HASHING AROUND
MALAYSIA - The Sequel
There's nothing like taking time out for a Meca of sorts, going back
to the birthplace of hashing. I first visited Kuala Lumpur for World Interhash '98. The
notes below reflect my second visit in 2001. 10 days of pure hashing bliss . . .
********************
Subj: Hashing Across Malaysia
Date: Aug 2001
From: Haz@gotothehash.net
To: hash-l@usc.edu
Well, here I am at ground zero of the hashing world . . . Kuala Lumpur.
My first hash this trip was the "International Hash Challenge" hosted by the
Petaling Jaya H3. It was quite an adventure: (We had an excellent team from around the
globe: BUTR from the UK, but living in Thailand, Davey Crotchit from Austin, Texas, Flame
from Wisconsin, and me . . . from Tokyo at the moment)
18 Aug
4:30 am - wake up call, head down for breakfast
5:30 am - board the bus for 1 hour trip to start
6:00 am - actually leave (late)
6:15 am - the rain starts
6:30 am - the thunder and lightning commences, this wasn't kid stuff neither
7:15 am - standing around under a metal shelter waiting to start
7:40 am - starting, 40 minutes late (did I mention this was a 26 mile trail?)
7:41 am - completely soaked, the next 26 miles were going to be more than we bargained for
1:00 pm - half way, this may take longer than expected
5:15 pm - last check point, only 6 miles to go
7:34 pm - after what we believe to be 50 Kms, the end is finally upon us
It was long, it was slippery, it was nasty, but it was fun . . . at least there were a
couple fun parts
There were many straight downs, as well as straight ups, wet slippery but true to the name
. . . challenging
Hats off to the organizers for a well run event, even though I still think is was more
than 26 miles.
DFor more info on the Hash Challenge go to: http://www.geocities.com/hashchallenge/
On-On to the Mother Hash 3000th and 10 more days of hashing in Malaysia,
Hazukashii
*********************
Subj: Hashing Across Malaysia - The Mother Hash
Date: Aug 2001
From: Haz@gotothehash.net
To: hash-l@usc.edu
It was beautiful, all day Sunday and Monday . . .until 30 Minutes before the hash, then
all hell broke loose with pouring rain, thunder and lightning. At the stroke of 6 PM, we
were off none the less. A most excellent trail of the jungle variety. Slippery as hell,
but great fun. Excellent food and drink at the end, and after about 3 hours we were on our
way back into town.
I have to say farewell to my hash challenge team as Davey Crotchit and Flame head off to
Korea, and BUTR heads home, none the worse for wear.
Next stop for me is Wednesday evening with the KL Harriettes. Thursday with ???, Friday
with Damansara H3, Saturday is KLHHH 3000th, Sunday is the Full Moon hash, and Monday once
again with Mother Hash . . . life is good.
On-On,
Hazukashii
***********************
Subj: Hashing in Malaysia: KL Harriettes
Date: Aug 2001
From: Haz@gotothehash.net
Greetings,
Only two more days till Mother Hash 3000th, but had a stop off with the KL Harriettes last
night. Excellent, simply brilliant. I have hashed with several harriette kennels and they
have always impressed me with fine trails and fine socializing. The KL Harriettes did not
tarnish that opinion. A well marked 90 minute trail through the palm groves of northern
KL. On afters were at an excellent little restaurant, and when 50 of us showed up, we sort
of took over the joint. It is amazing how much beer you can get RM50 (~US$13).
A quick plug here for easy to find hashing links, just go to that easy to remember URL - -
- http://gotothehash.net - it always works for me. . . and the regional webmasters do a
smashing job on keep the information up to date.
On-On to the Petaling Jaya Hazards tonight,
Hazukashii
************************
Subj: Hashing in Malaysia: Petaling Jaya Harriettes
Date: Aug 2001
From: Haz@gotothehash.net
To: hash-l@usc.edu
Well, sometimes you just never know. I thought I was headed to the PJ Hazards and wound up
with the PJ Harriettes. Once again, the harriettes were great. The PJ Harriettes are 75%
Men, 95% Chinese (out of about 70, there were 3 Brits and 1 Yank), and it turned out to be
another 90 + minute trail through wonderful rubber tree groves and the like. I did have a
bit of trouble since somehow a few of us got onto trail backwards, so after about 45
minutes we ran into the pack going the other way. Shortly after that, we lost trail and
ended up backtracking to the finish. I was not last in, so was not a problem.
Tonight it is Hash Damansara, Hash Damansara, Hash Damansara . . . life is sooooo gooood.
Addendum: I completely forgot about the events of the On-After on Wednesday night. At the
end of the meal, we all submitted our guess as to how much per person the meal was going
to cost. Can you believe it, I won . . . that's like the only thing I have ever won (a
US$5 meal). I also had the opportunity to serenade the pack with a selection from
Hazukashii's favorites. Not to much singing around these parts on a regular basis. It was
a hit.
On-On,
Hazukashii
**************************
Subj: Hashing in Malaysia: Damansara H3
Date: Aug 2001
From: Haz@gotothehash.net (Hazukashii)
Almost there . . .
The final stop prior to Mother Hash 3000 was the Damansara H3 hosting a pre-celebration
for the big weekend. Another hour drive to the outskirts of the KL area for yet another
excellent trail. Damansara is actually a small town / suburb of KL. The shortest trail yet
this trip, coming in at a mere 80 minutes. The last of the pack straggled in at about 2
1/2 hours, so most of us were pretty well rehydrated by then, and the circle was a may lay
of visitors and good all around revelry. An excellent dinner at the Emperor Restaurant,
conveniently located right at the run start point, followed by a few skits and songs and
it was midnight before we knew it. Back to Bangsar for a few rounds at Ronnie Q's rounded
out another most excellent hash outing.
On-On,
Hazukashii
**********************
Subj: Hashing in Malaysia: Mother Hash 3000th
Date: Aug 2001
From: Haz@gotothehash.net (Hazukashii)
Well, the time had finally come, the big celebration of more than 60 years of hashing, the
big 3000. To put this in perspective, if you took the two oldest hashes in the USA (Ft
Eustis H3 and DCH3) and combined their total runs, both of them just getting to 1500 this
past year, well . . . there you have it.
Mother Hash: About 1200-1400 hashers gathered for the event. There were 6 or 7 trails to
choose from, so dumb as I am, I ended up on a long one. Billed as 10.6 Kms, we spent about
2 hours on trail on a quite humid and hot day, but it just made the libations that much
more tasty. A lake was near by and after a quick dip, we had a circle for the two trails
that came together and about 250 of us cleared out the beer truck. The hour bus ride back
to the Equestrian Center was filled with song and soon we were dining upon the local fare
of rice, satay, and some other delights. The entertainment was feisty, and the beer flowed
into the wee hours. An excellent tribute to Mother Hash on her 3000th.
KL Full Moon H3 pub-crawl tonight, pavement . . . not sure if I can handle it. Monday is
the real KLH3 3000th, so need to get at least 3 hours of sleep tonight.
On-On,
Hazukashii
*****************
Subj: Hashing in Malaysia: KL Full Moon H3
Date: Aug 2001
From: Haz@gotothehash.net (Hazukashii)
A little city run for a change, with the tallest building in the world in the background,
we gathered at the Red House for the start of the full moon pub crawl (no crawling mind
you - it was several miles). One unfortunate event though, the hare had his van stolen (or
towed - not sure yet) with all the give aways, freebees, and all things full moon.
The on out took us to the train station where a couple hundred sweaty hashers boarded for
a 10-minute ride to the Central Market. The first beer stop was at the Royal Selangor
Club, a fitting touch to an excellent event. Several other stops were also well done, with
loud music and dancing. The end was in a dirt parking lot in some back alley, just across
the street from the On-On-On where an excellent buffet was served . . . complete with lots
of Anchor Beer.
Only one more trail to tackle and this adventure is sadly over. Just one last hash with
Mother, the original, the one and only - The HHH.
On-On,
Hazukashii
********************
Subj: Hashing in Malaysia: Mother Hash #3000 (The Official One)
Date: 29 Aug 2001
From: Haz@gotothehash.net (Hazukashii)
Well, the "official" 3000th was run on Monday evening, as Mother hash does not
count runs on any other day. It was, in true hash fashion, a shiggy trail. To
say anything else would infringe on the mystic of running with Mother Hash . . .
The wrap up: Wow, what a trip . . . 8 hashes in 10 days, over aprox 120 Kms, and nearly 25
hours on trail. I only lost 7 lbs., if not for the gallons of beer consumed I may
have shriveled up and blown away, nor had the strength
to continue. As Ben Franklin said, "Beer is proof that God loves us."
So the day long trip from 5:30 am to 11:45 pm, including walking, taxi, Malaysian Air,
Cathay Pacific Air, bus, train, and finally taxi plants me back in Tokyo, looking forward
to the Samurai Hash this weekend. . . .
On-On,
Hazukashii
http://www.half-mind.com
http://gotothehash.net |