Re: Auto transmission driving licence to begin in May 2012

If you're a frequent reader of Paul Tan blog, you would know by now that from May next year there will be two types of driving licenses, manual and automatic, which means they will be introducing a new automatic license.

To make it clear, I'm not against it, just stating the facts why it won't work the way they want it to be.

(*Quote Paul Tan's Article*) From May next year, there’ll be two types of regular Class D, or car, driving licences – the one in effect right now and a new one, which is the automatic transmission driving licence. As part of the reworked driving curriculum that will be introduced, the new licence will enable learner drivers to learn to drive and take the practical test in an automatic car, reports state. The new licence – which presumably will only allow a valid auto licence holder to drive only cars with an auto box

AFAIK, Australia, Germany, New Zealand, Canada, Singapore has been practicing auto-only license for a long time and it had worked perfectly well for them. However, I think it wouldn't be smooth sailing in our case. Residents in the stated countries are more orderly which would help prevents lots of issue from arising.

The introduction of an auto license would only encourage more newbies to choose the easier route. This certainly would make the matter worst. Newbies thinking are always get the license, and get the hell out! #epicfail

(*Quote Paul Tan's Article*) Meanwhile, the reports add that Abdul Rahim said the new driving curriculum will focus on producing discerning and disciplined motorists to help reduce fatal accidents, since human factors were the root cause behind 60 to 70% of accidents.

1. I don't quite agree with this actually. I thought that driving a manual would allow the drivers to be more alert while they are driving. Drivers will need to use their judgement to use the right gears depending on the road condition.

2. People driving automatic transmission only needs to step on the throttle or brake. Automatic encourages lazy driving to be honest, which reduces the drivers' awareness.

3. There's 2 angles to look at the issue. Driving manual allow drivers to be more alert, but also distracting the drivers as they will need to step on the clutch, shifting gears, control throttle and concentrate on the road. And yes! This would certainly prone to human error which will cause accidents to occur. So...



In my view, to improve the current situation the driving test should be stricter.
And people SHOULD start using SIGNALS!
And of course, NO TEXTING/CALL/WHATSAPP!

Go Kart @ City Karting, Shah Alam

Despite the drizzle early last weekend, I decided to go City Karting in Shah Alam to experience a real track karting. It feels good being able to enter into a real track and drive like a maniac. I spun out a few times, and drifted all around the track. As they said, you only drive to the full potential when you're at the edge of losing control.



City Karting track consists of two high speed straights and 12 turns which is designed to test the drivers skill. As it was drizzling before I got there, all karts were on wet tyres. Lap times can only be set on dry tyres, so maybe next time. I'll definitely post up my lap time soon.



The karts racing experience in Genting and City Karting are completely different. Those in Genting are for kids. Trust me! I have no problem racing the karts even with one hand. I'm sure not just me. Now those in City Karting are for big boys.

There are two types of karts to choose from- 80cc and 100cc. It may sounds like a super low cc, but don't forget that the karts are very light. They are really a pocket rockets.


My racing license. It's legit alright! Not kopi-O :)

Something that I realized, kart racing is really an expensive sport. During my stay there, I saw all the high end Mercedes in the parking space, and heck! Even a few Porsches. Excitement don't come cheap.


Price
RM35 per 10 minutes for the Cadet Kart (80cc)
RM80 per 10 minutes for the PRD Kart (100cc)


If you decided to drop by one of the weekends, tweet me at @JYtanz
I'll be there, and then... LET'S RACE!



Address:
City Karting
Shah Alam Section 13
Tel : +603 5512 5868/1649

A 48 Hours Food Guide to Eating in Penang

It's been almost 10 years since I last visited Penang, and I finally took the time to plan for a 2 days trip up north. Penang variety of foods is heaven for all food lovers. I followed vkeong and kyspeaks recommendation and came up with my own 48 Hours Food Guide To Eat In Penang.

Well, not exactly of course. Some of the food place were repeated because it was so good that I had to go back for more. But I'm sure you get the idea.

DAY 1, BREAKFAST (Joo Hooi Cafe Char Koay Teow)



I started off my day with Joo Jooi's Char Koay Teow. Initially I wanted to try out another famous Char Koay Teow but it was closed on that day (included in DAY 2). It was nice nonetheless. I would reckon trying out their Asam Laksa and also their cendol which can be found outside the cafe.

Address:
475, Jalan Penang
Georgetown, Penang.


DAY 2 LUNCH (Padang Kota Lama Mee Sotong)



From the look of the food court from outside, I would never have expected the place to serve such delicious mee. The food court is located directly beside the famous Fort Cornwallis. This mee sotong has a combination of spiciness and sweetness. Something new which cannot be find in KL. A plate of mee sotong would cost around RM4 to RM6, although from what I observed, the owner charges everyone RM4.

Address:
Food Court at Padang Kota Lama
Jalan Tun Syed Sheh Barakbah
Penang
GPS: 5.42078, 100.34434


DAY 1, DINNER (Gurney Drive)

I believe Gurney Drive needs no further recommendation to all food lovers out there. For the first night, I tried their Chay Koay Teow due to the long queue which I saw, some fried finger food which was really delicious. The thing which I like about it is that they will re-fried the food which you ordered, unlike those we had in KL.

Address:
Persiaran Gurney,
10250 Penang, Malaysia.
GPS: 5.437637, 100.310567


DAY 2, BREAKFAST (Nasi Kandar Kampung Melayu)

I was a bit skeptical about having Nasi Kandar in Penang, and I feel that it is good nonetheless. I ordered a piece of curry chicken and some squid, which cost around RM7. I would reckon that the dishes needed a little more spices, to make the taste richer. They also serve roti canai and I must say it's one of the best which I have tried. Highly recommended.

Address:
A-29, Ground Floor,
Rumah Pangsa, Jln Kampung Melayu,
Kampung Melayu, Air Hitam
Open 6:30am to 12:30pm (days off not fixed)
GPS: N5 24.007 E100 17.067


DAY 2, LUNCH (Lorong Selamat Char Koay Teow)





There has been good and also bad rumors spreading around the internet, but no doubt this place serve one of the best around Penang. Thou this Char Koay Teow price is a bit high, RM7.50 a plate (which it used to be RM5.50), it's worth every cent. The unique part of this place is that they cook using the traditional method of charcoal, which I believe make the food tastier.

One of her worker (or maybe daughter) had a small chat with me, and from what she told me there's 2 sisters operating this stall, and the 'bad temper' with the red hat aunty is the younger sister. They have been in business for 43 years

Kafe Heng Huat
108, Lorong Selamat
Open 11.30am to 6pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
GPS Coordinates: N5 25.026 E100 19.477


DAY 2, DINNER (Gurney Drive)

I tried the ikan bakar in Gurney Drive this time. The ikan bakar came wrapped with banana leaf. Price wise it's comparable to KL, which cost around RM15. The ikan bakar wasn't too spicy, exactly how I like it to be. It was well seasoned, and and it was delicious!

Address:
Persiaran Gurney,
10250 Penang, Malaysia.
GPS: 5.437637, 100.310567

Honda CR-Z Launch in Malaysia + Test Drive

I used to think hybrid cars are for people who like to drive slow, boring, and less sporty. But I was wrong with the recent launch of Honda CR-Z in Malaysia. Honda described the CR-Z as the world's first sporty hybrid coupe. For now, CR-Z is only available in 6-speed manual version, priced at RM115,000 nett (OTR).



I managed to test drive the CR-Z earlier this month (thanks to a friend), and boy, I was amazed. The CR-Z is powered by a 1.5 litre SOHC i-VTEC engine, but it certainty doesn't feel like one. CR-Z delivers 124 PS at 6,000 rpm and 174 Nm of torque at 1,000 to 1,500 rpm. Impressive torque figure, I must say!

The throttle response, steering feedback is very impressive, for a hybrid car. With the manual transmission, there is less transmission power loss which made the driving experience even more enjoying.



There is 3-Mode Drive System featured in this 'hot hybrid' which is between Sport, Normal and Economy. In NORMAL mode, there is optimum balance between driving performance and fuel economy, whereas in sport mode acceleration is more aggressive, and finally ECON mode which give priority to fuel economy. With each mode, the glowing light around the tachometer changes, RED when in Sport mode, GREEN in ECO mode, and BLUE in Normal mode.

If you still find the stock look a little too feminine, there are a few options which you can choose from to spice things up. CR-Z with Mugen R bodykit (my personal favourite).



Or maybe the CR-Z can go for the second alternative, and a little more extreme. The CR-Z below is kitted with a Silk Blaze bodykit. The rear bumper featured triple exhaust placed in an inverted triangle formation reminded me of Lexus LFA.



So call up the nearest Honda centre to arrange for a test drive. Enjoy the driving experience. After all, what you gonna lose. Just think of all the attention you'll be getting :)

Boyfriends Who Carry Their Girlfriends' Handbag

I have been wanting to blog about this for awhile now, but always hesitated to write about it. Hopefully it's not as sensitive as I thought, because I'll be talking about girlfriends and their handbags. The first time I saw a guy holding her girlfriend's bag, I thought it was sweet. This is also something I've been seeing in the mall quite often.



For me handbags have always been every girl's necessity and accessory which she need, to put in her purse, make up kit and all. But why would a girl wants her boyfriend to carry it for her. Like I said from what I understand, handbags are a girl's accessory. But if it's for the boyfriend to carry, it becomes part of boyfriend. Handbags are fashion statement for every well dress ladies. Am I right?

There was once I saw this guy holding her girlfriend's bag which was pink in color. I asked myself... what if the guy were carrying the girlfriend's Chanel, LV, Burberry bag instead. Well.. I think I wouldn't feel that bad for the boyfriend then. Afterall it's a designers handbag! I do know a few people that wouldn't allow their boyfriend to carry for them, because the bag is part of their fashion.


[Courtesy of tarynzhang]

Don't get me wrong. I agree that guys should help carry girls' bag when they go to the washroom or trying out clothes. It's a courtesy from guys.

A friend from Maldives did told me once that they do not have the habit to let their boyfriend carry their bag for them. It's just not manly to do so #likeaboss



So I can't help but to think.. what is the purpose and reasoning for those who does?

What are your view?

Launch of iPhone 4S Malaysia [16th December 2011]

With the long awaited release of the iPhone 4S, it's finally arriving in Malaysia. There has been rumors going around saying that Maxis is going to be the first Telco to launch the iPhone 4S.

But it's official now. Maxis, DiGi and Celcom will all be launching the iPhone 4S on 16th December.



On Maxis side, they did allow pre-booking through their website few days back, but they closed down the page, The so caled 'booking' process was to provide you with the confirmation ID, and all you need to do is just bring it to collect the iPhone. But of course, even with booking you'll still have to wait up to a few hours.

Still this is very good news for those whose doing their last minute Christmas shopping. I'm sure the new iPhone 4S will draw a bigger crowd compared to the previous iPhone 4.



So if you see a big crowd somewhere in the mall this Friday, make sure you don't mistaken it as the year-end sales queue :)

Sneak Peek: The Avenger (2012)

The official trailer for 'The Avenger' is finally OUT! Marvels finally heard us and decided to combine all the Marvels supergeroes into one movie. That's uber cooL! Too bad we have to wait for the world debut in May 2012. Bummer!



Who do you see? Ans: (from left): S.H.I.E.L.D Agent, Black Widow, Thor, Hawkeye, Captain America, Hulk and Iron Man.




Though I'm really curious who the villian is in this movie. For those who watched Thor earlier, rumors said it's Thor evil brother, Loki. But then, how true is it? Thor and his Mighty Hammer can easily crush him. Still a lot of suspense in this story.

Nonetheless, definitely a movie to look forward to in 2012.

Groupon Horror: Bakery Must Make 102,000 Cupcakes

It's really amazing what's happening what's happening around the world. Reading the world news make me realize anything is possible. Recently, I read this article over the internet and had to share it out. It's related to Groupon, and this small bakery in London.

A small bakery experimented with using Groupon to attract customers, and the decision - which in some ways proved wildly successful - almost shut down the business.

Rachel Brown of Need a Cake bakery put an ad on Groupon, a group-discount website, offering 75 percent off on cupcakes to those who bought a dozen. The $40 cupcakes suddenly cost $10.

Turns out, people like their cupcakes. And their deals.

Related: Groupon IPO causes a stir

The bakery, received 8,500 requests for a dozen cupcakes, far above the normally 100 it produces a month. Brown suddenly had to make 102,000 cupcakes. The bakery only employs eight people, and had to bring in an outside agency to handle the orders. The temporary agency cost her $19,500, effectively wiping out her year's profits.

"Without doubt, it was my worst ever business decision," she said. "We had thousands of orders pouring in that really we hadn't expected to have. A much larger company would have difficulty coping."

Brown said that her staff was working around the clock, and one person came in at 3 a.m. because she couldn't sleep as a result of the cupcake stress. Brown said she does not plan on doing this again.

//MORAL OF THE STORY: Think twice before you promote your business on Groupon, and prepare a formal detailed business plan in advance :)

Homemade Pineapple Rolls (Recipe)

Every Lunar New Year, you'll see these selling almost everywhere- Pineapple rolls. Thankfully, I don't have to search high and low for the best pineapple rolls around. My eldest aunt has been making for years, even before I was born.. Homemade recipe! Gonna try sharing what I learnt. Can refer back in the future too. Win-win situation :) Let's get started.

First and foremost, the first step would be to cut off the skin of the pineapples, which include those 'eyes' on the pineapples. The number of pineapples would depend solely depend on you. For this post, we used around 5 pineapples.


After dealing with the pineapples skin, the next step would be to grate it. However, if you do not have what it needs to grate the pineapple, you can cut the pineapples into cubes, and proceed to the next step. By grating the pineapple, it would make the next step (boiling) much easier.

After the grating the pineapple, it's time to boil it. This is a long process, and I'm talking approximately 1 1/2 hours to 2 whole hours. You will have to make sure the pineapple is boiled, and of course do add a little sugar. The amount of sugar to be added is to be adjusted according to your liking.

There! You're already halfway thru. Here comes the easier steps- making the dough.

Last step before putting them in the oven is to brush the tarts with egg to give a golden finish. After that, bake the pineapple rolls in a preheated oven at 180^oC for 10-15 minutes, and you're done!

There.. It's not that hard right? Here are the another edition of the recipe from Rasa Malaysia.
Have a look if there's any slight doubt.