London is Calling!

Penang, Malaysia route to London, England route is out!

We will reach London on 30 July 2012. London, lookout for the Penang kia coming your way!!

Toyota HILUX 2.5G Auto 4x4!

8 Jan 2012 time 1200hrs- Today we moved another steps closer to our exciting journey to the west. After series of discussion and considerations, our team finally settled down with Toyota HILUX 2.5G Auto 4x4!

This is a large leap forward to re affirmed our commitment. We shall not walk our talk or to be taken lightly as how we been treated since we started this crazy idea of driving round the world!

We are still open for serious enthusiastic who wish to join us. All you need to do is to drop me a mail or contact any of our team members.

Start your engine gentlemen!

Christmas Visit a Great Success! Thank You All For Support

Dear family and friends

Thank you for all your effort and donations to Sinar Ceria Orphanage on 25 Dec 2011 in Bukit Mertajam, Penang.

This again prove that everything is possible with good teamwork and proper planning.

We are looking forward for greater support in our up coming project World Tour for Children Driving Trip Penang to London 01 June 2012!

    

Christmas Joy To The Less Fortunate- Do join us to spread the joy of Christmas to children homes

Dear Family and Friends

It is end of the year again and the holiday mood is back... with Christmas round the corner follow up by New Year and Chinese New Year 2012.

One can't imagine all these 3 happy and family occasions happen within a month apart and I am sure everyone are busy preparing for the big day...  question like 'Should I wear Red or Blue for Christmas dinner?' or 'Where should we have our Chinese New Year eve dinner?' or 'Where should we party our head off for New Year Eve countdown?' sure rings everybody (or almost everybody) heads out there...

But yet again, there is a saying 'One complain about the ugly shoe he have but forgotten those without foot to wear his ugly shoe'...

There are always many ways to spread the joy of Christmas other than big turkey or lavish gifts. We could look around us and share a small portion of our happiness to those who are less fortunate than us...

I and wife are organizing a simple visit to a children homes this coming Christmas 25 Dec 2011 lunch time. We believe in sharing and there is nothing more cheerful to us than to see those smiles on everyone faces rather than those who can 'afford' Christmas... EVERY child deserve Christmas

Purpose: To understand the challenges faced by the 'less famous' and 'less financial' aided homes

Date: 25 Dec 2011

Time: 1100hrs till 1300hrs

Place: Persatuan Kebajikan Sinar Ceria, 1 Jalan Sejahtera, Taman Sejahtera, 14000 Bukit Mertajam, Penang

What to bring: Bring yourself and lots of joy :)- Of course a little donation won't hurt the children... there is no obligation or commitment as to what you give... a gift is STILL a gift and the values comes from the heart and NOT from $$$ worth

Not provided: We will only provides food and gift for the children. Visitor are not provided with MEALS or Christmas gift. Please not come if you looking for FREE FOOD! 

Do feel free to contact us if you wish to join us for this beautiful event.

Note: This event has nothing to do with race, religion or politic! Keep those away...

Capt Steve Foong: th_steve@ymail.com or +65 9171 9635

Suchin Koay: suchinkoay@yahoo.com or +60 12 430 6548

Thank you very much!

Steve

Old Frees Association Singapore 21 Oct 2011 Dinner

Good friendship comes a long way and there is nothing more fulfilling compare to a simple dinner where decades old friendship bonded in Penang Free School comes alive again. 

We are all a very unique and special individual as Scholar, Sportsman and Gentleman. I hope the past, present and future Frees will continue to be the flag bearer to once a Great School. 

As my buddy Adrian King said, 'It is not the magnificent white buildings or the past trophies that makes us Great. It is Us, her children who continue to proved to the World that Old Frees are indeed Great man'

Cheras Uprising 20 Sept 2011... I LOVE MALAYSIA!!!

Cheras, Malaysia- 20th Sept 2011 marks another milestone journey closer to our dream. Thanks to the arrangement made by fellow team mate, Kek Fei- I managed to meet up with one of our most important missing link in our journey, our Technical Adviser Mr Vicky hailed from Sg Petani, Kedah. A guy with pleasant personality and someone who knows what he is talking especially when comes to Land Rovers, I am truly delighted and happy to have him on our team. Not to mention he is fluent in few languages including Hokkien, Cantonese, Tamil, Bahasa Malaysia and English! A true Malaysian by heart and just the right person to represent our team... A Truly Malaysian Team!

I arrived Taman Segar Cheras at approximately 430pm by taxi from KLCC. It was a smooth ride except I got ripped off by the taxi fare, it cost me RM30 from KLCC to Cheras on a blue KIA taxi where else a conventional Red taxi only cost RM15. Reason: I didn't know it was a Premium Taxi.

The first thing I did when I arrived Cheras was to stop by Oriental Martial Arts shop. It was a dream comes true. The moment when I stepped into the shop, I felt like a small little kid stepping into a ice cream shop. The feeling was unexplainable. As a karate-ka myself and been practicing the sport since Penang Free School days, I can't help myself by asking the question that I always wanted to ask for 18years now 'How much it cost for a Shureido or Tokaido gi?'

For anyone for practices Karate, these two are like the Rolls Royce and Ferrari for karate-ka's. No one will ever understand how it feels when you donned the Ultimate gi and in total trance and concentration on the art. It is not a sport but an Art, an Art where the mind controls the actions and perfection by 10,000days of practicing the same movement.

Nonetheless, I didn't forget about my primary task  that brings me to Cheras (apart from Oriental Martial Shop) is to meet up with Vicky, an appointment made 2 weeks in advance. That shows the importance of 'Cheras Uprising Meeting'-

After couple of phone calls made, Vicky sent his friend Bala (sorry if I got his name wrong) in the most charming Orange Colour Land Rover to picked me up in front of Hong Leong Bank Jalan Manis 2.

The journey from Taman Segar to Vicky's place didn't take long as both are in Cheras. Once arrived, Vicky gave me a warm welcome to his humble workshop and showed me around. I was most impressed especially the 6x6 in his garage. We didn't waste time and go straight into business.

Firstly I need to explain to Vicky my purpose of organizing the trip and how are we going to do it. We shared the same frequency in speech and Vicky quickly understand my goal. Approximately after an hour into the discussion, we came into few conclusions:

1) We should consider reversing the trip from London/ Europe to Penang instead. This is to create a 'balik kampung' feeling and it will be more meaningful to drive home.

2) Ownership of vehicles and numbers of vehicles. At the moment, we are able to commit only to two Land Rover of the same model. We need to check on the budget of transporting the Land Rover from Malaysia to Europe or would it be cheaper if we get it from UK? Further enquiry with fellow Old Frees who worked in a logistic firm in KL, we figured out approximate cost for a 40' container including agency fees around RM10000 from Port Klang to Southampton/ Rotterdam. This comes down to RM5000 per vehicle.

3) We need to take into account of different types of travelers. Since this is not a convoy, we are skeptical of choosing our team player and only those who willing to play a role are allow to tag along.

4) As we are not sponsored by Malaysia giants telecommunication company, unlike the world trip by Datuk Azhar Mansoor we will have limited communication ways and will rely heavily on long range VHF and hand held UHF.

5) We need to make up a list of Rules of Do's and Don'ts. Strict Rules where NO ONE in convoy are allow to break.

6) Paperwork used to be my biggest concern but I was given the assurance by Vicky that this is something we should not put much effort into. Everything can be done with local agent and of course, money!

After everything was well said and done, I gave my final handshake to Vicky to a beautiful beginning in friendship.

Our next step, who are our team members?

Thank you all for your support and we shall make it back to Penang in 2012!

Steve
27 Sept 2011
0030hrs Singapore

An average person with average talent,ambition and education, can outstrip the most brilliant genius in our society,if that person has clear,focused goals.