This week, I’m on a holiday over at Bohol, Philippines. A beautiful island located 2 hours away from Cebu. It has a beautiful beach front and an awesome place for diving. But it’s also a place full of tourist traps so do lots of research before you head down to Bohol. (the traps are pretty much like the ones in Phuket) Continue reading
I mean a bag is just a bag, what’s so special about a timbuk2′s bag? And why when it comes to getting a bag the name Timbuk2 is the first in my mind.
I first fit to know about Timbuk2 in 1999. I was riding a bike that time and I needed a bag that have water resistant feature, preferably with reflective strips so when I go riding at night I could be seem by the cars.There were some messenger bags around but nothing caught my eye.
Than I was introduced by a fellow biker to Timbuk2. Timbuk2 was different, it allows me to customize colors and It came with reflective strips but most importantly it had lifetime guarantee. This lifetime guarantee was actually the key motivator that led me to mine first purchase.
After the first purchase, I was so please with the product. I brought my 2nd, 3rd and now 4th Timbuk2 bag. All this while, the key motivator reminds the same. If my bag got spoilt I would send it back. But for the past 11 years although there were some wear and tear I never really attempt to claim for the guarantee. In fact, Timbuk2 has play a part in each stage of my life. (See the my collection below)
This was until last month, the handle of my bag pack gave up on me and I email Timbuk2 about the issue.
Without much questions asked, I was issued a store credit (US$109) for a bag of similar value. (Customer Service was fast and friendly)
Now this store credit makes me happy real happy. I am so happy that I am now blogging about it. A bag I used for 5 years can be change for a new one, where can you find this kind of deal? What are the chances?
Not only did I claim for the store credit but I also told my girlfriend to get one too. Because I know if anything goes wrong with the bag, we can always do a return.
Now from a business perspective, Timbuk2 spent US$109 but it gain so much more.
A bag is a bag, businesses cannot compete on commodities but by delivering customer satisfaction, you (Timbuk2) made a difference.
Now this is something I have to learn from Timbuk2 and apply it strongly on Bikeroger. I also aimed to make Bikeroger a part of a cyclist lifecycle. Just like Timbuk2 is too me
How about you? Are you in love with any particular brand? How are you differentiating your products against others?
Batam KTM Resort – A nice and budget get away for 2D1N
Last Friday, I took leave and venture to Batam. I brought the package from Batam Spa Villa, 2D1N. Did not took up the city tour as I find it too much of a tourist trap.
Well I have to say at S$140, the package isn’t too bad after despite hearing poor reviews from friends especially for their food.
View from my room. They stated ocean view :p but it’s not too bad to wake up with this kind of view greeting you. And I went on Friday so it was less crowded as well.
Room was not too bad. Good enough for 2, but the bed sheet was a bit dirty thou. Comes with common facilities, aircon, water-heater, tv and most importantly wireless in the room.
Spa venue was great facing the “ocean” and look across carefully you can see Singapore. It was a 90mins spa with foot bath, hot tub and massage.
Hot tub near the sea view, sometimes you get to see boatman passes by too. You will start to wonder what they will be thinking when they are out working hard fishing while you sits comfortably in a hot tub…
Food is alright, not as bad as my friends mention. In fact I personally find it quite tasty.
Basically when you buy the package, you do not need to bring much money or change too much indo coz you won’t spend too much. In the package, you get a complimentary lunch and the next day breakfast. Maybe s$30 would be good enough. I changed S$50 and I used only $25 for dinner and snacks.
Arrived 6am at Kat's place, fixed our bike onto the bike rack and we are off to meet the rest of the guys at tuas
Finally its Saturday, I have some time to share my experience at PD 2010. As mentioned in my previous post my goal was to do less than 3hrs and I did it! 
Swim 0:33:20
Bike 1:09:12
Run 1:02:07
Total 02:46:24
This is my first time doing an OD and I must it sure is fun, the race is full of adrenaline. Once you are in the swim, everything seems to be going at full speed, heart pounding … there is no time to rest:P
Once you are up from swim you just rush to the bike and off you go. Unlike Ironman, I still have a bit time to wear my socks and make sure all of my bike gear before I go off. The same goes for run, during IM I still have a bit of time to sit down and put on “counter pain” hahaaha
Here are some photos that I would like to share with everyone, if you have not try Port Dickson Tri before, you should go for it. It is cheaper than OSIM, Nice place and views and of course much more fun than concrete Singapore.:P
Reached PD around 2pm, This is the offical hotel we stayed in. Cheap & Good
The Famous "Uncle Chan" giving his technical briefing - Uncle Chan is the organiser for most of the triathlon races in Malaysia
The PD 2010 race routeGetting ready with all my stuffs in place
Bike all fixed up
Race day - 0600hrs everyone getting ready and having the bike in place
Loading up my stuffs, so that I can get it easily after coming up from the swim
0700hrs - Swim Start
A photo before Swim start
0735hrs And GO!!!!
a total "shag" face - not enough training for Swim
Bike Route - I was quite surprise that I actually did the 40km route at the AVG of 35km/h. Oh and the route is very much like mandai too up slope and down slope and up slope again...
Finishing
After the Race, Time for Food
and More Food!!!
Finally a word to Car drivers
This coming weekend, I will be heading down to Port Dickson for a triathlon race. I’m actually quite excited about the race despite that fact that I competed a ironman race. This is in fact my first OLYMPIC DISTANCE TRIATHLON - unlike an ironman race that focuses more on endurance, an Olympic distance in my perspective focuses more on speed. And I always prefer to go with a slow start. 
Nevertheless, I am going to do my best and I am going to do it with EVO
And every time before a race that comes up I will be watching pump up videos to pump my spirits for the race. Here is a video that I would like to share with everyone: )
Here is also my target for the race and I will be back to update my experience at Pd
Swim 1.5km- less than 36mins
Bike 40km – Within 1hrs 30mins
Run 10km – Within 55mins
Morning in the street of Hanoi
On the way to Halong Bay – got the tour package from hotel at 34usd
half way stop for rest room after the 3 hours bus journey , the stop was also like a tourist trap where they expect us to pay premiun to buy stuff.. just like always
Arriving in Halong City Habour
Got the package tour from the hotel. it was a nice experience , although it was also a tourist trap. The jpurney goping was not that enjoying, I been push around like a bag moving me from bus to bus. But i do love the journey on the baot and met many people and make good friends on the boat.
Chat with different backpackers on the way , learn many things thing from them what trabsport to take and what not to do.
after the halong bay tour , i was back in hanoi, met up with Biana and friends , I would like to tahnk them for bringing around in the town and to visit the night sat market. But i never gotten anything.
I was busy looking for a tour to leave that night, lucky i did not leave otherwise i would end up misiing all the fun because the next day, Bianca bring me a tour on her bike, i was iven the chance to ride her bike on my own, it was a great experience, i believe I have become greater experience rider. I haven taken many nice photos which i will post up later and she also bring me to have a lot of nice food, this time roundthink have to run harder when I am back in singapore.
Reached hanoi in the evening around 7pm yesterday night. Share a cab to the hotel and the journey begin.
haha
first time staying in the guestroom, meet up with a few nice guys.
1st stop, a japenese guy who is a freelance computer engineer . he travels around the asia on his backpack and he does his work at the same time all he need is wifi
talking about wifi – anywhere in hanoi you can find wifi despite the slower connection.
too bad i did not bring my apple along.
then met up with a thai , korean – nice guys mingle around talk about travelling and stuffs.
went out for dinner, along the street the traffic was heavy , but we have nop problem crossing the road as the motors cars will avoid us. haha a bit pressure thou.
First day in hanoi , still a bit pressure coz stress as the street are quite messy but overall still ok.
except that the us stocks market tumble. they have bloomberg live haha. POWER
morning start early in hanoi – lifes start around 5am and end around 11pm so if you are out on the street at 11pm becareful cause there are very little around.
Bodega hotel (located at hang bong)is ok – nothing special but friendly stuff and if you cannot find tour for 1 person they have a way dun worry hahah just spent a few bucks and you will have a personlise tour. And they keep asking you to post positive commentsonline. haha…still thinking to go up north bike motorbike. but today i will be going Halong bay for 2 day 1 night trip. back in hanoi then i will decided again.
Heres my hanoi number +84902604475
that will be all for now.
Went for the briefing in school by Cornell today, it was quite meaningful. The speaker explore some of the business opportunities in the growing tourism in asia. But the question is how am I going to tag on to this trend.
how am I going to gain from the largest industry in the world?
Everyone gets to travel easily nowadays. Also with budget airlines and low cost hotels. It will really be a dream if I could own a guest room locally or oversea.
A thing to note is that quote from the speaker
Demand for travel = Demand for hotels
finally I gotten the photos from cambodia.
This photo was taken by wei jian at the dump site.
What do you all think, does this photo makes you feel that you are very fortune that you are living in singapore and in future that you child will not have to live in the dump site.
But take note that when we are over at the dump site , these children were running around happily, they led a carefree life. They were contented with what they have, this makes me reflect if I or rather singaporean should just be contented with what we have?
