Go The Distance

Oh dear... There are so many things that I want to write about, and certain events on certain are causing a backlog on my entries... Haven't been faithfully writing of late... Been busy reading up more and putting together stuff for my trip... :p *guilty* And of course, busy meeting up friends of late too, while trying to maintain my training schedule... It's not EASY!!!

All right, just missed out on a swim session today because I decided to go down City Hall to meet MH and XY. XY actually messaged me yesterday to ask about solo backpacking and hope to meet up to find out certain things from me. I had wanted to meet YL and Jo after an easy swim after work at 3pm today. It's cancelled as YL was going out for another dinner with LL's parents. Called Jo to join us at City Hall but she was lazy to come out. Mmm... Tough decision for me as I had to swim later after meeting them up and eating. Thought it would not be that hard. In the end, after YQ came to meet us, oh well, heck, it was hard to tear myself away from them, especially since I have not met XY and YQ for a long time!

I met XY and MH 1st and we went to Cedele. My choice. XY's going to Tibet!!! Overland either by train or bus from Chengdu!!!! Oh man!!!! WL had been telling me about the new train route that opened recently from CHina into Tibet lately also, but I forgot from which city... I'm so envious!!! TIBET!?!? *Free Tibet campaign comes into mind. :p* I hope to make a trip there soon too, overland from China on train! I love train rides! She gonna have 6 weeks of travelling before starting work... and she's thinking of going Mongolia too!!! ARGH!!!!!! I am envious... Well, not extreme, as I would in the past. I know I would have my share of fun and travelling too. :)

YQ came after tuition and he was late! We had so many episodes of laughter throughout the meeting and my ribs was aching! It's a kind of pain that I used to have after I started long distance running. Haven't had that for a long time. I love my judoka pals... Haha... Never fail to make my day! We discussed so many issues and kept teasing YQ about his 'F' to 'G' transformation... :p It was totally hilarious everytime he tried his cold jokes on us or try some analogy or talk rubbish! I was really entertained as well as my other 2 compatriots. We were rocking the entire 'Thai Express' with our laughter! :D

Parted with them at 9pm when YQ insisted he wanted to go home to catch his soccer match. Alright, alright. Let him be then. MH has to work tomorrow, and I would be waking up early to do my make up swim for today as well. :p

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Realised that it's only 6 more days to my trip and 5 days for me to get everything together! Mmm... Getting a bit stressed. Control, control. I'm not going to do last minute packing. I can do it. :p

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8th April, Saturday: I have been hyper for the entire day. Perhaps the caffeine in the morning coffee played a part. Work: 8am-3pm. I had to fill in the form for the PA medical declaration and mail it back to Alex. I certainly do not want to go to the GP and pay $30 for a very physical checkup when I face doctors everyday in my work!!! I then decided to get the help of any doctor from A&E to help me sign the form. TR, a HCA that I'm close to, came for work at 2pm and she's on quite good terms with some doctors. WSY, my colleague and classmate, was there to give me the 'support' too. Haha. Approached Dr NR, but he was busy with some patients. Then Dr SA was very free at his computer. Went up to him and ask him to help me with the form. He asked where I am going for my trek and told him 'Nepal' and he went, "Oh, that's my neighbour country."

I went, "Yeah! Which part are u from then?"

"New Delhi."

"Oh, the capital... Cool..."

"Have u been there before?"

"Nope, but I certainly hope to go there one day soon. There's so many things to see and do in India! It's an amazing country!"

"Really? U want to go to India? We would gladly welcome u!"

Or so I hope. Haha. The above conversation was made up by me. :p I would definitely go into such a conversation if I know the person better. The conversation simply stopped at the 'Yeah.' Haha... I wanted to just get it done. He looked through the simple questionaire he's supposed to tick through and then took my pulse. He said my pulse was too slow. He asked me how many beats per minute(BPM). '60?' That was more than a year ago when I took it myself. He said, "No, I think it's 50." Not so low la! Then we took my BP and the monitor showed 117, 76. Healthy range. And my BPM was 55! I was thrilled! WAY went, "Wah kau, u are super fit la!" Hehe... All those long distance swims and runs have not come to naught!

Dr SA then went, "Are you an athlete?" I went, "Yes." Not a competitive one though. Heh... I was worried about my BP cuz when I took it on Tuesday morning at 9am, it was low! 98, 58! Same on both arms! Whoa! Never had low BP before. But I felt very fine that morning. Maybe it's just in the morning.

Dr SA wrote his name, medical registration number, 'SGH A&E' (no clinic stamp!), signed and then passed me the form. I was jumping with joy after that! Literally! Yippee! I got it done! Without going to the GP!

The work flow was all right, with constant cases flowing in the entire time. After knocking off, I went to the pharmacy to get some stuff for the team 1st aid kit. After which it was off to Bt Batok to meet Annie to get my warm clothing from her. She lent me so many pieces! And she also dropped in heat paks, ziploc bags, and a big pouch! Thanks, Annie! She's always so motherly and kind. :)

Rain. Such lazy weather to stay in. I waited for the rain to stop before running at 640pm. Rather late but I still decided to run to 'GH' for it's going to be another 1 month before I get to run there. After I come back, that is. And the heavy rain had given the earth a clean wash and the air was fresh, with the light breeze blowing in your face as u run. The insects and animals would have come alive after the rain. Only bad thing was the wet grounds. Mmm... My shoes are dirty anyway. I just want to enjoy the environs.

Have not ran in 'GH' after a rain for quite sometime. I love the fresh and invigorating feeling. I was on adrenalin high just thinking about my trip and the fact that my HR per minute was 55 and the emails I received from friends in response to the email I sent out. Felicitas, a German lady I met in Iran replied and I was so happy to hear from her. :) She would be in Sikkim while I'm in Nepal! Cool! A very kind lady in her fifties already and she has been travelling since her youth... SHe told me before about how Indonesia used to be before it opened up and before the term 'independant travel' or 'backpacking' came to be the hip thing of the 20th century. Wow. A vast expanse of knowledge behind her... I was in awe of her when I met her in Iran. A very open lady as well. We are still in touch and she's someone I hope to keep in contact with. :)

The run took 1hour 3minutes. I did 3 sets of F/C after that, energy level still running high.
5 min, 5.5 min, 6 min. The moon is half its roundness. Pretty. It was late when I finally got back home and settled down for dinner. 845pm. Whoa.

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Go The Distance - Hercules soundtrack

I have often dreamed
Of a far off place
Where a hero's welcome
Would be waiting for me
Where the crowds will cheer
When they see my face
And a voice keeps saying
This is where I'm meant to be

I'll be there someday
I can go the distance
I will find my way
If I can be strong
I know ev'ry mile
Will be worth my while
When I go the distance
I'll be right where I belong

Down an unknown road
To embrace my fate
Though the road may wander
It will lead me to you
And a thousand years
Would be worth the wait
It may take a lifetime
But somehow I'll see it through

And I won't look back
I can go the distance
And I'll stay on track
No I won't accept defeat
It's an uphill slope
But I won't lose hope
Till I go the distance
And my journey is complete

But to look beyond the glory is the hardest part
For a hero's strength is measured by his heart

Like a shooting star
I can go the distance
I will search the world
I will face its harms
I don't care how far
I can go the distance
TillI find my hero's welcome
Waiting in your arms...

I will search the world
I will face its harms
TillI find my hero's welcome
Waiting in your arms...


I think that travel comes from some deep urge to see the world, like the urge that brings up a worm in an Irish bog to see the moon when it is full.
~Lord Dunsany

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.
~St. Augustine