James Bond Island Phuket

The famous table top rock at the James Bond Island, phuket, where Man With the Golden Gun was picturised.

Running a 10 km Race

I am preparing to run a race the coming Sunday. So many doubts and questions arise. I started hitting the gym seriously just a couple of months back. I was just a lazy lounging mom - before deciding to do something about my fitness. After roughly 7-8 weeks of gymming intermittently - I really do not know whether I am fit enough to do a 10 km - 10 kms of carrying my considerable body weight early in the morning with thousands of determined runners at a jogging pace.

Today I have been surfing for last minute preparations. I had some rough idea of starving myself the next 2-3 days to get my body weight down an extra kg or two - so as to run better. That seems to be a no no. All advise seem to suggest to eat proper (and not to think about weight now). The best I have run so far has been 3 odd kms on the treadmill at a stretch. That seemed to me an achievement last week! 10 kms? Will I cramp up mid stretch and an ambulance need be called. I am truly getting nervous! My calf and knee muscles also protest when I put in a bit of extra effort. At forty - and 15 - 16 kgs overweight - with flat feet - what else did I expect???

The best advise I found online was to run from telephone pole to pole and walk the next. Maybe I can cover the distance then. Walk, run, whatever - I want to finish the race, provided my knee, legs hold out.

So a week more of anticipation and nervousness. Wishing myself all the best! Will post update if I overcome my nervousness and get to the starting line.

PS - I still can't believe it! I completed 10 kms in 1 hr 25 mins odd and felt I had some to spare too!!! The couple of months of gymming and burning calories seems to have helped build stamina! As also the bootcamps!

All in all Adidas King of the Roads 2011 was an awesome run. The route was great and smooth with just the right gradient to make it interesting. The road was choc a bloc with colours befitting the theme. The pink, orange, yellow, blue Adidas vests all pounding away together made it really beautiful. Cant wait for my next run. Yoo Hoo!

A Few Malay Words You Will Need At The Grocer

Here are some common Bahasa Malaya words one needs to know when one goes shopping at the grocer.

Refined Wheat Flour - Tepung Gandum
Sugar - Gula
Salt - Garam
Rice Powder - Tepung Beras
Egg - Telur
Fish - Ikan
Chicken - Ayam
Milk - Susu
Coconut Milk - Santan
Banana - Pisang
Water - Air (pronounced a-eer)
Pepper - Lada
Chilli - Cili (C in Bahasa is pronounced as "Ch")
Bun Kosong - Plain Bun
Limah Ais - Ice Lemon drink
Tea - Teh
Tea with milk - Teh Tarik
Coffee - Kopi


If you are looking at local fruits be sure to buy "rambutan" and taste some Durian. Durian is a jackfruit like fruit that has got a distinctive odour and is an acquired taste. You can start with the peeled pieces available at the supermarket. Rambutan has a prickly cover and and a sweet sweet interior. Logan, Mangosteen and Dragon fruits are some other tropical fruits plentily available.

(Disclaimer - I am writing this blog as I learn Bahasa Melayu from what I see and hear. There are bound to be mistakes. Please leave a comment if you find any. I am trying to doublecheck what I write)