My parents and youngest brother are now at
I’m down with flu, headache, sore throat and broken ankle! Need to withdraw myself from tomorrow’s colleague visiting trip, and rest at home. L This means that I made ZERO Chinese New Year visiting this year. So sad, right?
Sigh, time to die! Sorry if i don't blog for a while!
After my previous entry, I left Genting Highland straight before the administration could do anything onto me. There was lots of rumor regarding Genting Highland, most of them were quite spooky. I would be sharing them in my future blog but for now, I would like to salute those who were patient enough and made stuck in traffic jam as part of their daily routine.
Looking at the cars going up Genting, there were cars lining up from Genting Skyway station
till Batang Kali and Ulu Yam.
I reached the Penang Bridge 5 hours later and encountered rush hour traffic jam! It was really frustrating, with cars moving slowly and even a snail could crawl faster than I could.
I really could not put up with this kind of condition every morning and every afternoon. Therefore, I really salute those who had to go through this everyday! You really have my respect!
I don’t know how long this entry would last; maybe till someone forces me to remove it. So, read it while it is still here.
I am not a superstitious person. I didn’t even wear red (the color which considered auspicious for Chinese) during Chinese New Year, instead I wore dark-colored clothes during these 3 days in Genting Highland.
However, I believe in paranormal activities or the spiritual worlds. Therefore it sparked my curiosity when I found out that there was no level 21 at the First World Hotel that I stayed. The buttons on the lift skipped from level 20 to level 22. So where was level 21?
I asked a hotel staff but he confirmed that but he just smiled when I asked him why. So, did level 21 exist? One blog concluded that it was a “high administrative level” with “many security cameras” and “a warning at the staircase”. I didn’t believe that so I started my own investigation.
First, I took the lift counting from level 19 till 20, then level 20 till 22. I compared the time it took and it was took the same amount of time! So, level 21 did not exist at all? Another check at the second
To confirm my finding, I went to level 20 of my tower and tried to access level 21 through staircase. As you can see, exactly above level 20, it was level 22!
Unlike unlucky number 4 (for Chinese) or 13 (for Westerners), 21 was not considered under the same category. In fact, it was considered as a lucky number for blackjack players! This meant that instead of level 21, they renamed it to level 22 and so on.
Why level 21 was suddenly removed from the list? I could only think of one reason - to confuse people because of some past incidents on level 21.
I could not find any news on level 21 of
Which was the real reason behind the disappearing of level 21? Or are there more stories behind this? What I know was that no matter what, there were still many people visiting this place especially during public holidays!
After seeing me limping around these few days, Mum finally could not stand it and went to buy me a pack of medicated patch for my injured ankle – "Pain Relieving Salonpas Patch". Apparently, it contained vitamin E, a smoother and younger looking skin?
When she handed it to me, she used the usual phrase whenever any of my siblings fell sick or got injured, “ So old still don’t know how to take care of yourself ”. Well, I had not heard that for quite some time but it was nice to hear the voice of my mother’s love again (The next famous phrase in the family was "Lazyworm!")
How was my ankle after one week? Still bruised!
Opening the packet, I took out the patch. It smelled like those plaster that was applied by those old folks. Now I don’t only walk like an old man, I smell like one too! Oh no!
Apparently, one patch was not enough for my ankle, I needed two!
In short, Mum is the greatest! Muack!
Because of some words bothering me, I was unable to fall asleep last night. Therefore, at around 1.30am my brother and I went visiting the casino.
Need to blame it on my ‘Profession Disease’ (职业病, meaning you tend to practice what your profession required you to do on non-working hours or period), we ended up studying how the random features on linked slot machines in Genting Casino worked.
For those who never play a slot machine before, it was considered as a gambling machine where when you pressed a button the reels spun and if you were lucky enough, some of the symbols of the reels matched and you would be getting the payout accordingly. Linked slot machines were like normal slot machines but they were sort of connected to the same network, where some random features (jackpots or any special features) would commence on any slot machine by random.
How these random features triggered? It seemed like there was a limit set on the network. If accumulatively all linked slot machines total betting reached that limit, the first machine that crossed the limit would entitle to special feature.
Don’t get it? Let me paint the scenario for you. If the current accumulative bet is RM978; whereas the limit is RM1,000, slot machine 1 till 7 are betting RM1 per spin while a rich guy on machine 8 is having RM20 per spin. Here are the scenarios:
Get it now?
Some might ask why special feature is important? The reason is that it guarantees some winning be it large or small.
Some information on individual slot machine
Usually there are ‘Free Game’ features on the slot machine, where when it is triggered you would be having free spins with better or higher payout. I observed that it really depends on luck but always remember this, the more spins you made the higher chances of you getting the feature. So, I always wait for the guy who lost a lot leaving the slot machine and then try my luck.
Good luck for those who gamble during this Chinese New Year! Remember that it is just a source of entertainment, a practice for you to have excitement in life or a practice to keep your mind away from the problem you are facing.
Don’t make gambling a habit; remember the money spent could be use for better purpose! But if you have some winnings to share or you are a pretty girl and have problem quitting, please look for me at 01644305XX.
Just kidding! But please gamble responsibly!
Continuing from my previous entry, my parents arrived at 5.15pm. Quickly, we went to get our number for check-in. Because of the large sum of people, check-in counters in First World Hotel were divided into 2 parts. First part was where you get your number for the next queue; whereas the second part was where you get your hotel room.
Because of the large sum of people, check-in counters in First World Hotel were divided into 2 parts. First part was where you get your number for the next queue;
whereas the second part was where you get your hotel room.
Trust me! Genting was not a good place during Chinese New Year, people were everywhere.
But we were abnormal enough to spend thousands for two 3-day rooms for than 3 years straight!
Genting First World Hotel room had lots of rumors, until one of my colleagues (guy) claimed that he would not be brave enough to walk through the hotel corridor during midnight. Actually this photo was taken at exactly 12am J.
To make thing 'worse', this was my hotel room number.
If you were staying in the standard room, most likely you would encounter 3 problems:
The shower room usually had some sewage problem until when you bathed, you felt like we were swimming.
If you were unlucky you might your windows might be facing other room. So, less privacy for couples, good show for viewers :p
Guess what? I had 5 Angpows this year! Would this be my last year getting Angpows?
Before hitting the casino, I went to check the Zodiac advice in the Star Newspaper website. There seem to be an article for those born on this year.
Extract from The Star Newspaper
SLOW, sure progress is the rule for the Year of the Ox, predicts Ruth Q. Sun, author of the Asian Animal Zodiac.
Generally, the Year of the Ox will be good year. Difficulties can be overcome with patience, steady efforts and strength, she adds.
“People born in the Year of the Ox appear indecisive, deliberate and slow-moving. But they are patient and perservering. When they’ve set their minds on something, they won’t give up until they’ve attained their goals. Their steady, consistent effort ultimately brings them success.
“Ox Year people are alert. Although they are not given to talking much, they can inspire confidence in others. They are very dextrous and can do almost anything with their hands. They’re stubborn and hate to fail in anything they’ve undertaken,” she says.
“When opposed, they can be quite unpleasant. They are reserved in their emotions.”
In her book, Sun says that Ox people should avoid marriage with those born under the Chinese zodiac signs of Ram, Horse and Dog.
“They will find their best mates among those born under the zodiac signs of Snake, Rooster and Rat. Their second best choice of life partners are those born in the Year of the Ox, Dragon, Rabbit, Monkey and Boar,” Sun adds.
For sure, I went to the section for me – Rooster! (Don’t call me chicken!)
Another extract from The Star Newspaper
Rooster
Opportunities await you this year. You should have good luck in career, romance and wealth. But you also have some unlucky stars.
Career: With three big lucky stars smiling on you, you should make significant progress in your career. You need not go out of your way to look for opportunities as they will come to you. If you do your best, you’ll achieve success. The Rooster loves luxury and works hard to procure a better life. A significant amount of money could come your way this year, perhaps an unexpected inheritance.
Love life: The married Rooster will enjoy a wonderful family life. The single Rooster should prepare to begin a new relationship. It’s a nice time for Roosters to get married and have a baby.
Health: If pregnant, the female Rooster must tread carefully. The male Rooster may have liver problems, so watch your health.
Take note: Talk less, work more.
It seems that I will have lucks in every aspect. But till now, it looks like I am experiencing the opposite! Sigh! See how this year goes for me. Not believing in much of these anyway, hopefully I could change my mind on this article. I will follow the last advice as writen there - talking less.
By the way, 2nd Day in genting, not much luck in winning. I bet the boss of genting should be laughing to the bank soon.
Happy New Year everyone! Guess where am i?
Just want to share my journey to where I am today while waiting for my parents and brother to arrive from Kuching. Yeah, please be warned of the dullness.
Chinese New Year Eve
My brother and I were staying overnight in
It was a funny movie but I advised those who were sensitive about dating or having relationship against going to this movie. It was not a Chinese New Year movie, more like a Valentine’s Day funny but not romantic movie.
As for reunion dinner, we broke the tradition and had nasi lemak. L (So those who had reunion dinner, you know how fortunate you were, right?).
Chinese New Year
We hit the road at around 7am, driving towards KL. Traffic was smooth and we could not see any Chinese around when we stopped at rest areas. I guess most of them were still sleeping.
Exiting Tanjung Malim, driving to Batang Kali and then finally reaching Genting Skyway Cable Car station, it was 9am. Usually we could find Chinese queuing up for tickets and then to enter the cable car but for today (as you know Chinese love to gamble) there were actually lots of non-Chinese.
It took us 15 minutes to reach the cable car but before I boarded it, I realized that my phone was no longer with me! Oh no! Did I left it in the car? Had someone stolen from under my nose when I was squeezing myself through the crowds? At that instance of time, everyone looked like criminals to me!
My brother and I stepped out of the line and with my brother looking after my luggage. I ran to my car withstanding the pain of my injured ankle. I reached my car, opened the driver seat and my phone was there! I think it must be happy to see me because the Garmin GPS software was saying repeatedly, “You have reached the destination!”
Again, we went to queue up the line and now it took us 25 minutes. Sigh! But I was happy finding back my baby (my phone I mean), without it I don’t think I could blog anymore.
Boarding the cable car and leaving the cable car station, I tried to relax and enjoy the 15 minutes ride.
There was a saying that went “If you wish to win some money in Genting casino, don’t look at the view below when you board the cable car”. Don’t know how true was that but Ooops!
The weather became cooler and cooler and soon we were in the cloud.
Moments later, we arrived Genting. As usual, we went to Starbucks for our coffee while planning to wait 5 hours for my parents.
That’s why this blog is unusually long. Has anyone falling asleep? Are you there? Happy New Year, ya?
From
With this 2 attractions surely I would stop by this little town. The shop we visited called Onn Kee Restaurant. Time for me to examine how tasty is the beansprout and how tender is the chicken.
Entering the restaurant, there was a wall of famous folks – a photo of
The main dish, steam chicken was really tender and tasty. I guarantee that when you put the chicken inside your mouth, you would only spit out the bones.
Accompanying the chicken was of course the beansprout. They were bigger than the normal beansprouts and you could feel the crunchiness and the natural sweetness when you bite on them.
As for side dishes, we ordered Char Siu Sauced Pork, which comparatively same par as the main dish because of the juiciness and sweetness of the meat;
and meatball soup that was so juicy that you could feel the juice spitting out into your mouth when you bite on it, truly a heavenly feeling.
Another thing that we should not miss was the sha ho fun (a kind of noodle made famous in
or dry.
I did not try the dry type (my bro had that), but the soup one was cooked with chicken, so essence was all there.
Fuuuuulll (*breathless*), the end of one of the greatest battle of my life! This was the aftermath. And I still said want to keep fit!
It’s 2 days before Chinese New Year, and I am at Coffee Bean, watching people doing their shopping before the big occasion. There are big crowds almost everywhere within the shopping centre. The abnormal me, usually don’t like crowded places, so currently this is the best place to hide myself.
I remembered in
After Christmas, which was Boxing Day there was usually some big sales going on. By the way Boxing Day was the day Mohammad Ali won the Boxing Championship and declared World Winner. Nah, I was just kidding. For more information on Boxing Day, please check wikipedia.
The discount was usually very dramatic for Australian but for me, still consider as expensive. The shops with most people queuing up were usually those Super Branded goods; like Swarovski,
Again, it made me feel so poor!
For Chinese New Year, have you done your shopping yet? Honestly i have not because no one accompanies me. Reason? I had one occasion where i bought a new clothes and on the first day of Chinese New Year, I saw the begger wearing the same clothes as me!
This is my dinner, my everyday dinner. Just a polystyrene box with rice, meat and vegetables. It is nothing special, just some food to fill up my stomach. Since my family is far away, this is what I get which is closest to home-cook meal.
Some people take it for granted - meals which are cooked with love and food that taste happiness. Some even thought it is a luxury to eat outside everytime, thus not appreciating home-cook meal; whereas some has been waiting for the day where he or she could dine happily with their family members.
In this special occasion, I would like to remind all to be home, be with your love ones and enjoy the family reunion dinner. Try to feel the happiness, warmness and togetherness in a family, because for some they just could not make it.
Happy Chinese New Year to all! And enjoy your holiday! I might not be updating my blog these few days.
(Trying to use another approach to send my warmest greeting to everyone)
Have you ever received phone call in the middle of the night, and then realize that the caller is seeking the wrong person? If yes, it is very frustrating, right? What if that caller kept repeatedly calling your phone and don’t get the message? I had this experience!
On Tuesday morning, when I was having a good night sleep, my phone rang at 1.36am. Because of my injury, I took a while to fetch my phone. When I got it on my hand, it had already stopped ringing. Fearing that it might be some emergency I planned to call back but before I did, I received a test message (sms) from that caller asking in Malay language whether I had fallen asleep.
Obviously, it was a case of wrong number. So ignoring the sms, I crawled back to my bed, hoping that person would realize that he had the wrong number the next day.
This morning at around 2:07am while again I was having a good dream, my phone rang again! And it was from the same caller! Because that my mouth was too dry to talk, I sms him back in Malay, “Salah Nombor”, meaning wrong number in English.
The caller response was a blank sms! So I thought he got what I mean.
