I’ve always hated majority of the parking attendants in Penang Island. I think they are just a bunch of unworthy dishonest cheaters who is cheap enough to cheat a couple of ten cents from the people. How do they cheat you may ask? You pay RM0.30 for a half an hour parking. Before your half an hour is up, they give you another ticket indicating you have to pay them another RM0.30. Some would illegally collect money at places you don’t even have to pay in the first place. Some would be pissed at you for not paying (when clearly they just cheated your money) and start throwing shoes at your car. It is just so… horrible of them.
I think (and correct me if I’m wrong), Penang Island is the only state in the whole of Malaysia who has yet to implement the automatic parking payment system. Only a handful of places in the Penang Island has the whole non-dependent-upon-some-idiotic-human-parking-attendant-to-collect-your-parking-money system (be it the machine where you insert your coins, or the paper parking ticket). But even some of these machines are ridiculous enough that you even have to pay on weekends (I’m talking specifically about the Pulau Tikus area where you have to pay for parking through the machine 7 days a week, 9am – 9pm – if you don’t pay, the MPPP or the police will come and give you a ticket).
Let’s talk about KL then. Very unlikely do you find parking attendants walking around KL, slinging a sling bag across their body, holding a green and pink colored parking receipt, collecting RM0.30 or RM0.40 from those who parked at the designated parking space by the street. They have machines installed, and the people are responsible for making their own payment. If they don’t, their cars get towed, locked or they get a ticket. I think it’s a fair system. And it’s most definitely better than what we have now in Penang.
Maybe I’m just being a big cheapskate. But it gets annoying after a while. I can’t help but wonder if the Penang Government notices this flaw… or maybe they don’t think it’s even a flaw to begin with.
Oh well, it’s yet another complaint by chiaoju.
p/s: btw, spending CNY in KL was pretty cool. read this — no jam!! Not even on the Federal Highway! I mean… it IS THE Federal Highway… NOT CONGESTED WITH CARS! haha…
You are most definitely the bestest mum a gal could ever have or ask for.
Thank you so much for tolerating our crap and nonsense.
Most of all — thank you for loving us.
We can never thank you enough.
LOVE YOU LOTSSSS!
Have a great Birthday and a great year ahead. xoxoxoxo
Earlier this month, I received the first issue of the ScubaDiver Australasia magazine that I’ve subscribed to for year 2009. As I looked through the first photo issue, I realize that I haven’t dived for more than a year. My last dive was in July 2007. Suddenly, I’m just dying to just go out to sea again.
*Note: mum says it’s not safe to go at this moment. she’s worried about tsunami happening again.
I can vividly remember all my time spent on any of the islands or in the sea. I think the sea has a calming effect on me. Looking out into the horizon makes me think better. Clearer. Being underwater, looking at beautiful sea creatures, big or small, colorful or not makes me calm (well, except for one of the wreck dives at Pulau Perhentian, which was really congested with divers all at one go, bad visibility and me losing my dive buddy – made me curse underwater). Rising bright and early in the morning, sitting by the beach and observing the life of the residents on the island made me realize how ppl living in the city are so unappreciative of the environment — me included.
I really need a break from everything. I think for me, the best place to relax is by the sea. Whether it is soaking ur feet in the sea or just lying on the sandy beach — it is just so mind calming.
I’m thinking about what I’m gonna do to apply for the Best Job in The World. I must admit, I’ve been dreaming how wonderful life would be if I were to get that job. *haha*.
The Caretaker of the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef
Yup, you’ve heard me right. Caretaker of the islands. The most important duty is to report back to Tourism Queensland (and the world) and let us know what’s taking place on the Islands of the Great Barrier Reef. There are other minor duties and u can learn more via the official website.
You’ll be paid AUD150k for a 6-month contract. Hence, should one get the job, you’ll be paid a generous sum of money, you get to live on an island that is soooooooooo beautiful, you get to dive and snorkel, you get to see the fishes and all the sea creatures, corals, and may I remind you that the Great Barrier Reefs is by far the best dive site ever! This is heaven!
Check out this video…
…and some pics that I’ve taken out from the website.
Magnetic Island
Snorkeling
Heart Reef
Hamilton Island
Application is due on Feb 22, 2009. Details are all in the website. I’m thinking of applying… but most of the applicants so far has a degree in marine biology and experience that are close to it. I doubt the current dive experiences that I have with my current job would get me anywhere near to getting the slightest chance of an interview BUT… there’s really no harm trying now is there?
I thought his speech was marvelous. So much passion, so much power… it is truly inspiring. I was moved. Obama has given a new definition to the word hope. He most definitely brought hope to a whole new level.
Listen to the speech. It is a pretty long one. But it is most definitely worth listening.
Jan 20, 2009 marks another historical date in the history of the United States of America. Yup, it is the Inauguration of Barack Obama. I’m now watching the whole event live on CNN.com. Barack Obama will be sworn-in as the 44th President of the United States at 11.30am EST on Capitol Hill (that’s 12.30am Malaysia time). Now, live on CNN.com is Good Morning America and they are currently sharing views from experts, voices of the crowds at and around Capitol Hill, previews of where is Obama now (he’s apparently going to the church then to the White House), interviews and opinions from the ppl etc. It’s pretty cool! Btw, 2 million ppl are expected to be at this event. TWO MILLION! That’s a lot!
What’s cooler is if you watch it live on CNN.com, the inauguration event is live with Facebook! You get to see what others and your friends from around the world is thinking about the whole obama inauguration. So cool. Below is the screen capture of how the whole live streaming looks like.
Before getting on to the internet, I was watching the We Are One: The Obama Inaugural Celebration on HBO (there will be a replay at 1am Malaysia time). It was most definitely one great concert. Barack Obama gave a speech towards the end of the show and it was awesome.
I’m just waiting for Obama’s speech. I bet it’s gonna be a great and inspiring one.
This sure is a changing moment for America. I think people around the world are looking for that hope for change for their own people as well. Will it happen? Will Obama not only make history for the United States of America, but also, for the rest of the world?
One can only hope.
Happy Inauguration Day!
p/s: The internet connection has never been SOOOOOOOO good before. teeny bit of lagging is still acceptable.
when u love someone, the amount of things u do for that person appears to be insufficient. u wish u can do more.
Love isn't finding the perfect person, it's seeing an imperfect person perfectly.
I choose to love an imperfect person, perfectly.
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