sixteen days.

16 more days to go.

Somehow, it all seem so surreal. Part of me can’t wait for the trip to come; part of me can’t grapple the fact that it’s all materialising so soon. All our efforts – our sweat; time spent researching, having group meetings, meeting sponsors; waking up in the wee hours to train; many many photoshoots; media coverage beyond our expectations - is all coming together in 16 days.

In retrospect, all of us have come a long way. From almost total strangers, to friends whom we can talk about ”exploding balls” and period cycles to. From absolute non-cyclists to what we are today, complete with jerseys, bike shoes and the works.

Nothing beats support from friends and family; their tags on our blog, their individual emails to send well-wishes. Sensing their pride drives all of us to want to complete this with stronger vigour, and it’s always very heartwarming to see a new email or tag comment.

Despite the hardships of training that we’ve been through, there is a bigger challenge to come – to cycle 2,000km in 28 days; in a cold and dry climate, with worry-some elevations. But I daresay that we have this unspoken trust that we’ll go through it together as a team.

Our journey

From when we first started.. where all of us still rode cranky mountain bikes..
Now this photos are under this folder called “cha-chat photos from before”

Our gym spinning sessions..

Pengarang – Desaru training..

Countless meetings in seminar rooms..

Internal photoshoots..

Meetings with school’s various departmental staff..

Sourcing sponsorships..

Getting our team jerseys.. finally..

Interviews with Capital95.8 and 93.8Live radio stations..

and news coverage by Channel News Asia

And amidst all that, we still had alot of fun..
James.. Mr Solids.

Bryant, James

Daniel

Yukina, Bryant, James, Daniel, Jasbir

Bryant.. Enemy #1

Daniel, Yukina, Lesley

Yes, I think we’ve come a long way. (=

where’s love?

It’s been awhile since i can laze in my room, look out of the window at the gorgeous blue sky and magnificent white clouds and just… day dream; even if it’s for a little while.

I’m starting to think that my take on ever-lasting love has taken a cynical turn. I mean, granted, it’s every girls’ dream to “live happily ever after”, but I’m starting to wonder where has most of my dreaminess gone. I read or hear things about how love should be electrifying; or love is that pounding beat of your heart every single time you touch. But that practical side of me cant help but consider those as elaborate superlatives.

I think.. love is free. You dont decide who to love; who to like, these things have a knack for deciding for themselves. Being able to love is probably our greatest strength, but wanting to cage love could be our fall from grace.

Love is not bound to just human relationships; it’s something alot bigger, and it’s what gives us the reason to live.

Jason, I took this idea from your facebook album, but gave it another spin. Hope it’s alright. (=

Love is..

Love is.. looking out of the window and seeing the blue sky and white clouds, feeling the breeze and hearing bird songs and the rustling of leaves

Love is.. watching your little baby sleep soundly

Love is.. going places together

Love is.. passion

Love is.. new found friends..

.. and comforts of old familiarity

Zero Limits Photoshoot #2

We had our 2nd official photoshoot.

To show that we’ve been training at the wee hours of the morning, it was suggested that we held our photoshoot at that time too. So.. at 2am, we all gathered to take some zai photos of ourselves.

-behind the scenes-

Everyone riding to get into formation

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trying out some shots of Yukina, but due to poor lighting conditions, everything turned out blur.

Waiting for Kat the photographer to get the camera timer ready

Time check: 5am.. everyone’s getting blurry-eyed. zzz.

Okay, but photoshoots are still pretty fun.
(=

I had a dream last night.

I dreamt that we got a few new dogs at home, but upon closer scrutiny, I realised they were all my dogs who passed away at certain points in time.

I remember seeing Jack, my old pitbull terrier. Except, he wasn’t so old in my dream; he’s this happy young thing with soft, black, curly fur. I remember seeing Dopey too, who always rested his head on my shoulders when I carried him as a puppy, except he’s he’s all big and strong in my dream. I remember seeing another white dog, who could have been Labra, who is the mummy to the current 2 dogs at home.

It’s really odd, this dream. I didnt think about them in the previous night, and the dream came out from nowhere. Maybe it’s all of them telling me that they’re okay, and that they’re in a happy place.

On another note, everytime I look at Datou, I couldnt believe how long we’ve been by each other’s side. It’s 13 long years. He’s really something special. He knows when I’m down, and he’ll stay by my side. It’s a solid, calming, unwavering presence.

When trying becomes futile

You know how I hate undue judgements.

As much as I understand how judgements are inevitable, but bottomline: I still hate undue judgements; especially if the person being judged is me.

Hard as I try to make people understand the rationale behind some of my actions, I still get judged. Unfairly, as I’d like to think. It hurts when you realise all your efforts in trying to avoid judgements either went down the drain, or backfired on you. It hurts when your efforts in trying to have transparent communication turn into a source for judgements. Against yourself.

I tried so hard; and yet, I get doubted for my commitment.

At the end of the day, there comes to a point when you ask yourself, “what for?”
There comes a point in time when you’re just too.. defeated to try communicating anymore.