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i Darts Featured on JOM Magazine

May 23, 2013 By Kim Ong

I joined the world of i Darts, Asia’s most popular electronic darts bar.

Developed in synergy with DARTSLIVE, i Darts outlets have spread worldwide to Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Hong Kong, Japan and now finally, i Darts has arrived down under in Australia! The game of darts has been reinvented. The innovative machine, DARTSLIVE2, creates an exciting and unique experience for playing darts. DARTSLIVE2 is a multi-player gaming and digital media delivery service. Paired with a DARTSLIVE CARD, players can experience a socially global network by competing with other DARTSLIVE Players worldwide.

Read more about it here via JOM Magazine, a Malaysian-Australian magazine:

You’d find a feature of Josiah on page 20. More on i Darts from page 56 onwards.

Filed Under: Alternative Fitness, Media

I Have Lost 8 Pole Years

April 6, 2013 By Kim Ong

I have been pole dancing for more than three years now, and I am at mid Advanced level. You see, every pole term is 8 weeks and we start off with Beginner, Intermediate 1-3, Advanced 1-3. I breezed through the initial Beginner to Intermediate 2 and then the levels got tougher, required more upper body strength and I had to clock in many more hours to have the strength to stay up the pole.

Before I put pole dancing on hold for a while, I was doing about 4 hours of pole dancing each week – 2 set classes (spin and static) and 2 casual classes (stretch, or strengthening of some sort). It was not enough, considering the fact that Advanced levels required so much strength and agility but because my body remembers the same set of tricks each time, it was conditioned to improve for the better. The real professional competitors (pole instructors) clock in at least 4 hours of workout each day like real athletes.

And then I left for Europe and the US with Josiah for 6 months for the Olympics, a holiday and to pursue a startup business idea. When we came back, I started running with the Nike Run Group in Melbourne twice a week to improve my endurance. Today after 2 weeks of no-running, a holiday in Malaysia in spite of the climb up Mount Kinabalu, my body seemed to forget how to do most tricks.

I have missed 8 months of pole work, so it would be 8 pole years altogether.

It was a bit demotivating today personally for myself in A3 class when girls were doing Pantera climbs (imagine pulling your body up to the top of the pole using only arm strength) and I had to simplify the moves to cater to my capabilities. My muscular and fit instructor, Hollie was very encouraging reminding me that it was my first official A3 class back in the studio. I went for two A2 classes in the past two weeks with Gracie, it wasn’t as daunting, but A3 seems to be a different level now altogether. In Pole Divas’ (my studio) Unleashed level, it is considered “Elite Category”.

I will give myself 2 weeks to regain its muscle memory, having the strength to get back on to the pole. I’ve sold my pole at home last year, so it means going to the studio more often. I am going to take it easy, not expect too much at this point otherwise I would risk an injury. But yes, I’m looking forward to a good pole year. Maybe some competitions ahead for fun?

Filed Under: Pole Dance

Fly Yoga at Dreams Dance Studio Malaysia

March 31, 2013 By Kim Ong

I had my first Fly Yoga session at Dreams Dance Studio in Subang Jaya, Malaysia. It’s yoga using silks cloth (tissu) except without loose ends and without the height. The cloth is draped as in the above photo, aimed to help participants hold their body positions, offering resistance for a good stretch. In some other places, Fly Yoga is also known as Partner Yoga, Acro Yoga and Circus Yoga. You can call it whatever you want really – Cloth Yoga, or Yoga Kain (Malay translation).

I went for my very first Fly Yoga session instructed by Catherine Chew. Catherine took us through a thorough warm-up floor yoga session before directing us to the fly yoga. At the end of the session, every part of my body would have been all stretched out and I would be sweating heaps, working out my core muscles if not enhancing my flexibility.

The founder of Fly Yoga at Dreams Dance Studio is Reiko Studio who started off with small private group classes and personal 1 on 1 training programmes. The demand for her classes grew as passion to share their knowledge grew with it so they had to acquire a ‘sanctuary’ to grow and spread their dreams.

It’s a new wave of fitness regime for women in Kuala Lumpur. You can never go wrong when you commit to a one-hour instructed session like this. I wonder if Fly Yoga is here to stay for a while – will it take off or will it merely be a wave or a fad? I’m waiting to see when a booty barre or body barre would become available in Malaysia seeing pole dancing, aerial silks and hoops have already taken off quite rapidly.

Filed Under: Alternative Fitness

Red Bull Garage Tour 2013

March 30, 2013 By Kim Ong

Perks of a cyclist’s wife, having the honour to accompany Josiah on a garage tour with Red Bull Racing, the leading team for this year’s Malaysian GP. The experience was absolutely spectacular – how people work behind the scenes, not just about the cars zooming away to podium finish. So much more involved, so technical and specific to each team.

Well done Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber for leading in this year’s race. Well done Red Bull Wings!

Filed Under: Events

JOHNNIE WALKER® Circuit Lounge Malaysia 2013

March 29, 2013 By Kim Ong

JOHNNIE WALKER® Circuit Lounge event was an exclusive gathering of A-list celebrities, leaders of commerce, and privileged competition winners to celebrate the race weekend at the Terminal 2, Subang Skypark on 23 March 2013. The event had glamorous people sipping to whiskies like Black Label, Double Black and Gold Label with master mixologists introducing different concoctions.

“Lining up to entertain the guests for the night were celebrated producer and DJ Ivan Gough, known for his eclectic remixes and legendary tracks over the past 10 years, along with the groovy beats of DJ Vogue Williams, the vivacious Irish model and DJ, and IMMA*BLEEP*YOUUP!, one of the most energetic local DJ trios in Kuala Lumpur, promising to bring their pumped up original sounds and tracks that are sure to rock the night.” (Source: HYPE.my)

Josiah and I had a great time meeting people, some new faces and some others we haven’t seen in ages – seeing we don’t live in Malaysia and four years in Melbourne actually put us out of touch with many! Great night. Johnnie Walker has a reputation in Malaysia for holding the best parties.