Publika Motor Treasure Hunt

3 March 2012 - Only managed to get a full team to take part in the last week before registration ends with Fong's confirmation. With that, we get the team of Angie, Wee Kiat, Fong and myself. Was trying hard to push for this hunt.

We started on the wrong foot. Without going through the tulips direction, I told the team that we are starting with Q23-30 which was the Mall hunt part. Unknown to me, Q1-4 was also a walk hunt in the exterior of Publika, while Q23-30 was inside the Mall. While everyone was hunting outside the Mall, we were the only team inside the Mall. Sensing something not quite right, I asked the COC and was told that we were supposed to do Q1-4 first, which was clearly written in the tulips. I tried to call the team, no one picked up my call. But then I saw they were already outside the Mall looking for answers. Flouted the very basic treasure hunt rule - did not read tulips and instructions - from the very beginning. We were out there looking for answers to the four questions, but could not find two. And we took about an hour and could only found the two answers. Then we decided to move on the next part - the motor part and drove out from the Mall. As I was leaving the Mall, I already have a bad feeling over the whole thing. Are we again going back not within the Top 10, as in the Empire Hunt??

The next sector at Sri Hartamas wasn't too good as well, only get 1 out of 3 questions there. Then it was Desa Sri Hartamas and it was a breeze through as we get the next four questions driving through. Then it was Damansara Heights (CIMB office area) and then back to the Mall for the last portion of the Mall walk hunt part.

Dinner for the hunt was served at night in Publika. That was one of the best hunt buffet ever tasted. Then Q&A time. Calculated our score to be 145 points out of maximum of 175. Thought that was not too bad. When it was announced that the 10th place team scored 135 points, my heart sank as I thought we would not be able to get into Top 5, though we would have been guaranteed a prize which would at least cover our expenses. Then it announced the 9th place, then 8th, 7th, 6th, 5th, 4th, 3rd and we were still not being called out. Finally for the 2nd place winner with 150 points, it was team No. 6 which is ours. RM1600 cash prize for the second place team. Although the champion team took home RM400 more, it would also be promoted to the Non-beginner list of Trialblazers. So we still keep out Beginners Status which enables us to take in the Beginners category.


I think we are now a stage where we too far away from the Master/Non Beginners/Diamond category, but we are at the top of the Beginners/Gold category. Hopefully I get the team to hunt more often and move on the higher category for personal satisfaction. But of course, winning then would become very, very difficult.

Treasure Hunt Society of Malaysia Treasure Hunt League

11 February 2012 - Treasure Hunt League Leg 1

Ever since the Society announced the starting a Treasure Hunt league, I have waited anxiously for it. It was supposed to be held last year, but was postpone to this year.

The failure to get a full team to hunt most the time was quite frustrating. Missed out on some of the hunts that wanted to go. This league series is easier as it only requires 2 to form a team. So teaming up with Wee Kiat, we set out for the first hunt of the year.

Hunt fee was RM10 for members, which both of us are. Walk hunt, petrol cost zero. So it was just an investment or RM10. Cheap.. Cheap...

When I first started to hunt, we would stack the car with thick dictionaries of various kinds. Later Angie brought along a digital dictionary with thesaurus function. Nowadays, we simply go for hunt with a smart mobile phone - one that can access the net for wiki, dictionary, thesaurus etc. However, I still noticed for most Master teams, they still bring along thick dictionaries/thesaurus. Was this their secret to become Masters?

This first leg consists of 20 route and 2 treasure questions to be done within 3 hours in a hot and blazing afternoon sun (3pm to 6pm) at Bangsar. Towards the end (about 5.30pm), the rain started to pour. So it was shine and rain for a walk hunt. The 2 most irritating weather conditions for walk hunt.

Final results: Third place with 64 points. Drop 4 route questions and both treasures. Sob..Sob... Both treasure questions. How pathetic...

Of the 4 route questions, should be able to crack 2 of them if only we had 'opened up' the net in our small smart phone to look for synonyms of some words. But we had not taken that trouble then. Lessons learned.

The prize: RM60 for third place. Just nice to cover Hunt Fee (RM20), Banana Leaf Rice Dinner at Devi's Corner Bangsar, venue for the hunt (RM31) and parking (RM9).


We are now at joint fifth place in the league with 20 points. The winner (individual) of the league walks off with RM1000. Can't wait for the next leg.

Movie 2 and 3

6 February 2012 - Ah Beng The Movie: Three Wishes and All's Well, Ends Well 2012

There are a number of Chinese Movies being screened in conjunction with Chinese New Year for this year. As in previous years, would not have time to watch any of these during the festive period. However, there was an intention to catch up 1 or 2 later on. So on this public holiday, I decided to go for two. Both movies schedule fitted nicely with one after another at MBO in KSL City Mall in JB.

First, the local production of Jack Lim, MyFm Deejay - taken from his Astro character, Ah Beng. This is the third production featuring the faces from MyFm and Astro, although this is the first which uses the Ah Beng's name for the movie title. Box office wise, it is a huge success. Beating all other movies which included star-studded Hong Kong and Taiwan cast. Thanks to their great publicity stunt which culminated in the premier screening of the movie in Pavilion, which was attended by the Prime Minister and wife.


Movie wise, I think it does no better than the first one. I did not watched the second one. With all the hype surrounding it, I would expect a better story, acting, cinematography and editing. But was truly disappointed in all. A forgettable production.

Rating: 2.5 of 5

The Raymond Wong Hong Kong production of this franchise movie is better one, compared to Ah Beng. Not that because it boast of several superstars, but better acting, shooting and editing.


As seen in the poster, it revolved around 4 stories which are totally unrelated to each one. Here is where being the producer has the biggest advantage. Raymond Wong, one of the producers, probably picked the best story of the four for himself.

My favorite act goes to Chapman To. I simply adored his acting. He has never failed to amuse me. I think he did a great imitating Director Peter Chan (Sandra Ng's husband).

Rating: 3 or 5.

Movie 1

07 January 2012 - Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol



I have been watching the past seasons of The Amazing Race on Youtube. The Amazing Race is a TV reality show that take the participants in a race around the world for the title of The Amazing Race Champion and the 1 Million US Dollar that comes with the title.

Watching the MI-4 last weekend is like deja vu, where the actions took the audience from Budapest in the opening scene, to Moscow, then Mumbai and finally back to the States for ending. Although this is already the third installment, but it was my first MI.

Tom Cruise still looks stunning - 'age is but just a number'. I like the humor that was included in the script. My memory states humor is very scarce in this type of movies, but the servings in MI4 is very forthcoming. Simon Pegg did a good job here.

My favorite scene has got to be Cruise scaling the heights of Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, with a pair of special gloves. The chasing of Hendricks by Hunt in the sandstorm seems rather stretching for me.

Overall, it was an enjoyable one. My rating: 4 of 5.

Annual Round-up

2010 - 3 posts...

2011 - 4 posts...

2011 better than 2010 with 1 additional post. Am I a blogger? Certainly would not count as one even in the broadest definition. Well, let me say I will try to improve that in 2012... (crossing my fingers).

To start off, 2011 was pretty mundane as in previous year. Still working here in JB. Spending weekends rotating between JB, KL and Ipoh. Another year to go for my contract. Will it be extending. Not sure. Up to my Boss, and the development plans for Nusajaya.

Did not hunt that many. Still having problems with forming a regular team.

Movies also less. Which did I watch? Thor, etc. ETC stands for can't recall. But do remember 2 others though. Firstly, Choy Lee Fut - because it has to be the most boring one in 2011. Slept through, almost. Secondly, White Vengeance (鴻門宴) - another Chinese historical epic - was probably one of the more interesting one.

Traveling - only short trips.

23-25 September 2011 - 3Days2Nights Club Med Bintan, Indonesia. First Club Med experience. Love it. Will definitely go for another one. Maybe to Phuket.

27-30 November 2011 - 4Days3Nights Superstar Virgo Cruise from Singapore to Penang and Phuket. Another first. Love it too, and will definitely go for another one. Maybe the Royal Caribbean Cruise.

New year resolutions - go for more hunts, movies and holiday trips. As usual...

Explore Johor Treasure Hunt 2011

23 July 2011 - Explore Johor Treasure Hunt 2011

Second hunt in Johor. Again teamed up with my colleagues - with Tine, Izat and Wati.

A hunt to promote tourism in Johor, with the main sponsor from Johor Corporation. About 50 teams competed in this hunt. Most of them are hunting for the first time. Therefore the questions are more direct translation from English to Malay and vice-versa. Not much cryptic knowledge required. 30 route questions, 5 treasures (one of them is to purchase a local made yoghurt in one of the pit stops), 20 car challenge questions which answers are to get from the web, 5 pit stops where at each pit stop answers to questions are to be found at the pit stops.

The hunt flagged off from Johor Bahru and ended at Tanjung Leman, which is the ferry terminal to Pulau Sibu. The route of the hunt was actually posted in FB before the start of hunt.

Overall it was not difficult, as compared to those more cryptic type question found in KL based hunt. But I was able to fully concentrate, as we have problems with the tulip. Was to concern as to whether we are heading to the right direction and whether we are in the right sector for the questions. These worries were not unfounded as we really look for answers at the 2 wrong sectors. These caused to miss out some time at the first wrong sector, and missed out one answer at the second wrong sector.

We were the 8th team to check in at the finish control - and we were 9 minutes late. The green horns at the field were this obvious. Final result - 3rd place (again!!!). Hopefully, the next hunt will be different, and better...

The third placing team with the RM1000 cash prize and Ayamas hamper

The Champion, Second and Third Placing teams

And, ya, we won a lucky draw prize as well. A 2day-1night stay Sibu Island Resort. There were 5 draw prizes. Ours was the last drawn and the best. The rest were stay at Selesa Hotel at JB. Pasir Gudang, Port Dickson. It was indeed a 'lucky draw'.

Iskandar Puteri Heritage Race 2011

9 July 2011 - My first hunt in JB. And it's sponsored. Organized by IRDA, we were sponsored by IIB Sports Club, although it just cost RM40 per team.

Teamed up with my colleagues, Kartine - AVP for Planning and Norliza - my EA. Kartine has participated in several hunts, but more on the Explorace type, while Liza is a first timer - more to make up the number.

Although this is not an Explorace type, but the questions were far from the normal cryptic type. More of the word substitution. Therefore as long as you know your BM to English or vice-versa well, it should not be any problem. The hunt consists of 30 route questions, 5 treasures and 10 bonus questions

Our results - 29/30 route questions, 4/5 treasures and 6/10 bonus questions. Placed third.

Prize presentation - in the middle is Tine and Liza on the right

With the winning team, the team from Legoland. A champion and third placing for Iskandar.

Target for the next JB hunt, The Johor Discovery Hunt on 23 July 2011. First prize RM4000 cash. Looking forward to that.

Treasure Hunt Weekend

The last time I hunted was the Maritime Hunt with WK, Jess and Emily. That was in 23 Oct 2010. We had the satisfaction of being the 'best' among the worst. Placed at No.7, we were the best placed team after all the Masters.

There was other hunt which I was supposed to go, but had pulled out at the last minute because of office instruction to make a trip to Yogjakarta.

So for the weekend of 11th and 12th of June 2011, I managed to get the teams for 2 hunts over the 2 days.


11 June 2011 - ESG Beginners' Hunt at Empire Shopping Gallery, Subang Jaya. Teaming with WK, Fong and Emily, I was hoping to be able to repeat our winning performance of Tropicana Hunt. The lack of hunting really showed in the hunt. We were not even in the Top 10, in a Beginners' Hunt that attracts 2 masters teams. Our score was in the range of 75%. A total disaster.




12 June 2011 - Hospice Klang. We have always being very supportive of this hunt. This time teaming with WK, Jess and Emily, this is yet another hunt which showed our lack of hunting. Score is 60%. But we should be more proud of this result, as it was not supposed to be an easy hunt. All the top teams were there. I was not expecting a top 10 finish.





Although came out empty handed in both hunts, there was some positive outcome from both days outings - got back in the mode and mood of hunting and to do some charity works for Hospice Klang.

Hopefully, we will be able to get more time for hunting as I believe we can only do better.

Travel Destinations Update

The year 2010 seems to be a traveling year for me, especially in the second half - 2 holiday trips and 2 business trips.

The summary list of travel destinations can be updated as below:

1995 - Australia - Sydney & Gold Coast
1996 - Thailand - Bangkok & Pattaya
1997 - Netherlands, Belgium, England - Amsterdam, Brussels & London
2000 - New Zealand - Christchurch, Rotorua & Auckland
2001 - Denmark, Sweden, Norway - Copenhagen, Gothenburg, Stockholm, Oslo & Bergen
2002 - Hungary, Austria - Budapest & Vienna
2002 - Hong Kong
2004 - Thailand - Chiangmai
2005 - South Korea
2006 - Thailand - Chiangmai
2007 - Thailand - Phuket
2008 - Indonesia - Bali
2009 - Australia - Melbourne & Sydney
2010 (May/June) - Italy - Rome, Florence, Pisa & Venice
2010 (September) - China, Shanghai (Business Trip)
2010 (November) - Indonesia - Jakarta & Jogjakarta (Business Trip)
2010 (December) - Taiwan

Hopefully there will be more trips for the year 2011.

Taiwan 2010

2 December - 8 December 2010

Family annual trip to Taiwan.

Day 1 - 2 December 2010

Depart from KLIA in a MH flight to CKS Airport, Tao Yuan on 9.20am flight. About 5 hours flight to Taipeh. Upon reaching, travel to Yilan County, a place popular with its hot spring resort. Spend one night in Yilan.

Day 2 - 3 December 2010

Yilan - Jiufen - Keelung. Overnight in Keelung.

Day 3 - 4 December 2010

Keelung - Taipeh. Overnight in Taipeh.

Day 4 - 5 December 2010

Taipeh - Tai shee Garden - Doraemon World - Flying Cow Ranch, Miaoli. Overnight in Flying Cow Ranch.

Day 5 - 6 December 2010

Miaoli - Taipeh. Overnight in Taipeh

Day 6 - 7 December 2010

Taipeh. Overnight in Taipeh

Day 7 - 8 December 2010

Depart from Taipeh back to KL - flight at 7.20am from Taipeh.

Click here for the photos.