Monday, September 10, 2012

CCS facebook

Dear Readers,

We will update new information on our CCS facebook from now onwards.

Please follow this link to our CCS facebook: http://www.facebook.com/concernand.care?ref=tn_tnmn

Thank you so much.



亲爱的读者们,

CCS有自己的脸书(facebook)了!

从此刻开始,欲知更多的资讯,欢迎至傳神居家照顾协会的facebook。

以下是CCS的facebook网址:

http://www.facebook.com/concernand.care?ref=tn_tnmn

谢谢!





Friday, June 15, 2012

Rollinig off a New Chapter from Singapore: Day 5&6 of 6

Day 5: Seremban to Putrajaya - 18 May 12

Time flies, trying to catchup in completing the journal on this trip... Managed to report almost 'live' from Malaysia for Day 1 to Day 4... and missed out Day 5 & 6... and now I'm back in Singapore for almost 1 month already!

Will have to try to recollect the event...
Day 5 was as exciting and eventful as the days before. As there were quite a bit of changes to the route, we were not sure of our lunch point. As practised in the earlier 2 days, the recovery vehicle went ahead of the rest around 11plus to search for a lunch point. However, this time round, we were not as fortunate. The next lunch point was way too far for the cyclists to reach (about 20km from the point we left them!).

We contacted Mimi who was on the coach and Mimi in turn communicated with the cycling team via the talkie, and we agreed that the recovery vehicle team would pack lunch, then back track and bring the lunch to all. Meanwhile, the cyclists and supporters were resting near some durian stalls, and some of them enjoyed the King of Fruits.

As we were packing halfway, we received a call to say that there was a change in plan. Everyone would board the coach (with bikes moved up the police truck) and proceed to a nearby restaurant/coffeeshop to have a proper meal. The coach took another route to the coffeeshop at Dengkil. We quickly cut our order and fortunately, the stall owner had packed only 5 boxes of lunch. We then quickly sped to meet the rest. We made a couple of wrong turns but finally managed to find the group.

After lunch, Joan said that she and her helpers need to go back. The recovery vehicle then called it a day and we travelled on coach to Putrajaya.

The weather was scorching hot, but thankfully, not rainy! :D

We arrived Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside in the early afternoon. There, a few reporters interviewed a few elderly cyclists and CEO.

After a short rest, the cyclists proceeded to join the cycling in Putrajaya with Perbadanan Putrajaya.
The manmade lake scenery is really breath-taking! It was built over 6months! Thank you to the team at Perbadanan Putrajaya and Mr Noor Azhar Bin Zainal for making the arrangement!


Day 6: Putrajaya to Singapore - 19 May 12

The team proceeded to the KLCC at Kuala Lumpur on Day 6 on coach. We took group photos against the iconic twin towers (Petronas Towers) and popped champagne outside the KLCC.

After that, we proceeded to have lunch in a restaurant along our way back to Singapore. There, we presented the Certificate of Completion to the cyclists. We also presented a Certificate of Appreciation to the Ronda Riadah team.

We also collected the newspaper that Joan bought for us near the CIQ... yes, the ones that reported about our event, 新洲日报, 中国报,南洋商报 and we distributed to every member.

Upon reaching CIQ, the bicycles were transferred from the police truck to another coach.

We want to specially thank Ronda Riadah (police and community) team and the JB Police for the support that they have given us for the trip. They are all really awesome and without their help, it would be a very tough and possibly dangerous expedition for us! Ronda Riadah is a cycling club in JB which comprises about 50% of police officers and 50% of community riders. They do patrolling in the community to ensure that the JB is safe to live in, and that explains why the crime rate has decreased!

We would also like to thank Mr Malcolm Chen for the project co-ordination for this event. He got help from Ronda Riadah and the JB Police and also ironed out many of the teething problems along the way.

It was really great that everyone arrived safely home :D

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Rolling off a New Chapter from Singapore - Day 4 of 6

Day 4: Melaka to Seremban on 17 May (90km)

Weather was kinder yesterday... "cooling throughout the day"... according to Tina, I think it's a superlative term, it's comparatively much cooler than the previous 3 days :D

Like in the previous days, I appreciated the work done by the escorts - the policemen and the Ronda Riadah cyclists. The big police truck that ferried our bicycles for cyclists who were tired and needed a rest. The policement and volunteers helped to load the bikes up and down as and when necessary.

Police car, motorbikes and MPV helped to 'open the way' for the cyclists, and they also stopped the traffic at junctions so that all cyclists and support vehicles can cross safely. It's really a lot of hard work and 'dangerous' for the police on motorbike who had to stop his bike, get down from it stop the traffic at each traffic junction. Hip hip hurray to the heroes!

We visited a Primary school, Sekolah Kembangsaan Melakah... the kids there are different from those we see in Singapore... they are so excited to see us and are so loving and obedient. All the kids and staff joined in the dance as the cyclists and supporters performed... you can see the light sparkling in their eyes as they watched with awe when the cyclists arrive in their bikes.

... to be continued

SK reporting from Seri Malaysia Hotel in Seremban

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Rolling off a New Chapter from Singapore - Day 3 of 6

Day 3: Batu Pahat to Melaka on 16 May (115km)
It's a long long trip... about 120km (not from Sg, but from our set off point in Batu Pahat! Weather was as scotching but it's better than if it were rainy :D

One police cyclist fell twice

The team spirit continued to be high. The supporters topped up drinks and bananas and distributed meusli bars to the riders. And to add icing to the cake, we massaged the cyclists and prepared icy cold towels for them... the latter were grateful and encouraged!

Joan, our JB volunteer prepared dinner for us in her apartment next to the hotel we put up at... she even specially installed an additional aircon so that we could eat comfortably at her place! The food was super nutricious and delicious... fish maw with so much gelatin, 猪脚醋, steamed fish, kampung chicken, potato, vege ... I advised her to prepare 4 chickens but there were so much other food, we couldn't finish them :( Felt sorry for Joan and her helpers who worked so hard for us. We did not forget our Ronda Riadah and police friends, Joan had helped to order halal food which included satay and others and I heard the food were delicious too :D
The team split up in 2 (not because we quarreled)... half the team went on the coach and proceeded to Melaka directly... to rest and relax with shopping therapy. The other half of the team continued, hoping to achieve their dream to cover as much distance as they could :D Both groups were happy :D
Another tiring but fulfilling day :D

SK reporting from Hotel Pantai Puteri

Rolling off a New Chapter from Singapore - Day 2 of 6

Day 2 Pontian to Batu Pahat (75km)

We stayed in The Katerina Hotel
Was too tired to report on 15 May 12, Tuesday.

My memory is short, I'll try to recollect what happened on Tue... overall, the trip continued to be safe and good. Thanks to the 'ONE' who made it this way :D

We were greeted by some people along the way, they waved and encouraged the cyclists.
Our trip was reported on several newspaper and when I tried to buy copies for the team from a small shop, the owner said he read the paper and heard about us. I said I wanted 40 copies of the papers, it only had 10 and he even "gave up" the copy he was reading to me! haha :D

Along the way, we also topped up mineral water, ice and bananas. Had our lunch at one of the coffee shops we found... the owners were very happy as we boosted their economy :D The lady owner at the coffeeshop thanked me and said that business was bad for the day and we helped :D

The cyclists continued to be "steady poon pee pee"... and to encourage them, I opened my "golden voicebox" and sang to them as the recovery vehicle I'm in passed them... I noticed that each time I sang to them, they became energised and rode faster but someone in the vehicle observed that they sped ahead... to escape from my singing... hahaha! :D Well, looking at it positively, they moved faster :D

The Sultan of Johor stayed with us!... in the same hotel...
The manager whom we met during our recce trip resigned and there seemed to be some miscommunication and we nearly had problem with parking the bikes in a room that is safe. Thanks the the Security Chief, he helped.

Breakfast on Wed at the hotel was good :D

It rained in the night and thank god it stopped before dawn and the road is dry by the time we were setting off :D
 
SK 'reporting' from Melaka on Wed

Rolling off a New Chapter from Singapore - Day 1 of 6

Day 1: 15 May 12 - CCS Bukit Batok to Pontian (76km)

Greetings from Pontian, selamat pagi! :D Woke up cos it was too cold with aircond and too warm after turning that off, hence decided to find out from hotel staff on how to access the wifi here ;)

Just to share, we have a group of 23 cyclists, 9 from Taiwan and 14 from Sg and about 21 supporters (some join for some days). We are at Pontian now, going Batu Pahat, Melaka, Seremban and Putrajaya and then to KL by coach on 19 May (Sat) and CEO and Mimi are with us too :D

A bit of hiccups in the morning (1 cyclist left her passport with a supporter on the coach, 2 vomited between the 2 customs), but overall, the operation was relatively smooth albeit a little tiring for some. We had support from Ronda Riadah Club (a cycling club in JB) and JB police, escorting the team for the whole journey with MPV, a van, a big truck and several cyclists! They are excellent.

We visited an Islamic orphanage in Pontian in theafternoon. The session was awesome. The kids were joyfully dancing with our elderly cyclists and supporters! We even had live phone audio broadcast to the staff in the office for them to feel the atmosphere :D

Maybe it's because of the hot weather, there are people who are 'hot' here too. I'm usually hot tempered, but thanks to Faith who had kept encouraging, reminding, ‘nagging’ me to keep my cool and yes, I did it for Day1, haha, it’s a wonderful experience… I’ll be a ‘saint’ if I can stay this way throughout the 6 days since it's summer time here in Malaysia ;), hahaha :D

Counting the blessings, everyone is putting in their heart and soul to make the trip a smooth and safe one :D

Thanks to all who helped, supported and prayed for the team! Gonna rest now for the day ahead :D


Best regards,
Siew Kheng, ‘reporting’ from Hotel Pontian :D

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Cycling Club Superstar Recce Trip from Singapore to Putrajaya

3 Recce trips were made, one on 16-17 Apr and a 2nd one on 6 May 12.

The first one (on 2 cars) was to go through the route, look at the hotels and also to meet some people in M'sia. We stayed overnight at Joan's condo in Melaka. Malcolm, Thomas, Henry, Benny, Joan, Teck Sing, Ah Zhen,  Annie and TSK were on the trip.

The second one (by bus to Seremban then between Seremban and Putrajaya on bicycle).
Henry and Benny took 2 bikes, travel on a bus from Singapore to Seremban, and then cycle to Putrajaya to 'test and confirm' the route. This was done before the second recce. They were quite lost and when they reached the Hotel Putrajaya, it was quite late in the evening. They had wanted to stay overnight there initially but the hotel looks expensive and they decided to return home the same day. They were very grateful when they met a 'samaritan' who helped them fetch them and the bikes to a nearby station where they took a train/coach back to Singapore. According to Henry, their mobile phone battery were very low. He only had the chance to sms his family to say that they will be back by morning!

The third one (on car) was more to confirm the route and take note of possible lunch points. Henry, Benny and TSK were on this trip.

As can be seen from the photos below, it was not an easy feat even though we were travelling by car (ie not bicycles)... lost our way a few times.


Photos taken during the Recce trips on 16/17 Apr and 6 May 12


01 Hotel Pontian Function room

 
03 Hotel Pontian outside the lobby
 
04 Hotel Pontian seaview


05 Pontian Sri Santaville Nursing Home



07 Pontian Orphanage PKAYI



Road Conditions
10 Pontian-Batu Pahat road with gravel, border, etc


14 Batu Pahat Katerina Hotel


16 Batu Pahat San Chun Nursing Home

17 Batu Pahat Orphanage PKAYI
 
19 Batu Pahat-Melaka: Road Sign to Rantau n Seremban
  
24 Seremban: Parking Meter
 
26 Seremban Star Hotel
 
27 Seremban breakfast next to Star Hotel


30 Seremban-Putrajaya in car - figuring how to get to our next destination



38 Seremban-Putrajaya Road Sign to Rembau n K Pilah lost our way



42 Seremban-Putrajaya Road Sign Tampin
 
43 Seremban-Putrajaya Road Sign Rembau n Tampin

44 Seremban-Putrajaya Road Sign Seremban

50 Seremban-Putrajaya Road Sign Tampin IMPORTANT - this is a very important sign to look out for on when to turn
 
51 Seremban-Putrajaya Road Sign NOT to follow to Bandar Alor Gajah


53 Seremban-Putrajaya Turn twd Tampin

54 Seremban-Putrajaya After turn twd Tampin

R&R
57 Melaka Pak Putra - Serves nice Tandoori Chicken



60 Mlk Recce Team: Joan, Henry, TSK, Malcolm, Thomas
61 Melaka Recce Team: Ah Zhen, Annie, Joan, Henry, TSK, Malcolm, Thomas
62 Melaka Recce Team: Henry, Thomas, Benny, Joan, TSK, Annie, Malcolm