modus vivendi of Clovern: July 2009

The value of props as a tool for all kind of alignment in yoga poses (Asanas) is indeniably beneficial for yoga practitioners.

During these 2 years of yoga practice, I know I need to get myself a pair of yoga blocks especially for my jump through and back poses. Whenever I pass by any sports or yoga store, I will peek at whatever accesories they have to gear up my yoga collections. But end up, I will just walk away with empty hand, and keep on delaying on buying one.

Until one day, my instructor recommended a shop that she usually get yoga products from, exxe.

There are 2 outlets in Singapore, one is at Velocity and the one that I went is located at the Orchard Central. At first, I have some doubt about the stuffs with Hello Kitty cartoon on it as it would be too girlish and pinkish for me (not my kind of style though).
But, when I first laid my eyes on the endearing light pinko Hello Kitty blocks,
I was yelling: " Sooooooo cute! You guys are coming home with me!"

Awwwwww..... Aren't they cute?

The Hello Kitty performing a Upward Facing Dog pose - Urdhva Mukha Svanasana.

Once again, it's super ccccccuuuuttteeeeee....

They even match with my Ikea's little pinky stool! (Sorry for the messy mussy room).

I'm so going to bring over this Nike yoga mat and HelloKitty block for my up-coming YTT, Yaaayyyyaaa!

Now what? I need to get a yoga strap to accessorize my yoga gear.

Right after the day of Mount Kinabalu trekking trip, we headed over to the Padas River Whitewater Rafting. Initially, we were a bit skeptical about whether we could make it all the way for another ultimate challenge after 2 continuous enervating hiking days. I was grumbling about my achy legs and it's hurt really bad for just walking up the staircases to the hotel room. They all even told me that we will be just using our hands to paddle, nothing to do with our legs.

I was utterly speechlees!

Then later at night, OTC got a call from the river guide, saying that we have to wait for his call in the morning at around 7 o'clock to confirm the rafting as it has to be determined by the weather and rapids on the day itself. Thus, if it's raining or raining the day before and cause a high turbulence rapids, we can't go for the whitewater rafting.

Luckily (or unfortunately), he called early in the morning and we all packed up and carried our exhausted soul and physical body, hopped on the van at 8am sharp, proceed to out next destination, Tenom, a small town located in interior division of Sabah. It took us about one and a half hour to reach Tenom and towards the whole journey, I was dragging myself the whole journey until we reached a village near Pangi at 11am.

I totally have no idea how much fun I was about to have!

We were all geared up with helmet and life jacket, we were ready to go... So excited!!!

From left to right: CCE a.k.a WILD BOAR, OTC, CLY, Ben Lai a.k.a MONKEY KING, Clovern & Yang.

A series of hilarious jumping poses directed by the river guide.

Could you notice the railway track on right hand side? Supposingly, there is an antique old train that takes passengers to Beaufort, but now is undergoing some sort of repair work that will take about 2 years time or even until the 10MP (10th Malaysian Plan) regarding to the river guide. He was so funny!
They are so smart, the alternative way of channelling

from place to place would be this.

The Flintstone style .

7 of us plus our refreshment a.k.a watermelon were pushed by
2 macho guys on a trolley up to Pangi.

At the beginning, we were getting thrilled by scenic ride along the Padas river.
After half an hour, our back and buttocks felt numb as we sitting cross-legs
in such a packed area but we still managed to squeeze a smile.

Finally we arrived at the starting point after 1 hour plus of trolley ride.

Light refreshments served in the middle of the village.

Again, we were asked to do some jumping poses prior to the real wave hunter began.

Hoooraay...

It's very important to have a safety briefing before the extreme excursion begins.

Apparently, we would be carried by the raft, the inflatable boat that made from rubber and PVC containing pressurised gas. Neh, the kind of boat that use in Titanic movie to rescue people when the tragic accident really happened.

The river guide then explained to us how to get balance by sitting down on the edge of the raft and paddle in the same time. Don't play play, water rafting can be quite a dangerous and high risk sport, we required to fill in the indemnity form in case anything happen to us.

Bye! *sobbing* Daddy, jie, Billy, Arion, Jasmine and mummy, bless me!

Then, something thrilled happened.....

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Exhilarating adventure shooting through rapids started down the Padas River
( Level III to IV ). Level III to IV means experienced paddling skills needed for rafters as there maybe large waves, rocks, and a considerable drop and waves.

7 of us were guided by 2 experience river guides, without them, we were doomed!

Uh-hoo.... Attacked by the violent splash of whitewater.

The 30km white water rafting journey, makes the longest in Borneo itself and it will take around 2 hours to reach the ending point.

And it holds 7 exciting and tough rapids such as Merry-Go-Round Rapid, Break Point Rapid, Scooby Doo Rapid, Cobra Rapid, Curve Rapid, Lambada Rapid and Head Hunter Rapid.

Keep on paddling! Don't ever stop propelling!

Heading towards Cobra rapids.

We made it through the level III rapid that require significant maneuvering.

See the river guide (black shirt) behind me. He was trying to lift me up and throw me into the river. I quickly kneeled down and cried out loudly. LOL.

Yet, another fast and furious ripple awaiting us.