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Losing My Brick)Headz
After much talking and thinking, I finally acted upon it – clearing some of my Lego collection. I have been what Malaysian football/soccer fans would call “enter the cave” state or as Lego fans would call the “dark ages” for quite a while now.
Time used to scour the Internet for news on newly/to be released sets or deals are now mostly spent on piecing together the scattered bricks around the house. It’s tiring and satisfying at the same time.
Occasionally frustrated as I can’t find that one piece I have seen before or as you realised this was where all your money went.
Occasionally delighted as I found long lost sets or unopened sets – Ka-Ching in my mind as I start to list it on my Ebay store.
Either way, I am definitely having fun Marie-Kondo-ing my house and collection.
Half of these are gone now.
Until then; stay hungry, stay safe.
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Day 1 : Perth – Geraldton
This is part of the Perth to Broome series.
Perth – Geraldton : 417km / 4hrs 40mins
Accommodation – Ibis Styles Geraldton
We decided the best accommodation type would be a hotel. Trying to save $$$ by setting up tent and repacking again the next morning just doesn’t seem feasible nor comfortable for us. I’d rather spend a bit extra than suffer through my trip.Places To Go/Things To Do Enroute (links included)
1. Visit Yanchep National Park
2. Picnic, swimming at Moore River / Guilderton
3. Lancelin sand dunes/4WD/sandboarding
4. Pinnacles Desert
5. Cervantes Lobster Shack – lunch & tour. I personally find them quite pricey and small portion, but being the on
6. Skydiving at Jurien Bay
We skipped #1-#5 as we have been there numerous times. Skydiving is still not in my bucketlist.Here we go! After months of talking, planning, preparing, we are finally off. As we made a last minute stop in the city for some Vietnam coffee and doughnuts, I took a deep breath to savour the moment and said “Yup, it is time”.
June to August are winter months in Perth. The trip from Perth to Geraldton was pretty much uneventful. Considering we still have a long way to go, I am happy with “uneventful”.Tips
1. Cervantes Lobster Shack has limited lunch hours (11am-3pm).
2. As you exit Perth using Indian Ocean Drive, it is pretty much plain fields all around. Last fuel station next to the main road is in Neerabup/North Wanneroo and the next one is in Jurien Bay. You have to exit IOD to get to the small towns ie Lancelin/Guilderton along the way for fuels and supplies.
Departing Perth with an incorrect way to wear a mask 😀 
R&R at Jurien Bay. 
Just another 140km to go. 
Geraldton has a pretty awesome playground next to the beach. Until then – stay hungry, stay safe.
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From Perth to Broome (with kids)
July 2021
It was a time of uncertainty – Covid19, vaccinations, international travel restrictions. Western Australians are still able to travel freely in the state. Its like a country within a country.
We did a road trip from Perth to Broome which took 2 weeks. After we came back, I tried detailing the trip into several Facebook posts but grew weary after a while. Plus, I love my privacy so only my close friends can view it.
Now that I have a blog, I believe it would be more beneficial to others if I write it here. More permanent, easier access.
The itinerary looks like this :
Day 1 : Perth – Geraldton
Day 2 : Geraldton – Hamelin Pool / Hamelin Pool – Monkey Mia/Denham
Day 3 : Hamelin Pool – 26th Parallel / Hamelin Pool – Carnarvon
Day 4 : Carnarvon – Coral Bay – Exmouth
Day 5 : Exmouth – Nanaturra – Karratha
Day 6 : Karratha – Port Hedland
Day 7 : Port Hedland
Day 8 – Port Hedland – Broome
Day 9-10 : Broome
Day 11 : Broome – Port Hedland
Day 12 : Port Hedland
Day 13 : Port Hedland – Carnarvon
Day 14 : Carnarvon – Perth
This page would be an evolving summary page; in weeks to come I plan to update this blog with our daily activities. I will then provide a link from the list above. It might be a good idea to bookmark this page.Until then – stay hungry, stay safe.
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Collection or Addiction
Collectors are a funny bunch. Doesn’t matter what items they are collecting – cars, toys, watches, books, shoes – the list goes on and on.
I think “collecting” in reality is “addiction” in disguise. A nice way of saying one is dependent on something to make them happy.
In general, for an addict of any form, they need to keep consuming their dependence on a daily basis. For a collector, once you set your eyes on something – the game is on. The aim is to obtain not just that particular item, but also any upgrades, variety, tweaks that with it. Be it different colour, model, or variety.
At the Nexus Toy Fair in Perth last Saturday 14 Jan 2023. With some of my “collection” over the years😄 You have a Moonswatch Mission to the Sun, let’s get the Mission to Mars.
You have one Lego Modular Building, you want to have another one to add to your city.
You managed to grab a Nike Dunk Low Orange Lobster, already planning on the next sneakers launch.
You get the idea. Either way, it is never ending.
Within reasonable means, I think collecting is a good way to keep your mind occupied on something, to keep your mind active. This DOES NOT APPLY if you are a serial killer who likes to keep body parts of your victims.
Collecting is also a good way to socialise – you get to meet people with the same interest and you share your skills, tips and tricks. Back when I was active in my local Perth Lego group, we would have a monthly get together to build our Lego set or a minifigpalooza where we trade Lego minifigures. It was fun.Stay hungry, stay safe
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Healthy after forty
If the new year gave you that inspiration to start exercising after years of carbo loading and couch surfing, please continue reading.
Admittedly I haven’t exercise as regular as I should for the past 10+ years. In June 2021 an opportunity hit – during a get together at a friends place, some said they have played basketball before.
So I said, why not we gather for a casual session. Up till this day we continue to have a weekly basketball session. Here are some tips I had gather since :START SMALL
As small as simple dress up. It doesn’t have to be a fancy $200 Nike shoe or a $200 Lululemon pants. Just a simple walking shoe would do; adjust the fanciness as you feel comfortable.MAKE IT EASY
Start with a 5 minute around the neighbourhood. I used to walk a loop near my street, about 1km. 12 minutes. Slowly I added up the distance and time to 15, 30, 60 minutes as my body adjusted.BE REALISTIC
You wont be able to jump or run as much as you were in your teens. Especially as you are starting out, the body will take time to adjust. “The mind knows where to go but the body wont follow” should be your reminder.
Someone’s wearing a Lululemon here, but you can’t really tell, can you? BE PATIENT
The road is wrought challenges, left and right. There’ll be days you want to continue sleeping, or just eat as much as you like. IT’S OKAY!
Pick yourself up the next day. We are not robots.HAVE A SYSTEM
As Scott Adams would say; “Goals are for losers”.
My current system is to head to the basketball court every other day and shoot 100 shots; doesn’t matter if it goes in or not.
Your system could be just 10 push-ups as you wake up in the morning and another 10 before going to bed.GET HELP
The first one I got was from the gym instructor. I wanted a healthy body so I can play basketball with some ease.
When the pain and injuries came (inevitably), I started seeing the GP.
Physiotherapy sessions also helps with stretching and posture. The cracking sound as they twist your body is so satisfying.Look for motivations
This can either be in a form of books, medias, or icons. Be mindful as you also need to know your body limits.Find Your Threshold
The exercise you do must be challenging enough so that it provides satisfaction once you overcome the hurdle; but not too hard that it would discourage you.Have Fun
The important part is for you to have fun. Be consistent, no matter how small you action is.Stay hungry, stay safe.
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Two oh Two three
4th day into 2023 and everything still seems…normal. I am both contemplating what 2022 has been and planning on what I would like for 2023 and beyond.
If I could summarise 2022 in one word, it would be “connection / relationship”. Alhamdulillah I am grateful for the opportunity and health to reconnect with family and friends. No amount of Zoom sessions or video call could replace the physical touch and wave of emotions that came with it. Its surreal.
We spent 6 quality weeks with family and friends in Malaysia between June-August 2022. Physically hugging my mother and brother; the remaining original members of Kamarudin clan is a bliss.
I reconnected with a few high school friends – some I have not spoken to in years. They have been amazing; driving me around, buying meals, hosting dinner. Most important of all would be the laughter, reminiscence ie gossiping sessions (yes, guys do that albeit in a more deeper voice and raucous laughter.)
I wish everyone a beautiful 2023. May it become the year with abundance of learning, improving and love all around.
Stay hungry, stay safe.
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Ho-Ho-Ho-Ho!
This could be my favourite time of the year, if not the best. As long as we are not traveling, we get to enjoy Perth with less traffic and people.
We had a long Christmas weekend this year (Sat-Tue). Each day filled with either a social gathering, carbo loading sessions, calorie burning activities or all in one. Instead of the usual blazing heat (high 30s), this year we were blessed with a nice, balmy high 20 Celcius day. It still feels like a mid 30 Celcius, thanks to the humidity. Feels like Malaysia at times.
Cottesloe Beach was packed to our surprise; main parking lot was full even before 730. We were there between 745-10am, enough to get some vitamin sea and enjoy a quick dip in the cold water.
We don’t celebrate Christmas so no headaches trying to decorate the house or get the kids expensive toys or gadgets the have been mentioning all year round. We did however got the house ready for a BBQ invite – a decision made within 10 seconds the days before. Luckily my wife agrees to it; she was the one doing most of the heavy lifting.
Spent Boxing Day morning with a nice walk in Kings Park & up Jacobs Ladder. Nice fresh air, I hope I managed to sweat out at least half of the huge BBQ portion I had the day before.
Ended the 4 days bliss with a session at the Burswood Outdoor Cinema (Wakanda Forever!) Ongoing until late April 2023 with various shows everyday. Excellent setting, friendly staffs, good movie, friendly company! Link here.
Did I mention about the traffic? I don’t usually take the Narrows Bridge route but the non existence of usual bottleneck at 550pm yesterday (Wednesday) was uplifting. I was grinning ear to ear. It won’t be peaceful like this all year round so I will savour it while I can.
Stay hungry, stay safe.
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Questions to myself
Occasionally I will ask myself some questions that could be an eye opener, quirky or just out of curiosity. This happens especially during quiet period by myself – in the bus ride home, in the car to work, in the toilet.
How does an Olympian, or a high level athlete lead their life after retirement?
What goes in a super expensive watch? The ones costing 5,6, 7 figures (USD). Would it make the wearer be more punctual?
Would sending a child to an expensive, private school really guarantees a bright future?
Am I able to dunk a basketball after 40?
Okay, that last one seems a bit far fetched. Eitherway, that could be the reason of my first online comic purchase (Transformers Shattered Glass) simply because I love the radical what-if idea – The Autobots are the crazy, diabolical evil faction and the Decepticons are the ones running for their life. Same logo, different colour. Same characters, different mood. You can find the link here if you are interested.
I have seen the toys every now and then but just thought it was just another remake ie cheap shot of trying to squeeze money out of the fans; same mould, different colour.
There is a local toy fair in mid January 2023; might be a good reason to look for some bargain on the Transformers toys.
Now I know how it feels to be the good guys. Stay hungry, stay safe.
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Rinse it away
It may sound weird but I enjoy washing cars.
So much so that most of the times I wash a car as a way to de-stress. I assume I have the most record of car-washing activity compared to all my other 7 close neighbours combined!
Fulfilling is the word when looking at a brand new washed car; knowing that the dust and bird poop on the car body is gone. Rinsing away the soap and bubble, as if my troubles went down the drain too. Wiping off the excess water at times feels like taking a fresh cold shower on a hot, humid day.
Sometimes if my wife is around, I’ll turn to her and give that “please wash your own car” look, just to make her feel guilty. (It never works.)
My late dad once drove my mum to the wet market and along the way accidentally hit a puddle of mud. Normal people would just park the car back home and get about with their business. Not my dad.
True to his meticulous car care mentality, once he got home he took down all the groceries and washed the particular tyre by itself. To this day, I still giggle when I retold the story to my kids and friends.
Days away from another wash 😀 Stay hungry, stay safe.
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The 10th Man
It never occurs to me to write about politics. Then again, so did people’s perception way back then that there is no such thing as a black swan.
Recently Malaysia got its 10th prime minister on Thursday 22 Nov 2022. This is the 4th PM appointed since the ruling party was ousted in 2018 (they have been in power since its independence in 1957).
Anwar Ibrahim (DSAI), was sworn-in after 5 days stalemate as no party/coalition managed to secure the simple majority out of the 222 parliamentary seat.
I assume that lots of people would heaved a sigh of relief. Since he was sacked from the position of Deputy Prime Minister in 1998, going into jail, making a comeback etc DSAI was finally elected.
Some see it as a triumph; I see it as a work in progress. Has the past 24 years of training and waiting made him into the PM people actually wanted? Or are we just looking for a scapegoat after reeling from several PMs the past few years which include a 97yo man and one currently serving jail for swindling billions of peoples money.
The stock market was reported to be performing really well after DSAI assumed power. I am not fond when hearing words like “see how one man can contribute to this?”.
We have to be moderate when we love or hate something; just in case it turns out not as we expected. Would we be able to tolerate in case he does a “political blunder”, or would we be so blind to just brush it off and keep one eye closed?
DSAI and I came from the same high school – MCKK, roughly about 32 years apart. Just because we share the same alma mater, doesn’t mean all he says is gospel. I have seen other MCKK boys who berates him left and right, front and back (pun intended).
Every human has his faults and when and if it surfaces for DSAI, would you still support him, or you’ll be scrambling to find the next 11th pm?
Trying a DSAI pose. Stay hungry, stay safe.
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Kammys Musing 