West Malaysian Visitors

Today, I have two lady visitors who specially flew down to survey the tourist attraction sites in Kuching. I was only to meet them at lunch as their programme has been carefully lined by the tour agent from the touch down at the airport and back to departure hall to KL the next day.

They are expert as they are entrusted to evaluate and report back to the committee of what is the best place for makan, play and visiting. It seems as local, I am ignorant to their questions as probably I am not particular of the places of tourist locally. Lunch at Mango Tree (my 3rd time I think) is superb as of course no. 1, it is free and secondly they presented grand dishes (don't know how much).

To be host to 2 person is easy but when to a group of 100 people (yup..we are going to have 110 people coming...pumping in RM200k into Kuching economy), it really needs expert to carefully plan out the programme, if not...there will be chaotic situation. When they asked me about..the best place for laksa..my answer would be at kopi hui but definitely it cannot cater more than 20 people at one time...so, I have to agree with them to go for Mdm Tang's place, which could cater at least 50 people at one time and needed to spread over to neighbouring food cafe.

For seafood dinner...we can have it at carpark but need to book half of the place as normally it is pack with customers at evening.

For spa, it is also headache as limited places especially when quality is a must.

Frankly, in my observation, tourism quality in Kuching is still lagging behind other cities in Malaysia although our State government has done a lot to it but still when comparing to the information centre and places of attractions, we are still much behind, dont you think so ? or we are just being ignorant local.

Coming back to my visitors, I am supposed to join them tasting food at ABC but I could not make it as I need to visit a newly baptised brother as my Legion's weekly assignment. Tomorrow, they will be at Damai Puri surveying the latest offer by the new management. I have not been there since the last old management by Holiday Inn. Market feedback is very good and hot with new spa facililty and so forth....

Mmm..will keep all posted when I am there soon !

Increasing Cost of Dining Out

Do you realise the cost of eating out is getting more expensive ? Yes...definitely.

My usual "kaya balls" favourites is now costing extra 20 cents. Kampua is now all across RM2.50 per plate. Fried mee is at RM3.50.

Yesterday, I bought 2 packets of 1 litre soya bean drinks from Ta Kiong Emporium at The Spring, Kuching. The price is cheap at only RM1.80 per packet as I compared to my usual kopitiam drink (Teh-C peng) which costs RM1.60, if 5 layers special it will be RM2.00. In term of quantity ratio is 4 soya bean to 1 teh-C peng.

Mathematically, I am spending RM4.80 for usual drink per day...and for a 30 days period, I have to pay RM144.00 and plus 50% for treating friends..I would need to fork up RM216.00 just for drinks. So, if I drink at home more often, I could save RM1.15 per glass and RM103.50 per month !

Recently, I read an article in the Strait Times (of course many of you didn't read as it is a main stream media...) whereby it said about cutting down eating out which will definitely cut down our expenses in the light of fuel rising costs. It is very true as eating at home definitely is cheaper as when we buy and cook at home, we have already cut down 30% profit taking by the food operators. In addition, we will be able to ensure quality and quantity at our will.

Hey, just the last weekend alone, I have been spending about RM30 per dining out with my family of four...that will consitute to RM150 (as we do not have lunch on Sunday). If eating in, I could have save at least RM45.00 and a month, I will save RM180.00 just for the weekends.

"Sikit sikit lama lama jadi bukit"...rightly will give us the motivation of such savings. One year will lead to RM2,160.00 and ten years...it is RM21,600.00. Mind us, this is just a linear saving of the monetary value. If we work it out on exponentially...the amount is huge !

If we planned our eating places and take note of the prices, I am sure we will be able to at least save extra for another dining out...

However, if your earnings is more than "segunung tinggi"...forget about what I shared just now...it does not matter at all ! Hhehehe

A Very Hot Week

After weeks of receiving afternoon rains, it has been dry week since Monday. It is very hot out in the open, the sky is very clear and though I do not measure it with a termometer, I believe it is around 33-34 degree C. Staying in the office is a real luxury, having to enjoy the cooling airconditioning but for my nature of work, I have to move around even if it is melting outside.

I was hoping it very much to rain this afternoon as I would not need to water my newly planted pearl grass costing RM2,500.00 (at least not as much as somebody's German shepherd...but it is fluke). But it didn't, so I have to water them just now in the dark. I had overheard in the cafe that the haze is coming back..very soon but I do not have the feel,...may be it will but hopefully it will not be like the one we had in 1997/98.

Hey, I do noticed that my car porch has a lot of dust though I just wash it last Sunday afternoon (exceptionally lot)...a sign of hazy days ahead ?...

I have moved my house...

Till a week ago, I am still very much into putting the last touch to my new haven but now I am sitting in my dining hall putting up this blog...what a busy task as I believe all would agree especially when I have stayed in my previous house for six years with a wife and 2 kids. Still, I have 15-20% of my home contents still laying at the "old" house.

Moving, carrying, transporting, rearrangement had been the default mode for the last 7 days especially the first 3 days. The pain in my both legs is much more than after playing a grueling 5 sets of squash (during younger days of course)...Sleeping is a luxury for the past 7 days as I have been waking up at 5.30 a.m eversince 1st May.

Coming to this new neighbourhood, about 15km from city centre...around the same distance as per my previous house except the later is in the West/South of Kuching and the former is at East/South. However, the time taken to travel from my new home to office will take about 25 minutes, longer by slightly 5 minutes as it is quite jam in the early hours around 6.30-8 am. After 8am, it will only take 15 minutes.

Why this neighbourhood ?... the main reason is to be closer with my relatives...as my brother is just about 3 km away and my sister-in-law is only a lane (500m away) in the same negihbourhood (Heroes is staying just across the river, before the bridge...easier to get lift to airport if needed..:) ) Or may be just want to upgrade to a Semi-D from a terrace corner...

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Hey...as my house is located in Kota Samarahan, near border to Kuching City...so my MP now is Datuk Seri Sulaiman, son of CM instead of Datuk Yong Khoon Seng, both of BN. Need to change my polling address leh...

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House warming soon ? A question need to be thoroughly thought before answering. However, I will have my legion brothers/sisters to my house for our May Rosary and probably also inviting my parish priest to do the house blessing together sometime this month.

Hey...Still recall that someone reminded me about inviting CM & S to attend...yes, it would wonderful if they can be present...as his son is my MP now...:)

Embracing Change

How far you are ready for change ? Change is inevitable ! and every moment is different unless we stop thinking or breathing but then life will still go on...

My friend, the sooner we embrace change for good...we shall be able to life more meaningfully in this life. Amen.