Ever tried calling your medical GP in desperation and he is not reachable for hours, only to receive a text response (two days later) informing you that he was busy 'wrestling in the mud?...' Well, I came across one such white coat fella who looks like a regular clean-shaven, square pants, bespectacled general practitioner, and one would never have guessed his hidden wild hobbies. I have known little of him behind-the-scene except that he has been practicing general medicine at his clinic down south Johor for several years.
He would share with me stories of patients' (unnamed of course) experiences never missing out on graphic details to test my tolerance level for blood and gore, unaware that its familiar to me being a fan of horror and war films. It was during one such exchange when silly me mentioned snakes, speed and height to be the mother of all fears (and i go weak in the knees) that he skillfully diverted to this new scare zone! Very quickly sensing an opening, he zooms in for the kill; wasting no time in divulging his secret adventures that were in no way related to saving lives, sutures and syringes although the element of twisted pain was a constant. As I followed him on some of his exciting, blood sucking excursions 'virtually', green very quickly became my new blush color in our many frightful escapades .
Before we enter his realm of terror, he made it mandatory that I include some brief background of his professional status i.e. he owns and runs Klinik Pekan Nenas (no 52, Jalan Besar, Pekan Nenas, Pontian 81500 - for those interested in a google verification). This Aquarius sign (February 2nd) man originated from the small town of Klang and is known to be a *rascally livewire who 'at an impulsive whim, followed his friends' to pursue a medical degree in India's Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Karnataka. Such spontaneity in early childhood is expected of someone who is a risk taker and adrenalin junkie, as revealed in his adulthood now! What I did find to be rare is his surname PIONG (Chee Liat), and I have yet to come across the same of another stranger. So all that in the package of combo as *abovementioned personality plus his gift-of-gab, he popularly goes by the moniker 'Hentau Lo Kun'' bestowed upon him by his loyal adoring patients. It is translated to mean #HAMSEM Doctor in Mandarin ... well, readers you be the judge. In the lead up to the blog, I casually asked if work was too trying that he finds respite in tormenting me with gruesome tales, to which he burst into wicked laughter and then added slyly, 'it will take all of earth, wind, water and fire for me to de-stress'! And so he reveals...
1) DO YOU ENJOY YOUR WORK?
YES; very much. Never have I woken up to a day and wished that I didn't have to go to work.
2) HOW DO YOU MANAGE YOUR STRESS?
That's a big, tall question... I'll go flying, fishing, motorcycling, target shooting, camping, golfing, trekking and... (me saying - he trails off thinking but looks like he has probably done it all).
3) OF THE MANY ACTIVITIES MENTIONED, WHICH ARE YOUR FAVORITE 3 ?
In order of ranking, for me it would be #1 motorcycling, #2 flying (planes like Cessna 172, 152 and Piper Warrior) and last camping (me saying - one that is lesser in speed and height but no less frightening with snakes and leeches)
4) WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BEST ACHIEVEMENT TODATE?
I got my flying license back in year 2000; completed trekking Mount Kailash in 2019 and participated in an adventure bike race WITH A BROKEN ANKLE, which clearly tells you that motorcycling tops my list. Riding gives me such a sense of freedom and that unbeatable pleasurable feeling of the early morning cool breeze blowing into my face; Waaah! Bestnyer! ... indescribable beyond words. I enjoy the challenge of muddy paths, rocky trails and camping in nature amidst the tall trees and cricket calls. I think its sexy! Lolss! The sight, scent, touch and sound is a much appreciated welcome opposite to that of my sterile, sanitized work environment.
5) HOW DID YOU GET STARTED?
I learned riding at the age of 8yo while staying in the estate where my father worked and managed. My 'Si-Fu' (teacher) is our estate's carpenter and he taught me to ride on his small Honda bike. Once I got the hang of it, I loved it so much (my 1st love), that I bought my very own motorbike with my Chinese new year angpow money the next year! You could say I rode on and never looked back.
6) WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR YOU IN LEARNING THIS SPORT?
My biggest challenge is to be able to ride well in extreme off-road conditions; this requires one to be in the best level of physical fitness, mastery of skills and brute bravery. But as an enthusiast, my utmost challenge would be the mental and physical battle of recovering from a major injury. A patient needs to endure months of downtime yet remain motivated to progress. Doctors like myself are not spared... I broke my left ankle last year and tore my right ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) 3 months ago, but fought (and forced) a quicker than average recovery just in time to join the Rimba Raid race and Mount Kailash climb. Riding on weekends has become a ritual for me so it will be agonizing for me mentally (as well as those around me) if I miss out on that.
7) IS IT AN EXPENSIVE HOBBY?
Well, it is not cheap but then again there are other hobbies that carry a heftier price tag. Currently, I own 3 bikes; the BMW costs about Rm130k (but was sold to me at a discount by generous dear brother), my adventure KTM 1050 costs around Rm60+k for off-road riding and for Enduro rides I use a Husqvarna TE 250 cc scrambler which is, the King of the hills!
8) HOW DO YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS REACT TO YOUR HOBBIES?
I've been (sternly, strongly) frequently discouraged many, many times by my spouse and mother but as I said, this is my 1ST love... hehe!
9) HAS THE SPORT CHANGED OR INFLUENCED YOU IN ANYWAY??
Yes it did very much; It pushed me to be fitter and stronger and also I find that I am relatively much more stress free. Socially, it exposed me to an entirely new group of people who are now my good riding / camping buddies. So hopefully, I can still keep this up till my old age! With motorbikes, old age balding IS an option as we always have our helmets on! Lolss
the Tiger never sheds its stripes! (Harimau Berjemur Waterfall)
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