More details at: www.nusclimb.com
Monday, March 26
Sunday, February 5
Miraculous Elixir for Fingers!
Hi guys, this is slightly random and a lengthy post ahead. For those who are starting to feel pain in their joints, I would like to introduce the miraculous elixir.................
ZHENG GU SHUI! (available at any Chinese medical shop)
Although my fingers are very screwed, I am still able to push hard with it the past few years. You could follow my personal regime after every climbing session:
1) Bathe in cold water; Cools down overall body temp to reduce frequency of blood flow to forearms and fingers which would slow down inflammation.
2) Apply lots of ZGS on the fingers experiencing pain. Adriel applies it and bandages his fingers to keep it in. But if you're bandaging it, don't bandage for >20hrs because ZGS is a dehydrant and your skin will flake off. After applying, don't wash your hands for at least 1 - 2hrs otherwise it'll be wasted.
3) 1000mg Fish Oil - Helps with anti inflammation
4) I learnt this from Crimp Maestro Winfred: Ice with bowl / tupperware with 7 ice cubes. Soak hand in it continuously for about 2 - 3min. It should be numb but not biting pain. Change hand. Repeat 2 -3 sets.
5) Before sleeping, apply ZGS again. And don't rub your eyes in the middle of your sleep!
6) Massage fingers regularly with thumb on the top of the swollen joint, and massage down towards top side of palm. You want to bring blood away from the fingers which is carrying the waste materials.
7) Next part depends on what's wrong with your fingers:
i) Inflammation - Spam Fish Oil, Ice treatment. ZGS good but optional
ii) Weird dull pain in joints - Just spam ZGS. At least twice a day. And do the massage
Healthy fingers are the most important when breaking boundaries in late game! Aaron Tan, Winfred, Dennis, Hazlee, Ron, Haroz are examples of people who have perfectly healthy fingers. So there's a strong correlation seen here!
ZHENG GU SHUI! (available at any Chinese medical shop)
Although my fingers are very screwed, I am still able to push hard with it the past few years. You could follow my personal regime after every climbing session:
1) Bathe in cold water; Cools down overall body temp to reduce frequency of blood flow to forearms and fingers which would slow down inflammation.
2) Apply lots of ZGS on the fingers experiencing pain. Adriel applies it and bandages his fingers to keep it in. But if you're bandaging it, don't bandage for >20hrs because ZGS is a dehydrant and your skin will flake off. After applying, don't wash your hands for at least 1 - 2hrs otherwise it'll be wasted.
3) 1000mg Fish Oil - Helps with anti inflammation
4) I learnt this from Crimp Maestro Winfred: Ice with bowl / tupperware with 7 ice cubes. Soak hand in it continuously for about 2 - 3min. It should be numb but not biting pain. Change hand. Repeat 2 -3 sets.
5) Before sleeping, apply ZGS again. And don't rub your eyes in the middle of your sleep!
6) Massage fingers regularly with thumb on the top of the swollen joint, and massage down towards top side of palm. You want to bring blood away from the fingers which is carrying the waste materials.
7) Next part depends on what's wrong with your fingers:
i) Inflammation - Spam Fish Oil, Ice treatment. ZGS good but optional
ii) Weird dull pain in joints - Just spam ZGS. At least twice a day. And do the massage
Healthy fingers are the most important when breaking boundaries in late game! Aaron Tan, Winfred, Dennis, Hazlee, Ron, Haroz are examples of people who have perfectly healthy fingers. So there's a strong correlation seen here!
Friday, January 20
Five Things
Couldn't really find any photos of myself individually, so this is the best I could get I guess!?
this is me in my PGP room. Yes, CUI haha I don't take individual photos!
I'm generally not a very interesting person so, well. And it took me ages to blog this because I thought it wasn't important (which is right! right?).
Anyway, here's the 5 things..
Anyway, here's the 5 things..
1) I have a twin sister.
Nope, she's not in NUS. Yup, she used to climb too haha. Nope, we don't take photos together so there isn't really any comparison about whether or not we look alike haha. But here's one of when we were small, when we looked more alike.
upon closer inspection: nah, we don't look alike at all hahaha.
wait... this one looks quite alike???
as can be seen from this photo, our parents used to dress us in either exactly the same clothes or clothes differentiated solely by colour. Confuse all the relatives hahaha!
2) Like Juanmin, I started climbing in Secondary school purely by accident as well. ODAC was my first choice, but back then I was kind of dumb and thought that ODAC was a misspelling of Oratorical And Debate Society and I didn't realise until I joined it.
But it was fun nevertheless! :D I loved my time in ODAC.
But it was fun nevertheless! :D I loved my time in ODAC.
3) 
If you haven't really talked to me yet, maybe you haven't realised... I'm not the brightest spark around. I get distracted reaaaaaaallyyyyyyy easily. It makes studying a very huge chore sometimes. Or rather, most of the time :/ It's also probably the reason why I can't remember routes even after they've been pointed out twice, oops.
4) I don't really like to eat meat.
It's not about being environmentally friendly or kind to animals, its just that I like stuff like veggies and rice and noodles better? It's like I'll order chicken rice, eat all the rice and leave the chicken haha :D I still eat meat though, because it makes me full faster and occasionally it seems quite nice haha. I eat seafood avidly and rather regularly though!
4) I don't really like to eat meat.
It's not about being environmentally friendly or kind to animals, its just that I like stuff like veggies and rice and noodles better? It's like I'll order chicken rice, eat all the rice and leave the chicken haha :D I still eat meat though, because it makes me full faster and occasionally it seems quite nice haha. I eat seafood avidly and rather regularly though!
5) I acted in a play recently, for charity. I had to wear a purple wig and devil horns because I was playing one of Hell's minions. It was An Experience? Eventually it was quite fun but I don't think we raised much for charity oops hehe.
That aside, I highly doubt I'll ever do it again, cause I can't act for nuts hahaha. I like watching better!! I want to watch A Midsummer Night's Dream next but I think it's right smack in the middle of all our final exams. boo. ):
okay now I am done with my very boring 5 things :D
p.s. sorry about the photo sizes :/ I have no idea how to regulate them.
next..... uhhh.... who else? wenshu?
p.s. sorry about the photo sizes :/ I have no idea how to regulate them.
next..... uhhh.... who else? wenshu?
Monday, December 19
Shirt Designs so far
HI EVERYONE!
The following are the current shirt designs (thanks to aaron tan who drew them) that we're thinking of printing, do give us your honest feedback and suggestions on how we can improve them. Also, it'll be great if you guys can come up with a cool slogan that encapsulates the spirit of our climbing team. :)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Let me/aaron tan know if you have any ideas for the shirts or a cool slogan to contribute please! Thanks alot and in the meantime share your opinions on the designs!
The following are the current shirt designs (thanks to aaron tan who drew them) that we're thinking of printing, do give us your honest feedback and suggestions on how we can improve them. Also, it'll be great if you guys can come up with a cool slogan that encapsulates the spirit of our climbing team. :)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Let me/aaron tan know if you have any ideas for the shirts or a cool slogan to contribute please! Thanks alot and in the meantime share your opinions on the designs!
Monday, November 7
Five things about Paul
Hello. I don't blog so I'm not really sure what to write. But here goes. 
This is from Butao Ramen. The chef, Ikuta Satoshi, is from Fukuoka so he serves the Tonkotsu style. Only 200 bowls a day. I'm not so much of a connoisseur on Japanese food, but I know enough to know that it is really good stuff.
It has been featured in the media many times like nytimes, etc... Here's the cnn one: http://www.cnngo.com/hong-kong/eat/hong-kong-hottest-hole-wall-ramen-shop-974723
1. SA
I've been in St Andrews for my whole schooling life (not including now of course). Yup that's right. The whole way from kindergarten thru to JC. Weird right. Normally people would want a change in environment and all. But I guess I'm not really a true Saint cuz I didn't play rugby. Haha.
Oh here's something interesting: my secondary school principal was my aunt.
2. Anyway, it was in JC that I started climbing. But my interest really took off after going to the US at the end of J1. Here's why:
My addition to one of the many 'postcard' views of Yosemite valley. El capitan & Half dome.
After reading about the historic ascends made by all the big names, it's really inspiring when you see the magnificent rock faces for yourself. Well actually, Yosemite itself is already inspiring even if you weren't into climbing. That was what actually made me go back there.
The Royal arches, north dome, the Washington Column.
I'm no Ansel Adams so please pardon the bad photos. I was using a point and shoot cam.
Sentinel Rock
When I was near Yosemite falls, I remembing seeing 2 guys walking with lots of quickdraws. It was weird because it was winter (0-2degC)! I didn't think anyone would climb in that temperature.
Yosemite is one place everyone should visit at least once! :)
After Yosemite, I visited an aunt in Arizona.
Pinnacle Peak Park
Sports and trad climbing here. Anyone interested? Got free accom. Haha
3. Food
I love gourmet food. To me, it's one of the finer pleasures in life. But it's too expensive to eat out, so I just look forward to the weekends when my cousins cook (sometimes my sis too). Like just last night I had oxtail stew *slurp* :) Occasionally, we have a rich dessert - like my cousin's wife made an almond dacquoise (a kind of french cake) for his birthday. But I don't really have any pictures so I shall not elaborate.
Instead, since we're going to HK I thought it would be appropriate to whet your appetite with some food I had there.
This is from Butao Ramen. The chef, Ikuta Satoshi, is from Fukuoka so he serves the Tonkotsu style. Only 200 bowls a day. I'm not so much of a connoisseur on Japanese food, but I know enough to know that it is really good stuff.It has been featured in the media many times like nytimes, etc... Here's the cnn one: http://www.cnngo.com/hong-kong/eat/hong-kong-hottest-hole-wall-ramen-shop-974723
I think I queued for 45min. Haha
This is from Tim Ho Wan. It's a one Michelin starred restaurant. Apparently, it's the cheapest Michelin starred restaurant in the world. And I won't be surprise. The dim sum here is priced similarly to any mid range restaurant here. Like $1.50 - $2.50 a plate?
Anyway, look at that char siew! The texture is just right. Also, notice how their bao is more of a cake consistency.
4. Ok so enough about food. Now say hello to Kate :)
She's a Shetland sheepdog.
*I love my bone*
5. Music
"Music is one of the most beautiful treasures of our life. It is the language of our soul, our heart. It is our spiritual nourishment."
Mariss Jansons
(It's said more eloquently in German but posting it in German would defeat the purpose since not everyone undersetands.)
In my iPod you'll find many genres of music. I've got music ranging from OneRepublic & Toni Braxton to John Coltrane & Ella Fitzgerald. I've also have everything from Beethoven to Rodgers & Hammerstein.
I play the piano too albeit very poorly. So normally I just leave it to the people who are more proficient to provide the music.
Alright, I think I've written enough(too much? haha). Hope it was an interesting read for ya'll.
Now, over to Si Hui.
Sunday, October 23
The long-awaited 5 things
Hi everyone! Sorry this came rather delayed but I was kinda caught up with work. But better late than never right. :) Okay in case people don't know who I am:
Alright for the 5 things I've picked things that I don't think people in the climbing team know about me yet, except maybe Si Hui but she doesn't count cos I see her every school day. Here goes:
1. I started climbing by accident.
I started climbing in secondary school with my school's ODAC but ODAC was certainly not my first choice. Photographic Society was my first choice but they rejected me so I ended up in ODAC, but I believe that's all part of fate, because I've never looked back ever since. I was never really under a climbing club till I came into NUS so initially I was afraid that training will kill the fun of climbing, but I've been proven severely wrong. NUS climbing has made me love climbing more and that's why I've been sulky for a few weeks now following my injury. :(
2. I need a lot of sleep.
I'm not too sure why too, but I cannot really function properly if I don't get enough sleep. Which is why I don't know how I'm going to survive working right after I graduate (or how I'll survive in Med school, for that matter), but I guess only time will tell. That's why during camps when activities end I'll probably be the first to head to sleep, and I'll always miss out on the HTHT's through the night. :/ But I'd rather do that than be grumpy/grouchy in the mornings. Which also leads me to add that I am NOT a morning person. So if you see me at 8am in the morning and I don't wave to you, I apologise in advance!
3. I consider myself to be a jack of many trades (yes, and master of none).
You could blame my mum for this, because since young she signed me up for countless things. I've dabbled in these things before: ballet, piano, swimming (I'm a certified lifeguard!)...I can do most sports (except tennis, I can't seem to get it) and am trying to get more involved in things like dance, music and theatre, which brings me to...
4. I enjoy literature and the arts.
Hi gwen, that makes the 2 of us. Although I don't read very much, when I do I really enjoy myself because there are a lot of techniques that go into writing a good poem/novel/play. Good novels are those that do not have a fixed interpretation, with words that evoke different feelings for different people, much like boulder routes I must say. I haven't got the opportunity to do much in the area of the arts since secondary school though, so I'm hoping to take classes in music and dance, and hopefully get to be involved in a school theatre production. Fingers crossed I'll find the time!
Finally,
5. I love going on service trips.
I've been to Cambodia 3 times now, all of which were for service. I feel that these trips help me to stay grounded as a person and they also give me an opportunity to relax and recharge before returning to hectic, crazy Singapore. I've done things from teaching English lessons to building a village house from scratch to painting a school mural in Cambodia. It's really very fun, and I intend to keep doing these trips even after I start working. :) I'll let pictures speak for themselves!
Okay by now you guys should know enough about me. You will have to know more by interacting with me because words don't really mean everything. :) See you guys around and always have fun climbing!!
PAUL, I hope you have your 5 things ready!
Alright for the 5 things I've picked things that I don't think people in the climbing team know about me yet, except maybe Si Hui but she doesn't count cos I see her every school day. Here goes:
1. I started climbing by accident.
I started climbing in secondary school with my school's ODAC but ODAC was certainly not my first choice. Photographic Society was my first choice but they rejected me so I ended up in ODAC, but I believe that's all part of fate, because I've never looked back ever since. I was never really under a climbing club till I came into NUS so initially I was afraid that training will kill the fun of climbing, but I've been proven severely wrong. NUS climbing has made me love climbing more and that's why I've been sulky for a few weeks now following my injury. :(
2. I need a lot of sleep.
I'm not too sure why too, but I cannot really function properly if I don't get enough sleep. Which is why I don't know how I'm going to survive working right after I graduate (or how I'll survive in Med school, for that matter), but I guess only time will tell. That's why during camps when activities end I'll probably be the first to head to sleep, and I'll always miss out on the HTHT's through the night. :/ But I'd rather do that than be grumpy/grouchy in the mornings. Which also leads me to add that I am NOT a morning person. So if you see me at 8am in the morning and I don't wave to you, I apologise in advance!
3. I consider myself to be a jack of many trades (yes, and master of none).
You could blame my mum for this, because since young she signed me up for countless things. I've dabbled in these things before: ballet, piano, swimming (I'm a certified lifeguard!)...I can do most sports (except tennis, I can't seem to get it) and am trying to get more involved in things like dance, music and theatre, which brings me to...
4. I enjoy literature and the arts.
Hi gwen, that makes the 2 of us. Although I don't read very much, when I do I really enjoy myself because there are a lot of techniques that go into writing a good poem/novel/play. Good novels are those that do not have a fixed interpretation, with words that evoke different feelings for different people, much like boulder routes I must say. I haven't got the opportunity to do much in the area of the arts since secondary school though, so I'm hoping to take classes in music and dance, and hopefully get to be involved in a school theatre production. Fingers crossed I'll find the time!
Finally,
5. I love going on service trips.
I've been to Cambodia 3 times now, all of which were for service. I feel that these trips help me to stay grounded as a person and they also give me an opportunity to relax and recharge before returning to hectic, crazy Singapore. I've done things from teaching English lessons to building a village house from scratch to painting a school mural in Cambodia. It's really very fun, and I intend to keep doing these trips even after I start working. :) I'll let pictures speak for themselves!
First time in Siem Reap in June this year. The kids were so fascinated with pipe cleaners! :)
All from my trip in 08, where we built a village house and gave out handmade soap
The mural my team and I painted in 07
Okay by now you guys should know enough about me. You will have to know more by interacting with me because words don't really mean everything. :) See you guys around and always have fun climbing!!
PAUL, I hope you have your 5 things ready!
Wednesday, October 12
6 mins of entertainment by Quest Crew
They're the guys who choreographed LMFAO's Party Rock Anthem...
Monday, October 10
5 things about tan
1) i didnt used to always have such a nice hairstyle.
but i appeared in the famous anime Naruto as rock lee.. oh the springtime of youth! T.T
my life motto: we're only young once, climb hard now work harder next time :)
2) i call jensen seah boss and not ah pa not just becuz i dont have a vertical taco but becuz he IS my boss.. i'm one of climbasia's bangla boys.
3) i used to coach the vjc climbing team back when i was lobo-ing after ORD.
i think i look as young as them! the secret of staying young is through hanging out with xiao mei meis :)
4)i hate insects
[ no image inserted ]
5)this fact will affect the way u look at me. so i'm not gonna tell u. but here's a clue: its gotta do with my family background ;)
next up.... juan min i choose you!
but i appeared in the famous anime Naruto as rock lee.. oh the springtime of youth! T.T
my life motto: we're only young once, climb hard now work harder next time :)
2) i call jensen seah boss and not ah pa not just becuz i dont have a vertical taco but becuz he IS my boss.. i'm one of climbasia's bangla boys.
i have been working in climbasia since JC 1 and thru my army days... yes i was moonlighting but it paid better than army, who can blame me?
3) i used to coach the vjc climbing team back when i was lobo-ing after ORD.
i think i look as young as them! the secret of staying young is through hanging out with xiao mei meis :)
4)i hate insects
[ no image inserted ]
5)this fact will affect the way u look at me. so i'm not gonna tell u. but here's a clue: its gotta do with my family background ;)
next up.... juan min i choose you!
Thursday, October 6
Wednesday, October 5
5 things about gwen
Hey guys! I know I took really long to write this, but its because, um haha I didn't even know the address of the blog, and I do not understand google/yahoo groups. You laugh now, but my lack of computer skills ensures that I never get addicted to the computer.
SO, here goes! (this feels like a college application essay)
1. I have one double eyelid and one single eyelid.
Yes, I know its very spastic. As you can see in this picture, I have to be extremely meticulous when I draw eyeliner because one eyelid is double and the other is not. My eyes look normal here right???
BUT!! This is NOT a sign of a birth defect! Its merely the last stage of puberty that hasn't occurred yet. According to my mum (whose eyes used to be like mine) the other double eyelid only appeared when she was 20?
2. As embarrassing as this is, I have a lot of unglam pictures. So many in fact that my friend Kristal decided to create a collage and upload it on Facebook.
For your viewing pleasure:
Actually, I'm so used to having unglam pictures that it doesn't bother me much anymore! It's called embracing your inner Demon Child. As you can see, the wink face repeats itself frequently.
I blame this on the F.R.I.E.N.D.S series, because my best friends and I would impersonate Joey saying "How you doin' ?" followed by the wink. Hence, the bad habit.
Still doesn't explain why I have so many unglam pictures though.
3. I used to have normal colored hair
However, just before school started, I felt that since I was only 18, I should take advantage of my youth and do something unexpected to my hair before I turn the dreaded 19years old. But, as we all know, what happens in reality usually doesn't meet our expectations.
Expectations:
Reality:
It's fine though, Jesus loves me regardless of my hair color.
4. I think I may have OCD. or at least, a very mild case of it.
When I was young, I used to group EVERYTHING into groups of five, and I had a huge obsession with the number 5. No, 5 isn't the name of my childhood crush, it's a number that I was worryingly obsessed with. Actually, just thinking about it now makes me worry that this obsession is going to start all over again.
Also, im a clean freak with a capital C. My friends came over to my room in Sheares Hall the other day, and when they left, I ended up cleaning my table, floor and changing my bedsheets.
This doesn't mean that I don't want you to stay over anymore Ash <3
5. I intend to major in Literature and go on to become a journalist because social convention dictates that I have to find a proper job. Alternatively, I would't mind having a rich (old men may not apply) husband to support me while I while my life away writing and reading. Ultimately, I hope to finish writing my first novel by the age of 25! (for personal satisfaction, not monetary gains)
For the next blog post,
I CHOOSE YOU AARON TAN!
Tuesday, October 4
5 things about Shiyu
Hello people! Sorry for taking soooo long to blog, WHY NOONE REMIND ME!!?? HAHAHA.
Some pics:
Some pics:
Me 5 years old
Me 10 years old
Me 15 years old
Hahaha ok just kidding. Those biceps damn gross la. Here are some pictures from my JC days :)
Me and my classmates. We always get into trouble one haha.
My cross country team
My cross country teamI was botak because my cross country team thought that shaving our heads will make us look pro, but end up epic fail, we lost also hahahah.
1. im not gay
Okay, first thing first, this might seem surprising for some but truth is.... I AM NOT GAY AND I DON'T SWORDFIGHT CAN! I’m a straight man who had gone through my national service one hor!
Seriously how can something like this be deemed as gay by anyone?
HAHAHAH (sry han)! Anyway for those who didn’t know, Joel and me were bunkmates in army :D So we stayed in the same bunk for like 1 year plus, during which, I repeat, THERE WERE NO SWORDFIGHTS.
2. BASKETBALL!!
Well climbing isn’t the only sport that i like. The next best alternative to it for me is basketball!!! I used to play it ALOT (almost every day) until i came into NUS, where the limited amount of free time i am entitled to have forced me to choose between climbing and basketball (i chose climbing :D). Basketball for me goes a long way back to my primary school days and had been an integral part of my life all the way through army. My CJC’s basketball court was as much as a home as the NUS climbing gym is to me now haha, i would always be seen around in school, in a darker-shade-of-blue uniform (soaked in sweat) and with a basketball stuck to my hips, think i play more than the basketball team people hahhaha. So anyone here who plays too? Can play together some time!!:)
3. CONSISTENCY
JC1 Mid Year Exam
JC2 Common Test
JC2 Mid Year Exam
JC2 Prelims
I know my results are lousy la, but you can’t deny I’m consistent right hahahah! It's a miracle i got into NUS, damn happy they accepted me, or else i might be part of the organising team for vertigo already hahahaha.
4. SIX
New Zealand more than 10 years ago, im the guy on the left.
I have 3 siblings, so including my parents and me, my family totals up to 6! I have two older sisters and an older brother, which makes me the youngest member in my family :) I’m proud to say that 3 out 4 of us are/were NUS students hahaha. One sister have graduated, while my brother (winfred’s dhs classmate :D) is a year 3 computer engineering student.
5. LITTLE INDIA
Yeaahhhh i stay in heart of Little India and here’s a shot of my street: (kope from google image one)
Quite a nice place to stay, very convenient and all, just that weekends always got alot of people, then it is almost impossible to draw money from dbs atms also. Occasionally also can hear people fighting downstairs one haha.
Anyway if anyone going climb at CA must jio mee ah! I’m just one stop away : )
Next gwen!!
