KDCF to be Gazetted

From The Star, 9 July 2009:

Forest to be gazetted by end of the year

THE KOTA Damansara forest will be gazetted as a permanent forest reserve by the year-end at the latest.

In a reply to Kota Damansara assemblyman Dr Nasir Hashim, tourism, consumer affairs and environment chairman Elizabeth Wong said that the state executive council had on May 27 approved for the forest to be gazetted.

“We have started the process through the Selangor Forestry Department (JPNS) by giving the approval plans to the Mapping and Survey Department (Jupem) to prepare a gazette plan,” said Wong.

She said the process was expected to be completed before September but no later than the end of 2009.

At the same time, the forest area would be gazetted as a forest reserve, educational forest and research forest under Section 10(1) of the National Forestry Act 1986.

“This would open up possibilities for the state to have a suitable forest management plan for the area, including its potential as a recreation and forest biology education area,” she said.

Read the full article here.

What happens next?

This photo was taken at the 2009 Red Bull Air Race in San Diego. Care to guess what happens next?

Copyright, as far as I can tell, by Red Bull.

Click here for the "after" photo.

Catalunya 2009: The most amazing bike race finish

You have got to see this video, where Rossi pips Lorenzo at the last turn of yesterday's Catalunya MotoGP race. The breathy Italian commentator (Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia! Mamma Mia!) is a bonus. I don't ever recall having seen a race where the lead changed hands FOUR times in the final lap. Amazing! I am sure it will go down in history as one of the greatest motorcyle duels.



Edit
Okay, it appears that the video I linked above no longer works. Here's another link, showing the last 2 laps this time. You will see that Lorenzo passes Rossi at the end of the start finish staight at the end of lap 3, but Rossi immediately outbrakes him at the turn, and deftly tucks his knee in to avoid contact.

My Excuse

It's amazing how much difference a couple of weekends of missed rides will do to my fitness. The following are my excuses:

Hanging out in Surfer's Paradise with some sea froth.

At Warner Brother's Movie World. Rating: 4 out of 5. Bonus points for having a halal restaurant.

Shasya and Pugsley at O'Reilly's Canungra Valley Vineyards. 5/5. Superb scones and picnic spot. Friendly pig was a bonus. (Asthaghfirghullah, I hear you say. But note that some Muslims believe that you just can't EAT them, and touching is ok. The fur is coarse, in case you were wondering ;-)

Shasya and your correspondent on the trail walk in O'Reilly's at Lamington National Park. 5/5, definitely worth the 2 hour drive from Surfer's. Note the wheelchair-friendly trail, that leads out onto an equally disabled-friendly canopy walkway. Very well thought out, and something that we should think about for KDCF.

Seaworld. Suprisingly blegh. 2/5.

Paradise Country. Very touristy, but enjoyable nonetheless. Activity-driven, so the kids had fun. Halal steaks for lunch. 4/5.

Australian Outback Spectacular. Great show, but more stunts please. Pretty expensive admission price, but includes food and free-flow of beer and wine. Little wonder then that it was popular with the locals, but not so great if you don't drink. Vegetarian option was very blegh. 3/5.

Hanging out with Spongebob and Patrick at Dreamworld. 4/5.



Above and below: Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary. You can get up close and personal with 'roos, emus and crocs. (Not to mention some big-ass spiders.) Kids liked the interactive experience. 4/5.

The Very Pathethic Pedaller

Wow, what a ride. Pat and I went out for a recce for the next hash, and the following occured:

I made the mistake of having a Coke along the way, and the gas made me nauseous, so much so that I had to induce myself to throw up lunch;

my neck and back muscles started to fatigue, and I could hardly stand the pain of keeping my head up -- and this on a full-suspension rig;

my quadriceps started to cramp;

then the calves;

and then the hamstrings;

I had to be towed by Pat for the last 5km or so.

In view of the foregoing, I have decided that this blog should now be called the Very Pathethic Pedaller, until such time that I regain a modicum of fitness.

Photo by Phil Bee.