Concentration

😎

“ No man is really defeated unless he is discouraged “ ( Bruce Lee ) . This morning I am stepping out with confidence ; the weather is cool and overcast and I am feeling good . Nothing to discourage me in beating  my previous best time : of 1hour 9 minutes for my 6km walking route. With the potential for a fierce sun at 2500 m and on the equator , and early start is essential . Today is the day .

I have been timing my route of several weeks , so as to provide an objective . My Apple phone provides a timer function complete with lap options . So it is Lap 1 : 12 minutes to the reservoir; Lap 2 & 3 : 22minutes each around  the reservoir embankment ; Lap 4 : 12 minutes home . A target time of 1 hour 8 minutes to beat. Recording those times in itself requires concentration , having the phone app open at just the right time , then making sure the buttons aren’t  inadvertently pressed at the wrong time . 

Starting;  I am off,  striding out with determination , keeping that stride length and pace constant . This requires concentration ; swinging those arms to help maintain the momentum . It will be 12 minutes before I can check if I’m on track . Ah no , 12.04 , 4 minutes too slow.  So chest out , spring off those toes, swing the arms , concentrate of speeding up. 

For me it is impossible to concentrate just on the act of walking for over an hour , my mind wanders , among other things , thinking about what can be in the net blog . So I though about  inspiring physical achievements  , how  athletes just keep going ; perhaps a bit of that could rub off on my aspiration to beat my own time .

Netflix have some great docuseries ( I think they also made up the word  ) . Anyway one of those was based on a woman called Diana Nyad ; who decided at the age of 60 decided to swim between Cuba and Florida , having first failed at the age of 28 . The distance in 110 miles , takes over two days of constant swimming . She followed an underwater light at night, used  electronic shark repellents, and  a special face  mask to avoid jelly fish stings . On the fifth attempted she succeeded , now at the age  65. To maintain her concentration she sang ( in her head ) continuously . I must learn sufficient songs with the right rhythm ( Stayin’ Alive is one ) .

Ah back to my rhythm ; swinging  those arms , especially uphill. Scott of the Antarctic must have had incredible mental strength . To spend weeks walking to the Pole , only to find he was second . His discouragement , poor weather and lack of food no doubt contributed to his demise. I ‘m just walk-in 6 km in near perfect weather , so not quite the same ; but I must maintain my pace ! 

Three of the four laps completed , and the time is looking good . Ok , I have twinges from my foot and slight stomach pain . It reminded me of my school cross country event , which was considered compulsory for all pupils ; sadists ! 440 yds was my best ( greatest )  distance . I finished , can’t let the house  down ; but was then promptly sick . 

This last lap is slightly uphill to add to the discomfort ; perhaps this is my “ wall” , apparently what marathon runners have to breakthrough to finish . This is a gentle , almost invisible hillock . With the end almost in sight and a good time possible , I speeded up . 

Finished in 1 hour 6 minutes and 38 seconds . Smug satisfaction. Ah but next time out this has to be the time to beat !! 

 Ah wait we will soon be back in Argeles , and with all this training at altitude,  I will have to find a more challenging exercise route !

 

 

 

Stayin’ Alive. ( Bee Gees )

 

“ Start”

I need to circumnavigate this exercise route along side a local reservoir , without breaking any of the posted restrictions. Regular exercise to help me keep alive for a few more years !

Reservoir just after construction ; now completely surrounded by upmarket housing. Built on the side of a hill in an earthquake zone , I hope those embankments are big enough !

The reservoir is a large balancing pond serving it’s associated power generation station . The first indication of its purpose comes from the sight of two adjacent huge chimney like structures, which are actually surge columns to prevent the feeder pipes to the generators from  bursting in the event of sudden shut down in generation . For me surge is a very real issue . When in India , surge broke a valve on our pumping main , and killed a passing innocent stranger ! 

 

Hibiscus is a flower that thrives in this climate , the temperate temperatures , no frost , and frequent  rain is perfect for them . Incidentally it is also the national flower of Malaysia . Unfortunately the bloom really only last a day , but what a day ! . 

“ Life is good when people come together to help each other “ A wonderful inspirational phrase spoken by a women whilst firmly strapped into a stretcher ; waiting to be carried down a North Wales mountain, by Mountain rescue .( BBC TV ). She had unknown serious injuries , and after some persuasion ,  had been given strong pain relief . Her rescue from probable death ,  prompting her insightful comment . She was going to stay alive !

 Uv Index  Extreme: 11+

“Take full precaution. Unprotected skin will be damaged and can burn in minutes. Avoid the sun between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., cover up, and wear a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. Don’t forget that white sand and other bright surfaces reflect UV and increase UV exposure.” 

 …. I better walk quickly before the sun is fully up . We are at 2500m , on the equator , so on a clear day we keep out of the sun . Yet around the pool at the local country club , still some people sun bathe !

UK Foreign Office travel advice . “ Advise all but essential travel  “ … to the west of the country . Guayaquil is firmly in the centre of the war against the drug cartels .It is OK to go to the  Galapagos , but all planes stop briefly in Guayaquil . All seems eerily  quiet at the moment ; never the less our trip to see tortoise as been deferred to next year . In our view not worth the risk …..”Stay’n  alive ! 

I have reached the end of the path , without recourse to …“A nudge from a song like “Stayin' Alive” appears to help ensure the pace for CPR. Participants in the study listening to the song performed CPR at the recommended rate, about 100 beats per minute.  “ 

Well the Bee Gees would have been surprised by the benefit of their song ; although I suppose they didn’t do very well , with only one of the original 3/4 still around .

. I just hope that I am not on the receiving end of that CPR ; but it will add an additional emotion when listening that  song .

…

Stayin’ Alive ….Much to the disappointment of this pair of black vultures which have taken up residence at the end of the path . Fortunately they are not Condors , with a 3 metre wingspan , which would be truly scary close up . This pair had decided feeding would be much easier right next to bin that receives , amongst other detritus , dead fish from the automatic screen cleaner on the inlet of the reservoir .

This Heath Robinson contraption , is the automatic screen cleaner …or bird feeder.

 

Whether you're a brother or whether you're a mother

You're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Feel the city breakin' and everybody shakin'
And we're stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive, stayin' alive
Ah, ha, ha, ha, stayin' alive
Oh, when you walk

It’s also a good rhythm for walking , so I am off tomorrow for another  6 km .  I can’t miss views like this .

I trust I am around for the next leap year blog 

From New to Old

 

KL to Madrid , leaving Malaysia on route to South America.

The wealth in the east is largely built on the Chinese ability to generate riches irrespective of the country of residence . Malaysia is just one of those . They also have the ability to splurge their hard won assets . Chinese New Year is the peak for just  such expenditure . 

Despite the new year being a month away , the opportunities for spending were exuding from our local upmarket shopping mall . Cherries at euro 40 per kilo 

..Or the ultimate gift of chocolate and alcohol :this one was so heavy that it needed its own wheels for transport : the cost euro 2000  !!!!

From new world to the old , the new showing conspicuous consumption ; the old riches built on those acquired elsewhere. Madrid was the centre of the Spanish Empire , the pinacle of which was the King . So he built himself a Palace to demonstrate his , and the country’s wealth . This was the welcoming staircase , unfortunately the only part of the palace we were allowed to photo . The rest was of the same opulence , but with the residual feeling for the visitor that it was truly a guided cage . The current members of the royal family must have shared that view as they have decamped to a new abode , leaving the Palace for the tourists .  

Previous governments , not wanting to be out done by their royalty , built Ministries on the same scale ; this one was agriculture . I can’t help wondering whether the peasants voluntarily paid for this ‘

The centre of Madrid has largely retained its’ refined character. This building managed to incorporate a green wall as a way of adding modernity 

On the other hand , the Sophia Museum ,  seems to have landed from outer space .

It  looks as though some of the travellers actually stayed . This Picasso was hanging inside. ET looking for his home?

 

The museum featured works from another Spanish artist , who also pushed the bounds of what could be considered art . Salvador Dali . In that competition , I am not sure who was the winner ?

Picasso or Dali ?

I cannot leave this museum without commenting on an unusual structural feature . The lift shaft glass walls were suspended on steel bars from the roof , and tensioned by giant springs at ground level. I think the architect must have been carried away by the paintings .

However , Madrid has more ‘conventional ‘ spaces , from the bonsai trees in the Botanical gardens…this tree was 20cm tall, and 70years old !

To the house of a ‘conventional painter : Sorolla

…and the ultimate wine bar, these are all wines and beers ‘on tap’. Despite this being the capital city , it is still Spain , with all at very reasonable prices. 

 

Reach for the Sky !

An inspiration ? For :

On the stroke of midnight on August 31 , 1957 , The federal states of Malaya were granted their independence from the British Empire , over which the sun was setting very quickly ! The iconic photos of the new Prime Minister Tunuk Abdul Raman , was used by his son ( Najib )  , the then  prime minister, as the inspiration for the design of KL’s latest tallest building ; Merdeka 118 ( Well that’s according to the PR blurb   ) . The 150 m spire on the top representing the “Tunuk ‘s “ hand pointing skywards ? The cynic would say that 150 metres was necessary to ensure that the building could claim to be the tallest in Asia . It would seem that in Malaysia , each PM needs his own tallest tower . 

To pay for this latest piece of personal aggrandisement ,  Nagib , the PM launched an investment fund for the declared intent of raising monies to invest in Malaysia . The financials of the fund were managed by its’ chairman, the PM and the Finance Minister ; who were conveniently all  the same  person …..Najib . This was clearly too much of a temptation , which culminated in the transfer of USD 600 into his personal bank account . Having lost an election , Najib ended in jail, but Malaysia with a debt of USD 10 billion . This fraud was partly facilitated by the bank Goldman Sacks ; who agreed to pay USD 3.9 billion to avoid prosecution ( and their US executives from going to jail ? ). 

Well back to these towers , which was the purpose of our visit to town . The latest tower is not yet open , and the second  highest doesn’t allow the public in ; so that left the twin towers . This first viewing platform is the sky bridge that connects the two towers , that at the 54 floor . What they don’t tell you is that it is only loosely connected , as it has to cater for the towers moving independently . Two more lift rides and we are at the 82 floor , only two from the top .  There they tell you that the towers have been designed for a wind speed of 130 km per hour ; one third of that of hurricane Katrina !!!!! Our solar panels are designed for more than that . It was miraculously a clear day ,given that this is the rainy season,  and KL could be seen spread around us …; and (  the towers were still standing ) ! The view : towers and further construction , as far as the eye could see. I wonder as the world,s population growth ceases , then deconstruction will follow ? 

Twin towers …as viewed from above 

Towers , and more towers

Strange , the biggest tower now looks smaller

Firmly back on the ground , I couldn’t but marvel at the local pets , and their ability to clear up their own mess . 

And just in case one resident had his own stainless steel pooper scoopers 

An Ultimate Experience

Mmmmmm?

 This is exciting , a black envelope with the intriguing words ‘ an ultimate experience’. A present; excitement rises as I carefully open it : it demands respect . 

A quarter of a century ago, oh it really was that long ago ; a hot air ballon ride was a surprise birthday gift . On a calm cloudless day ( in Devon that was something special in itself ) we gently lifted skywards . It was a strange experience,  in that above about 100 m , I had no sensation , and thus fear, of height . I could have cheerfully jumped out , with a parachute , without any qualms . Onwards and upwards we drifted, another burst of flame from the propane burner maintaining momentum. We were now well above a small plane on its final approach into Exeter airport . It felt , and probably ‘ was a mile up . I looked at my fellow passengers , and decided I wouldn’t attempt to join ‘ the mile high ‘ club !

The next year , and still in one piece, I could be found on my birthday in the cockpit of a glider . Devon has a ridge of hills called the Blackdowns which provide a near perfect updraft for gliders . A giant pulley and long cable provide the necessary momentum for launching , from which the glider releases itself when climbing at 45 degrees . That’s a bit scary , but then it is absolute quiet . With no engine  , and flying along with the air current there is no wind noise . Perfect tranquility . Taking the joy stick with just two fingers I became  the pilot. With the reassuring words from  the professional that the no matter what , if I just let go , the glider would return to horizontal flight ; and that the right way up . 

Another year finds me skyward again , this time over Essex and in a small engined plane . After take off the real pilot handed over control to me , and I actually flew for the next hour . A great elevation from which to view all those features previously seen from  just 2 metres . Flying into cloud , I confirmed that we didn’t radar ; relying on just an infinitesimal  chance of hitting another plane . Emerging from  the cloud , there was another plane a short distance away. Thus proving the point , we didn’t hit it . 

 This year ‘s experience set off my imagination . As a cowboy in the Wild West returning to town in need of freshening up. Sitting in the chair , the barber lathers me up , and then approaches with a cut throat razor . Yes , this is a man’s barber shop , which looks as though it had been transported , not from the `Wild West ‘ , but the ‘West End “ ;and  offers the ‘Ultimate Shaving Experience “ . That with a real cut throat razor ; no safety features here! So I sat very still and just enjoyed . The final act was a facial massage . Just that . After a hair cut in Singapore , I had to stop the masseuse  from descending further than my hands ! Life is full of unexpected experiences . 

    

A city experience 

Tempus Fugit

I don’t think this one of KL’s residents will be seeing in the new year !

Was it really exactly one year ago when we admired the view of KL, and waited for 2023 to arrive ; and now it’s waiting for 2024. That sound rather depressing . A better phrase would be what can we usefully  do with these hours . It’s not just sitting waiting for that final curtain ; but packing the unknown available time with wondrous things that our time on earth potentially offers . So getting off that butt ; what did we do last year ? 

Wow ! we completed our global circumnavigation. OK generally others did the hard work .  We are not of the Jessica Watson ilk . Who, on May 15, 2010, at just sixteen,  became the the youngest person to have ever sailed solo, unassisted and non-stop around the globe.( great Netflix drama ). Two of our children live exactly geographically diametrically opposite each other ( to be precise KL is 101 degree E , and Quito is 78 degree W , both close to the equator .) That is useful at a pub quiz level , but it is airline routes , and costs,  that matter . Hence our navigation which in 22/23 went all the way round , but this time ( 23/24 ) arriving via the UK, we reverse direction travelling back to Quito via Europe .

So that is a lot of travelling ; but it is good to be 6 months back in France, to maintain residency status and ease travel insurance . ; .. and of course it is our home, which is nice to inhabit once in a while . Summer in the south of France is delightful and the garden demands our attention . Our input is rewarding , this year with raspberries and tomatoes proliferating in  the potage . All need watering in the hot dry summer ; using recycled water . That of course, in itself , needs sufficient bodies in the house to produce the raw stuff . So we entertained Home exchange guests and our family for two months .  This keeps us busy; and we have something other than the plants to talk to ! 

The highlight , if that is the word , of last summer was the drought and accompanying fires . It is probable that most of those were started deliberately . There are some really sick people around . The largest was enough to prompt our evacuation ; and then on return the elimination of 10 pine trees now deemed , by me , as too close to the house . The accompanying blog did swell my readership to a giddy 67 , up from low teens . I shall have to establish how to entice interest without a risk to life ( mine ) . 

We discovered Wordle this year , so each day starts with a family competition on who can discover the word in the lowest attempts . Coupled with Sudoku and a simple crossword , it keeps the brain active . Longevity  is assisted by regular physical effort , mine now  being a 3 mile walk each morning . The last 12 months feature has , however , been marked by frequenting a seemingly endless series of great restaurants. This has, very recently,  prompted an attempt at dietary control.  This I will not refer to as a new year’s resolution in case it follows previous failures . 

I am hoping that Jamie Oliver can help through the coming year , his menus always look so healthy and easy to recreate. We recently  discovered Sous Vide , and thus will add that to next years activities . Other major projects will include increasing the houses’ fire containment and adding extra AC . Our response to global warming , that and praying for rain ; our stream ceased to run virtually the entire year . Then we will look again at an Electric car , our diesel BMW is now 10 years old and will be banned in an increasing  list of conurbations . Will evaluate the practicality of integrating with the house solar panels  to provide on site electrical storage . Plenty to keep mind and body active during the coming year . 

So all that is left for the passing year is too wish all my readers a happy and prosperous New year ; and trust  we join in the festivities for ‘25 : 

Christmas in KL

 

Christmas started big with a bang ; or rather 3 hours of jazzed up Christmas classics belted out this larger than life local singer and three piece band . 

Still bopping , we retired next door to an equally funky Mexican restaurant . Not sure what this artist had been on !

Christmas Day demanded some recompense : exercise to make bodily amends . This was our local view ; unfortunately from a video advert

So the next best thing ; “ a walk on the wild side “ ; well in our little bit of forgotten tropical forest …complete with lianas from which to pretend to be Tarzan 

But no ! The local residents required tranquility . Those monkeys are sensitive creatures . 

To get to the forest I first had to scale the “ local hill” complet with security guard. 

The roads were equally deserted , apart from some energetic types ( the dog that is ) , and a passing runner who must have been wearing all her Christmas present ; I could still smell her perfume from 50 metres away 

Oh , then there is always the local cops having a nap at the end of their Night Shift 

Of course , I can’t escape the city entirely ; its impossible to hide the highest building in Asia : I suppose that’s not its objective . 
 

..Nor is futuristic architecture 

It is sad to see what little jungle there is fall to the developers construction . Another private megalith . 

The local residents are striking back . This van is advertising “plant a tree to save the planet”

And this house is adding its own bit of greenery

And so is this office block 

But back to Christmas Day ; it looks like the shoppers are all shopped out !

However our local coffee shop was still in the festive mood giving away free cake 

…and brandy. ! with our coffee

Christmas is also about giving and receiving . My book was about this guy who is as fearsome as he looks . I am glad I never worked for him !