Austerity Drive, Literally

With worldwide economics heading towards recession and inflation rising at an alarming rate, economists are still trying to define the scenario to their respective governments.

Common citizens can only dream about having better or luxury life. The poorer ones may have to resort to the following austerity drive:-

Tags: Austerity Drive, Economics, Economist, High Inflation

Eight Don't Ask Questions in China

At the coming Beijing Olympics, the Chinese residents have been requested, via a propaganda, not to ask certain questions when they bump into a foreigner .............. that's really cute. China government even try to control what you speak.

But the China authorities put it nicely when disseminating this message, it's called social etiquettes.

When I read through the list of prohibited questions, those were the similar questions that I will usually enquire about when I meet a new friend.


If you are with a China friend, make sure you remind him/her so that they won't ask you the following questions otherwise they could be arrested at by the authorities:-

* don’t ask about income or expenses
* don’t ask about age
* don’t ask about love life or marriage
* don’t ask about health
* don’t ask about someone’s home or address
* don’t ask about personal experience
* don’t ask about religious beliefs or political views
* don’t ask what someone does

Foreigners are exempted. Go ask the Chinese ........... hehehe
Tags: China, Don't Ask Questions, Beijing Olympics, China Propaganda

Wedding Invitation

This is what they meant by getting your parents' blessing -
Tags: Wedding, Wedding Invitation, Parents' Blessing

Abolishment of 5% Service Tax

Our Malaysian's Royal Customs & Excise Department has announced that with effect from 1 July 2008, 93% of the Malaysian restaurants need not collect the 5% service tax from customers anymore.

During the weekend, I was at Hartamas Shopping Centre and took lunch at Station Kopitiam. After finishing lunch, the bill was called and I noticed the 5% service tax. Now, there are two items to note before you question their eligibility to collect the service tax:-

i) their annual turnover must be above RM3.0 million; and
ii) if the restaurant is located in a hotel premise, they are permitted to collect.

Imagine that during lunch period on a Saturday noon, only two tables were occupied. Your guess is as good as mine in terms on their annual turnover. So, I asked the waiter (all foreigners) and only one can speak good english. I reminded him about the non-collecton of service tax with effect from 1 July 2008. The waiter acknowledge that fact but can't change anything as his boss hasn't change the billing system set in the cash machine. Seriously, I couldn't blame them for that.

I asked how are we going to resolve this to which he requested me to call his boss. I said why should I call your boss and told him to resolve it with his boss. I told him I'm only paying the bill without the 5% service tax.

Later, he came over to my table and asked how much I'm going to pay. I repeated my words "The full bill minus the 5% service tax". I told him the issue is not whether I could afford to pay the service tax of RM1.88 but the principal behind it. I told him that businessowners were fast to implement any ways of collecting extras when government allows it but would turn a blind eye when told to remove or reduce it.

The waiter acknowledged again that he knew about the service tax issue and said during the weekdays, many questioned him. I don't know whether those who questioned did pay the service tax but definitely I'm putting my foot down.

Total bill was RM41.35 and service tax was RM1.88. I put RM40 into a tray and left the premise, telling the waiter that since he can't resolved it, I'm helping him to think. He can't do anything because they knew that they are in the wrong.

Oh yes, when I asked for a copy of the service tax licence issued by the Customs, he said he don't have it. Any restaurant is supposed to display that licence to show that they have been licensed to collect the service tax on behalf of the government.

Malaysians, please remember and do your part. Though your nice dinner may be ruined by the inconveniences in dealing with either the staff or restaurant owners, it is your right in not paying the service tax anymore. If you are too rich and don't bother with it ............... read this then ....

YOU ARE CONDONING THEIR IMMORAL ACTIVITY AND TELLING THEM TO GO AHEAD TO CHEAT MORE MALAYSIANS!

Related post - Service Tax Issue at Restaurants
Tags: Service Tax, 5% Service Tax, Hartamas Shopping Centre, Station Kopitiam, Royal Customs & Excise Department, Customs, Restaurant

Toyota Camry at Discounted Price

With the rising cost in almost anything in Malaysia, the Toyota company is offering their Toyota Camry model at a discounted price. Tags: Car, Toyota Camry

Buffet Dinner at Latest Recipe

Heard about the latest buffet dinner offer in the city and shoot straight to Latest Recipe restaurant located in Le Meridien hotel at KL Sentral area.














My personal chef was getting my food ready in Teppanyaki style. Excellent cooking. On the far end of the counter was the fresh and raw seafood on offer.

I got a good serving of fresh salmon with some rare octopus meat too. First time ever that I got a taste of octopus.

Shanghai noodle that comes in the special thick sweet & sour soup. Good serving.

Their Indian food counter where I whack their roti naan and whatever rotis they have there. The various curry flavours, be it with meat, prawn, fish, vegetable were fantastic. This Indian food counter took a heavy toll on my food allocation in the stomach.

The restaurant's set-up.
A buffet dinner cannot be without mussels, prawns and oysters.











This how you could be served with the desserts.
The fresh fruits counter.
The desserts' counter. Too many kinds and it was an opportunity cost situation. Eat this and you have to forego the other one.

Got myself a Teppanyaki Coconut ice-cream. Double scoop and that almost killed me ....... overloaded by then.

In the middle of the dinner, we felt that the restaurant was quite warm and one of us were sweating actually. Their air-cond was really lousy.

The other lousy thing was during the time of calling for the bill. It has to take them a good ten minutes before the bill is sent to your table and that too we asked for it twice.

Adults at RM88++ with children at half price.

In this restaurant, they would charge a kid at three years old at the price of RM44++. Hotel buffet dinners usually charge kids from the age of six onwards till twelve years old. Do you expect a kid at three years old to eat anything at all? I don't think they can swallow anything worth more than RM10. This is really overcharging and not considerate at all.

And it has to spoil our evening by not informing us that if you were to park at their basement car park, you could actually obtain a rubber stamp on your car ticket. With that rubber stamp, your car park fee would be much much lower than the RM18 that I paid for in the three hours I was in that hotel. The norm for car park fee in town in usually RM7 to RM9 but this is RM18 man.

When I told the car park attendant that I just had my dinner in Le Meridien, the car park attendant said that the restaurant should have given that rubber stamp on my car park ticket. Now, how would I know that you could obtain that ............ the restaurant's staff were not trained at all to check with customers on this area at all. Lousy.
Tags: Latest Recipe, Le Meridien, KL Sentral, Kuala Lumpur, Hotel Buffet Dinner, Teppanyaki, Shanghai Noodle, Teppanyaki Ice-Cream, Food

The Law of the Garbage Trucks

How often do you let other people's nonsense change your mood? Do you let a bad driver, rude waiter, curt boss, or an insensitive employee ruin your day?

Unless you're the Terminator, for an instant you're probably set back on your heels. However, the mark of a successful person is how quickly she can get back her focus on what's important.

I learned it in the back of a Harare city taxi cab. Here's what happened. I hopped in a taxi and we took off for Westgate. We were driving when all of a sudden a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car's back end by just inches!

Here's what happened next. The driver of the other car, the guy who almost caused a big accident, whipped his head around and he started yelling bad words at us. How do I know? Ask any Zimbabwean, some words in Harare come with a special face.

Now, here's what blew me away. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was friendly. So, I said, "Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!"

And this is when my taxi driver told me what I now call, "The Law of the Garbage Truck."

Many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it. And if you let them, they'll dump it on you. When someone wants to dump on you, don't take it personally. You just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. You'll be happy you did. I guarantee it.

So this was it: The "Law of the Garbage Truck." I started thinking, how often do I let Garbage Trucks run right over me? And how often do I take their garbage and spread it to other people: at work, at home, on the streets? It was that day I said, "I'm not going to do it anymore."

I began to see garbage trucks. Like in the movie "The Sixth Sense," the little boy said, "I see Dead People." Well now "I see Garbage Trucks." I see the load they're carrying. I see them coming to drop it off. And like my Taxi Driver, I don't make it a personal thing; I just smile, wave, wish them well, and I move on.

One of my favourite football players of all times, Ronaldinho, does this every day on the football field. With a smile he always jumps up as quickly as he hits the ground after being tackled. He never dwells on a hit. Ronaldino is always ready to make the next play his best. Good leaders know they have to be ready for their next meeting. Good parents know that they have to welcome their children home from school with hugs and kisses.

Leaders and parents know that they have to be fully present, and at their best for the people they care about.

The bottom line is that successful people do not let Garbage Trucks take over their day.

What about you? What would happen in your life, starting today, if you let more garbage trucks pass you by? You'll be happier. I guarantee it.

Wonderful people are created by God. Wonderful moments are carefully planned by God. And wonderful friends like you are carefully chosen by God.

Tags: Law of Garbage Trucks, God, Harare, Taxi Driver