Siu~V: Taiko Games (KELAXA 2009) in Ipoh

This year, like any other year, we had the same end in mind - to bring back this trophy.

As my company traveled up to Ipoh last month to participate in the biennial inter-company games with KLK Group (also one of our biggest clients from Ipoh), it was with determined hearts and heightened spirits that we were gonna create history by finally being crowned champion in the KELAXA Games.

After all, there were many fresh young blood with unhidden talents revealed during the AXA Games held on company level.

Bowling has always been our forte so playing it first was a good boost of motivation for us as our bus dropped us off at this bowling centre first thing in the morning.

Arriving at the very chilly bowling centre, I can't help but notice how brightly Chin's jacket shone in every photo she's in, like she was wearing Ultraman's outfit.

A bus load of players and supporters (including me!). I like our specially-made bright red shirt. Classy. Can you spot me?

We were so early, the hosts (opponents) weren't even there yet, hence we found some balls to play/ pose with.

And here I was still holding onto my Tiger biscuit, courtesy of Moon who seems to be an ardent fan of this particular brand.

Soon after, it was time to take our places. Somehow, I dunno why I ended up collecting the score sheets. :O/

This is my only picture of our enemies, erm I mean opponents. Somehow, they wore the same old shirt from 3 or 4 years back(!)....cost cutting kot.

For someone with an average score of 140, he's saying 'HMPHH, JUST WATCH OUT FOR MY TURKEY LER'

and he's a happy man when he scores.

After 3 games, we won bowling!

Results : AXA - 1 KLK - 0

Next, it was over to Table Tennis. Chun Hong (the one with the gaya) was star of the game. Little boy in the picture below was sweating from running around us...distracting!

We played our supporter role too, though there weren't many of us.

I guess our over-confidence of having a few star players, got the most of us coz as it turns out, they beat us! Hence,

Results : AXA - 1 KLK - 1

Darts was another really close fight and I felt Lady Luck wasn't on our side that day as we lost the deciding set. bummer.

Results : AXA - 1 KLK - 2

The competitive spirit was heating up despite the afternoon drizzle as we next moved on to the inaugural swimming match.

This was the most anticipated event for me but even moreso for (cheeky) Jin coz her Moon is swim captain! lol

One with the group before the start of the relay swim event.

Swimmers already in the water and Mark here still looking so 'dry' and 'sien' (?!)

In the water, Moon and Jason (holding hands) : 'Together, let us pray we do not get cramps later'.....

Note that Mark is STILL not in the pool yet....Later I found out that his intention was to slip in last minute, to avoid any unwanted attention. Apparently his plan SO backfired coz when everybody finally pestered him, they were all wolf-whistling and teasing him from the point he stripped down and slided red-faced into the pool..wakakakakaka....too bad I myself was laughing so hard, I forgotten to take pictures!

ok la not too bad mah..at least u got to show your bulging muscles here ;>

Is that your mohawk wet look?

Swim captain Moon looking so NEO from the Matrix, huh?

Looks pretty relaxed eh? This isn't practise, this was the real race! Suprisingly, it was a rather easy feat to beat our opponent.

HUrraY our swimmers emerged from the waters as ChampIons and once again, we were back in contention as now it is

AXA - 2 KLK - 2

Sidetrack a bit, this handsome young man is Azilah's son.......professional swimmer in the making, perhaps?

Carrom was next and it was as usual, a struggle for us.

Gee, if this was a wrestling match, I'm pretty sure we would have won hands down. Guess size doesn't really matter in carrom.

AXA - 2 KLK - 3

Final game of the event was volleyball.

A sport where bravery is a must instead of running away when the ball comes slamming down on you. I used to play this in P.E. class last time and went home with blue blacks on both wrists.

I'm super proud of our volleyball team as I never knew we had so many super spikers, setters and hitters! It was a thrill to watch.

It was such joy when we snatched another point for volleyball.

Now it was

AXA - 3 KLK - 3

After a quick wash up in our hotel, KLK invited us to their clubhouse for a buffet dinner and prize giving ceremony.

Dunno why I look so whitish here, at least can still see my eyes O_O

Right before we head out to dinner that night, girls being girls posing for the camera....

and boys being boys, just sitting around waiting for the girls to take their photos...

wow, human totem-pole!!

Poor Jin macam mau pang-sai je

What a rare chance I found a grandfather clock in a hotel lobby!

Pretty belles and some with the datin look...

Queueing up for dinner

The VIP table...

The not-so-VIP table...

What was on my plate..See, I tried to make this picture as mouth-watering as possible...So did I make you drool?

Free flow of beer was available which is always a thumbs-up for these guys....

While some seemed to enjoy it better than the rest....mmmmmmmmm,

some prefer drinking it while in a race with others.

Yup, apart from the beer drinking competition, there were many other games played that night, like to see who is the fastest to blow a balloon until it bursts. Do you know I could never blow a balloon? Anyway, the guy's role here is just to cover the ladies' ears for when the balloon pops.

Easy job for the guy right? No fair.

So gotta take turns after that lor.

Then we had people competing to see who could peel the longest unbroken apple skin. lol. not me definitely.

It was trophy presentation time and you'd expect it to be shared between AXA and KLK?

Alas, there was actually one more sport played which wasn't witnessed by any of the supporters.....G O L F!

It was a game meant for our Top Level Mgmt team (means big-shot laa) and I guess we weren't much of a powerteam coz we lost the golf game. ... boo hoohOOOOOO!!