~ VioletZ Realm ~: June 2009

Monday, June 29, 2009

My First Mini Marathon of 5KM

Posted by Violet~Ash at 6:58 AM .

I’m not an athletic person so, what makes me decide to participate in the Standard Chartered KL Marathon 2009?! I guess at the time my ex-colleague ask me to join in the run, I was feeling bored and in need of exercise after gorging on lotsa food, so I agreed to register myself.
Surprising?! Yes!

There are a few categories:
a) Full Marathon: 42.195 KM
b) Half Marathon: 21.097 KM
c) 10 KM Run
d) Fun Run: 5 KM
e) Kids Dash : 3 KM & 950 M

Marathon route - 5KM route is the one highlighted in magenta

I couldn’t possibly join in the Kids dash (age limit is up till 12 years old only). So, I chose the next shortest run : 5 KM. After the registration which was more than a month before the race day : 28.06.09, I didn’t really have time to worry whether I’ll be able to finish the 5KM feat as there were assignments & exam fever despite work in office to keep me busy.

As the race day draw near, my head was reminding me countless of times to start jogging or at least swim? Instead, my activity to gorge on food was intensified. Sigh..

Two days before the race, runners will need to collect their Race Pack.

Tents set up according to run category for race pack collection

Some of the stuffs in the Race Pack

What we wear on race day

Expecting it would be challenging and a waste of time to find parking at Dataran Merdeka, so took the LRT at 7am from Kelana Jaya to Masjid Jamek instead. I was feeling kinda excited to see there’s so many others who donned the same “uniform” as me. Some even have their race bib (race number) already pinned on their vest/singlet..hehehe

When I reached Dataran Merdeka, I’m able to see a few runners from other race category (Full.Half Marathon & 10KM Run) already sweating it out. I was standing and waiting for the 5KM run to start, not at the front of the flag off point but right behind..hahaha.. Snap a couple of photos and then I heard someone on the microphone saying” ARE YOU READY?!” and the participants went “YEAAHH!!” And then, “Ready..GO!!!” while the sound of Gongs /Drums accompanied the flagging off. As the crowd started to move forward slowly, so did I.

Runners waiting to be flagged off - Pretty relaxed huh?

When I saw the others started running, I told myself, "Here we go Piggy!! Time for some exercise!"
Then I realized – Crap! I didn’t warm up before I start the run…So, I start to brisk walk first then a jog..hoping I won’t get a cramp later. One thing for sure – I didn’t want to be the last person to reach the finish line!

Well, I guess the guys enjoyed quite a view during the run. With white tops, some even have matching white shorts or long pants. So, I guess you know what I meant when I said it was a rather colourful day for the boys to feast their eyes on.. :p

By the way, when I realized I’m reaching the finish line, I told myself, "Hey, that was fast??!!” and I was surprised I wasn’t gasping for air like I thought I would . I wasn’t feeling restlestly tired as I should have been for not doing any exercise for decades. On the contrarary, I was feeling rather good.. I went “WOW!” with myself.. hahaha..

Curious drivers - as usual, caused an unnecessary massive traffic jam

I can see the finish line!! Woohoo! I did it?!!

After the run, went to grab a drink and bananas given free to runners before heading off to queue up and get the participating certificate. I was expecting to run into some of my friends I knew they were participating too (10KM & half marathon run) but wasn’t lucky enough to bump into them. Next year, aiming to join the 10KM run and earn myself a medal..hehehe..Hope I’ll be fit enough :P

Went home feeling good.
Am glad my first weekend with string of activities started off quite well !

Earned a Participation Cert at the end of the run

Click here for the results of the marathon.

Pleo the Baby Camarasaurus

Posted by Violet~Ash at 12:56 PM .

0 comments

Labels: What I Like

My sister asked me, "Cea, have you seen Pleo?"
I went, "Huh?! What's that?"
Now, Let me share with you what is Pleo..

I went “ Awww… so cute…” when I saw Pleo. I was in fact, quite fascinated with it.
Pleo is a robotic baby Camarasaurus. During Jurasic times, Camarasaurus was a herbivore dinosaur. It won't bite! :p

Pleo responds to touches and it has programmed emotions and it could show when it’s happy, curious, playful, scared, surprised or sad! Cool eh?!

I would want to own one!! At least I don’t have to clean up his poo and pee. Best thing is he would be “alive” as long as I want ^_^ But Pleo is definitely not cheap. It’s retail price is at a whooping RM 1699!! Okie.. Maybe it should suffice to get to play with it when I visit the store..hehehe

Go and experience Pleo!

Date : Every 2nd & last Saturday of the month
Time : 2.00pm – 3.00pm
Venue :

Penang Pensonic Customer Care Centre
16 Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah
11700 Penang

Petaling Jaya Pensonic Customer Care Centre
Lot 11A, Jalan 223 Seksyen 51 A
46100 Petaling Jaya

Click here to watch video of PLEO.

Tenji Japanese Buffet, Solaris KL

Posted by Violet~Ash at 2:59 AM .

0 comments

Labels: Food~Glorious Food

I am not a fan of sushi or anything raw. But I’m game for cooked stuffs, Japanese style. When my godbrother mentioned I’ll get to have free flow of Häagen-Dazs ice cream as well, I’m set to join him and his buddies to Tenji Japanese Buffet Restaurant for a buffet supper.

Buffet supper promotion starts at 9.30pm. After payment has been made, a waitress in waiting walked up to us and lead the way to our table.

As we walked in to the restaurant, my first impression is, this place is HUGE! Very Spacious and comfortable, nice decorations and ambience makes me hope that the food won’t disappoint later..hehehe

I got SUPER excited looking at the counters and stalls of food! So many things, colours, shapes , sizes and varieties!! Where shall I start first? Ohh..nevermind.. just walk around and HIT & TAKE! Hahaha

*Apologies for the poor photography quality – Nokia 5800 camera is a disappointment..sigh*

Walkway to the main dining area

Sashimi on bed of ice

Oysters on bed of ice

Choices of crab. prawn, fish, rice

Mini Steamboat

Desserts

Cookies and Tarts

Cakes

Grilled Beef

Oyster with tabasco sauce and Salmon

Japanese Tofus and Seaweed

No need to wait and queue :)

Table Clips

Lamb shoulder

Beef with Enoki mushrooms

Mixed mushrooms

Bean Sprouts not spared - try also!

Inari, Sushi with seaweed, Deep fried Brinjal, Pumpkin

Tom Yam Steamboat - can opt for Miso soup

Chinese herbal soup

Chawanmushi

Decided to walk out to one of the stall to get some noodles. Only to get involve in an eating competition. The “judge” said, if you dare to take up the challenge to eat the noodle soup with 8-10 spoonful of the spicy chilli paste, you’ll be given a RM50 discount voucher. I said, “Count me in!” with regret later because only then I get to know I have to finish the noodle soup in 5 minutes time and u have to finish the whole bowl, soup and all! Lil Piggy usually just eat the noodle drink the soup if its nice..

Crap...! Lil piggy in trouble! My godbro and his four other guy friends came over to watch, leaving one of the guy's girlfriend to “guard” our table. By then, I was feeling self conscious! I am not comfortable having eyes looking at me while I eat - what more I have to eat worst than a glutton to beat the time?

Lil Piggy can take spicy, can eat quite a lot but not GOBBLE!! A little worried now.. still not backing out? No…

Besides me, another Malay guy took up the challenge too. Seated opposite of me, when the timer starts to tick, he starts to gobble down the noodle, I thought to myself “ Oh OOO!! Of course he’s gonna win!”. True enough, he finished it in 1 minute ++! He received his discount voucher and I’ve not finished even half the bowl! I should have slowed down but I didn’t .. finished in 2 minutes ++.

It’s not spicy at all.. it’s like pepperish spicy teeny weeny bit and a bit wasabi gassy kinda stuff. Got my voucher, stood up, walked back to our table only the noodles decide not to go into my stomach and stay in there, but force themselves out from my mouth.

I just couldn’t hold back!! So embarrassing to be throwing up on the side of the walkway!! Kept apologizing to the manager cum judge..(luckily he didn’t take back my voucher.. hehehe)

Moral of the story : If you are not a fast eater although you can take spicy, DON’T take up the challenge.

8 spoonful of Chilli Paste

Soup added to the noodle + chili paste

What it looks like after mixing it up

Voucher earned through my most embarrassed moment

After the embarrassing ordeal, took a seat, get back my breath then head over to the ice cream counter ^_^
Ice cream indulging time!! Woohoo!! Had only 6 scoops..that noodle challenge spoilt my appetite! But I guess, I should have eat a considerable amount of stuffs for the promotional rate at RM39.90++..

My next trip, I wanna make sure I visit each and everyone of the counter.
NOT GOING BACK to the noodle counter!! * shy – cover face *