Chocolate Run 2017

• 21 January 2017
• Taman Tasik Cyberjaya  
• Flagged off at 4.30p.m. for 10 km; 4.45p.m. for 6 km and 5.00p.m. for 3 km family run
• My category – 6 km
• Price – RM75.00 (in a group of 4 runners), otherwise is RM80.00 per runner
• Race Pack – Blue T-Shirt, registration bib and vouchers
• Goodies – Medal, a bowl with a packet of muffin, banana and Magnolia Chocolate milk

We arrived at the park at 3.30p.m. and walked towards the stage and noticed that there was zumba as a warm up for the runners.  

Zumba in sesssion

The organiser started the run late as the 10k.m. runners were flagged off at 4.50pm and the 6km runners flagged off at 5.00pm. There was not much scenery, just buildings, offices and shops. It was a very smooth run, with no slopes at all.  

There were 3 stations on the way. The 1^st station served you 2 pieces of chocolate cookies and a bottle of mineral water; 2^nd station served you a bottle of mineral water, Cloud 9 chocolates and Magnolia chocolate milk (but I was told that chocolate milk had run out) and 3^rd station served you chocolate ice-cream. There were no portable toilets during the run and they were only provided at the starting line.

When we arrived at the finishing point, we were given our medals. 

However, to get the bowl of goodies, the queue was so long that you just lose interest in wanting to collect it. Most of my friends didn’t even bother to queue to collect it. As for me, I went straight to the bowl collection and picked up my bowl of goodies and none of the organisers cared. Basically, the queue was not moving at all and the runners were taking their own sweet time to choose their bowl! All the bowls were the same, just grab it and go.   

Bowl of goodies

There were lucky draws but we decided to leave as Hannah and Salaree wanted to go to the playground.

Lucky draw time

Check out the pictures below:-

Food Truck

I’ve been working at Lebuh Pasar area for the past 11 years and I must say, I don’t know where to eat anymore.

The emergence of food trucks this year in front of HSBC Bank (headquarters) at Lebuh Ampang, gave me happiness as I know where to get fast and reasonable food.

Here are the food trucks that are there every day during my lunchtime:-

Mat Rock Nasi Kunyit

Menu and the price

This was the 1^st food truck that appeared in front of HSBC. This truck sells Nasi Kunyit Ayam (Chicken), Daging (Beef), Sotong (Squids) and Udang (Prawn). So far, I’ve only tried Nasi Kunyit Ayam and it’s delicious. The rice comes with the meat you order, vegetables (carrots, long beans and onions) and black kicap (thick soya sauce) on top of it. If you want additional fried egg, just add on RM1.00 for it. Sambal (spicy chili paste) is optional. As for some people, they may find that the kunyit meat itself is already spicy, so therefore no additional Sambal. I do recommend you to try the food at this food truck.   

Be prepared for the long queue........

Ayam Kunyit RM5.00

Foodex

Menu and prices by the side of the truck

 

Salad and sandwich fridge

Their packaging

Foodex food truck only arrived in October 2016. This truck is always park nearby Mat Rock. Foodex only sells Western food; i.e. sandwiches, salads, spaghetti and chicken chop. Overall, the portion is reasonable but if you are a big eater, you may find it not sufficient. The price is very reasonable and the taste is good. I do recommend you to try the food at this food truck.

There will be a queue but not as long as Mat Rock Nasi Kunyit

Spaghetti Bolognese with chicken RM8.90, without chicken RM6.90. The sauce is nice but sometimes, watery. Chicken was already pre-cooked so when they put it on top, it's already cold

Spaghetti with mushroom sauce and beef bacon RM6.90 (promotional price),  RM8.90 (original price). The portion for this spaghetti is huge, creamy sauce but at times, can be slight watery. Also,  reasonable portion of beef bacon.  I do recommend this.  

These are the things that come with chicken chop. Choose either black pepper or mushroom sauce

Grilled Chicken chop with black pepper sauce RM8.90. The chicken is juicy and the mashed potato tasted like being made from powder. Overall, I wouldn't complain much as it's not too bad

Hanjuku Tamago & Potato Sandwich RM3.50 . Tasted like ordinary egg sandwich. Nothing special

The packaging for your fresh salad 

Corn Fed Chicken Salad RM6.90. It comes with lettuce, onions, red and green peppers, cherry tomatoes, topped with chicken,  sweet vinegar, thousand island and mayonnaise as dressings. The salad is very fresh and with the mixture of the dressings, it tasted good. I do recommend this salad.

Pak Cu Jambu (guava)

I wouldn’t call this a food truck, more of a motorbike and a table store. Pak Cu used to have a small outlet together with burger store outside Central Market. I was buying from them for a good few years. They disappeared without telling me where they went. After a year or so, they came back and started selling their jambus in front of HSBC. This so called “food motorbike” came to HSBC first, then Mat Rock and Foodex. They are still selling their guavas cheap, 2 sliced guava for RM1.00. I will always order RM2.00 as I won’t get the satisfaction of having RM1.00 guava. The "assam" (prune powder) that goes with the guava tasted very good and I love the "assam" so much. To me, I would say it's the best "assam". Apart from guavas, they also sell Cincau (grass jelly drink), pink and green guava juices.    

Be prepared for the long queue........

Cincau (grass jelly drink) RM1.00 for one

Guava RM2.00 for 4 slices

Looks nice from the top

There is another food truck that sells burgers, sausages, chicken nuggets and fish balls in sticks, fried banana fritter, currypuff and drinks. Honestly, so far I only tried their fried banana fritters and they tasted good. 

No name for this food truck

Fried banana fritters, 5 pieces for RM2.00

Ice Skating Rinks

My little girl Salaree has been interested to learn skating after watching the movie Frozen. She wanted to skate like Queen Elsa and have super powers to freeze things when people make her angry. 

I decided to let her try skating. There are 4 skating rinks in Malaysia; Sunway Pyramid Ice at Sunway Pyramid mall, Royale Ice Skating rink at the Royale Chulan Hotel in Damansara Perdana, Icescape Ice Rink at IOI City Mall, Putrajaya and Malaysia National Ice Skating Stadium, Empire City Damansara Perdana. 

Sunway Pyramid Ice

Her 1^st skating experience was at Sunway Pyramid Ice. These are the details:-

The skating rink from the top

The prices on their screen

Get your shoes size measured at the shoe counter. Pick up your shes and put them on.....

Preparation before going onto the ice 

Class finished

Lessons & Rates

Weekdays

Type of Lessons	Coach	Senior Coach	Foreign Coach
Group 4-10 Students 5 x 30 min lessons	RM 130.00	RM 160.00	RM 180.00
Semi-Private 2-3 Students 5 x 30 min lessons	RM 200.00	RM 225.00	RM 245.00
Private 5 x 30 min lessons	RM 285.00	RM 310.00	RM 330.00
Walk-In* Per Students 1 x 30 min lessons *Pre-booking is required	RM 65.00	RM 65.00	RM 75.00

Weekends

Type of Lessons	Coach	Senior Coach	Foreign Coach
Group 4-10 Students 5 x 30 min lessons	RM 160.00	RM 190.00	RM 210.00
Semi-Private 2-3 Students 5 x 30 min lessons	RM 235.00	RM 255.00	RM 275.00
Private 5 x 30 min lessons	RM 320.00	RM 340.00	RM 360.00
Walk-In* Per Students 1 x 30 min lessons *Pre-booking is required	RM 70.00	RM 70.00	RM 80.00

Registration Fee	RM40.00 (First time enrolment only)
Student Practice Credit (SPC)	RM65.00 (5 practices valid for 2 months ONLY)
Student card replacement	RM20.00

Public Skating Rates

Public Skating Admission Rates

Daily Schedule	Adult / Child	Pyramid Ice Member
Weekday	RM 20.00	RM 15.00
Weekend	RM 25.00	RM 20.00
School & Public Holidays	RM 28.00	RM23.00

Operation Hours

Weekday	9.00AM – 8.00PM
Saturday	9.00AM – 10.00PM
Sunday	9.00AM – 8.30PM
School & Public Holidays	9.00AM – 10.00PM (Only applicable on Monday – Saturday) 9.00AM – 8.30PM (Sunday)

Ice Resurfacing

Weekday	Weekend
02:30PM 05:00PM 08:00PM	12:00PM 02:00PM 04:00PM 06:00PM 08:00PM

Time is subject to change without prior notice. Applies to earlier close of the ice rink due to ice-hockey training and student practice times.

Additional

Socks	RM6.00
Gloves	RM9.00

About the place and advice:

1. After her class, we were informed that it’s better to have an early class, i.e. in the morning when there are not many people on the rink as it could be dangerous for someone as small as my little girl. During weekends, it’s usually crowded so best to have class on a weekday morning.
2. Once you make the payment for a walk-in class, you enter the rink site; there is no one to assist you. I had to ask around 'where is the coach??' The front reception did not pass the message through properly….?
3. It is a big skating rink and they will hold competitions and performances.
4. There is a counter selling ice-creams and mineral water.

For more information, to contact:-

Catherine (Skating Academy PIC)

LG3, Sunway Pyramid

Jalan PJS 11/15

Bandar Sunway

47500 Petaling Jaya

Selangor Darul Ehsan

Tel: 03- 7492 6800

Fax: 03- 7492 2808

Fb: www.facebook.com/PyramidIce


Royale Ice Skating Rink

Her 2^nd skating class was at Royale Ice Skating Rink. These are the details:-

Registration counter. Make your payment here.

The skating shop

Pick up your shoes here

Entrance to the skating rink

Mini cafe for you to get fast drinks and snacks while waiting for our kids to finish

Entrance to the Penguin Cafe

Inside Penguin Cafe

Lockers

The team

Salaree during class

If you are taking classes, it will include free use of the penguin

Salaree with coach Amrita

About the place and advice:

1. The skating rink is small and difficult to have skating classes during school holidays. 
2. There is a café next to the rink. The price is on the high end. You can host your birthday party there as well.

For more information, to contact:-

Royale Ice Skating Rink

Royale Bintang The Curve

6, Jalan PJU 7/3

Mutiara Damansara

47800 Petaling Jaya

Selangor Darul Ehsan

Tel: 03- 7959 9000 ext 1903

Fb: https://www.facebook.com/RoyaleIceSkatingRink

Icescape Ice Rink 

There is another skating rink in Malaysia and that is the Icescape Ice Rink at IOI City Mall, Putrajaya. Salaree has yet to try that rink out. However, we did have a look at that rink.

About the place and advice:

An Olympic skating rink. Although you may think that it’s in Putrajaya and there may not be many people, but the crowds are there mostly in the afternoon.

For more information, to contact:-

Icescape Ice Rink

Lot AT-04, Lebuh IRC

IOI Resort City

62502 Putrajaya, Sepang

Selangor Darul Ehsan

Tel: 03- 8328 8880

Email: icescape@ioigroup.com

Fb: www.facebook.com/icescapeicerink

Malaysia National Ice Skating Stadium (MYNISS), Empire City

This Olympic size skating rink was built for the SEA Games 2017 held in Kuala Lumpur and was 
opened on August 2017. In this SEA Games, the organiser had included Ice Hockey, Speed Skating 
and Figure Skating. The shopping mall is not opened yet. There are only a few eateries 
that are opened around the skating rink area. My little girl has yet to check out the ice rink, but have 
managed to gather the information required. 

About the place and advice:
An Olympic skating rink. It's still new and less skater. The place is wet as it's leaking.
For more information, to contact:-

Malaysia National Ice Skating Stadium (MYNISS), Empire City

8, Jalan Damansara 

Empire City, PJU 8

47820 Petaling Jaya

Selangor Darul Ehsan

Tel: 017-350 6173

Fb: www.facebook.com/MYNISS.EmpireCity/

What to bring for skating / skating class:-
(a)       Pair of gloves

(b)       Socks

(c)       Long sleeves as it could be cold for some people

(d)       Extra change of clothes as you will definitely fall on the ice and wet your pants

(e)       Water as it’s expensive to buy inside

Tips when trying out skating:-

(a)      Arrive early as you need to try on the shoes and approximately 5-10 minutes to get them on
(b)      Start early in the morning as the crowd will be there mostly in the afternoon (from what I observe)
(c)      Beware of traffic, i.e. sometimes you may find people who already know how to skate and they will be zooming around very fast. Even though they are able to balance and skate, accidents still happen, especially when they slip. So be observant of your surroundings.