RUN NO. 2269 - KOTA BATU - 14FEB2012

RUN NO. 2269

DATE: 14 FEB 2012

SITE: Kota Batu

HARES: Dizzy/Madmarg

Another dull and threatening day. Knowing we were to rendevous at Dizzy’s house and there would be hills and more hills, I hoped the weather would hold off. We gathered across the road, many hens in pink to celebrate Valentines day.

A slow start straight up the Spg. and into the jungle track bought those front runners to a sudden halt with 1^st check laid just in the jungle, Sneaky! This had hens scrounging in all directions looking for the on paper which finally got found back down the hill, along the road and back into another jungle trail. Well done hares, A tricky start. Off we went as predicted up and up. 2^nd check proved to be another corker with hens scouring the stream and slowed us up nicely so back runners caught up – as a well laid hash should do. 3^rd check proved to be on the Kota Batu ridge overlooking Kampong Ayer with a bench to rest and gasp upon as we admired the view. Ready Mix J.r kindly laid the paper through and then we were down and out. Back along the road to gather at Dizzy’s for Valentines Day shout up.

An interesting array of Valentine’s wear, a cocktail and proceedings got under way. Two guests introduced themselves. A new member, Wendy Haldane got her rule book and stubby holder.

We were just about to wrap up proceeding for the night when we had a surprise guest – Peter. Although we were delighted to have him once again, and he was very obviously very delighted to have us, I have to say that poor Peter is starting to look a little worse for wear. No longer a young and vigorous Peter we first met 5 years ago, he is now looking more ragged around the edges. His stamina proved sadly lacking with a droop noticeable before we had all been properly introduced. Those legs once young and vigorous now have the look of a voyeur in a raincoat. Alas, Peter is looking used and abused.

Never mind he has served us well.

It is a sad day that I write these words as this was my last run as a hen on the ladies hash.

I was asked to go for a wee run in the jungle 12 years ago, having only been in Brunei a few days, by Schnapps a.k.a Doris. And a wee run it was, being Founders Day 2000 . We did a short pleasant amble at the now bulldozed NCR water tower. ”Yes”, I said, I like this hashing, “I will return”. Little did I know that next week’s run was to be the dreaded Kota Batu 702. Another site now denied to us. As we went up and up and up, I had my first taste of true hashing in Brunei. 2 hours later more dead than alive I staggered out, and did vow to return. The rest is history. Having now done 389 runs on the ladies hash, 200 odd runs on the hetero hash, numerous “7 in 7s” hash relays and even a “9 in 9” and now hashed in Goa, Cardiff, Wales, Perth, Chiang Mai, Capetown, Mombassa, Kenya, Fiji, Hash away weekends on Pulu Tiga and Merarap Hot Springs in Lawas you could say I have got the bug. Having hashed in so many countries I have to say that BRUNEI IS THE BEST!. I will miss the jungle trails, the mud, the hills, the beach hashes the heat, the pristine jungle streams, and the friends I have made along the way.

On On Magic Roundabout

NEXT RUN: DIPLO (Farewell run for Magic & Tango)

HARES: Sarong/Magic with Buster & Trailblazer

RUN NO. 2268 LUCKY GARDENS-7FEB2012

Hares

RUN NO. 2268

SITE: LUCKY GARDENS (WAITANGI RUN)

DATE: 7 FEB 2012

HARES: Erin/Kathy/Briony

As the muggy heat of the day gave way to a typically beautiful Bruneian evening...so that was still muggy and hot then….a determined group of hashers gathered to enjoy a run and celebrate Waitingi Day with the good time group of hashers that are the Kiwi girls. Kiwis and maybe Aussies apart, most of us really had no idea what we were celebrating but we were determined to do it in style in any case, and although greens were thin on the ground, blues more than sufficed and grown up liquid pear drops a la Legally Blonde’s Bar also somehow seemed totally appropriate.

We set off down the road with Tango as front horn towards the more usual Lucky Gardens hashing site, some of us at a slow jog and others walking sensibly, aware of the ups and downs that were to follow.

Soon we came to the earth cliff which left us no choice but to get stuck in and caked with mud, a spectacle which must have appalled Eastern Promise, judging by the amount of time she spent on cleaning her trainers afterwards! We were joined by a couple of dogs, which confused me at times, as more than once they approached me between the legs at alarming speed, breathing heavily. For a second I thought it was just another night at home, but then realised they were canines, not Mr M!

There was an early first back check which did a great job of bunching us all together again and then a great middle part of the run which got our hearts pumping a bit faster (or was that the dogs again?) as we careered over logs and raced up and down slopes. Hana commented that if you kept your eyes on the path underfoot, it was just like being in the woods in England and she was right, almost. I didn’t like to mention that if she had looked slightly to the right she would have seen a pit viper at eye level, ready to strike. I didn’t see it either, and nor did anyone else, but nevertheless, it was probably there….

The second check was found quite quickly, I think by Ryvita, and then some more running at which point I thought I was recognising the path and convinced myself that we were going round in circles. A third back check gifted Call Girl and me a chance to run out early into the safety of the Kiwis house, and refresh ourselves before the delights of the shout up.

Two visitors were introduced to us, young backpackers who were travelling around the world and took some of us back to our young travelling carefree days of old when all we had to think about was the next party…..a bit like life in Brunei really.

Eastern Promise was hoping to pass on the hashit but honourably refused my suggestion to hide the sign in board so she took the rubber chicken home for another week. The kiwis had decorated in NZ style and produced a couple of All Blacks, and in the dim light of dusk I thought for a second they were real and it was to be a truly memorable night but in the end they turned out to be cardboard (although that still meant they were more animated than most men) . We were however presented with really lovely t-shirts, which everyone was delighted with and are even nice enough to wear to the odd coffee morning or two.

Night fell and hens gradually drifted home, with the tired satisfaction of another hash completed and the moon and stars shone down to illuminate the green ferns at the side of the road. As I drove away, I’m sure I spotted a pit viper snaking its way out of the jungle…

NEXT RUN: SPG 762 KOTA BATU - Love run - Bring a chair

HARES: DIZZY/MADMARG

RUN NO,. 2267 MATA MATA - 31 JAN 2012

RUN NO. 2267

DATE: 31 JAN 2012 - CNY RUN

SITE: MATA MATA

HARES: TRAILBLAZER/READYMIX/JENNI OF THE BLOCK/SERENE

It was a lovely evening for abit of hashing.

This weeks run started off along the clay slightly slippy flat road. A few of us jogged this part to get the heart rates up before heading up into the bracken and then the jungle.

Although I don’t know who found the checks the frontrunners made some very clear arrows from the paper so the rest of us followers knew which direction to go. Just when we thought it was finished and we were about to head out the path turned and added a little bit extra. Then it was on and out. The path had some ups and downs and it was a nice run. Not too long.

Back at the tent - Before the shout up we all received a small plate and some chop sticks. It was explained to us that we were to toss 9 condiments laid out on a big plate, which included fish for continued prosperity. In we all rushed digging in chopsticks with some tossing higher than others. Not all were tossing the condiments for prosperity……I believe someone was tossing for nookie. That aside, the condiments were delicious and flavours I have never tried before.

Continuing on to the shout up. We had one new guest a lady from France, a joke and the middle of the shout up a cellphone went off. Freddy (Frank - ed) was in trouble that night and the hashshit was thrown by dizzy.

The hares (with their Chinese hens and friends - ed) threw a delicious Chinese new year dinner - although I cannot name or recognize all the items there was duck, chicken, rice, fish (veg-ed) buns, a delicious array of vegetables and sauces and of course mandarins.

Thank you hares for a nice evening.

NEXT RUN: LUCKY GARDENS (WAITANGI RUN) - Please bring a chair

HARES: Kathryn/Erin/Briony

RUN NO. 2266 - TJ BUNUT KANAN 24 JAN 2012

RUN NO. 2266

DATE: 24 JAN 2012

SITE: TJ BUNUT KANAN, OFF JLN TUTONG

HARES: Legally Blonde/Jo

The sky looked a bit shady and the rain stayed away during the run. The pool looked inviting and plans for a swim after seemed very possible.

5.15 p.m. came and off we went out of the gates, up the hill - good for a warm-up and then along the culvert into the jungle. Evidence of Monday's deluge made many places slippery and soon we were wading through mud, and more mud. Very pretty trails as usual and we were soon into the thick of the jungle. Did not catch up as to who found the checks but the trails were laid through and as promised - it was indeed a lollipop although with quite a long stick! Congratulations to all who persevered and trudged through all the mud and was rewarded at the top with a view towards Jalan Tutong and a few bits of the pylon line.

Once back at Legally Blonde's compound the outside shower was a welcome to wash off all the mud, instead of the usual few bottles of water at the back of the car. A real toilet and a sink to wash your hands after! A few hens braved the pool as it started to drizzle and shout up commenced. Possum was busy dishing up her usual delicious "hootch" as we got ready for the shoutup. Hares and fellow Aussies were thanked for the run and food - real sausages with an array of salads and toppings to go with our rolls.

Returning hasher and past JM "Puteri" who now resides in Kuala Lumpur, was welcomed and hashits were given to some offenders over the past weeks. To name a few, lined up against the pool were Dizzy, Melissa, Pee Wee ... and (oh dear) my memory is fading! Pee Wee for the worst offence having lost and found the hashit, but Dizzy volunteered to get wet.

A quiz followed and prizes given out. Yours truly got the booby prize with the least correct answers - I thought I had done really badly but checked to see and found that I actually got 9 right compared to the top results of 21. Cute koala bear keyrings as prizes were given out and well received.

Thank you Legally Blonde for the hospitality and another Australia Day run done.

This week's run at Mata-Mata to celebrate Chinese New Year is not too strenuous although the advice is to practice good sense. The Chinese girls and friends have prepared a sumptious meal for the on on and we dont want to be late for that. Wear red for the shout up if you remember.

NEXT RUN; MATA MATA - CNY RUN

HARES: Trailblazer/Readymix

RUN NO. 2265 KM 22.7 17 JAN 2012

RUN NO. 2265
DATE: 17 JAN 2012
SITE: KM 22.7 COASTAL HIGHWAY
HARES: Possum/Pee Wee

We arrived swerving off the highway, as the entrance is quite tight,

to find a large bunch of ladies hashers ready to go on this Tuesday

afternoon.

A beach walk near Tungku Jerudong is always lovely, so we set off

in a largish pack. Sid and I were way behind the back horn (GI

Jane), but the scenery and flat road track was pleasant, so on we

went. No wet swamps, river crossings or other delays, just a lovely

meander up close to the Empire beach and then back along the

sandy shoreline. As we were finishing off the sunset was displaying

pink, orange and pale blue hues and all was well with the

world.

A lovely, quite rowdy shout up for us girls, and a new visitor, who

claimed Welsh heritage! Prior to the shout up, she was very interested in

the beer and token organisation. Thank goodness we gave her a beer and

a song to relieve her thirst. An Aussie joke with a kind of black humour

to keep the crowd happy; a few messages including mention of the Burns

Supper and the hashshit was undeliverable as the hasher who forgot to

sign out, had already scarpered! The hares put on a lovely healthy dinner

of a cold repast of rolls, cold meats, and salads. The stars were out and all

was well with the world.

NEXT RUN: Tanjung Bunut Kanan, Off Jalan Tutong
HARES: Legally Blonde & friends (Aussie Day run)

RUN NO. 2264 DST 10 JAN 2012

RUN NO. 2264
DATE: 10 JANUARY 2012
SITE: DST
HARES: Dizzy/Satu Lagi
FRONT HORN: Hash Hound BACK HORN: Trailblazer

Lots of eager Hens were strutting about, waiting for the horn, only this little hen is obviously hard of hearing as she didn’t hear the horn, and so ended up slowly pottering down one of Brunei’s best ‘road to nowheres’. It’s a sneaky little upwards road, which makes running all the more arduous.

However, knowing this site rather well, I suspected where the checks may be, and lo and behold, the first one was to the left at the bottom of said sneaky uphill road, and the on on paper was duly to the right, found I think by Call Girl.

So off we trotted to the right, which was a gentle downhill, easier on the pins. And we met a check towards the bottom of the hill, and the paper was on into the jungle to the right, I’m sorry to say I can’t remember which hen found it as I was busy going round in circles amidst some trees and bushes.

Good running trails led us out onto the gas line, where myself and Squeak were very sneaky, knowing the trail would go right and take us out, we waited ‘til checking was called, and called the on paper, and so we had some good running down the gas line, across a swampy bit, a few hiils then right and out towards the tent. A great runners run - thank you last minute hares!
The shout up was very well shouted up - with a pertinent reminder that ladies cannot just sign in and pop round the hash without any guidance or member taking responsibility for them. We all know how easy it is to get lost and how unforgiving the jungle can be, so let’s keep an eye out for rogue hashers who may need some guidance :-)

As usual, the ‘bring a plate’ makan provided a veritable feast, we really excelled ourselves. And as a result I personally would love Glamour’s dahl recipe! The night pleasantly progressed, with convivial banter and giggles under darkening, starry Brunei skies! Another perfect hash! This week is a very FLAT run, very easy to follow, but the terrain will give you hens a good work out! On on!


NEXT RUN: KM 22.5 Coastal Highway Opp UBD
HARES: Possum/Pee Wee

RUN NO. 2263 DIPLO - 3 JAN 2012

RUN NO. 2263
DATE: 3 JAN 2012
SITE: DIPLO
HARES: Alison/Cheryl/Smurf/Possum

Words written by Wordbird:

A group of very chatty hens gathered for the first run of the year for a celebration of Hogmanay, which we now all know is a celebration of the last day of the year! There was some relief in certain hen quarters when Alison told us the run was not very long, with the excesses of the previous few days weighing heavily upon us - literally! After some minor confusion about which path to follow, we descended down a slippery slope, with the jungle noises no competition for the hens, as they were easily drowned out by sound of hens catching up after the Christmas break, mostly telling woeful tales of husbands not stepping up to the mark with anything sparkly, children eating chocolate by the kilo, and a general feeling that although Christmas is wonderful, for many women it's even better when it's over!

The first check came early and was found quite quickly after some searching and we then proceeded to scramble up and down the hills, and across streams a few times with no one escaping the delightful feeling of mushy, muddy water swirling up and around our legs - almost as good as a Zen treatment - and all for free!

Darkness seemed to descend early as we ventured deep into the bowels of Diplo and some of us temporarily lost the paper, torn between crossing another murky looking stream or tackling an unfriendly looking pile of arbus horribilis (ok, I made that up) and for some of us, only the thought of a smooth flowing green or blue at the end kept us going. Eventually, thanks to the dulcet squawks of hens, we found our way back to the paper and out, after a brief dalliance with some ferns, to throw ourselves upon the mercy of what was contained in the eskys... and thus salvation.

Little did we know that our biggest challenge was ahead of us in the form of the Impossible Hogmanay Quiz which I think even the Scottish people couldn't answer. - and they'd written it - but it was all great fun, and were given a momento by Smurf, which most of us will use as fridge magnets but the more adventurous amonghst us might try to eat.

Amid all this mirth and merriment we realised that a hen was still in and probably lost by now and for the second time in as many weeks, some angelic hens ventured forth to rescue said hen, who emerged unscathed although maybe dazzled by Madmargz lamp after the black shadows of deepest, darkest Diplo.

Still no hashit but we welcomed Karlene as a first time guest and Shantal was awarded a cup for 50 runs ... Congratulations!

Thanks to the hares for a great first run of the year and the delicious soup and bread.

Slainte mhor a h-uile la a chi's nach fhaic

on on
Anna M.

NEXT RUN: DST - Please bring a plate of food to share.
HARES: Dizzy & Satu Lagi