A pointless (but good) afternoon read :)

It's time we acknowledged that we can be endlessly endearing...

Some might think it a fool's errand to sum up the measure of a Singaporean. They'd be right. Asking a question like what makes the average Singaporean is like asking what the best drink in the house is. If our citizenry is a bar, it ranges from the ubiquitous beer to free-wheeling mojitos and margaritas to respectable vintage wines. But there are a few endearing traits that most Singaporeans can lay claim to, or at least recognise in their fellow men, wherever we might be. To wit, five endearing Singapore traits that , what can we say, we're most proud to call our own!

1. We are softies deep down

Proof of how congenial we are? No matter how crowded a hawker centre is, we still acknowledge that you have reserved a seat just because you've plonked a packet of tissue paper or an umbrella on it. Funny, isn't it? When there's nothing to stop us from stealing the tissue and the seat, and use it to wipe our mouths later (the tissue, not the seat).

2. We speak funny

Let"s face it, we do. And it"s adorable. Wrong, but adorable. Who else refers to someone who hams it up as having more "patterns than badminton"? (pattern zui gor badminton), or uses "see me not up" to refer to not getting enough R-E-S-P-E-C-T? Singapore is a mish-mesh of Hokkien, Malay, Hindi, Mandarin, English so well blended into everyday use sometimes we are confused about the etymology of a phrase. The rest of the world doesn't understand us, but we get each other, like we have a special code. And nowhere do you feel more grateful for this than when you are all alone in a foreign country and suddenly hear good ol' Singlish being spoken. Nothing else makes you feel more at home.

3. We're practical to a fault

Our men don't propose marriage; they ask if you want to buy a flat together. Flowers that wilt? How about a value-for-money meal at Tiong Bahru market? We eschew romanticism for pragmatism and initially, that might be hard to swallow. What's important to keep in mind is that he's nots pending money on perishables or worthless things. The next time your boyfriend gifts you with a key-chain, remember: it's not only the thought that counts, your boyfriend is also counting his pennies so that both of you have a financially secure future. ?<-- HORRORS (but that's just me)

4. We are competitive in a good way

We want to win, and win in an open and above-board manner. We have titles like "Best Airport", "Busiest Port", "World's Most Global City" under our belt. Singapore has also been rated as the least-corrupt country in Asia. And the best thing about us? We freely share how we did it. The US has even adopted our educational method for teaching Maths since Singaporean kids out-performed American kids in the subject.

5. We live on hope and a prayer

So there's no way in this lifetime we are going to earn a million dollars by hard work. We'd do the next best thing and bet on 4D and Toto every week. Nothing wrong with a little hoping that Lady Luck will smile our way and send us enough moolah to buy the convertible and penthouse we've always dreamed about. And with two glitzy IRs, coming our way, our odds at The Good Life are that much improved, wouldn't you say?

Rant

Rant time.

I hate monday trainings. With a few more hours to the draconian training, life is at the pits. Argh. Imagine the sick running that we got to do. Plus it's a few kilometers run under the hot and humid weather of singapore argh what a pain. During the run, your legs get so hot from the inside. Your mind urges you to turn back but there is a monster behind you, pacing you. Head begins to spin, you start imagining things.

All the fumes from the evening rush hour rushes into your head. No wonder I find it so hard to think cough cough pollution siah! Then after the run, all the sweat breaks loose. Splatter here there all over. The smell of the jus-returned-runners stink up the gym. Oh yeah some idiot decide to lay on the mattress with all his sweat on it argh. Sweat + chalk + dirt = The orange mattress woohoo

Then there is the system training. Pull pull push push lift lift. Muscles si beh sore from climbing the uphill slope towards engine fac now must torture my body more. After all those stuff, it's 9.30pm! Too shacked out to climb, climb also not full power climb. Sien chi-pua argh

I dread Mondays! :(

Equipment all over

This is a notice hurhur.

There will be equipment all over the gym from saturday 26th aug to tuesday 29th aug. This is due to the team cleaning equipment that was from Krabi..ropes will be dangling on the flat walls and slings will be dried on the second floor.

Please do keep a look out for shady characters who might steal some stuff hur..and please do not step or play with the dangling ropes as it's wet and dangerous and slippery.

Thanks!

TOAST to NUS CLIMBING TEAM

with Absolut and Baileys.

great night, great food, great drinks and a great place to bunk in. haha (thanks liu li)

plus a few m'sians with red faces

cheers! n let's do it again sometime (non-school day perhaps)


P.S. will try to upload the photos soon. People with photos for the bash do share ya?

Important Details

This blog post is a blog post.

Goals in Climbing

Climb-climb-climb...but what for?!?!

Article by Adrian Berry:

http://www.planetfear.com/article_detail.asp?a_id=315

Climbing Shoes

From Climb Asia: http://www.climb-asia.com/
From Campus Corner: http://www.camperscorner.com.sg/eshop/items.php?id=107&s=4&b=103
From Mad Rock: http://www.madrockclimbing.com/cart.php?target=category&category_id=248
From Five Ten: http://www.fiveten.com/
From Mammut: http://www.mammut.ch/mammut/katalog.asp?did=4&dart=2&sid=2


New Product!!!
Super Loco **Available September 1 2006**


Description:
We cant stop innovating....so don’t even ask. The Loco was our flagship high performance shoe and a darn good one at that, but it wasn’t good enough for the mad scientists. With a completely new last, this down turned toe ultra performer is better on edges, better on toe hooks and better on heel hooks. Not to be outdone in the looks department we welded functional rubber flames on the side to help out with those extreme inside foot smears. The triple strap enclosure system was jealous so they got flames as well. With a shoe of this caliber we know your gonna fit them tight so we added a thin padded lining and a neoprene tongue. That with our seamless binding tape around the ankle makes it tight fitting yet not overly painful.

Availability: Not available until September 1st 2006
Price: US$ 109.95


Recommended Shoe:
5.10 V10s

The V10 is the highest performance slipper on the market. Built on the same last as the Dragon, the V10 has a powerful down-turned toe that allows you to pull with your feet like a mad ape. The V10 is designed for super steep and overhanging rock or powerful bouldering, pocketed stone, where you find yourself not just pushing with your feet, but also pulling with them. Super sticky Stealth HF rubber is an additional advantage.
Designer: Charles Cole, Sang LeeConcept: Downturned toe for overhanging boulders and routes.Development: Five Ten created the first down-turned toe shoe, the UFO, more than a decade ago. For the first time, climbers were able to pull with their toe, giving them more power in overhanging situations. This is Five Ten's most sophisticated down-turned last, with Stealth HF rubber for ultimate friction under low loads. Additional Information: The current version has rubber on the toe for advanced toe hooking.


[this post is built on personal views. Pls kindly add ur own recommended shoes. How abt a top ten best climbing shoes?]
[Thanks Meifen, for the wonderful party!]

tips?

1. Understand, accept and train your weakness.
It's not nice to admit you have a weakness and it feels much better to ignore it. But put aside your ego cos that's going to hinder your improvement. Find out what is your weakness by comparing yourself to your peers and also by asking around.

Eg. TC mentioned that he is very bad at endurance sets, can't even do 6C but he hates to do endurance sets/ARC. Maybe there is some flaw hidden within that he has not found out? ie. overgripping, bad rest posture, inefficient technique? Bouldering more would not solve this problem ..

2. Have specific training regimes/targets in mind.
Ok, so you realise that your weakness is lack of endurance - Or finger strength - or technique problems. Whichever the case, you need to be clear and focused on how to achieve your goals.

Eg. You have weak crimp strength. Make sure that you do fingerboard once a week and campus board once a week without fail - no excuses. Have both fingerboard and campus board sessions fully planned out.
TC could make sure he does 30min of ARC before he starts each climbing session and end ea session with 3 endurance sets. And focus on not over-gripping, good technique, resting on the wall etc.

3. Learn from others
It's easy to dismiss other people's ideas/trg methods but maybe their way works for them and it could work for you too! Experiment and find out. Read books, surf the net for more training information, watch videos and focus on their technique.

Eg. I always thought climbing with weights was dumb. Turns out that I was the dumb one cos everyone who trained with weights become so strong :P

4. Variety is the spice of life.
Climbing in the same place with the same people is comforting but it also results in stagnation. Go out sometimes and find different people to climb with, everyone is friendly! The routes/tiles could be very different and unique.


hmm that's all i can think about, almost all of it has some personal resonance that is why i mentioned it. sorry i used teckie for an example cos the conversation in the car is still v fresh in my memory :)

Maybe more people can mention what works for them....the junior seniors also ;)

Appeal

This is an appeal to all to write anything about training (for e juniors), esp technique specific. This information is easily available in lots of website, but if its you, yes you, writing, there's this personal touch. Who knows, you can add a demo in the gym after blogging about it. Thanks!

Si Beh Sien from Training in NUS?

This is a friendly advertisement of what may come.

Feeling si beh sien from training in a packed gym? What about feeling like you sien chi-pua (sien halfway) when stronger climbers own you in routes? Do you feel that you need some distraction from the sardine packed orgy in the gym? Do you feel angry when you gotto keep reminding people to move when you are on the crux of the route? Are you frustrated and tu-lan when they didnt listen and you gotto come down before injuring someone?! Do you feel that the gym is getting more and more packed and you cant climb much??!! Are you furious that people are cutting your queue in climbing and you cannot say much as they only realise that when they made the first move???!!!?!?!? Do you feel really sien, tu-lan, bo-sim (bored, angry, no spirit) when other people pawn you in flash comps???!?!?!?!?!?~!@#$%^&*

Look further! Come sometime soon (timing is in accordance to adrian's timing), you all may get a free toy to play in nus! Thanks to the team funding, we might be able to get this toy haha. The planning is underway already hoho no promises but I figured it is better to give you an idea of what may come rather than seeing you all contemplating the best way to avoid the crowd in NUS gym as there is no way to do that haha unless it's on a sunday.

Be assured that I also want this toy, thus the probability of it materializing is higher hoho. At least it gives you something to do while the gym is busy getting packed up.

This friendly advertisement is advertised by me, thus it may be fake or it may be real. Adrian is a mysterious man, so depends on how you interpret my lies so as to discover the truth of my words.

Climbing World Cup [Singapore Series] 2006

hey guys~

here r some really cool pics of der recent world cup at expo http://climb.naturehaven.net/ thanx to our dear photographer hanlin n his super pro camera for these zai zai photos~ n not so thanx for making our regular digicams look so inferior beside yours tt dae =P

kellY

Reflections

WoW! it's been nearly a year since i've joined the climbing team and boy, does it RocK!!! WooHoo~ haha, well, it's been a really great year for me... from dropping at the 9th tile of the 5C endurance route when i went for trials (i dunno how i got in!), to doing 6Bs in Krabi. but of course, the fear of heights and the fear of falling sometimes consumes me sooo much that it hinders my climbing... DaMn! i am so gonna conquer tt fear! (but the story abt the SMU girl, has just seriously, really freaked me out! *yikes!*) gee, thx for the amazing company in KraBi! the continuous cheers and support! many many ThX!!! =) u guys really helped me alot!

well, i just hope that as we, juniors have now risen to the ranks of seniors, we are able to lead the team to greater heights, if not, on par! jeez... indeed, it'll be quite a tough task, looking at the fantastic year tt just passed w all the awards won, *sweats*, but we'll still keep trying and pushing ourselves, right team? haha... a flash of photos of the events and activities tt we've had in the past year. amazing memories! bet there'll be more to come!!! =)

Sports Pageant

got this over in my nus email abt sports updates. take a look at Liying! she looks fabulous!!! ALL the way girl! we'll be supporting u!!!

Some Krabi Pics

A tribute to our dedicated equipment IC, and our most scandalous guy - ADRIAN!



You make our day in Krabi - everyday.

NEW SHOES

HAHA! Finally got a new pair of shoes. Shall do the unveiling here... Grin...

Yup it's a FIVE TEN

And here comes the moment!
YES! It's an ANASAZI VELCRO! Haha...

Frankly it was wasnt on my 'Want to buy shoe list' initially. But fate has it... as with so many things in recent days (strangely), I bought the ANASAZI instead of the GALILEO, which somehow fell to dear san and fen. Haha. Strange twist of fate.

SO... we have now an addition to the ANASAZI family in the NUS climbing team (right honey? haha) and an expansion of the FIVE TEN group with the introduction of the GALILEOs. Woo Hoo. Not only that, they are lined with the NEW ONYX rubber. Haha.

We bought them some freaking size smaller... fits well but a little tight. ok.. not only a little. They're TIGHT. Thinking of changing bigger... see first... BUT yeah... new shoes... yummy.

KraBi KraBi

My 16 CHOICE Photos for Krabi. Man... adore the place.

I feel obliged to post a little on the (amazing) Krabi Experience. Where else can you find walls that inspire you to climb, where else can you enjoy the sun, sand and sea whilst climbing, and where else can you find Adrian running desperately away from Kesheng? WHILE not busting your wallet!

Kudos to the Krabi Gang for making this trip an amazingly memorable one. Kesheng our water delivery man, Daniel our laundry guy, Adrian the Lost Boy while Kum doubled as a portfolio photographer. Not forgetting the girls for contributing smiles and laughter!

Climbing was fantastic! Think I'm definitely a natural rock climbing devotee now. It's so much more freedom, expression and at times (hopefully) satisfaction! Jai Dum is definitely an inspiration. Seeing that guy complete Jai Dum is a motivation. Sweet.

Haha.. had so much to say about Krabi. Maybe too much that I dont know how. Key word from Krabi though. BA-LANCE.

Keep on Climbing peepz! Let's all go back there someday and send all the routes!

Adrian's Krabi post 1

Huh everyone seems to be busy bidding or matric fairing. Actually I am also busy with packing into my new small room with corroded walls thus I will keep my first Krabi post short, like bombardments of info boom boom boom kerbaboom. Gotto rush back home soon too. Hello ma.

1. What I learnt
I learnt lotsa stuff. How to better take care of my equipment, how to wear fisherman pants, how to shit with my harness on, how to trek with a Fanta and a pack of biscuits in my hands..err how to improve onsight skills and how to redpoint Jai Dum hurhurhur. I saw someone finished Jai Dum! He dispensed a couple of tips to me too. More elaboration soon. I really learnt something new everyday at Krabi.

2. Routes
I sticked with grades of 6c+ and below. Only the occasional two 7a broke the monotony. I do feel a little sien doing 6a, 6b and 6c as the routes were developing a similar pattern. Perhaps I did not explore enough routes but I feel that the 7a that I did possessed something that the routes do not have. They have a great variety of moves, the route forces my body to generate new climbing moves on the rocks. Syok. Tested my onsight skills. Tsahhh!

Even routes like Lion King feels the same to me (frankly) as I was a little bored getting pumped and doing underclings most of the way. I love (hot women) and a variety of moves such as crimps, jugs, high steps, cracks and bouldery sections in a route. The most fun route that I did was 'Gimme a Break 7a' at Wee's Present Wall. Some idiot thought the route was a 6B thus we eventually tried the route. The idiot is N**g F**g. Muahaha hello honey.

But I will still stick to routes of grades around 6c until I've decided that I am ready to explore harder routes..probably get a feel of how 6Cs are like. Do not rush improvement, a fat one once told me.

3. Tidal Dum
This is my new project..finish Tidal Wave before I hit year 3 and finish Jai Dum after I hit year 4. Try lah. Do you know how inspiring to see that guy finish Jai Dum? I was like..omgknnbbqpie expressway. He was so happy and he really worked hard for it. At that moment, I saw myself there muahaha. Fame glory power. Roar.

4. Food
Fish is good. I ate lotsa fish there as chicken is beginning to bore me. But I had a good relation with a drumstick selling aunty haha she gave me discount for a piece of drumstick and free chicken wing muahaha. Secretly bought the discount pack while the rest of the girls were doing their project oh yeah Chang beer is good too but I did not drink that much as I am not a drinker *hic*

5. Company
Got lotsa things to say about them ah! Wah piang fun leh go Krabi with them realised that my batch are equally as bad as me muahaha steam. Will elaborate with pictures once i get the pictures to refresh my memory. But I must say that they do take good care of equipment and they generally have a good sense of safety.

6. To be continued
Must go bidding and plan my uni life now. Realised that I cannot do Industrial Attachment as my semesters are super busy zzzzz...