Ultralight DIY Stove - Mini Cook Kit

 As far as outdoor stoves are concerned, finding a perfect stove that does it all in all conditions seems impossible. So, a couple of weeks after playing with my (slightly bulky) DIY Wood Gas Stove,  i've been itching to make another stove & a Mini Cook Kit that is more ideal for short/quick outings.

Finally, after some digging around the house for unused stuffs/materials. I made myself a new tin can alcohol stove for the kit. Since my time spent outdoors usually last less than a day. A packable cook kit that is light & small enough to carry, fuel efficient, effective to cook/boil & easy to use are my criteria for making this little kit.

Here's the fun...

No special tools required. Even a rusty pen knife will get the job done. These cans weigh next to nothing, they're easy to get & the good news is there's a free drink inside if you buy the can!

 

Windscreen, pot stand, binder clips, stove, fuel, lighter, spoon, fork... fit snugly in the pot. 

Plenty of room still available for something else...a few tea bags/coffee sachets & a cup perhaps.

Typical weight weenie, i feel...

 

 One man's junk is another man's treasure, i think...

Happy stoving!

S240 Bikepacking... Old Crag Hotel (Penang’s Hidden Heritage)

Initially, it was supposed to be a simple Sub 24-hour overnight bike trip (S240) to experiment a rackless setup by using dry bag as a seat bag. But we ended up doing something really crazy that i could not possibly imagine especially with two newbies (Chen & Polo) joining the madness, riding one of the toughest trail in Penang on a bikepacking setup.

The plan was simple,
Day 1 : Hye Keat trail - Penang Hill - Old Crag Hotel (Camp)
Day 2 : Tiger Hill - back to where we started

Crag Hotel? Where?
A hidden deserted old hotel...on top of Penang Hill...off the beaten track...coupled with a fascinating history. That’s all i know, i needed to know & i do know, less information = more adventure.

With good company & a place we’ve never been to explore. We rode, we trekked & we joked all the way till the next morning comes & back to where we started 24 hours ago.

Stay tuned, more photos coming soon...

The Land Down Under - The Ride

Just a quick note to say a big thanks for the mountain bike that Richard lent me during our stay in Rosewood. Well, getting on a bike in an unfamiliar land makes me feel like a child again. There are so much to explore in this part of the world. Besides the usual farm horses & alpacas, sightings of wild animals like kangaroos...hares...ducks are surprisingly fascinating. The vast scenic hilly landscape with cool winter breeze makes the ride even sweeter.

Oops! I swear i didn't drink & ride.



Just in case i wandered off into wonderland,
this toy will definitely come in handy.

The Land Down Under - The Sea

See it for yourself... up close and personal! See the magnificent Humpback Whale breach. Hear their great tail slap the water... but that's not all, we were entertained by a school of dolphins & a giant sea turtle before we spotted our first whale of the day. Whale watching is something you shouldn't miss if you had a chance to visit Gold Coast during the whale season.

~ Humpback Whale are the fifth largest animal on the planet, growing up to 18 metres in length and weighing as much as 45,000kg (99,000lbs) - equivalent to 11 elephants or 500 people!

Can't get enough of sea but starting to get seasick?? No worries, Sea World is not far away. We can still see dolphins (show) & other marine life here but ironically the world's largest land carnivore stole the show. Australia's only Polar bears in their home at Sea World.

Another awesome experience... A huge playful 'white' bear swimming gracefully underwater viewed through large underwater viewing window.

The Land Down Under Adventure

It's been ten days now, just a quick update before back to mother land in a week's time...see ya!

Bittersweet Penang National Park

It was a fun friends & family day out at the beach, and what's more, beautiful weather coupled with BBQ & endless supply of cold beers. Everything was so perfect until a dead sea turtle was found floating a few hundred meters off Muka Head beach while we're on our way back to Teluk Bahang harbour. This was my third sea turtle encounter in this area. Unfortunately, this one was not so lucky.What a bittersweet way to call it a day.

Penang National Park is one of the few natural forested areas left on the island. It is also currently the world's smallest national park with a combination of the forest and sea. Rich in biodiversity and wildlife, a fun day at the park/beach can turn into an opportunity to teach the kids about marine life and how we need to protect our seas or mother nature in general.

- Below is a video footage with Pak Atan (boatman), CS and company retrieving the poor turtle from the sea before sending it to the Turtle Conservation Centre at Pantai Kerachut.

Penang Hill

Breathtaking! No matter how many times you been up there, it feels like a new experience every time. Penang Hill, also known as Bukit Bendera or Flagstaff Hill, is 833 m (2,723 ft) above sea level and stands out prominently from the lowlands as a hilly and forested area.













A hill with elevation of about 833 m (2723 ft) has proved that it is one of the toughest for local mountain bikers, but ironically, this make people come back for more. For those who not bike or hike but wish to experience this wonderful hill, obviously taking a ride on this charming Swiss made funicular train is the best way to get up there.



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Penang Char Koay Teow

On 14th February 2009, this popular Penang hawker dish has been declared as a traditional delicacy among other 172 items under the National Heritage listing.

To me, Char Koay Teow is more than just a famous hawker dish in penang. It's the culture, history & memories that make this simple delicacy so special. I've been a great fan of CKT for as long as i can remember. I still remember those days when my buddy & me have to cycle through dark, scary & dogs infested kampung (village) roads just to get to our favorite CKT stall for supper.

Today, i don't have to go through those ordeal for CKT anymore. I can drive or even ride a motorbike, but i guess i still prefer the old way to get my Char koay Teow.

A used Bridgestone Subnade, fully imported from Japan that cost me RM120 only.

Zoo

... a ticket to get closer to nature, family & friends.

Road trip to Koh Samui

Traveling with children can be a wonderful experience.

With a little planning, imagination and a lot of patience,
we drove all the way from Penang (Malaysia) to this beautiful Samui island.

Melaka

BraVo!!! Penang - New Unesco World Heritage Site

LOVE LANE, PENANG
This lane leads into the heart of Georgetown and is filled with incense sticks from roadside shrines, children going to and from school and men drinking in the cafes or repairing bikes.




















The oldest temple in Penang
The Kuan Yin Temple, situated on Pitt Street (now Jalan Mesjid Kapitan Keling) was constructed in the early 1800s by Chinese migrants, on land given by the East India Company.

In the foreground, is a trishaw, an eco-friendly mode of transportation that are fast gaining popularity among tourist.