Petronas Twin Towers

I'm holidaying right now and using Kuala Lumpur as base, have visited Melaka and Port Dickson as well. Here is a postcard perfect shot of Petronas Twin Towers, the third tallest buildings in the world, that I took yesterday night just prior to Earth Hour.

It was not the first time I was there, actually. The first time was a month ago when I went purposely to window shop and almost broke my leg from all the walking. Covering six hours of retail floor in just one afternoon, imagine that!

Petronas Twin Towers participated in Earth Hour last night and there were many people milling about waiting for the "moment". My friend and I did too like what most tourists would do to commemorate Earth Hour! Too bad we were a little late or I could have shot a video of it with its lights switching off.

Hotel Puri, Melaka Boutique Hotel

We checked in to Hotel Puri last evening and received complimentary breakfast. The spread isn't even generous but then I don't eat too much. This is what we took. Hehe... small portion, right?

It's quite a relaxing holiday albeit a little more expensive than I like to pay but then have to use the safe so have to pay for it, but then there are many things that could be improved upon. We were told that the room has a good view but it doesn't. I'm sure any one of those Branson vacation packages would be able to create an even greater holiday atmosphere.

Melaka Food Specialties

I am in Melaka now. This is my first time here even though I have passed by previously but that was more than 20 years ago. Anyway, my friend ordered Melaka food specialties for me to try out.

Unfortunately, I am not a food blogger and messed up some of the dishes before I remembered that I have to take some photos of them! I only managed to take these four different dishes and they are Mee Goreng Melaka, fried oyster, otak-otak and pork satay. Hehehehe minta maaf! Looks like this post is non-halal!

After trying all these dishes, I have to say that Melaka food is too salty, oily and spicy for me. The oil and the spice, I can put up with them once in a while but salty food makes me drink so much water!

And then of course we haven't tried all the food that Melaka is famous for like chicken rice ball. Well, perhaps for lunch or dinner today.

What Gifts To Buy?

I have just been informed by two friends that they will be throwing baby showers next month. I am travelling right now and they are not able to have me their baby shower invitations yet.

But even as I am travelling, instead of doing so with a free heart, because of these two showers, I have to look out for gifts every time I visit a mall or a gift shop! I have no idea what to get yet so I am just hoping that I will come across something different from the usual baby shower gifts. Argh.. I am looking for inspiration and any comments would be much appreciated!!

Corporate & Promotional Gifts

My friend received a branded pen recently in a corporate event and told me that he wants to sell it off. I helped him to find out how much it is worth since I have a friend who works as a boutique manager of the principal store in the capital city and she told me that it was retailed at $350 - $400 last year.

According to this boutique manager, it is the cheapest line of corporate gifts that they have and it is really not worth selling. Actually, I think it's better to sell since it is still under warranty but I like collecting promotional products and corporate gifts because each item commemorates an event, occasion or celebration. I don't even want to use them but prefer to keep them. When I have my own house, I am going to get a shelf with glass door and display them in the living room. Yes, I know, I am weird!

Who Will Win?

Who do you think will win the MCA Presidential Election this 28th March? Would it be OTK, OKT or CSL? I would bet that it's going to be OTK because he's an incumbent. OKT has led the party to its worst ever lost in the last General Election while CSL is a home video star. Hahaha! Would any Chinese want such a person to lead MCA? I don't think so.

Actually, I feel that the person who has the most to lose in this battle is going to be CSL. Well, padan muka as they say. He was the one who started all these by forcing a party election like this. Does he think that delegates want him so much? What a seriously wrong move that he made!

Anyway, this topic is a great coffee shop topic but no matter how much we talk about it, we will know the results come the end of the day of 28th March, 2010! Hopefully, after that, the party could undergo some serious unity talks otherwise, they should just disband and cross over to Pakatan. LOL

On The Road

I've been on the road since Tuesday and it is only Thursday now but the effects of carrying a heavy knapsack is taking its toll on my shoulders. The weight comes mostly from my laptop and its accessories and that I cannot change at the moment because I need to get online regularly and thankfully, Celcom 3G signal is available in most places in Malaysia!

At first, I wanted to buy a trolley bag so that I could just pull it but my friend says that it is not practical unless I am flying and even then, I shouldn't simply buy any brand of trolley bags in case of rough handling of luggage by airport staff. He said that I should buy something solid like Titan luggage so that my belongings will be protected no matter how the bag is thrown about.

Even with a trolley bag, I would still be carrying my laptop on my bag. My friends think I'm so kiasu and I am not even from Penang!

Two Ongoing Renovations In The Neighborhood

It's a noisy time at home with two neighboring houses undergoing major renovation right at this moment and we are sandwiched in the middle. Can you imagine the noise and dust that we have to put up with? We are being very patient and tell ourselves that the most this will last is probably three months but at the rate that the workers are moving, these renovations could last up to six months.

One of the neighbors is going to make her house very special. She wants her house to stand out in the neighborhood, I guess. She has also consulted a feng shui master and has been advised to install a convex mirror at the front of her home. Hopefully, that wouldn't cause us any ill effects. Perhaps, we should install a similar mirror or maybe even a yin yang mirror to counter it. LOL We shall see!

Ipoh - KL Sentral Train Ride

I'm in KL now for my one week holiday. Yesterday, I decided to take the KTM train instead of the express bus. I wouldn't say it's better to take the train than the express bus because it is not but it's certainly vastly improved from the last and only train ride that I took from Ipoh to Penang back in 1990. That was 20 years ago!

THAT experience totally turned me off train rides in Malaysia! The train that I took is still powered by diesel and I am so looking forward to the electric train that will tentatively be launched in April. I don't think the travel time will be reduced by too much. My train ride took 2 hours 50 minutes, by the way, but an electric train will surely will smoother and less noisy.

What I do not like about riding on the train is the many stops it has to make. The express bus doesn't stop at all unless a passenger requests the driver to. Even with the electric train, it will still need to stop quite a few times and that just slows down the ride.

Anyway, will write more later!

Express Bus Or Train

Now that the closure of Puduraya Express Bus Terminal in Puduraya for maintenance has been postponed and I am sure that it wouldn't be closed next week so soon after this announcement, I cannot decide if I should take the express bus or the train next week when I go south for a week's holiday.

My last train ride, actually my one and only, was back in December 1990. I remember taking it with my sister and mother north to Penang to attend the meet-the-fans session of Tommy Page. It was a very awful ride and we bumped along as we rode in the train.

Now, 20 years later, I am sure the rides have improved but too bad the electric train isn't in service yet. Well, some people tell me that it's already plying but there is no official word yet. I even called up KTM a few times to ask.

The reason I would like to take the train is because it is so convenient to head to KLCC once it stops at KL Sentral. It's just one stop away on the Putra LRT. But I really fear it would be too bumpy because I would be taking along my laptop. I don't want it to get damaged from the ride!

Oh well, I still have a few more days to mull over this. I’ll decide once my brother let’s me know if he’s coming along. If he is, we are taking the express bus.

Family Fishing Vacation

I actually prefer to go on a vacation by myself but my father likes all of us to go on family vacations. Do you know that he dreams of buying a caravan and taking all of us around the country? That didn't happen and now that all of us have our own lives to lead, it doesn't look like it will happen.

While surfing the web this morning, I cam across an idea of going on a fishing vacation. My father and brother love fishing and it would be a great bonding vacation for the family at the Island View Resort. Fishing could be just an added bonus!

I have been checking on northern mn cabin rentals and I think that if all of us children pool our funds, we would be able to give our parents a memorable family vacation in conjunction of their 40th wedding anniversary this May.

Unlike fishing here, fishing pelican lake is an adventure by itself because of its unique lake structure that offers varied spots for fishing. I believe that even for my father, who fishes avidly, this would be something that he has not experienced before.

I am going to get my sister to check on more minnesota fishing resorts before making a final decision on which to choose. Of course, we are looking on one that is friendliest to our vacation budget!

Events In KL From 23rd March

I am planning to go down to KL for a week beginning 23rd March and right now, I am searching on the web for events that will be held around that time, possibly something interesting, something different from what I have seen or experienced in Ipoh. International events are always held in KL and it would be a bummer if nothing at all happened when I am there!

So far, I haven't been successful in my search yet. Apparently, the good events are held before and after my impending trip like the 2nd Putrajaya International Hot Air Balloon fiesta and Formula One. That's bad because I don't want it to be just a window shopping trip, you know?

And this time, I am definitely going to KLCC Park again and hopefully, the fountain will be in action. It was closed for maintenance when I was there last month. Yeah, of all days. Total bummer!

An All Inclusive Caribbean Vacation Is The Ultimate Romantic Holiday For Couples

My girlfriend, Sarah, asked me if it is very unreasonable of her to choose an all inclusive Caribbean vacation instead of a conventional holiday to popular cities like Seoul and Tokyo. Those were suggested by her boyfriend but she has rejected his ideas and instead, said that it's going to be to the Caribbean or nothing else.

Of course, being the romantic that I am, I do not think that it is too unreasonable of her but only if they have the budget for it. As you know all inclusive caribbean vacations can be quite expensive but then a shopping holiday to Tokyo could be a budget killer too!

Sarah loves beaches and I think that an all inclusive Caribbean vacation would be the perfect holiday for them at this point of their relationship. I think that if the guy understands how much this holiday means to her, he would comply. Or perhaps, if he had seen how beautiful the beaches could be or imagine the romance in one of the all inclusive beach resorts, he wouldn't oppose Sarah's idea like he is doing now.

Sarah has asked me to help her convince the guy that they should go on an all inclusive Caribbean vacation but I don’t think I can. I haven’t been on one myself either though I too would love to spend my honeymoon somewhere as romantic! That would really be the most unforgettably vacation in my life! Well, didn’t I mention I am a romantic at heart?

Puduraya Express Bus Terminal Closure To Be Postponed

The Puduraya Express Bus Terminal which was scheduled to close on 19th March of this month for four months for maintenance work has been postponed after a meeting between UDA Holdings, the owners, Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry, Commercial Vehicle Licensing Board, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, Road Transport Department and the police.

While closing the Puduraya Express Bus Terminal is inevitable, I thought that doing so in the midst of a school term holiday is a bad move since there would be so many more travellers who would be inconvenienced.

Right now, it is not announced yet when the new date will be but I hope that it will not be this month since I am planning to go to KL for a holiday. I am not sure yet if I will be going by express bus or train but still, I love to have both options open to me.

Striving To Be The World's Fattest Woman

I read on Daily Chili the other day about this woman, Donna Simpson, who is striving to hit 1000 pounds in body weight. She is already the world's fattest mother after giving birth to her daughter three years ago but now she has continued to eat junk food and not move too much, her two secrets of getting fat.

I find it seriously strange, you know? Here we have a multi-billion dollar weight loss industry, well people want to be slimmer even though they are "normal" in the first place, and here we have a woman going against the norm.

I don't know what she her ultimate goal in life is getting herself into such a shape, sorry for the pun, but it is definitely not going to be easy taking all those fat off and it sure is not going to be healthy for her or light on her backbone carrying all those excessive weight. And she definitely needs a proper home budgeting software to help with her US$815 weekly grocery bill!

Donna Simpson has a website where paying members log in to see her stuff herself and wash herself, which I think is totally gross. Perhaps she wants to be a participant in the World 's Biggest Loser reality show?

Sollie Like Marley

This dog, Sollie, was in the news yesterday for having swallowed a 3 carat diamond worth US$20,000. It's funny that the owners took him to the vet but the vet couldn't do anything but told them to let nature take its course.

Marley was in exactly the same situation when he also swallowed a diamond pendant. The owner had to water down his poop in the garden to look for his gift of a diamond pendant and necklace to his wife. I guess the owners of Sollie didn't watch Marley and Me or they would know what to do with Sollie already!

Having kept dogs almost all my life I am relieved that although my dogs were naughty too, at least they never put thins they are not supposed to put into their mouths! But you know, real dog lovers willingly put up with anything that their dogs put them through, even watering down poop!

Permanent Acne Treatment Solution

You know, I thought that I had found the perfect acne treatment solution after so many years of searching for a "cure" since I was 13 years old. About two years ago, I found a facial cleanser that was so good, my acne healed and there were no new ones that popped up at the wrong time at the wrong spots!

This past month, though, it looks like I have to start looking for solutions to treat acne again because a couple of them have made their appearance on my face again. Argh... I thought I am done with them already and all I have to do now is look for a solution for acne scars but not so soon, I guess!

This makes me wonder if there is a permanent acne treatment solution. I seem to suffer from it when I am stressed, when I do not have sufficient hours of sleep or when I am under the sun for too long!

Worry Free Life

It seems to me that I worry too much about things. First there was Dino who suffered from seizures and I dared not leave him alone in the house for too long. And then Snoopy was so ill that he was bedridden for 7.5 months and there was not a day that I did not fear that something would go wrong. Now, without these two responsibilities, I continue to worry but my main concern is not earning enough to upkeep the family.

I wouldn't say that my worries are unnecessary or frivolous especially now when the currency is so much stronger and is expected to go even higher but I am striving to lead a life with less worries or even the best wrinkle creams would not help.

I was once asked what I would like to do when I am no longer tied down by Snoopy and Dino. I said I wanted to travel. Well, I am no longer tied down by them and still do not get to travel as much as I like to. Travel isn't as cheap as I had thought even with no frills air travel!

Say Goodbye To The World's Smallest Man, He Pingping

He Pingping, from China, who was declared as the World's Smallest Man in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2009, has passed away after suffering from chest pains whilst on a promotional tour in Italy.

He Pingping suffered from dwarfism and was only 74.61cm, that's slightly under 2.5 feet! It's very sad for his parents, you know, seeing how tiny he was and knowing that he will not survive long and yet he could function so normally! I guess they should be consoled that he lived for 21 years, sad as it may be.

I have enclosed this photo of He Pingping which is one that I will always remember because it’s just so cheeky!

Can't Get Enough Of Celebrity Gossip

It seems like Singaporeans cannot leave the Jack Neo scandal alone. So his manager has learned from the Tiger Woods episode by not allowing Jack Neo to hide from the public in the heat of the scandal but organized a press conference for Jack Neo to face the public and seek public apology and forgiveness from his fans. And it looked to me that Jack, being the good film director that he is, scripted a role for his wife, Irene Kng, to show the country and whoever else interested outside of the country, that she still supports her husband and that she will stand by him because she still loves him and treasures the well being of her children and family.

The shocking thing to many of us is that she has known of his infidelity for a year by her own admission. I have talked to a few friends and read many celebrity gossip columns and websites and everyone says that she deserves what she is getting by not putting a stop to it. I think that's pretty unfair that she has to be put in the limelight like this at possibly the lowest ebb of her life and yet people think it's all her fault and she deserves this.

Actually, I have never even heard of her name prior to this but I felt that at the press conference, from the video that I watched, she was genuinely heartbroken. Skeptics say that it was staged but I don't think so.

However, I do think that Irene Kng may show to the public that she still loves Jack Neo, that's why she is sticking through this, but no matter what, I don't believe that there is a woman who would not lose the trust for her husband in the face of such public scandal. So perhaps, Irene Kng is only standing by him because of economic reasons.

In any case, I still am of the opinion that all these women who are coming out with their sides of the story, shouldn't do so if they had benefited from an association with Jack Neo. That's nothing new in the entertainment industry in any part of the world. That's how we hear of the names of Nastassja Kinski and Gong Li. If they did not compromise, do you think they would be what they are today? Perhaps, but it would be a long and bumpy road.

Anyway, I think that we should leave Jack Neo and Irene Kng alone to work this out but then there is no denying that celebrity gossip makes the world go round!

To Forgive Or Not?

Singapore's celebrated film maker Jack Neo's affair scandal has been in the media for the past one week or so already and it didn't interest me much until I watched the press conference that was organized by his manager where Jack Neo addressed the public and sought for forgiveness from his fans and his wife, Irene Kng, came out to show her support for him, and cried inconsolably until she collapsed.

Many people thought that is was fine acting on their part deserving of an Oscar but I thought that Jack's crying at the table may be fake but his wife's was very gut wrenching. I guess only spouses who have dealt with infidelity would understand her feelings.

Wendy Chong

Irene Kng has said that she would stand by her husband and that she would try to hold the family, they have four children, together despite Jack's affair with a model, 22 year old freelance model Wendy Chong, for two years and the allegations by a French girl, Maelle Meurzec, and apparently another nine young ladies who were all out to make it big in the Singaporean entertainment scene.

You know what, from what I read in Singaporean forums, people were saying that she deserves the kind of situation that she is facing now for marrying Jack Neo and for standing by him. This got me to think, should a wife, when faced with this, leave or stay? Does she forgive him to the level that she could still stay with him? Does she trust him anymore still and if there is no trust, would she be able to still think of themselves as man and wife?

Jack Neo’s abuse of power by sexually harassing the girls and promising them roles in his movies, basically a promise of fame and fortune, is inexcusable but really, it is nothing new. It has happened in Hollywood, Bollywood, Honkywood and I am sure even in Malaysia. But for these women to tell on him now, I think it’s pretty vicious as well. If they are not greedy for the fame that he has promised, Jack Neo wouldn’t be able to touch them at all.

Anyway, after all is said, I think that the press and public should just let the Neo family alone to deal with the healing process. It’s not going to be easy. May God bless them.

Own Brand Name

My friend and I are thinking of selling costume jewelry and I will be going down to the capital city later this month to source for them. Basically, we will buy them in bulk at wholesale prices and repack them individually and sell them singly. I know, it's a lot of work but it is very challenging. Business always is.

We are brainstorming for our own brand name and we are going to get Custom Labels for our items. My friend and I are not creative souls and couldn't come up with any design even with the help of graphic software! She proposes to hire a designer to help us with our Custom Label but we haven't found one that matches our budget.

I am also currently looking for a printer who would meet our requirements for our Custom Printed Labels and also meet our budget, that's the most important!

I have seen the quality of prints from Data Graphics Inc. and I am very impressed with their work but we haven't decided yet which custom label printer to go with.

Puduraya Bus Terminal To Close For Four Months

I read a news report with dismay that the Puduraya bus terminal will be closed for four months beginning from 19th March, 2010 for maintenance work. Dang.... just when I thought I'd travel to KL by express bus on 23rd March and to think that I wasted a reconnaissance trip to KL last month to learn the route from Puduraya to KLCC.

Anyway, I am thinking of taking the train now even though the electric train will only launch next month. Economy class will be cheaper than a ticket on an express bus but the trip will be an hour longer since the train is slower. I thought I would only take the train when the electric train starts its service but I don't have a choice now.

I think it's stupid that the report in the papers about the Puduraya bus terminal closing did not include information on an alternative for bus passengers on where the buses will stop or where people could buy their bus tickets. What, the reporter expects us to mind read?

Luckily I caught the news on TV which says that buses will stop at "Hentian Duta" and passengers can take a shuttle bus to Jalan hang Tuah at RM2. Of course all these don't make sense to me. LOL

Online Multi-Language Translation

As a Chinese who can't speak Mandarin, I feel handicapped. When my sister was living with us, I would ask her to help me out but now that she is living in a Western country, she has also lost touch with the language.

I am a blogger who receive messages from people from all walks of life. Some locals would write to me in Mandarin but I have also received my fair share of messages in various foreign languages. With Mandarin, I could still ask friends to translate into English for me but for other languages like Japanese and French, I reach a dead end. I know I could use free online translators like Babelfish but that is of no help when the translated work retains most of the original foreign words.

I recently came across an online multi-language translation service that is very helpful for people like me. I usually only need to translate just short notes or even one or two words so hiring a translator would be too expensive but with Translia, a website that allows us to reach out to translators from around the world, no matter if we have a stack of documents to translate or just a word or two, we could get it done easily.

David Gurnani First Asia's Biggest Loser

Although I did not follow Asia's Biggest Loser episode by episode, even though some one I know participated in the programme but was eliminated in the early rounds, I think it's amazing that the winner, David Gurnani from Indonesia, managed to lose a total of 81kg, or a total of 53% of his original body weight of 157kg after 5+ months.

People who have undergone a weight loss regime before would know how difficult it is to keep the fat away but it looks like the US$100,000 prize money is a great motivation factor. I tell you, if I were obese, I definitely would join Asia's Biggest Loser. I mean, it's great to have a free personal trainer and dietitian and stand to win that huge cash prize if I lose the most weight.

I figure that for these participants who had lost a lot of body weight, even if they didn't win anything, their lives would have completed turned around. Life must be a whole lot different for a "big" person, right?

Not Really Cash Business

I visited a friend at his restaurant a couple of nights ago. It's a very popular restaurant that runs from 8pm to 6am. Yes, he doesn't get to sleep too but it's OK since it makes him lots of money!

This friend told me that it's not easy being in the food industry. I thought that since it's cash business, it's better than some other businesses, right? He told me that although he buys his ingredients with cash and customers pay him cash too, he has a few debt accounts from customers who failed to pay after buying his catering business.

My friend told me that when a customer wants him to cater food, for a dinner or something, they would pay him 50% deposit and the balance will be paid once the dinner is over. However, because it is a close-knit community, they would tell him that they will pay "later" and he agreed.

Unfortunately, the "later" has turned out to be longer than a year already and I think that's too long a wait for job that has already completed. I asked him if he has thought of hiring a Collection Agency to help him chase for his payment but he felt that he should not do so and fears that it would affect his overall business.

Well, getting a third party into this is a personal choice and some debtors may be offended even though they are in the wrong.

*** This post has been sponsored.

Tuesday Morning Market

For the past few weeks, well, since Snoopy passed away and I could finally go about my own errands, I had wanted to visit the morning market near my house that is only around every Tuesday. Now, almost eight Tuesdays have come and gone and I still haven't visited it yet!

Actually, it's not that i want to visit the morning market in particular but I am looking for short pants, they are all in tatters while I spent 7.5 months caring for Snoopy at home and until today, I still couldn't find any replacements. It's not that I'm fussy. I just couldn't find anything that fits me so far. They are either too small or too large.

I don't know why but every Tuesday morning, something or other would come up and I would miss the chance. I hope I can make it next week because the week after that, I plan to travel to KL and that means another missed opportunity. LOL Even going to the morning market is so difficult.

Hotel Landscaping

My brother and his friend are planning to bid on a landscaping job at a new hotel in the East Coast. Both of them have no experience with landscaping at all but they are still going ahead with the bidding process because of connections and they are pretty confident of securing the job.

I told my brother that Landscape Design is not as easy as it looks. One needs a lot of creativity to make the best use of the ground, exactly like an artist with a blank piece of canvas. It doesn’t only need to look smashing; it has to be practical as well.

I used to have a friend, who has since passed away, who was a landscaper and I enjoyed seeing him work and tagging along with him whenever he visited his gardens. He did a lot of landscaping jobs for five star hotels in the capital city, you see. On the surface, these landscape creations looked like something that even I could do but we couldn't tell that lots of behind-the-scene work have gone into each landscaping design.

My brother says that if they are successful in clinching the deal, they would be outsourcing the job to a real landscaping company that would take care of everything from scratch. Now, that’s more logical.

*** This post has been sponsored.

Gone Two Months

Snoopy has left us for two months already and even though I heaved a sigh of relieve that he is no longer suffering from physical pain, I still miss him so much. Time flies by and these two months, a lot seemed to have happened but then at the end of the day, I am still "stuck" in a rut. And my body clock is still topsy turvy.

Since Snoopy died, I didn't dream of him at all, unlike with Dino, who appeared in my dream. It was his way for letting me know that he is all right. But with Snoopy, I have no idea if he is doing OK now.

I wonder if Snoopy's spirit is able to walk, or even in the after world, he is still invalid. That's my fear. There would be no one to care for him, then. Anyway, Snoopy's illness has affected me so deeply, I don't think I will be able to shake off the tinge of sadness that dots my life.

DIY Landscaping Project

My friend, Yvonne, told me that they will be moving again in May and this time, they will be moving into their very own home. They are very excited, of course! Yvonne said that they bought the house finally after much consideration even though it will cause them to be financially strapped for many years to come no thanks to the lengthy mortgage but she could resist the beautiful garden.

Yvonne's family home is a sprawling house with a large garden but having lived in an apartment for the past few years, she missed the greenery. With a garden of decent size now, she plans to start a DIY landscaping project but of course that will have to wait until the family is settled in and everything is unpacked.

I told her about the Massachusetts Landscaping website which she could use for landscaping design inspiration. If I were her though, I would just get professional landscapers in and just enjoy the completed creation without getting my hands dirty! I guess we are aiming for different pleasures in life. Knowing Yvonne, though, I hope this is a garden that she will spend time, money and energy maintaining and not neglect it once she is bored with her pet project.

*** This post has been sponsored.

Earth Hour 2010

Malaysians are expected to join other eco conscious people around the world to participate in Earth Hour by switching off all non-essential lights for an hour on March 27th, 2010 from 8.30pm to 9.30pm.

I remember participating in Earth Hour last year by accident. There was power failure in my residential area! We didn't even complain hahaha!! It came as a pleasant surprise.

This year, I expect to be in Kuala Lumpur during Earth Hour and I am planning to go and see something different than what would expect in the capital city. I don't know where I will be going but I am going to ask local friends to plan something, anything. It's going to be exciting!

Is It Still Possible To Buy Gold?

The price of gold continues to chart new grounds lately and I wonder if it is still possible to buy gold coins now and yet still make a gain.

Actually, this investment isn't for myself but my part of the contribution towards my late cousin's children. The eldest child is going to college in a couple of year's time but there is still quite a few years before she completes high school so this will be sort of a mid-term investment.

Anyway, I have no experience with investing in gold and there is no denying that investing in it is so lucrative currently and I am very tempted but I know that I must have adequate knowledge and must do my part of the research before committing any capital to it. I hope I wouldn’t miss out on this investment opportunity!

Fire Insurance vs. Houseowner Insurance

My friend was telling me about the renewal of his houseowner insurance when I asked him what is the difference between a houseowner insurance and fire insurance. As far as I know, my house is covered by fire insurance only and that also just increased its value a couple of years ago after I told my mother to now that we have so many more electrical appliances and electronic gadgets at home compared to the 70s.

My friend couldn't tell me the difference but I later found out that for fire insurance, it only consists of basic cover, fire, lighting and domestic explosion.

As for houseowner insurance, it has basic cover, fire, lighting and domestic explosion. In addition to these, there is also aircraft damage, earthquake, water damage, storm & tempest, flood, impact damage, theft & housebreaking, rental and public liability.

I think it's time to change my insurance policy from fire insurance to houseowner insurance. My current fire insurance policy expires in September, anyway.

The Aging Process

My mother is complaining of all sorts of pain, I am wondering if she is undergoing an aging process or if it's just psychological. Age does that to the human mind too, you know? When I said that I have Carpal Tunnel Syndrome from the stress of nursing Snoopy, she says has pain in her wrist too although she did not strain her hand in any way, and she went to physiotherapy sessions for the "pain".

Now she is saying she is suffering from massive headaches. Of course, we shouldn't take this lightly but the weather has been so hot, I would be surprised if someone does not suffer from a headache because of it. Luckily my mother has yet to complain of neck pain or I would be very, very concerned.

I would like to take my mother to a chiropractor to seek pain relief even though I suspect that it's just imaginary but I will keep my reservations aside. I am still looking for one in my area though, for convenience. Even if there is one, I don't know if they offer services as wide-ranging as the Des Moines Chiropractic in Iowa.

Meanwhile, I plan to put my mother on Active C, which is like a form of Vitamin C. It promotes general health.

Self Motivation

I asked a friend who is a freelancer how he motivates himself to work. you know, being self-employed, he is not governed by time as set up his employer and he does not have to clock in at a specific time. He could work at any time he wishes or he could not work at all for a day or even a week. Of course, there are times when he is highly motivated to complete a project and he would work through the night, unless he gets distracted by something.

My friend told me that money is a great motivation. But of course! Still he makes it a point to set aside part of his monthly income to spend on whatever he likes. He could invest in a media player, a new camera set or maybe a smart phone. He said that by buying something tangible every month, something that he could feel and use, motivates him a lot. He said that keeping cash in the bank and seeing it grow gives him a good feeling but it doesn't motivate him as much as getting himself a new toy that he could play with.

I should learn from him to keep myself motivated thus but I just can't see the justification in spending so much on material goods. Can you?

May Wedding Dinner

My friend has invited me to his wedding dinner although it's going to be held at the end of May. I told him that it's too early to extend an invitation but he said that I have always failed to turn up to his social events previously because of my duty to Snoopy but now that Snoopy has left us, he wanted to book me early.

I actually feel very bad that I had to turn down all his previous invitations but I think that everyone knows that Snoopy was my number one priority. No, I didn't like the situation one bit but I had to do what I had to do for Snoopy in his final days.

Anyway, even now, I still have not given my friend a reply yet if I would be able to attend his wedding dinner. I may not have to nurse Snoopy anymore but I am going to spend more time traveling. I owe myself that much!

Locally Made Mobile Phones

As I have written in a previous post, my Nokia E61i is acting and I am thinking of selling it. I don't know what phone I would like to buy yet but I just came home from window shopping and saw a range of locally made handphones by a company called X Mobile.

These handphones look similar to those by CSL. Honestly speaking, I am not in favour of locally made handphones but I have to admit that design wise, they are quite good. Function wise, however, there's much left to be desired.

It's too bad that no local phone has dual SIM support as well as 3G connectivity. Heck, as far as I know, only one Acer model has dual SIM support and 3G connectivity but that also only with on SIM card and not both.

Anyway, the problem with my Nokia is intermittent so I am not desperate to replace it yet. Meanwhile, I can take my time checking on phones before I make a decision.

Too Much Computer

My friend told me that my thinking is one dimensional because I spend too much time on the computer and I hardly watch TV. He doesn't mean it in a bad way and I know that it's partly true. The reason I don't watch TV is because my work revolves around the computer. I can't afford to be away, you see.

I do miss watching TV. I used to watch sitcoms and late night talk shows every night when I was in school and then I discovered the internet and I stopped watching TV. Of course, I thought I could stream TV shows online but the quality was poor and the novelty soon wore off.

If I have a Slingbox, it would be a different story altogether. I would still get to watch my favorite TV programs without having to sit in front of the idiot box. I could do it even as I work on the computer. It would be like streaming except that the quality would be excellent and there would be no buffering!

Tiered Fuel Plan Scrapped For Now

The Domestic Trade, Co-operative and Consumerism Minister announced officially yesterday that the tiered fuel plan has been scrapped for the time being and there is not price increase for fuel at the moment though from his words one could tell that it's inevitable.

This plan, right from the start all of us know it wouldn't be workable logistically. Either the government continues to subsidize, perhaps at a lower rate or do away with it altogether. There may not be a price increase for the moment but I wouldn't be surprised to wake up one morning to find out that fuel subsidy is gone. It's kind of illogical to know that a gas producing country cannot subsidize its country's own usage.

All these uncertainties make me continue to wonder if I really should buy a car, though just a used one. Even if I do buy, it will be one will a small capacity, maybe around 1000 - 1300 cc just in case tiered fuel subsidy is implemented sometime in the future.

Should I Give Up?

I mentioned in an earlier blog post that i am chasing my two debtors for payment that they still owe me after a year for one party and almost two months for another party. Although I am not desperately in need of the money, it just stresses me out that I am not paid for the work that I have done. I don't like it one bit even though the amount may not run into thousands. Still, it's my money and I should be paid for my services, right?

I was telling a friend that I don't have recourse if they really do not pay. I wonder if I should give up. You know, I was thinking that all the money that is owed to me wouldn't even be enough for hair loss treatments since I don't handle stress well. I know, I have to persevere but that's not an attribute that I have. I like things to move fast and smooth. I hate glitches like these.

I wonder if I could put this behind me and move on but the money, I could do a lot with it!

RM1.3 billion Lost To Commercial Crime In 2009

New Straits Times ran a news report this morning where police said that an estimated RM1.3 billion was lost to commercial crime last year due to greed and weak economy.

One of the modus operandi highlighted in the report, and I think all of us should be aware of, is that scammers would send out a text message to a victim saying that he has made a big dollar purchase via credit card. The message also mentioned a telephone number of "Bank Negara" and urged the victim to call that number if he does not own a credit card.

And surprisingly, even though a lot of these victims do not own a credit card, they still fall prey to this scam because they thought that the number listed in the text message is a real Bank Negara number. A smarter person would have obtained a Bank Negara telephone number from a different source, like the internet on an official Bank Negara website, for example.

Anyway, it never hurts to be extra careful these days because fraud comes to us from all angles.

Laser Skin Resurfacing

I had the chance to meet up with my cousin over Chinese New Year holidays last month. It has been a long time since our last family gathering since we were busy with our own lives. Before meeting him, my mother told me that he went for a few sessions of laser skin resurfacing so I was expecting to see a new, better looking guy.

However, I couldn't see any difference at all. And to think that he spent a few thousand on his face! Like him, I too suffered from acne in my teenage years and I carry with me some scars on my face as well. I am not proud of them at all and I think that with a better facial complexion, I would have increased self confidence but I never thought of getting drastic treatments like laser skin resurfacing like my cousin and he's a guy! He’s so vain, right?

I did try many different acne solutions, though, and finally found one that worked. I am so relieved, you know. I wanted to recommend the product to him but I am afraid to since his skin is so sensitive now after the laser treatments, I don't want to cause him any trouble!

Something's Wrong With My Nokia E61i

There is something wrong with my Nokia E61i. It's hard to pinpoint what is wrong with it. I went to a handphone repair shop last evening and the technician told me that it's not worth repairing since it is still functioning. He told me that if it's totally down, it would be easier for him to troubleshoot.

And even if I decide to send it in for repair, it would cost me more than a hundred bucks but that still doesn't guarantee that the problem is solved. Because this is an intermittent problem, the technician said that I would have to leave my phone with them. I only have one smart phone so I can't do that in case I need to log onto the web via my phone or if Streamyx goes down.

Anyway, I am thinking that perhaps I should avoid all these problems and just trade in this handphone and buy a new one. This phone, though looks nice still, is an older model and I don’t even know if handphone traders would still want it. Sigh, so many decisions to make!

I Still Love Dogs

My friend asked me if I still love dogs after all the problems that I went through taking care of Snoopy and Dino. He asked if I regretted spending the better half of last year nursing Snoopy in his final days. I know that many people think that I am stupid for doing so and that I should have put him to sleep. Although I can't deny that I didn't think about taking that option, in the end, I didn't do it because I couldn't. I know, poor Snoopy had to suffer for it and I was in pain alongside him too.

I still love dogs, though, even though I didn't have a good experience taking care of my dogs but I do have good memories. If I were to keep another pet and if the same thing happens, I wouldn't be able to take it. Even the best anti wrinkle eye cream may not be able to help. You know, after Snoopy died, I found ten strands of grey hair on my head!

Now, I have resolved to just play with the dogs of my friends and neighbors as and when I like. The responsibility of taking care of them doesn't lie on me anymore.

2010 FIFA World Cup Fever

The World Cup will not be here until a few months' time but every guy I know is already excitedly talking about it already. It's scheduled to start on June 11th for a month in South Africa and I can just imagine many women will be football widows for that one month. It's a good thing for those women who also enjoy watching football but it's not a sport for everyone.

I am more worried about my male cousins, though. I wonder why they just never get it that the ball is round and every World Cup, they just have to bet. It's a different story if they have good luck but no, they always come out of the month of World Cup excitement full of debt! It's the same problem every four years. I just don't understand why people like them think it's so easy to win. If it's that easy then why do people still need to work, right?

Holiday Expenses

I am such a stingy person, some people say I am too prudent for my own good, I am already calculating how much I am NOT going to spend when I am in KL for a week later this month for holiday. I know that I owe it to myself to enjoy this break since it has been donkey years since I have taken a break but like I said, when I am away, my income will be disrupted.

For heaven's sake, it's just KL, you know, but things are twice the price sold in Ipoh. I'd love to go on a more exotic vacation, perhaps one of those Outer Banks vacation rentals that I have read so much about but every time I think of the holiday expenses, i just can't justify it to myself. Aren't I simply hopeless?

The worst thing is that I torture myself looking at my friends’ vacation photos posted on Facebook and wish that I could visit those places as well but when I check the price of air tickets, my dream totally dies, until the next round I browse through their new vacation photo albums. LOL

No Afternoon Naps For One Month

If you know me, you know that I take a nap every afternoon. Some people say that it's a bad habit and I know it is but I go to bed so "early" in the morning I don't see how I could last that long if I don't take a break in the middle of the day.

My naps could be as long as two hours or as short as just 15 minutes and sometimes I wake up feeling even more tired. Sometimes, I don't even get to sleep at all because of the noise or heat or whatever but I would still lie on the bed.

Well, this month, beginning 1st March, my next door neighbour is renovating his house and it is expected to take at least one month, possibly drag to two months. It looks like I can forget about my nap! This means that I would have to go to be at a more reasonable time. it's not all bad, it just disrupts my working time since I work better in the middle of the night thanks to the quiet and peace. SIGH!

Living In The Capital City

If you have been following my blog, you would know that I am contemplating moving to the capital city. Of course, ideally, I would like to have my own home there but for a start, I could rent a room first. This month end, I am going to KL for a week to have a look. I don't know why I want to live alone in the city so much. Perhaps it's a chance to be away from my family, and it certainly is high time I leave the nest, perhaps I feel there are just more opportunities to earn and also I have more friends in KL than in Ipoh. Can you believe it?

I was told that the cost of living is a lot higher in the capital city. I may not be able to support myself doing what I do now since I also have to support my family and boy, are their expenses high, so I may have to find a job but I know that it's not going to be easy since I did not receive tertiary education and it's so common now. How could I fight with 'em graduates?

Anyway, it's just a thought for the time being until I have enough reserve in the bank to pull me through the transitional period. i hope that I am able to realize my dream by myself. It may take a little longer than I hope, though!

AirAsia ‘Big Sale’

AirAsia is holding a big sale again with air tickets going for as low as RM9 only one way though that's applicable for domestic flights only. The catch is that we must book our tickets this week between 3rd to 7th March to be used for travel between 25th September, 2010 and 13th February, 2011.

As a freelancer, it really is not easy for me to book my travel way in advance like this to enjoy such offers by AirAsia. In any case, I am a cheapo and I keep thinking that even for a RM9 one way domestic flight, it is not as cheap as RM0 tickets. You know, sometimes AirAsia has such offers, which I have always missed previously because of commitments at home.

However, it's a disadvantage living in Ipoh because I would have to pay for transportation to LCCT which could cost RM40 at the minimum. Anyway, I have never been on a plane before. I wonder if I should fly a domestic route just to get a taste of it, even if it's on a no-frills flight!

Expanding Energy

My friend jokingly told me that she wished she has girls instead of boys as children because boys are too naughty and she doesn't have the energy to catch up with them. She thought that the reason it's getting harder to cope is because she is getting older but I think that the older the boys are, the more restless they become.

I told my friend that she should introduce them to a sport, perhaps baseball. It's a great game; I may not play the game but I love watching it myself. I thought that it would be wonderful to surprise them with Baseball Gloves, for example, on their birthday or Christmas. They would surely be surprised since they don't currently play the sport but I believe they wouldn't hesitate to show off their gifts to their school friends and neighborhood kids.

I may not have children but I feel that with a new outdoor sport to indulge in and occupy their time, they wouldn’t have so much energy left to tear the house down every chance they get. My friend thinks it’s an excellent idea too but she hopes that the boys don’t ask her to join them in baseball too. That would be hilarious!

*** This post has been sponsored.

Scam Victim Loses RM120K

NST ran a report about a 22-year-old woman who lost RM120,000 in an online scam where she believed an email addressed to her that she had won a UK National Lottery. I mean, come on, don't we all receive such an email and many times too? How could someone believe it when she did not even bet in the first place?

RM120K is a lot of money and to lose so much only to realize that she has been scammed, it's a little late, isn't it? But I have to take my hat off to her for making a police report and letting the world know about such a fraud case so that other people will not fall victim to it.

The internet is a highly useful and informative medium but one must have a very clear mind using it. There are lots of people trying to take advantage of others either by via email like this woman's case, bogus websites, fake friendship, etc.

Expressing Through Interior Design

I may not be able to afford my dream house yet but I have been collecting interior design magazines hoping that one day when I have my own home, I would be able to replicate the designs without having to hire a professional interior designer. I understand that such services are not cheap because interior designers are like artists. No, I definitely would not be able to afford to buy their creativity!

Thanks to the internet, I no longer have to waste money buying interior design magazines since I now can browse interior design websites and bookmark them all. Designing the interior of my home would be like a long-drawn-out project because of my tight budget. I think by the time I am done buying my house, I wouldn't have much savings left so I would not be able to design the interior in one go. It would be more like section by section.

However, I know that I would be very happy to see how my dream home project materializes. It may be slow progress but it will be something that I will never get bored doing. I wouldn’t even mind if others think that I have weird taste. As long as it brings me joy, you know?

Proton Emas (Eco Mobility Advance Solution)

I don't usually get excited over a Proton car but this new one called Emas, an acronym for Eco Mobility Advance Solution, certainly looks like the kind of car I would be happy to drive around in.

Right now, Proton says that the projected date it will be released in the market is two years from now. That's not that long a wait seeing that it would give us all time to save more money so that we don't have to take out such a large car loan!

My main concern right now is the price of the car, seeing that it was designed by Italians and also how expensive the price of fuel will be by then! Will we still get to "enjoy" fuel subsidy? Will we still have to pay road tax and toll? I feel that if the subsidy for fuel is withdrawn, road tax and toll have to be scrapped to balance things out.

Setting Up A Small Business

My friend, Albert, told me that he realized he has too much free time on his hands and would like to look for a new challenge. He said that he wants to start a small business too but have no idea what he wants to deal in. I couldn't help him there since I always believe that he must have a certain passion for that particular product otherwise he would lose interest in it soon or as soon as the going gets tough since business is not always smooth sailing.

Because I have no idea what his nature of business will be, I couldn't help him come up with a business name. I thought that he should have a name that reflects his niche though I am not certain if he's agreeable to this. Some people think this isn’t a necessity.

Even so, I advised him to seek the services of a Naming Company to help him out, but only once he has decided on the kind of business he wants to run. Knowing him, I am not betting on it that his business will materialize. He may find something more interesting to occupy his time meanwhile and forget about his business plan. Yes, that's the kind of person he is, unfortunately!

*** This post has been sponsored.

My "Huge" Angpow Haul

Chinese New Year is finally over and I have counted the angpow money that I collected this year. I know, I should be ashamed of myself given the fact that I am too old to receive them but what to do, as long as I am single, I would still be eligible to do so. I tell my friends that if I have a good life, I would be the one giving out angpows already but what to do? Nobody wants me. LOL

I am pretty surprised by the total amount that i received this year. It's slightly more than RM50. Yes, "only" RM50 but it is still a lot by my standards. I know that some friends receive more than a thousand dollars but to me, RM50 in total is a lot of money already!

Perhaps it's because we are not brought up to go around visiting friends and relatives expecting to receive angpows only. That's why my collection is always only from my parents and very close relatives. This year, I received an extra angpow from an aunt and unexpectedly received one from a neighbour. I also received one from my sister now that she is married.

Anyway, I have a few single friends who are older than I am and they still do get angpows but only one or two from their parent(s). Sad, isn't it?

Retirement Home

My uncle and aunt have decided to move to a new city. They said that now that they are retired, they would like live out their retirement in peace without the hustle and bustle of a metropolitan city. I asked if they would miss their old lifestyle but they said that they are ready for a change.

I am a little worried about them since it will be a lot of hassle for them to move. Their children have already set up homes overseas and hardly some home. I don't like it that they would be stressed out with the relocation process but they are quite enthusiastic. Still, if I could find them a moving company as reliable as the Boston Moving company that they used before I would enjoy better peace of mind.

Although my uncle and aunt do not have too many valuable items with them, they do have many belongings that hold treasured memories. I am sure they would be apprehensive about having them handled by a moving company that does not have the experience. I don't want to let them down, you see, that’s why I am trying so hard to look for a professional company that knows what they are doing.

*** This post has been sponsored.

Dramas Are Bad For Us

I haven't watched any drama since The Ultimate Crime Fighter that I completed soon after Snoopy left us. I decided to stop, even though I still have quite a few dramas unwatched in my collection, because I spent way too much time watching them and playing online games, when I was nursing Snoopy and couldn't concentrate on anything else.

Snoopy has left us for almost two months now and I didn't watch until last night when I watched Marley & Me. And you know, without watching any dramas or movies these past 1.5 months, I found that I have so much free time on my hands to do other more productive work!

A few months ago, I recommended A Chip Off The Old Block to my parents and after watching it, my mother couldn't stop. She wanted to watch something else and followed that up with yet another serial. In total, she watched three serials consecutively. The bad thing was that she was addicted to watching it and would watch five or six episodes every day to the point of neglecting everything else!

It's a good thing that she realized that she was addicted to dramas already and decided to stop too. She said she was tired! Who wouldn't be chasing dramas like that? LOL

Gas Price Hike Rumor

There is a rumor going around that the price of gas will go up again in March. I don't know how true this is. Perhaps the price of gas has already gone up but it's uncertainties like these that have me delaying the purchase of my own car. Although some people have told me that buying a car should only be done if I absolutely need one, I think it's good to have my own car and not depend on the family car anymore.

However, I keep thinking that being self-employed, all auto expenses will fall on my shoulders. I am envious of friends who receive auto allowance at the end of the month. They have to drive a nice car because they use it for work but then they get fair compensation for it. It's actually an awesome arrangement, if you ask me.

Companies now actually prefer employees with their own transportation. It reduces liability and lowers risk and they just have to reimburse the employees according to mileage. Employees may prefer the use of a company assigned vehicle but I think sooner or later all companies will adopt such a scheme and employees will have no choice but to provide their own vehicles.

Since I am not employed, I don’t really need a car and I don’t know if I should buy one. It seems pretty extravagant!

*** This post has been sponsored.

One Week In KL

I am planning to spend a week in KL at the end of the month. I am usually freer at the end of the month so it's going to be more relaxing for me. I am planning to put up at a friend's house. She said I could stay for free but since it's for a week, I think it's better for me to pay her some money to at least cover utility.

Frankly, I don't even know why I want to go to KL and for so many days to. I have nothing planned out but it's going to be awesome to get a change of scenery; see something different, try something new. I'm quite adventurous but I just never had the opportunity or the freedom to do what I really want to do.

I hope that when I am in KL, I don't die of hunger or thirst. Things are just too expensive there compared to prices in Ipoh! LOL

My Old Leg Injury

I went window shopping in KLCC the other day for one whole afternoon and after walking the whole six floors from the concourse to Level 4, I reached home and almost couldn't walk. The pain was so intense, I almost cried. Seriously. I actually hurt my leg while I was nursing Snoopy but he has left us for almost two months already that I thought that my leg had heal but I guess it did not heal at all.

My friend told me that Pilates Boston had helped him in his old sports injury. It was way more serious than my injury so he believes that if Pilates could help him cope with his injury and pain, it would do me good too.

Actually, I had wanted to try it out, not so much as a cure for my leg since I thought that it was fine already, but as a form of exercise but you know me, I am way too lazy to follow a routine. Besides, I thought that I was too old to do all those twists and turns.

Now, after suffering from the crippling pain, I think I will actively look for a local Pilates class. I certainly can't afford to worsen my old injury!

*** This post has been sponsored.

Marley & Me [2008 Movie]

I finally watched Marley & Me earlier this morning. I had wanted to watch it for a long time but I know that it has a sad ending and what with caring for Snoopy, it was too much to take it. Anyway, it did it finally and at the end of the movie, tears couldn't stop rolling down my face.

Marley & Me is actually not only about a dog but the family and yes, Marley was very much a part of the family. Just like how Snoopy and Dino were a part of our family. Watching the movie, it made me realize how much I miss having a dog around. Sometimes, taking care of them could be extremely exasperating especially when they purposely be disobedient but at the same time, there are more good memories than bad.

Of course, keeping Snoopy and Dino are exceptional what with their extreme health problems. In the end, Marley had to be put down because of illness, something that I have contemplated in Snoopy's case but couldn't go through with it. It's an owner's choice, no right or wrong to it.

Marley & Me reminds me of 10 Promises To My Dog, the Japanese movie about Socks, also a Labrador. Between Marley & Me and 10 Promises To My Dog, I really couldn’t choose which is a better movie, though.

Consultant Medical Interview

I used to joke with a friend who is a doctor saying that I dare not be his friend anymore because he is now a doctor and so much smarter than I am. He replied that doctors aren't necessarily smarter, they just study smarter. I guess it's true.

I got to know from his mother that he will be going for a consultant medical interview next month and I wonder how well prepared he is. Doing a research on the web on this, I learned that even doctors have to prepare themselves for a consultant interview.

Some doctors will enroll in a short consultant interview course which I think would be good for my friend so that he will know beforehand what to expect in an interview and the consultant interview questions that may possibly be posed to him. I think that if he could answer the questions confidently, he would have a better chance of being successful in the interview!

Even Waterfall Dries Up!

It's such a warm night all my friends are complaining. I was reading The Star Online a couple of days ago and was shocked to see this photo of of Titi Kerawang waterfall in Balik Pulau totally dried up! I remember going there every school holiday but looking at this, it totally looks different from what I remember of the waterfall of my childhood.

Anyway, I hope this heatwave breaks soon. We are all running up our electricity bill and worse still, we received a notification from the Perak Water Board this morning that there will be a 12-hour water interruption on 2nd March! Imagine, without water supply, that's going to be terribly hot. The Water Board should have done their maintenance work in the night, though, and not during the day from 9am - 9pm!