Jason's Jakarta Jottings #1

Its been more than half a year and many things have come and gone.

Right now I am currently in Jakarta for work till February. And I feel it would be good for me to jot down some of my observations whilst living here. The weekend of my second week has arrived, and the thing I would like to note  first of all has to be the traffic condition here.

Even before I arrived, I have known and been told that Jakarta's traffic jam is the worst in the region. Based on experiences from colleagues who travel here for work often, I would think so too.
But thankfully, my exposure to these jams has been mild.

Thankfully I live in the nearest town to my office (about 20km). So far, on a bad day it would take me more than an hour to reach either home or office. On a good day, as rare as they may come, it would take me slightly over 20 minutes.

With the very heavy traffic here, I feel grateful that traffic in KL isn't that bad after all. In fact, I used to think that the 110kmh speed limit was a bit on the low side for a 3 lane highway, until I arrived in Jakarta.

Right now, i feel privileged to be able to reach speeds of 80kmh on the highways here. There were times when I reached speeds of 90kmh and above, I felt that i was going too fast. And I actually slowed down! And even driving at 60-80kmh, I would arrive at office in good time. RIght now, I feel blessed that our Road conditions in KL are better, but I wouldn't have been grateful have I not driven on the roads here myself.

My first observation, and I will make more as time goes on.


Boodyboy, out!

Life in a circuit (well also like a cycle)

I've been going to Body Express for a month now, trying out the different classes offered.
So far every1 of them is highly enjoyable but also very energy sapping!
If you look at the schedule and think, "Tsk! 30 mins only? Easy peasy..."
You are dead wrong, each class is super high intensity, and you will for sure hit your max heart rate within 10 minutes of the class.

Let me explain one of the classes which I like very much at Body Express.
It's called Circuit Training.



Circuit training, as explained by Wikipedia, " a form of conditioning combining resistance training and high-intensity aerobics. It is designed to be easy to follow and target strength building as well as muscular endurance. An exercise "circuit" is one completion of all prescribed exercises in the program. When one circuit is complete, one begins the first exercise again for another circuit. Traditionally, the time between exercises in circuit training is short, often with rapid movement to the next exercise."

The Advantages of circuit training is :

• An effective means of improving strength endurance (or muscular endurance).
• May be easily structured to provide a whole body workout.
• May not require expensive gym equipment.
• Participants normally work in small groups, allowing beginners to be guided by more experienced individuals, as well as benefiting from the supervision of the instructor.
• Can be adapted for any size workout area.
• Can be customized for specificity; easy to adapt to your sport.
• Has the potential to burn more calories than conventional aerobic exercise or strength training, both during and post-workout (increase in post workout metabolism), thus beneficial for those attempting to lose body fat.

At Body Express, there are about 15 stations set up in a circular manner. Each participant will start at a station. And each station has a different workout. When we start we will do that workout for 60 seconds before moving on to the next station, then continuing. This will go on until we have completed 1 full circle. And once we have completed a whole cycle, we would have had a very very good full body workout.

Below is a very good and simple example of a circuit training. Do come to the gym and give the class a try! Leaves you soaked in sweat, tired, gasping for breath, but wanting more!



Boodyboy, out!!

Working out, like a boss!

Over the past few year since I have joined the workforce, I have joined a couple of gyms to fight the bulge. Its not easy especially when we are stuck in an 9 to 5 office job that doesn't require to move a lot in the office. Its even more difficult to try and look like one of the 299 extras in the movie 300.

But right now I am going to this new gym in Subang Avenue (yes, the 1 beside Carrefour Subang) called Body Express. The location is pretty convenient for me as its right between my work place and home.



After being taken around the gym, I have to say the gym goers here all kinda know each other. This is something I like, where there is a community feeling in the gym, rather than the 'everybody minds their own business' type of gym. The trainers are also very friendly and they dont try to hard sell you some PT (personal training sessions). So thats a plus point for me.

The place is pretty well equipped with all your usual machines and free weights but with a few extras. They have some Kettlebells (which I have been trying to buy on the cheap in Malaysia, but very unsuccessful), horizontal bars (for chin ups, pull ups, knee to elbows and etc) and gymnastic rings as well. These extras are the very few items that I wanna buy if ever I plan to build my own home gym.

That being said, I have tried out a few of their classes and they are well, breath taking (literally)!
More about it soon as I hit the gym more often. Main aim is now to register for KL Towerthon this year and I hope this place can give me the extra help I need!


Boodyboy out!!!

Motivational speech from Movies: Rocky Balboa

I was just surfing about and I came across this clip from Rocky Balboa. Totally forgot about it, but watching this clip without the whole movie, it really makes sense and I feel it is too wonderful for me not to share it. The clip as well as the speech is included for your reference. Pretty useful to share this with friends or family that are feeling down.

=)





Rocky Balboa: I'd hold you up to say to your mother, "this kid's gonna be the best kid in the world. This kid's gonna be somebody better than anybody I ever knew."

And you grew up good and wonderful. It was great just watching you, every day was like a privilige. Then the time come for you to be your own man and take on the world, and you did. But somewhere along the line, you changed. You stopped being you. You let people stick a finger in your face and tell you you're no good.

And when things got hard, you started looking for something to blame, like a big shadow.

Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.

You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward.

That's how winning is done! Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody!

Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that! I'm always gonna love you no matter what. No matter what happens. You're my son and you're my blood. You're the best thing in my life. But until you start believing in yourself, ya ain't gonna have a life.


Boodyboy, out!

Resolutions

I guess most people will find that it is strange if I make my resolutions for the year now.
Well actually, I am finally writing it down as it has been on my mind since January.
So what do I aim to achieve this year?

1. Going back down to at least 70kgs. I recently weighed myself and I was back up to 74, from a low of 68. Gahhhh!! Going gym more often should be key, as there will be less travelling this year. One of my friends managed to get me a free 3 month membership at another gym near my current 1 in Subang. Will blog more about it in the future as I try to battle against the bulge

2. Joining at least 4 runs this year. Completing on 3 last year when I paid for 6 isnt ideal. I should try to break sub-hour for my 10km this year. CUrrently joined TDH's Mou Man Tai 3.0, Brooks 10km Run, Energizer Night Run 15.5km. Maybe looking at SHape / Mens Health Run as I have not joined that before. Also looking at the Nike Run and Penang Bridge Marathon.

3. Edit and post up pictures I took from July till end of last year. Too many pictures taken, especially during my 3 week Europe trip. Gotta start looking at it one by one over the weekends.

4. Move in by late April! Gosh this has been going on for a very long time. Shopped for a place to settle early last year. Finally signed my S&P in August and keys delivered end of January. Now, renovations have started after tonnes of shopping around for quotations, building materials and furnishing. Was told renovation will take about 6 weeks at least. Can't wait to start moving in!

And before I end this, I shall dedicate this song to a special person who insists that I have neglected her in my blog. I wanna keep her a secret can, ah? Good stuff cannot share ma....

Anyways, here is a song for you. Thanks for making last year more awesome than it could have been. XOXO

Boyce Avenue with Without You (cover from David Guetta)



Boodyboy, out!

Songs and more songs!

Songs that I've been listening to recently.

She and Him, performing Sleigh Ride. I love this classic and the soothing voice of Zooey Deschanel. Oh also, I am following her new sitcom called New Girl. I like her quirky character and the supporting cast as well.





The next song I am loving currently is The Script's Nothing. Once again, I like the lyrics of the song and you can feel what its like to be in the position of that person in the song. When all I want is words, I got nothing ~~~







And the 3rd song is one of the most often spun song on radio right now. Christina Perri with A Thousand Years. Loved the first time I heard Jar of Hearts, and the same goes for this song. Very lovable tune and the feeling it evokes is just wonderful. Oh also, unfortunately for the Twilight Soundtrack :-P
The Twilight saga movies tend to have a great song selection, so I guess their music team did a great job.






Thats about it for tonight. Will be listening to these songs before I go to sleep.
Have a great year ahead people!


Boodyboy, out!

2011 : Weighed, Measured and Found Absolutely Fabulous

Well well, the year winds to a close as we welcome 2012 in 2 days time. Has your year turned out the way you expected when 2011 began?

I certainly did not anticipate what 2011 had in store for me. The plan was to limit my travels and if possible not travel at all this year cause I was looking to save up enough money for a place to buy. No chance of that happening, as I soon found out.

Earlier in the year, I was kicking myself in February about missing a chance to attend a meeting in my company's headquarters in Sandefjord, Norway. But I thought to myself, maybe something better is in store. And it turned out to be true. In March I was able to go to Amsterdam for 3 days meeting (and I took additional 3 days off to travel around with my sister). Then what came up was even more exciting! I was approved to travel to Norway for subsequent meetings in May, June, August, October and November, for a bout 10 days each time.

And in between I went Dubai and Abu Dhabi twice in November and December for a total of 3 weeks. If I said I didn't want to travel, I would be lying! And for my company to send me over to attend these meetings, I feel blessed. Never in my wildest dreams would I have envisioned that I was able to jet off almost every month this year.\

All those trip earlier were for work, and I also managed to squeeze in 2 personal trips this year. First was to UK for my sisters graduation with my family. We stayed for almost 3 weeks and visited London, Paris, Rome, Geneva and Interlaken before flying back. Next trip was a small family trip to Sandakan, Sabah from which we then drove to Semporna for a few nights in the middle of the ocean.

So this year for me was a year of super ridiculous travelling. Some statistics:
- I have spent 50 hours in transit at Amsterdam Airport.
- Almost 50 days in Sandefjord Norway.
- More than 120,000 miles flown this year.
- About 90 days in a hotel.

But then, there is always more to life than travelling (for work or otherwise). I have made new friends. More friends have gotten married. Caught up with my friends (though much less than last year). Going thru my resolutions for 2011, It seems I achieved most of them except losign weight (cause of all the good food while travelling and lack of time for gym) and spending more time with my friends (same reason as earlier).

I shall look forward to 2012 with excitement (though I know there should be considerably less travelling). Wait, I'm not too sure about that as I have Bali, Bandung, Sabah, Singapore, Jakarta, Thailand, Vietnam, India scheduled for next year. And I should be looking forward to receiving the keys to my place soon. Hehehe fingers crossed, I would be able to move in by the first quarter of next year.

Anyways, I think I am a bit long winded here. I wish every1 a great year ahead and live prosperous!


Boodyboy, out!!