reservoir having an adventure course. The last time i attempted something like this was probably 3 years ago when i went to OBS during my army days? Was not really a fan of high obstacle course because i had a height phobia but slowly throughout the years, it was not so serious. What i was really looking forward to this adult grand course was the 4 zip lines! Not just 1 BUT 4 zip lines! (also popularly known as flying fox) You know how normally obstacle course only has 1 flying fox and that's it? THIS ONE HAS 4! SUPER EXCITED.
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The first 30 mins was the safety briefing by one of their instructors. This brief is REALLY important because once you are up there in the trees, it's literally impossible to get down (can't even jump down) and there is no one up there to help you. You really have to depend on yourself and remember every step. Be safe and at the same time, have fun! :D
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#selfie during the safety brief. Not exactly the right thing to do, LOL
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Harness tighten, helmets on. WE ARE READY!!! Be prepared to spend the next 2.5 hours in the trees.
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Before we go on the actual course, we had a "practice" session where we recap on the things that we were told during the safety brief. It was quite easy to remember actually. Maybe about 3 important steps/ things to remember?
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One by one we climbed up onto the 4m platform above the ground. Things to remember: Maximum of 3 persons on each platform and only 1 can attempt each obstacle at one time - which might be why it takes 2.5hrs to complete.
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Looks easy but it's actually quite tiring. When it comes to a junction where we had to choose either the easy path or harder path, all of us went for the more difficult one. Since we are already up there what! Might as well, LOL :|
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HANGING ON TO MY DEAR LIFE. HAHHAHAHAHA
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Joyce swaying with the wind. LOLOLOLOL
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Jiaqi caught in the web, waiting for the spider. #nonsense
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Because the course is just right above the running track, there were passerby/ joggers who will stop by and cheer us (and laugh as us as well!) Must be a funny sight to see us struggling in mid air and screaming our lungs out, LOL
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#selfie 4 metres above ground level. If you are wondering, i brought my camera along with me which was a big risk but then again, i wanted photos for keepsake as well as for this blog post so i decided to bring it up. At one point of time, my camera almost died because i landed on it during the zipline. Phew, luckily it survived in the end. Heng
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Remember i mentioned max 3 person a platform. Well, in order to take this photo, we had Jing long to "remain" on his obstacle so that we can have all 4 of us in a photo! Comes to think of it... it doesn't really look like we are in the air.
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Joyce screaming while on the zip line. Don't know is she scared or what. It's like one of the best feeling ever leh!
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Grabbed jiaqi for a selfie before she launched herself off the platform for the final 4/4 zip line!
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The feeling on the zip line was really nice! Literally across the waters (or reservoir, LOL), hands and legs dangling in mid air. Sometimes you wish it never ends because the feeling is so carefree and you get to enjoy the scenery. Like i mentioned, the plus point is that you get to experience this not once, but 4 times in this grand obstacle course (:
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  Group photo (including limei, who was in the other team) to end the day! Our session started at about 3.30pm and unknowingly, it was almost sunset when the session ended. Guess it was too fun that we lost track of time! It was a really tiring (my whole body was damn sore!) yet fun day with a bunch of good friends. Just in case you are wondering, the grand course is priced at $44 per pax and they do cater for large/ corporate groups. If you and your friends are bored and thinking what to do over the weekends, why not drop by Forest adventure and challenge yourselves? LOL