CHARITY GOLF FOR NETBALL MALAYSIA

Venue: Glenmarie Golf & Country Club

Date: 27th March 2011

One of the prizes given away for the lucky draw was the Air Purifier.

Datin Ju who played in my flight asked me: "Lini, Air purifier tu untuk apa?"

My reply: "Kak Ju, to purify the orgasm in the air!"

Datin Ju: "huh!*&$*()&$#^(*()

SUMO WRESTLER

I think a lot about Japan since the earthquake, wondering how the country is doing. Looking through the photos of the time we were there, I found one that deserved to be shared.

They are not the biggest there is but still worthy of attention!

MY RUNNING HISTORY

March 2011: 2:20 (21 km)

November 2010: 2:26 (21 km)

October 2010: 3:37 (30km)

June 2010: 1: 10 (10km)

June 2010 2:20 (21km)

March 2010: 1:37 (15km)

February 2010 0.45 (7.7km)

FACES - SYRIA 2011

The best espresso - sold by the roadside from Serjaellah to Lattakia

The Dead City

CPM LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP 2011

This year’s CPM workshop was held in exotic Bali from March 3rd to 7th. It was also the Nyepi weekend in Bali – a celebration that requires all residents and visitors in Bali to observe a day of silence and non-activity whereby all is required to refrain from turning the lights on, going out in the streets, working, feeding the senses, engaging in entertainment, making noise that might disturb others, travelling or getting out of the house. For those who are very serious about Nyepi, they also refrain from speaking.

Despite the restraints, the team was able to utilise the time together to discuss topics such as total cost of ownership, category management, program management and the purpose of central design office (CDO). To break the monotony, Edric challenged the team with mind boggling activity in the midst of his Value Management session.

The workshop however is not all work and no play. Thanks to SKM People’s effort, our team had a day of cultural immersion with activities ranging from dancing to traditional farming which brought a lot of smiles and laughters, and untapped potential to a new height.

Thanks to all for making the workshop a success. Special thanks to Barry, Ed and Adri for their presence which reflects the epitome of our journey towards stronger Shell / SKM partnership.

Written for: Leaderboard March 2011

COUNTDOWN

35 days to my first marathon.

I am supposed to be running 60 km per week by now. It's Friday today and I have only done 38 km.

Hopefully, between Franco's surprise birthday party on Saturday afternoon, Roc's dinner party on Saturday night and charity golf on Sunday afternoon, I will be able to run another 22 km to make up the number before the arrival of the new week, where the distance clock restart to 0 again.

BORN TO RUN

OUR FIRST MARATHON

The plan was for us to run our first marathon in October this year in Greece but it was way too long to wait. So, I gathered my guts and signed up for Borneo marathon on 1st May in Kota Kinabalu.

May the force be with us throughout the 42kms!

GOLF @ AWANA

Unofficially, I am now the secretariat for TKC Young Girls Golf Club which now has 2 honourary male members - Kak Lang's husband, Abang Ibrahim and Michael, my neighbour since they have been joining us on our last few golf excursions to make up the flight.

The following is my sms exchange with Michael today.

Lini: Dear all, tee off time has been booked for 8 am on 23rd March at Awana Genting. The fee for ladies is RM 75.50 and for men RM
130.50 including caddy, which I was told to be compulsory.

Michael: As long as she is good looking, otherwise, I just have to concentrate on golf and why would I want to do that?

Lini: Between the distraction from the caddie and the tough terrain, you are going to need a lot of balls, prayers and good luck. So, start
praying and bring lots of balls, the useful kind!

Michael: I always carry those with me!

Lini: I thought I specifically mentioned the useful kind!

Michael: You need to go out more!

Lini: I don't need to go out, I just have to go to the Livillas Club House to drive myself to insanity!

FACES - LEBANON 2011

SKIING IN THE CEDARS, LEBANON

We stayed at La Cabane in The Cedars, the only hotel right at the foot of the ski lift. The hotel is new (only opened January 2011 and we were there a few weeks after), in fact when I first saw the hotel I thought that it was still under construction.

But as soon as I went in, I knew I would have a good time there. We spent a lot of time by the fire place, drinking hot chocolate while reading and surfing on the I pad.

The stay was made even more memorable when we met Mustaffa and his family who was so fun and so generous.

La Cabane and its people have a certain charm and warmth that despite a lot of "hardship" that we faced when we were there, it was difficult to be angry or not to fall in love with the place.

The very next day, we decide to hit the slope. It was a hot Sunday and there were oh so many people! (I thought their weekend would be on Friday and was expecting a quiet time on the slope. Turned out, they celebrate weekend like most countries around the world!)

The equipment rental was USD 10 per person and there were shops renting equipment everywhere but we opted for the one right at the foot of the slope. The ski pass was USD 40 per day on weekends. So, USD 150 poorer, we hit the slope and didn't stop until the sun came down and we enjoyed every penny of it...

35 ROOMS, BEIRUT, LEBANON

Everything about this hotel is purrfect....

THE CEDARS, LEBANON

The Lebanon Cedar is the national emblem of Lebanon, and is displayed on the Lebanese flag. It is also the logo of Middle East Airlines (MEA), which is Lebanon's national carrier. Beyond that, it is also the main symbol of Lebanon's "Cedar Revolution", along with many Lebanese political parties and movements, the Lebanses Forces, the National Liberal Party, and the Future Movement.

The Cedar of Lebanon was important to various ancient civilizations. The trees were used by the Phonecians for building commercial and military ships, as well as houses, palaces, and temples.

The ancient Egyptians used its resin in mummification, and its sawdust has been found in the tombs of Egyptian Pharaohs.

Hebrew priests were ordered by Moses to use the bark of the Lebanon Cedar in circumcision and the treatment of leprosy.

The Hebrew prophet Isaiah used the Lebanon Cedar as a metaphor for the pride of the world.

According to the Talmud, Jews once burned Lebanese cedar wood on the Mount of Olives to celebrate the new year. Foreign rulers from both near and far would order the wood for religious and civil constructs, the most famous of which are King Solomon's temple in Jerusalem and David's and Solomon's Palaces.

Because of its significance the word Cedar is mentioned 76 times in the Bible, and played a pivotal role in the cementing of the Phoenician-Hebrew relationship.

LEBANON & SYRIA ITINERARY

LEBANON

• Day 1 - Beirut, Lebanon
• Downtown, Corniche, Amercian University of Beirut, Pigeon's Rock, Hamra
• Overnight in Hotel Cavalier, Beirut

SYRIA

• Day 2 - Beirut to Damascus
• Damascus Old City - Souq Al Hammidiyya, Ummayad Mosque, Saladdin Musoleum, Azem Palace
• Overnight in Orient Gate Hotel, Damascus

• Day 3 - Damascus to to Homs via Palmyra
• Palmyra
• Overnight in The Safir, Homs

• Day 4 - Homs to Aleppo via Krak des Chevalier
• Krak des Chevalier
• Aleppo - Aleppo Citadel, Umayyad Mosque, Souq
• Overnight in Jyadde Hotel, Aleppo

• Day 5 - Aleppo to Lattakia via Dead City
• Dead City
• Overnight in Le Meridien, Lattakia

LEBANON

• Day 6 - Lattakia to The Cedars via Tripoli
• Tripoli
• Overnight in La Cabane, The Cedars
  Day 7 - The Cedars
• Ski
• Overnight in La Cabane, The Cedars

• Day 8 - The Cedars to Beirut
• Ski, Gibran's home @ Bcharre, Qadisha Valley
• Overnight in 35 Rooms, Beirut

• Day 9 - Beirut
• Day trip to Jeitta Grotto, Beirut Downtown, Corniche
• Overnight in 35 Rooms, Beirut

• Day 10 - Beirut to Mzaar Farraya
• Ski
• Overnight in 35 Rooms, Beirut

• Day 11 - Beirut to Baalbek
• Baalbek
• Overnight in 35 Rooms, Beirut

• Day 12 - Beirut to KL

THE LONDON WALK 2009

This account was written many years ago....

The best way to see London, in fact, the best way to see any city is by walking. And that was what we did on our Day 4 in the UK.

We started our journey from Bayswater through the park that led us to Hyde Park. The park was beautiful - the path was littered with golden leaves that kept falling from the trees and it was so tranquil despite being in the heart of London.

There was Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, so we walked from booth to booth trying to decide on the ride that looked the most appealing. After doing the round, none of us felt that we could stomach a ride, not even in a tea cup, right after breakfast. So we continued pass Mayfair and Knightsbridge to Buckingham Palace.

Tasha was disappointed that the Palace was only open to public in August and September and that the changing of guards was not due till the following day. Nevertheless, we spent some time in front of the Palace wondering what it would be like to live a life of a Queen. Tasha thought that since she doesn’t have to do any household chores, she would have a lot of time on facebook!

The highlight of the walk to the Big Ben was the horses. There were so many of them that it felt like being at a Spanish Riding School!

We got to Big Ben at the strike of noon and marveled at the intricate carvings that went into the building. We walked around Westminster Abbey where there was a huge line up of people trying to catch a glimpse of where the blue blood gets married!

From Big Ben we walked along the river all the way to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. The walk was about 5 km on top of the 7 that we already did, so, we decided against crossing the Millenium Bridge to Tate Gallery. We stopped for lunch at Blackfriars after a recommendation from a very helpful man with the I Touch and we did a slight detour to Nuffield Health Club on Cannon Street to have our running shoes fitted.

We were so dead after the walk that we took a tube back to our hotel in Bayswater and fell asleep as soon as we got into the hotel. We were knocked out for 12 hours, from 6 pm to 6am the next day and when we woke up, we were so ready to conquer the rest of what London has to offer.