A special rain on Friday

Friday 20th January 2012.


A sudden heavy rain started in Johor Bahru without any warning in the afternoon. It has caught the busy johorean by surprise on this day as most of the people is either rushing to finish their jobs in order welcome a long holiday or preparing tons of thing for the Chinese New Year celebration. I am one of those rushing people in this day. Suppose to send my car to one of the hundreds car wash centre so that my lovely car could show off it's skin in eye glittering way.
This rain however, instead of causing frustration, I feels like more welcome of the rain. Though it is a heavy rain that comes with loud lightning but soon afterward the lightning stop. In order to get in my car, I have to run without umbrella and get myself wet. While I am wiping myself dry I have this special feeling of wiping myself 'clean'...

On this very last day of my works for the year of rabbits, I felt like the rain has washed away all my exhaustion, frustration, negative energy that has been lingering on me for the past 12 month. After today (Friday), the next time I working will be the year of dragon! By then it will be a totally New Year, it mean a lots for me and a lots of Chinese. so when most of the people are doing their new year resolution on the 1st of the January(which I normally do), this year I will do it during the Chinese new year! Thanks for this 'special rain' that has cleansed me and had given me a new positive energy to embrace the challenge for the coming 2012. Come on 2012 bring it on!!

Also would like to take this chance to wish all the Chinese a Happy Chinese New Year and Gong Xi Fa Cai!
And all the Malaysian a Happy Holiday and safe journey!

Cheers!


Pls remember to support us by clicking like at FB website here and follow us on twitter.

Launching of new Malaysia notes

Today got an unusual crowd in Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) in JB branch.
People are queuing up to purchase the new RM notes in today's launching date for collection purposes.

New launch notes are RM 1, 5, ,10 and 20 and 100 (50 got no new design. Stick to old design).
Most special one is the new RM 20 notes as it has been many years that the RM 20 notes is already missing from market.

Available package for collection is 3 package. But I only know 2 of the 3 package comes with
1) RM 1 & 5 sell at RM 15.
2) RM 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 & 100 packed in a box selling at RM 300
That's all I can share in my knowledge.

Go get a bits should you are a currency collector.

Enjoy and cheers!

Pls remember to support us by clicking like at FB website and follow us on twitter.

Location:Bank Negara Malaysia Johor bahru

Are you really purchasing a property that is affordable?

Dear Fellow Johorean,

it has been 2 month of worrying month for those property owner and investor in johor in view of the europe financial crisis. Well i am working in the property line for the past 7 years.
For the past 2 year Johor property is now experiencing a price rise that hasn't been experienced before since 1997. In my opinion, Property pricing escalated is due to a few reason.

1. Increase of the construction cost since 2008. since the cost of building is increased it will definitely directly have its effect on the selling price in order to cover the rising cost from the developers. 
2. Feel good factor in view of the investment from the IDR (Iskandar Development Region) project such as Financial hub in Taman Molek, EduCity in Sri Alam, Legoland and Educity in East Ledang. 
3. Completion of infrastructure such as Bakar Batu - Pasir Gudang Highway, Ulu Tiram - Desaru Highway, Ulu tiram - Kulai Highway, and the Latest one is Danga Bay-Perling bridge. 

Of Course there are many more factor for the increasing favor in the JB property. 

Is also has started to create a property grabbing frenzy here, it has been the talk of the town how property price increases for the past few years and how many investor are benefiting from its. I think it is always good when there are some speculation of property in JB so that the market is active and it can attract some other region player to this region. 

One thing that i am worried is some middle low income earner are starting to get worried. Worried that they will not be able to own their dream house in future if they dont buy now. they strongly believe that the property price will keep on escalating till the end of the world. 

I am worried because these has already blinded by the property speculation pricing. They went overboard by purchasing a property that they hardly can afford to. Developers are luring these un-sensitive buyer with all sort of bait such as

• Free Legal Cost & Stamp Duty
• RM 1000 downpayment (such as 10% discount for early bird)
• Developers Interest Bearing Scheme
• Rental Guarantee Return Scheme
• 100% loan 

All sort of these package could indirectly create a false sense that they could afford to service this property when they actually cant! (I strictly meant only those people without finance knowledge) 

Economy in Johor is highly dependent on singapore, Most of the people living here is working in Singapore. so this is one fact that we know as a johorean. when Singapore economy dropped so does Johor (but not other states in Malaysia). where in the recent years it has been a roller-coaster on singapore economy.

Simple novice advise, Before you wanted to buy a property you must understand a few thing.

• purpose of your purchase. Investment or Own Occupation? 
• What is your budget for installment before choosing property (not the otherwise, normally people will ask what is the Installment after choosing the property they like) - by doing this you will most likely not to over your budget. pls ensure that your budget also taken in consideration such as 
• Renovation 
• monthly maintenance fees of your property such as electricity, quit rent assessment etc
• repair fees 
• Look into surrounding area, is there a better deal around? there might be a cheaper house around such as second hand, or nearby Taman etc. pricing difference sometimes can be up to 30% difference! 
• Where to look for better deal? look for websites such as iProperties.com, call an real estate Agent. Auction listing from newspaper or Real Estate Agent. ETC. 

Pls take good precaution before you buy a house, it is not easy to maintain a house as you had planned. do your budget of installment at only 1/3 of your income. not more than that because you will have a lots more other spending to worry about. House is always the last thing that we wanted to lose in the event of cashflow problem. 

Good luck and happy buying!

Restaurant Hwa Mei Bak Kut Teh, 40 yrs of taste 华美肉骨茶

Restaurant Hwa Mei

There are so many Good taste BKT in Johor, but a few fit my taste bud. Hwa Mei is one of the few that managed to keep my mind on him every time that i was in JB town in the morning. Now the name of the restaurant is confusing. I would think that it should be called Hwa Mei, instead of Mei Hwa. as Old chinese word reading is always from right to left (reverse when compare to english reading). I am confusing is because searching in internet most of the netizen called this restaurant as Hwa mei. Anyway we are referring to the same restaurant.

Hwa Mei already has more than 40 yrs of running business and is still here. although they had changed the "management team" (I actually mean the cashier), original tau keh nio (Lady Boss) has already passed away due to cancer (My condolence). But the chef uncle always with a white singlet (Bruce Lee style) is still there healthy and cooking. So rest assure that as per my title Original taste for 40 yrs is still here.

Environment in this restaurant is always cosy, this shop is located under a big old tree and windy spot, so you can imagine you don't need air-cond to keep yourself cosy in this place.
Its BKT is cooked using charcoal, and the whole restaurant is filled with mild aromatic smell of charcoal.
In terms of service it has actually gotten better since changes of management, it is now managed by their relative on the cashier and service side.
I would rate a 'B' on its cleanliness. The staff working there is also very friendly :)

It is a bowl type BKT, they managed to keep the tenderness of the pork and you can which part of the pork that you like.
It has a very tasty broth - strong sauce taste, but not heavy taste. taste Best when you are having your "Brunch"

Remember to always order a pot of hot tea when having BKT, Tea is said to be helpful on lowering your blood cholesterol. as BKT is consider high cholesterol food. eg: eating satay with cucumber.

Restaurant Hwa Mei 华美肉骨茶
146, Jalan Lumba Kuda
80300, Johor Bahru 
Johor
Operating hour: 10-2pm

Off days : unknown but open on weekend

Pls remember to support us by clicking like at FB website here and follow us on twitter.

Google maps Location as per below. I cant pin point the exact location. you might need to ask the locals there if you cant locate the shop. Good luck! 

View Larger Map