Bugis - Into The Cultural Melting Pot of Singapore

The Morning Sun over some of the oldest HDB (public housing) in Singapore @ Bugis

Today, the gang gathered at Plaza Sing again. For some reasons, we kept coming back here week after week. In any case, it's time to be creative on where to run!

That is one stretch which I have not attempted before. It is the direction towards Selegie, Little India and Bugis. That should be one interesting run!

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Marina at Keppel Bay - Wet Wet Wet!

Today, the run was pretty disgusting...

We started off from Harbourfront, doing our usual Labrador Park route, when it started to pour 10 mins into the run. I was stuck at the marina, with almost no shelter anyway near, short of trespassing the gates of some very expensive private properties. I can only stand at a very very small ledge, while the rain just pours and pours.

The ultra thin shelter I had

Nothing to do while waiting for the rain to stop. Pictures time!

After 10 mins of waiting, I gave up waiting and made a mad dash back to Seah Imm Market. I was getting wet anyway and the tiny ledge was not much protection against the wind and the rain.  I was praying that my iPhone will not get soaked after I tucked it into the deepest recess of my pocket, surrounded by cotton. I managed to get to the market within 5 mins, with my iPhone still alive. Thank God!

However, Big Bone Guy and Lazy Girl are no where to be seen.

Lazy Girl strolled in 15 mins later. She claimed that she was stuck at a bus stop and had to take a bus to the nearby Labrador MRT and take the MRT back. Smart of her to bring along her transport card!

Meanwhile, BBG stumbled in 10 mins later, totally drenched. It seems like he is hardcore enough to run in the pouring tropical rain.

His ear piece did not survive the trip. RIP.

We started to spread our wet bandana, socks and various stuff all around the tables and chairs at Seah Imm Food Center to dry, and pretend that nobody noticed us.

Seriously, it is better to lose some public image than to go home in wet socks!

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Singapore Civic District Run - A Run Down Memory Lane (4KM)

The Big Fat Bird Statue. Original Name: Chubby Bird by Fernando Botero’s

Me, "So where are we going to run this week?"

BBG, "What you guys feel like eating?"

Ladies, "The Dim Sum breakfast at Chinatown is pretty good. Let's go there!"

Once again, the Unfit Runners decided on the location of their run based on where the good food is....

My usual route for the Chinatown run typically covers Tanjong Pagar and Raffles Place area. Therefore this time, I decided to opt for a slight different route.

I decided to visit some of the most important historical sites in Singapore.

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Singapore Botanical Gardens & Farrer Road - Nice Route with Minimal Traffic Junctions (5KM)

One of my favorite running shots I have ever taken.
I shall name this "Dabaoing Breakfast on Sat Morning"

Apparently, we are running out of centralized locations which the Westerners are willing to travel to on an early Saturday morning.

"Well, there is the largely unexplored East side your know. Pasir Ris, Changi Beach, Bedok Reservoir Park?"

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Mong Kok, Hong Kong - Cherry Street Park: The Green Lung of Mong Kok (800m)

View of MongKok from the bridge leading to the Cherry Street Park

After our short stay at Shenzhen, we traveled to Hong Kong, the land of good food and good shopping (Golden Week Sale! Yeah!)

This time round, Bad Bear is determined to run! And thus, the negotiation starts again...

Me," Bro, you should have concluded by now that it is futile to run in the evening, given the amount of night activities that we squeeze in. Let's try for morning again! I shall compromise at 730am instead of the usual 7am."

Bad Bear, "Okie, how about 930am?"

Me, "That's crazy because you are going to be run over by cars at the Mong Kok area if we start our run so late. Besides, the sun will be up and hot!"

Bad Bear, "Let's do 9am than. Besides, is there anywhere to run in Hong Kong? I am not going to take a train just for a run."

Me, "How about 8am? Knowing that you are a noob when it comes to street running, I have discovered a small park behind our hotel. Should be suitable for you too."

Bad Bear, "Let's do 830am! Sorry lah! I am a Gym Runner. You sure the air is safe to breathe here? I heard that it is pretty polluted."

Me, "815am. My final offer!"

With the time set after a lengthy negotiation. We are set for the run... at last.

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Shenzhen, China - Dong Men (东门） 4km

Dongmen Shopping Belt outside our hotel

It's the time of the year again for my yearly pilgrimage up north again to look for one of my favorite food: Pig/Duck/Chicken Blood. The 5 days trip include eating, shopping and massage around Shenzhen and Hong Kong. This time round, my travel mate is Bad Bear, who also brought his running shoes along, determined to get some workout during his holidays.

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The Istana - Nothing Much to See (4km)

Heaven must be hating early morning Saturday's joggers.

The last week we tried to run, it rained Cats and Dogs at 645am. That was when we had left our homes and were traveling towards the Istana, where the run was planned to take place.

We spent our morning munching on McDonald at Plaza Sing instead.

Cats & Dogs

This week, it rained in the middle of the run instead.

As usual, we were contemplating where to run for our usual Sat morning meetups. I was scrutinizing the map of Singapore and spotted a nice green area which we have not explored yet: The Istana.

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Kuala Lumpur Mont Kiara, Malaysia - A Premier Condominium Belt

Garden International School @ Mont Kiara

As a travel addict, the last few months stuck in Singapore has been a torture! My chance to travel came again when I was invited to give a talk with the Wealth Insider Group at Malaysia Kuala Lumpur.

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Bedok Reservoir Night Run - Recovery Run 2

When it rains, it pours...

And it has been raining literally non stop for the past 2 days. Seems like heavens have been storing a lot of rain water over the last 2 months of drought in Singapore.

The rain finally let up this evening and I took the opportunity to go for a short run.

Since my last run 5 days ago, I was having quite a bad muscle ache at my calf muscles and the ache has mostly gone away today. A short 2km run and I am having such a terrible muscle ache. Looks like the road to recovery going to be a long one....

Reminding myself to take it slow, I decide to do a slow jog of 2km to build up my muscles again. I am also concern about the condition of my knee, which might act up again.

Miraculously, my knee doesn't hurt at the end of the 2km run. Good sign!

I saw a new installation where the old Berlin Wall used to be . Initially, I thought it was a piece of advertising for one of the many condominium projects that are sprouting all around the reservoir. On a close look, it is actually a form of marketing material for the new Eco project being implemented at the nearby Temasek Polytechnic. They even have shops and outlet marketing environmental friendly goods. I wondered if Temasek Poly paid the government any money to market their Eco Project at such a strategic spot. In any case, this is better than a piece of empty glass exhibit with only bugs trying to build a nest within it.

The nearby bistro Wawawa is having a pretty decent crowd, with diners digging in, while enjoying the evening breeze. This is definitely a good place to chill out in the evening, but not a good place to hunt for a drink after a run. Based on my last experience, it is either expensive booze, or expensive soft drinks and sparkling water. I don't blame them as they do need to pay for their rental.

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Bedok Reservoir Night Run - First Post Surgery Run

Night at Bedok Reservoir. Doesn't look Hazy

It has been 2 months since my last run.

I have been wanting to stretch my legs for the past few days but lo and behold, the haze from Indonesia started their assault on Singapore. This evening, the air seems to be fresher without the usual burning smell. I decide to risk a run.

As I was heading out, my mum yelled at me, "The PSI is 84! Where are you going?!?"

"Mum, out for a run. No worries."

"The PSI is higher today than yesterday! Yesterday is only at 64!"

"But the air smells okie. Besides, I need to work out a bit!"

Without waiting for any more protest from my overly concern mother, I dashed out of the door.

Well, the air smells alright and the sky looks clear!

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