Let it Snow. Let it Snow. Let it Snow!!

The year 2008 is almost coming to an end. It's sure a time to ponder what we've achieved this year and maybe we can improve on some things or even make a new resolution for the New Year. Nah...Making a resolution just never works for me. I just don't think it works. I just go with the flow and do whatever I want. The year 2009 will be an interesting one for me or rather it will be a busy year for me. Wedding plans are on the way for the 'Big Day' in the summer of 2009. I'm kind of freaking out a little bit thinking about it. People always say, 'Don't stress out...have fun with it'. Yeah right, it never turns out that way no matter how hard you try. I guess 'going with the flow' is always the best. Do what you can and try keeping at it. Hey, I just realized it that would be my new 'motto'.

As I'm writing this blog, snow is really coming down hard. I just love it. The snowfall really relaxes me for some reason. For the last 17 years I've been in Canada, the snow this year is A LOT!! Wow...time for some snowshoeing in the city rather than up on the mountains. Ray and I with my nephew, Ethan, did a testdrive on the snow up at Grouse a couple weeks ago when it first opened up. I tell ya, it's amazing!!! Just loving life as I'm snowshoeing. We really should take this opportunity. I'm telling my friends and family back home about this and they think we're in heaven to have snow. My niece really wishes to come to Canada to go skiing. I just can't say enough how lucky I am here enjoying life with the beauty of nature =)
Two things I did this year that I constantly raved about were climbing the tallest mountain in SE Asia and doing my first half marathon. This year in the summer, I was back home visiting my friends and family in Brunei and traveled to other places in SE Asia like Singapore, Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur. Though it was long, it was a fantastic trip. The highlight of this trip was Ray and I hiking the tallest mountain in SE Asia called Mt. Kinabalu (4093m). It sure brought pride out of me for doing something like that and also it was very emotional especially getting proposed at the top of the peak of Mt. Kinabalu. I find it hard to describe my feelings in words only if you can imagine... ^o^

The other thing I am proud of myself was running my first half marathon this fall in Toronto. Loved this course; flat and scenic. For the very first time, I felt like I could run a long distance...well, of course not fast...hehe. The most important thing was I DID IT!!!!! I am hoping to do a full marathon next year sometime towards the end of the year, maybe in Sacramento??? Who knows...will see how much energy is left in me after the wedding. Until then, I wish everyone a Safe and Happy Holiday Season. See you in the New Year!!!!!

Gunner Shaw 10K/Bear Mountain at the Westin Hotel in Victoria

A quick and small getaway is always good. I needed it so bad because it has been very stressful at work these last few weeks. Ray and I went to Victoria for his trail race called Gunner Shaw 10K at Thetis Lake Regional Park. At the same time, we treated it as a mini vacation at the Bear Mountain Westin Hotel Golf Resort. I never knew that this place existed before and apparently it's a new development in this area. The Westin Hotel was built just within the last 3 years. It is fairly new and as usual the room is always nice.
The race, with about 450 participants, was a tough and challenging 10K trail running race. There were about 15 Lions Gate Road Runners (LGRR) that ran this race. Though it was hilly, muddy and wet, they all tackled the course real well and came in with awesome times. Ray finished in 58th/420 overall and 20th/78 for his age group with a time of 45:26mins as recorded here.
Other than the race, we did a little exploration of the city of Victoria. It was about 8 to 10 years ago since I was in Victoria and for Ray, it must have been ages since he was there. We had some high tea at the Empress Hotel and we really enjoyed it a lot. The hotel didn't change a lot since I was there the last time for afternoon tea with my mom and aunt. We also did some hiking at Mount Finlayson (419m) which was just located behind our hotel at Bear Mountain. It was a tough one to hike because of the wetness on the rocks. It reminds me of Mount Kinabalu (4,093m,) where it was slippery and quite dangerous. Obviously, Mt. Finlayson is not as tall and hard as Mt. Kinabalu but it can be treacherous if you are not wearing the proper shoes and outfit in a wet condition. I wished I was told about it before I hiked it...^o^