My cracked frame

Purchased a new pair of plastic frame glasses at Ronnie Optics Wisma Hopoh on last April. My previous pair of glasses was 3 years ago, also patronized from Ronnie Optics. I was somewhat contented with the sensible pricing and prompt service of Ronnie Optics so I decided to patronize the same optical shop again this time. Guess what, to my astonishment, the left side of the plastic frame broke out of sudden. I started to wear it permanently for around one month only. I was wandering in my house with my glasses on and the left frame just cracked and the lens fell on ground.

Pity of my 1 month old plus glasses =( such a misfortune

I went back to Ronnie anticipating for some miracles (free changing of frame) as I bought it less than 2 months ago. According to the shop assistant, there's no warranty for that. I can either replace it with new frames or buy a new pair of glasses. In the end, I opted for former option to keep my total damage to minimal. To my dismal I did not have much frames selection (as I just wanted to choose frame with average pricing) as that particular frame was needed to match it with my existing photochromic lenses.  

That's my new flawed entire black XinHan plastic frame glasses. You may not see visibly from the above photo that there's an apparent seam between the frame and the lenses. The new frame did not perfectly fit on my existing lenses. Hope that there won't be another nasty episode of either the lenses fell off from the frame or cracked frame once more. 

Hello glasses please be kind for me. I guess I won't be a loyal customer to Ronnie Optics in the near future. That's the consequences I'm gonna pay of being penny-pinching in the first place.

Honor Exclusive Movie Event – The X-Men Apocalypse

Received an invitation email to attend movie event - The X-Men Apocalypse from Honor Malaysia after some simple registration steps that required filling Honor IMEI numbers. It was the first time Honor Malaysia organized movie event in Kuching, Sarawak!

Invitation Email sent to me

The X-Men Apocalypse Movie Event

I need to show the invitation email along with my IC to redeem my 2 pax movie passes! 

photo taken with Honor representative after movie pass redemption 

Too bad the movie hall was only partially occupied by Honor Fans. Hope that the slow responses did not stopped Honor Malaysia to organize more exclusive events in Kuching in the future. Fingers crossed.

Decent Stay at Armenian Street Heritage Hotel

I'm back from a 4 days 3 nights trip from Penang. I was truly satisfied with the accommodation in Armenian Street Heritage Hotel @ Lebuh Carnarvon. It's good there are no breakfast spread included with the room booking as there are lots of good breakfast spot to start the day situated near the hotel.

white building of Armenian Street Heritage Hotel

# 1 Strategic location

If you are using public transport like Penang Hop On Hop Off, the bus station is just across the street.

Penang Hop On Hop Off Stop 9 UNESCO HERITAGE stop is located 140 m (2 mins walk) away along Kampung Kolam

There's a 24 hour convenience store located at the hotel lobby. Fame Kimberly Street Night Market is just few walks away!

Peach Yogurt (bought from convenience store) & Fame Kimberly Street Chicken Feet for my supper at hotel room!

Penang Street Art and Murals by Ernest Zacharevic is located at the street behind the hotel!

Few famous place and breakfast/eatery spot such as Tiger Char Kueh Tiao @ Ping Hooi Coffee Shop, Pitt Street Kng Thng, Ming Xiang Tai Pastry Shop, Tek Sen Restaurant, Aik Hoe Restaurant, De Tai Tong Dim Sum, Toh Soon Cafe, Upside Down Museum and Hon Kei Food Corner are just nearby and within walking distance.

#2 Value for money with good facilities and complete set of bathroom amenities

I booked the room on January, which is 4 months before the actual trip via the hotel website. They will direct you to Tune Hotel for further booking. I paid RM580 for 3 nights stay for family room (2 queen beds for 4 pax). Price breakdown: RM194/room per night, RM65/pax per night (due to we were only 3 pax staying in).

You can also refill your water supply from cold & hot water dispenser located at lobby apart from the complimentary bottled mineral water provided.

Shower gel, toothbrush, razor, shower cap, sewing kits and hair dryer are provided.

Cute sewing kits

Free wifi with password is also provided upon check in. The signal may not as strong as the one we used at home, considering amount of guests using the wifi facilities. Fridge is not available at all rooms, but you can contact hotel receptionist if you like to keep your things. We also extended our check out times for 11am to 12noon without incur any additional charges. There are also taxi booking counter located at the hotel lobby with RM45 per trip (small car 3-4 pax) to Penang International Airport.

one of the queen bed from family room

View of hotel common area from my room (telephone usage is on shared basis)

Highly recommended affordable hotel to stay in Penang! (try to book early to prevent price increment & unavailability)

Sakae Sushi, The Spring

Utilizing the Sakae Sushi May coupon from its calendar -- Free Teriyaki Chicken Ramen for spending RM30 & above =)

I was served Teriyaki Chicken Ramen not long after I presented the coupon... 

the broth was rich and aromatic with generous amount of fried garlic given!

Had Avocado California Temaki (RM4), Salmon Skin Temaki (RM4) & RM1 Chuka Idako Gunkan  (by presenting with sakae card)

Ordered Mini Curry Don RM8 too!

The curry was nice but the fried chicken given wasn't fresh!

Had also Aburi Salmon (RM5) & Salmon Mentai (RM5)

Total price paid RM31.85 inclusive 1 hot genmai tea (RM2), GST (6%) & service charge (10%)

My first experience on Ujian Pengambilan Lantikan Baru (UPLB)

Jotting down my first experience on Ujian Pengambilan Lantikan Baru (UPLB). 

I tried my luck and applied for government job in e-recruitment Kerajaan Negeri Sarawak after 4 years of graduation! I knew the chances of getting in gov sector was so low and even if one managed to get in (passing both written & interview & luck), the biggest concern is the placement and the position they offer. They will put you in the location that away from your desire place and if you reject it, you will be blacklisted from gov sector for many many years! Nevertheless, I clicked and tried on my luck!

I received a sms stating I was chosen for the UPLB test on 11/5/16, and the test was scheduled on 14/5/16 (is a Saturday, so you will have to take a day off if you work on Saturday), which mean roughly you will have 3 days to get yourself ready. The written exam will take 1 hour 45 minutes. It is advisable to arrive at the exam center an hour earlier (from my experience to skip queue and wait). There were long queues spotted at the registration counter around 30 minutes before the exam started which may cause some unnecessary delays. Bring only IC, pens (for essay), pencils and erasers (for objectives questions). Calculators are not allowed to bring in.  

According to the facilitator that took care of our class, she congratulated us for being among the 7k to be chosen from 20k of application for the pegawai tadbir N41 position. (If I didn't heard wrongly as her sound was pretty small that I barely hear clearly). H was my first alphabet of my name. I was put in number 239. So you can imagine how many applicants were so eager to enter to government sectors?

There are a total of 60 multiple choices questions (objectives with A, B, C &D only) and two essays. 

1. 30 objectives questions in Malay
2. 30 objectives questions in English
3. 1 essay written in Malay (choose 1 from 3 topics, write in less than 100 words)
4. 1 essay written in English (choose 1 from 3 topics, write in less than 100 words)

For Part 1, there will be 10 questions in Malay. You will have to read a short reading comprehension passages and answer the first 10 questions according to the passages. The rest 20 questions will test you roughly on your logical thinking and some simple mathematics.

For Part 2, there will be 10 questions in English. You will have to read a short reading comprehension passages and answer the first 10 questions according to the passages. The rest 20 questions includes some bilingual understanding and vocabulary.

For Part 3 (Essay in Malay), I could only remember the question that I chose. The essay title roughly : Ramai graduan universiti Malaysia menghadapi kesusahan mencari pekerjaan yang sesuai. Beri dua faktor graduan menyebabkan graduan menghadapi masalah ini? 

For Part 4 (Essay in English). Having a good command of English is very important in workplace. Why English is very important?

I thought there will be some questions about our country dasar-dasar Malaysia. However, I didn't get such questions for that particular exam session! Frankly after the test, I find it unnecessary to study before the exam because the scope is too wide and for me the language proficiency (both Malay & English) are the main keys to pass the Ujian!

Updated 27.07.2016

Oops, sadly I didn't managed to proceed to the next stage of the recruitment. It took about two months plus for them to announce the written exam results. I received the exam failure notification both via sms and email. For those who managed to go to the next level, all the best and good luck!  Do share your experiences to us. Hope my post can give those successful selected candidates a primary overview of UPLB.

Kumamono, Vivacity Megamall

First Kumamono in Kuching has landed in Vivacity Megamall last year. The specialty in Kumamono is their signature Bear Paw Bun. It was rather disappointing as there were no grilled type of chicken/fish in their menu. They shall introduce healthier and more variety options to consumers in their menu.

Combo 1 at RM11.55 

Kuma Chicken, Curry Fish Ball & a glass of Sprite

You can customize it by choosing different bun and sauce. I had mine with whole grain bun & sesame sauce. Saw few positive comments on FB on their curry fish ball. Nothing to shout about though =(  Less likely to return again considering it's quality and quantity given.

Absolute Melacca

Located opposite One TJ, Absolute Melacca is one of decent eatery place to savor Malacca Chicken Rice Ball in Kuching. The place is always full house during meal time.

We had Barley Lime RM2.90 to quench our thirst. Their barley is cooked from scratch, certainly not from concentrated bottled type one. The addition of one slice of lime gives out citrus aroma and refreshing kick of flavor to the cooling drink.

Mixed Vegetables (Small ) (RM6)

this stir fried broccoli and cauliflower with carrot, fish cakes, prawn and baby corn is well infused  with strong garlic taste. Strong wok hei taste too but portion is too pathetic.

Steamed 1/4 quarter chicken (RM10) 

served with sweet, salty and umami taste of soya sauce

One plate of chicken rice RM1.50

I prefer chicken rice over rice ball =)

We ordered 4 pieces of chicken rice ball (RM0.30/pc) to share. Personally I am not a big fan of chicken rice ball. Normally rice ball is mushy to ease shaping process. 

All of the dishes we ate for that meal was served using grease proof paper in basket. Thus, no dish washing required. Less hassle yet the papers used up 70% space for a table of four. 

Lunch for two RM21.60

Nando's, Vivacity Megamall (2)

Second visit to Nando's at Vivacity Megamall. Utilize the Nando's FB post: Borneo Eksklusif Ayam Peri-peri for 2~ Can enjoy the 2nd 1/4 quarter chicken with 2 regular sides with half price

Surprisingly there were no queues at all on Sunday late lunch~

Just flash this post and request for this offer.

Mild Peri-peri quarter chicken for him! (RM18.90)

With sides Grilled Vegetables & Coleslaw

the grilled vege is so spicy to my liking~

Not So Brave Lemon & Herb quarter chicken for me! (2nd half price at RM9.45)

With sides Spicy Rice & Peri's Wedges

the spicy rice a lot more delicious than the Mediterranean rice!

We shared a glass of bottomless Heaven & Earth Ice Lemon Tea (RM5.90) too!

Total: 34.25 + 10% (3.43) + 6% (2.26) = RM39.95!

I downloaded the Nando's apps and successfully collected 2 chillies. One more chillies to redeem a quarter chicken. The apps was great and pretty easy to navigate. Just that I don't think I will patronize Nando's in this short while as there are many more new  and attractive eateries in the mall for me to try on!

Yellow Puffer Fish: A Safe Food To Eat...My Thesis/Final Year Project 2011/2012

It was a random thought after my lunch time at work. I googled UPM, my name Ho Chin Mei and buntal kuning, to my astonishment, the first article that came up were familiar!

It was a journal published with my name contain in it. All the content was mainly written by me during the old times, with minor amendment and alteration and of course, more authors!

I was indeed very surprised to find such article. I reminisced my thesis entitled --> Yellow Puffer Fish: A safe food to eat had drawn so much attention from my own supervisor, presentation panels and also my own fellow course mates. To them, it was truly a new and interesting topic.

Please click the article from the link here. Enjoy reading it =)

Read some of my related stories during my data collection of Yellow Puffer Fish/Ikan Buntal Kuning:
1. The people, Ikan Buntal, Betong
2. The foods I came across and savour in Betong
3. A post
4. The Regent Inn (2), Betong
5. The Regent Inn, Betong, Sarawak
6. My 2011

Boulevard Restaurant

Went for lunch at Boulevard Restaurant

The menu:

Stir Fried Cangkuk Manis with eggs RM9

wok hei taste...good!

BBQ Mix Rice (3 types--3 layered pork, char siew & roasted chicken) with chicken rice (RM13), plain rice (RM2)

the BBQ mix is a total disappointment for me!

There are value deals during weekdays!