My KL Towerthon 2016

Menara Kuala Lumpur
Sunday, 15 May 2016

Misi tahun ni nak mencapai masa less than 30min nampaknya hanya tinggal mimpi. Walaupun dah try to push to the limit. What can I say? This is only part of training. Aku pasrah. 

Congrats to myself

Teringat member marathoner yang first time join KL towerthon. Happy giler dia bila aku cakap aku dapat buat 36min saja. Happy sebab dia kata dia dapat beat masa international hiker, wakaka. Adoi, memang tak boleh blah ayat cikgu Farah ni. I belum sampai tahap international lagi walaupun I suka hike kat obersea, hehehe. Tapi aku cuma nak stress kat sini lah. Panjat tangga KL tower memang tak sama dengan panjat bukit or gunung ya. Seriously, aku lebih prefer naik bukit Saga 5X kot dari diberi pilihan panjat KL tower. Bukan nak riak tapi aku rasa orang dah pernah naik, akan rasa azab nya. Aku yang buat trainig 30 tingkat sehari pun selama sebulan kat Menara Technip & every week training bukit Saga pun belum mampu nak capai masa terbaik panjat KL Tower. Yelah panjat bukit Oxygen memang cukup, natural ventilation tapi KL tower ni, rasa macam tak cukup oxygen je nak bernafas.

GSH yang masih kekal meneruskan tradisi

Cikgu Farah ni marathoner yang hyperactive ;-)

Masih lagi kecewa sebab tak dapat nak meet the target tapi, bila memikirkan cukup nafas lagi penting, so, aku mengalah. Flashback, masa dah sampai level 15, run keeper dah notify 30min, barulah kelam kabut nak pecut. Tapi memang seriously kali ni aku rasa macam semput sikit bila dah sampai level 10 tu. Tak tahu kenapa but I think I really need oxygen to boost my energy yang dah tinggal 30% tu. Masa tu jugalah ntah kenapa aku terfikir if anything happened to me, masa tu nak sampai level 24 masih jauh lagi. 

Tapi aku tetap nak menyalahkan orang yang ajak makan besar sabtu lepas. That's my biggest mistake. Dah tahu nak panjat tangga & ada target, sapa suruh pulun makan tak ingat dunia kan. So, padahnya perut binasa. Energy pun out, hahaha. Next time kena lebih peka & beringat lah nampaknya.

Aku agak kecewa juga dengan pengurusan KL Towerthon kali ni. Tak tahu mana silapnya, kami terpaksa menunggu 1 jam lebih nak dapat turun ke ground level. Sudahlah tempat kami menunggu penuh dengan para peserta, padat & panas pulak tu. Sampai ada a few runners yang sesak nafas disebabkan kesesakan menunggu turn lift nak turun ke bawah. Next time, PLEASE take note on this situation KL Tower, this is not your first time organizing international event.

Bayangkan, satu jam bersesak nak tunggu lif turun bawah

Perjuangan kami tak berakhir di KL tower saja. Next, recovery climb di Bukit Saga pulak. Dah pukul 10 lebih pun masa tu tapi kami gagahi juga sebab nak practice for next international hiking trip, hahaha.

Finisher... Hill of Hope

Recovery Climb di Bukit Saga pulak

Actually, aku dah jadikan Towerthon ni part of my acara tradisi setiap tahun. Tak tahu lah next time nak join lagi ke tak. Rasa macam tak gagah lagi nak lawan masa less than 30min tu. Tapi masih belum give-up. Rasa memang boleh buat kalau ada proper Oxygen supply & extra hard training, perhaps.  

Official Timing --> http://www.championchip.com.my/2016/KL%20Towerthon%202016.pdf

Till then, until the next run.

Jejak Sakura 2016: Sagano Romantic Train

Sagano Romantic Train Arashiama, Kyoto
Monday, 18 April 2016

Hari ni trip kami purposely nak cover Kyoto saja. So, seawal 6.30pagi kami dah mula bergerak ke Shinosaka station nak catch train nak ke Kyoto. Dari Shinosaka station nak sampai ke Kyoto station lebih kurang 30min saja, that's why kami prefer stay dekat Osaka saja rather than move from one place another just nak cover that one area. Shinkasen pun boleh naik dari Shinosaka station to Kyoto tapi kami akan tengok train mana yang sampai dulu. And macam biasalah kami akan tanye orang di kaunter laluan for JR Pass. Actually, ada jer timing dekat screen for next train yang akan sampai tapi macam biasalah nak kepastian kan. So, bila dah tahu senang sikit sebab kami dengan konfidennya akan tahu platform mana kami harus tuju for next train yang sampai dulu nak ke Kyoto.

Oh aku rasa google maps banyak sangat membantu sepanjang kami berada kat Japan ni especially nak tahu train schedule & option for transportation. Compare to Hyperdia, aku rasa Google map lagi senang nak guna. And the best part siap ada countdown before the next train arrival. So, memang boleh sangatlah nak buat adegan lari-lari kejar train, hahaha.

Keluar awal pun terpaksa mengharungi jam nak pi keje

Dah sampai, just follow the sign to Saga Torokko Station

Kami sampai agak awal juga di Saga Arashiyama Station. From Saga Arashiyama, just follow the exit sign nak ke Torokko Saga Station. Romantic Train will depart from Torokko Saga Station which is lies just next to Saga Arashiyama Station. And masa kami sampai, tak ramai orang pun dekat Saga Torokko Station. Masih awal lagi barangkali, sebab operation starts at 9am. Kami punyalah pre-book ticket kat JR kaunter Osaka semata-mata nak secure seat for Sagano Train, tahu-tahu tak ramai orang pun rupanya. Banyak available seat. Maybe sebab weekdays and not so popular season during that time.

While waiting for Romantic Train gate to open, boleh lah pusing-pusing dulu kat sekitar Saga Torokko station. Ada railway museum juga kat dalam station ni.

Saga Torokko Station... just next to Saga Arashiyama Station

Railway Museum at Saga Torokko Station

The Sagano Scenic Railway also known as Sagano Romantic Train or Sagano Torokko is a sightseeing train line that runs along the Hozugawa River between Arashiyama and Kameoka. This old fashioned trains wind their way through the mountains at a relatively slow pace, taking about 25 minutes to make the 7 km journey and giving passengers a pleasant view of the scenery as they travel from Arashiyama through the forested ravine and into rural Kameoka.

Actually, the best time to ride this train is during the autumn foliage season from mid Nov to early Dec when the leaves along the ravine change color. Cherry blossoms in spring also is the best time tapi tulah tak lama boleh tengok sakura full bloom ni. Do take note that these Romantic trains do not run in the winter which is somewhere Dec 30th to Feb 28th. No wonder lah masa kami sampai sini tak ramai sangat pun orang. Barangkali sebab Cherry Blossom baru saja berakhir. Arghhh, kecewa. Tapi sebab dah alang-alang sampai & part of our plan in Kyoto, so, layankan saja. Nak tahu juga apa yang romantic nya, hahaha.

Sagona Scenic Railway Route (Green Line)

Gate pun tak buka lagi masa kami sampai ni

 

The train runs once every hour from 9 am to 5 pm. One-way tickets is 620yen for adults. Ticket can be purchased directly at the starting point for this train, the Sagano Torokko Station, or at Kyoto Station's JR Ticket Office, or any other JR Ticket Office. Online tak sure sebab ada cuba juga tapi tak berjaya. During peak season, it is recommended to make earlier reservation. Anyway, standing tickets are sold if the seats are full.

For more info --> Sagona Scenic Railway

Red & Romantic... memang kena sangat kan

Train is made up of four enclosed cars (with windows that can be opened) and one fully open car

Colourful Train

Seat inside Car 1

Tak sabar nak mengharungi romantic journey

Lets ride with love, hahaha

We're ready for the so called romantic journey, hahaha

Tak tahu tang mana "romantic" nya ride with this so called Romantic Train. Maybe, kalau berdua lebih baik kot... hahaha. Tapi dari permerhatian aku lah, ramai senior citizen jer yang naik train ni. Tak brape nak nampak loving couple yang masih muda. Maybe bukan satu trend kot for Japanese young people nak layan benda-benda yang romantic macam ni, old fashioned gitu, hahaha. Dulu member yang pergi time autumn pun cakap benda yang sama, emmhhh. 

Train akan melaluia sepanjang sungai Hozugawa

Antara view yang boleh nampak

Awesome view seen from inside the train

Romantic sangat train sampai terlena dibuai mimpi kak Fad kita kat sebelah tu, hahaha

Almost reached the last station

Travelers have several options once they reach Torokko Kameoka Station, last station for Romantic ride. Boleh naik the same train back to Arashiyama or walk about 20-30 minutes to nearby Umahori or Kameoka Station for JR train back to Arashiyama or Kyoto. Other option, boleh combine romantic train with a Hozugawa River Cruise back to Arashiyama. Ada bus yang connect train station to the departure point for the cruises. So, ikut mana yang suka. Tapi sebab kami ada JR Pass, so, jalan kaki ke Kameoka Station, took JR train back to Arashiyama. Tengok dalam map macam dekat jer station dia tapi boleh tahan juga nak menapak.

Kena menapak sikit dari Torokko Kameoka station nak ke Kameoka JR station back to Arashiama

Back to Saga Arashiyama

Balik semula ke station Saga Arashiyama and dari sana kita jalan kaki ke Bamboo Grove. 

To be continued...

 

Jejak Sakura 2016: Umeda Sky Building

Umeda Sky Building, Osaka Japan
Sunday, 17 April 2016

Continue from previous Jejak Sakura 2016: Atomic Bomb Dome & Peace Memorial Park

Trip kami tidak berakhir di Hiroshima saja. Just after we arrived at Shin-Osaka Station, kami berjalan lagi di Osaka & target kami ke Umeda Sky Building. So, from Shin-Osaka station naik JR line to Osaka Station. The Umeda Sky Building is about 10-15 minute walk from Osaka and Umeda Stations. Trip kat Jepun ni memang banyak berjalan kalau dah menggunakan sepenuhnya train. So, kena make sure fit lah sebelum nak pi Japan kalau nak guna train saja as main transportation. Anyway, train kat Japan ni memang sangat efficient & very convenient.

Grand Front Osaka just outside the Osaka Station

Osaka Station

Dah nampak pun Umeda Sky Building from Osaka Station

Night view seen from Osaka station

On the way nak menuju ke Umeda Sky Building, akan passed by a few buildings around Osaka city. Memang cantik sangat view kat area Osaka ni di kala malam hari. The most important thing, rasa safe je nak berjalan malam. 

Ohsem Night view on the way to Umeda Sky Building

Masa kami sampai kena queue juga nak naik ke Floating Garden Observatory (Umeda Sky Building) tapi tak perlu tunggu lama pun. Entrance fee 800yen for adults tapi sebab kami ada coupon diskaun dapat dari member yang pernah pergi sebelum tu, so, dapat lah murah 10%.

Kalau siang hari maybe boleh nampak clear macam ni

The Umeda Sky Building (Umeda Sukai Biru) is the 19th-tallest building in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. It consists of two 40-story towers that connect at their two uppermost stories, with bridges and an escalator crossing the wide atrium-like space in the center. Height at 173 m (568 ft), Umeda Sky building was designed by Hiroshi Hara. It was constructed by Takenaka Corporation and was completed in 1993. (source: wikipedia) 

Osaka view from Observatory deck Umeda sky Buidling

Nak sampai ke Floating Garden Observatory kena naik escalator yang menghubungkan 2 Umeda towers. Risau & berdebar sungguh masa naik escalator between 2 Umeda towers ni... boleh pulak terfikir earhtquake masa ni, adoi, hahaha. Kebetulan memang tengah earthquake pun kat Kyushu Island masa ni. Anyway, view kat atas sky building ni memang ohsem. Boleh nampak almost 360deg view of Osaka city from top of this buidling. Cuma yang tak boleh tahan, sejuk gila kat atas ni. Tapi bertabah jugalah sebab dah bayar mahal nak sampai atas sini kan, hahaha. Kami spend tak sampai 1 hour kat atas ni. Lepas tu turun and lepak kat dalam Umeda building. And actually dari dalam level atas Umeda building ni pun dah boleh nampak clear view of Osaka city, cuma bukan open air & 360deg view sajalah.

View of Osaka City

Osaka view at Night from Umeda Sky Buildling

Ada love lock juga kat sini

Dah macam trend just like in Namsan Tower

We're here on 17 April 2016

Umeda Sky Building View looking up

Architecture yang hebat

We ended the tour around 9pm and back to our apartment at Shin-Osaka. Tak larat dah nak tour Osaka lagi hari ni, penat sungguh sebab banyak sangat berjalan. So, kita sambung esok pulak after Kyoto tour.

To be continued...

Jejak Sakura 2016: Atomic Bomb Dome & Peace Memorial Park

Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima, Japan
Sunday, 17 Apr 2016


Continue from Jejak Sakura 2016: Miyajima Island

Next agenda ke... Peace Memorial Park. Tempat wajib pergi kalau ke Hiroshima ni. Jom kita explore history behind the tragedy of Atomic Bombing in Hiroshima on 6 Aug 1945.

Sampai saja di Hiroshima Station, kena exit dulu dari JR station & follow signboard "Hiroshima Sightseeing Loop Bus". Bas terletak kat luar bangunan JR station, so, kena jalan lebih kurang 2 minit nak sampai ke Bus Station. Bas ada setiap 15minit. Ada 2 pilihan bus samada Orange route or Green route. Basically both route lalu di spot yg penting iaitu di Atomic Bomb Dome and Peace Memorial Park. Boleh refer map below for further info.

Sightseeing Loop Bus ini juga akan lalu Hiroshima Castle and some other historical places. Kalau banyak masa memang boleh cover semua area. Korang boleh ikut laluan bas ni ke spot pilihan. Kalau takde JR Pass maybe boleh beli One day Pass untuk ke semua attraction yang cover by Hiroshima Sightseeing Loop Bus. Boleh habiskan masa di spot loop bus ini seberapa lama yang suka.

Boleh study map ni dulu before naik Sightseeing Loop Bus

Sightseeing Loop Bus Route

We choose Orange Route sebab bus ni yang sampai dulu

Hiroshima City

Hiroshima Peace Memorial commonly called the Atomic Bomb Dome or Genbaku Dome (A-Bomb Dome) in Hiroshima is part of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Park and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The ruin serves as a memorial to the people who were killed in the atomic bombing of Hiroshima on 6 August 1945. Over 70,000 people were killed instantly, and another 70,000 suffered fatal injuries from the radiation. (source)

The Atomic Bomb Dome

History...

The Product Exhibition Hall building was originally designed by the Czech architect Jan Letzel. The design included a distinctive dome at the highest part of the building. It was completed in April 1915 and was named the Hiroshima Prefectural Commercial Exhibition (HMI). It was formally opened to the public in August that year. In 1921, the name was changed to the Hiroshima Prefectural Products Exhibition Hall, and again, in 1933, to the Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall. The building was located in the large business district next to the Aioi Bridge and was primarily used for arts and educational exhibitions.

The building was the only structure left standing near the bomb’s hypocenter. Soon commonly called the Genbaku ("A-Bomb") Dome, due to the exposed metal dome framework at its apex, the structure was scheduled to be demolished with the rest of the ruins, but the majority of the building was intact, delaying the demolition plans. The Dome became a subject of controversy, with some locals wanting it torn down, while others wanted to preserve it as a memorial of the bombing and a symbol of peace. Ultimately, when the reconstruction of Hiroshima began, the skeletal remains of the building were preserved. (wikipedia)

The only structure left after nuclear bomb exploded over Hiroshima in 6 Aug 1945

The Genbaku Dome amidst the devastation in October 1945 (source)

Aku memang suka structure bangunan lama, lebih lebih lagi historical architecture, so, memang banyak gambar aku abadikan kat sini. Kira hebat jugalah architecture Genbaku Dome ni sebab masih mampu mengekalkan sebahagian strukturnya selepas ledakan bom atom memusnahkan hampir seluruh Hiroshima. Paling kesian mereka yang masih meneruskan hidup selepas kejadian paling tragis di Jepun  dengan kesan radiasi akibat dari atomic bomb. Tak dapat bayangkan kesengsaraan yang terpaksa dihadapi ketika itu.

Ruin of Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall

Close up of the dome

Steel supports are being added to three areas of the dome to reinforce sections which could be seriously damage by earthquakes

The Genbaku Dome after 71years

Side view of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial

Menjejak sejarah

From the Atomic Bomb Dome, jalan kaki saja nak ke Peace Memorial Park, on the other side.

Tram aka Hiroden... only in Hiroshima

Hiroshima City

Spring now in Hiroshima

Hiroshima kini yang gah membangun

The Atomic Bomb Dome seen from Aioi Bridge

Hiroshima Prefectural Industrial Promotion Hall now & then

Hiroshima Dome as seen from the memorial park

Actually, ada banyak lagi spot yang boleh dilawati berhampiran dengan Peace Memorial Park. Tapi kami cuma menghabiskan masa di dua tempat ini sambil menghayati kesan atomic bom. Lagipun dekat Peace Memorial Park ni, ada spot Sakura yang cantik, hahaha. Ada juga lah sisa sakura yang masih ada. Kalau nak lebih menghayati sejarah boleh lah ke Hiroshima Peace Memorial Muzium yang berhampiran. Lagi banyak gambar & video sewaktu zaman perang dunia kedua dipaparkan. Pernah tengok Jihan menagis masa melawat Muzium ni dalam rancangan “Jejak Jepun Jihan” di Astro Ria. Kalau tengok map kena menapak sikit dari Atomic Bomb dome nak sampai ke sini. Tapi kami tak banyak masa, so, by 4pm kami dah mula cari tram nak balik ke Hiroshima station balik. Sebab kami nak kejar Shinkansen yang pukul 5.16pm. Oh, Tram tak cover by JR Pass, so, kena bayar cash. Anyway, bila lagi nak merasa naik tram kat Jepun kan. Lagipun hanya di Hiroshima saja yang ada Tram.

The Aioi Bridge an unusual "T"-shaped three-way bridge in Hiroshima, Japan. The original bridge, constructed in 1932, was the aiming point for the 1945 Hiroshima atom bomb because its shape was easily recognized from the air.

Masih ada sakura di Hiroshima

Gadis & Bunga

From Peace Memorial Park, kami naik tram balik ke Hiroshima station. Kalau ikutkan boleh jer nak naik sightseeing loop bus sebab kami boleh guna JR Pass tapi sebab nak merasa naik tram kan, hehehe. Fare 160yen from Peace Memorial Park to Hiroshima JR station. Alhamdulillah managed to catch Shinkansen at 5.16pm.

Tram last stop at Hiroshima station

To be continued...