Oil Prices gone up and Asian major share markets tumbled. Malaysia two by elections due to heart-attacks

It has been a turbulent period in the Middle East regions especially with the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions.  Now there were some unrest at Libya, which is reported to be a country with the largest oil field reserves in Africa.  There are some protests reported in Bahrain as report in the news channels and media.  There was an earthquake measuring 6.3 at Christchurch, New Zealand.  It seems there are so many negative news around the world but how does it affect me in Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Malaysia?

First, life goes on as usual in Bigfoothill and people here just lived in peace. If you are an investor in the stock market and commodity, you either profit from the above situations as the oil prices have gone up and if you own petroleum stocks and commodity, it is a gain for you.  However, if you are investing in some other stocks that are averse to the increase in oil prices, such as airlines and shipping companies, you probably have to cut your losses by selling the shares as it tumbles as these companies are likely to incur higher cost for running their operations and thus reducing their profits.  There are investors who are having sleepless nights if they are investing on margins as they may soon have to top up with cash. KL Stock Exchange (KLSE) or Bursa Malaysia also saw the main benchmark index dropped by two digits from yesterday's closing point at the close of today's morning session.  So perhaps, it is an opportunity for bargain hunting time for small investors.

As for currency traders, those who are holding NZ Dollars are having their exchange value drops against major currencies due to the earthquake disaster.  How is it going to affect me non-politically but financially? Gold prices also soar as it is a commodity that is seen as a safe haven.  So if you are planning to get some gold jewelries for weddings and other happy occasions, it is going to be expensive to buy now than previously.

The importers of NZ produce will be able to buy goods from NZ at cheaper price if its countries currency appreciated against NZ Dollars.  So probably, I can go to Tesco and expect sales of Kiwi fruits at cheaper price per kilogram.  However, it can be more expensive if the natural disaster have caused the Kiwi Fruit farms to be destroyed or affected and thus reduced the availability of the fruits for export.  The same goes to the milk and diary products from New Zealand.

Well, a professional investor will be busy at work at this hour as the above situations around the world are affecting us globally and present an opportunity to make quick profit from buying cheap stocks and commodity and selling it later at a higher price when market situations improved.

I am just looking at it from a general view of a layman who is happy to live in a peaceful nation.  Though some of Malaysians studying and working in those affected countries are directly affected by the events in those countries, majority of Malaysians are just busy with their daily routine. Probably, the politicians are a little concerned as there are going to be two simultaneous by-elections at Merlimau, in Melaka(Malacca) and Kerdau in Pahang.  These two by elections are due to the incumbents elected representatives died due to heart-attacks. Let us hope the political parties are making a better decision in the future when they pick their candidates who are healthy to serve the people and not waste our people's money.

Last night, I was following the news on Malaysian TV1 and the Election Commission Chairman said he had budgeted and requested for an allocation for a whopping RM50millions in anticipation of the Sarawak State Election that will be held soon and he does not want to be caught unprepared as these huge amount of money are used to hire 4 helicopters, speed boats, 4 wheel drives and many other logistic and election supervisors and workers.

I wonder a poorer nation in a third world country could put to good use this huge amount of money to upgrade the standard of living of its people.  But then, there is such a risk of the leaders of the poor country keeping the wealth to themselves and suppressing the human rights of its people so much so that one day in the future the people will rise up and demand for their rights and that will be the day that we will be seeing events like the one in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya now.

The Chinese Valentine's day -The Final Day Celebration of Chinese New Year of the Rabbit

It is a second chance to date your Valentine in a week as Thursday February 17, 2011 coincided with the fifteenth day of Chinese New Year of the Rabbit.  In the Chinese calendar, it is an auspicious day for the singles to make a wish to marry a good spouse by throwing a orange into the sea off the Esplanade.  If you are in Penang, it the time again to go to Georgetown at the Esplanade near the spot where Captain Francis Light landed in Penang, and old British fortress known as Fort Cornwallis and City Council building are located.

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There will be live concerts and stalls selling goodies which you may want to bring your family, friends and your love one to join you to have fun and carry on the tradition of throwing some oranges into the sea to wish for a good husband in the year of Rabbit , especially for the single ladies.  Single guys, here are your opportunity to survey who is available and who is hot.

For the married couples, save the oranges for yourselves as you cannot throw away what you already found and caught in your hands.

Here are the highlights of the happenings found at the Visit Penang. The Fireworks will be let off there later in the evening.  So bring your cameras to shoot the scenery and displays of colorful fireworks.

USB Cable connectivity is like a lifeline

I got his USB cable for myself about a month ago but did not get to use it until today to connect to my computer and download files, especially pictures that I have taken with my Nokia E-72 mobile phone when I did not have my Olympus or Sony Cameras handy.  I had misplaced the original cable at a hostel in Ipoh, Perak about a year ago. Imagine I can do without it for so long.  I could have used the Blue tooth feature to transfer the files but I am not into it.

It is like a lifeline to me as I got the chance to download some pictures that I wanted to share with you later as I connected it to my mobile phone and PC just now.  Not all mobile phone and accessories shops in Bukit Mertajam are selling all models of Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectivity Adapter Cable.  So it took me awhile to shop around before I found this CA-101 model cable at one of the shops at Jusco Shopping Mall. By the way, this picture is taken using the Nokia E-72 which has a automatic flash that lit up.

Landmarks demolished at Bukit Mertajam - End of sweet memories

After Gymnasium Cleared. Former General Post Office reduced to rubble

Still left standing is part of the former Telecom office front

This is what is left at the demolition site of the former General Post office building and the Telecom office building at Bukit Mertajam which a few days ago were still standing. Let us see what will the development bring to the place in the near future.  To those who have been working there years ago, those who sent their letters, post cards and telegrams, Sweet Valentine's cards to their friends and loved ones, and those who used it as a meeting point, part of that memories are deleted from memory just like some of our storage files in the floppy diskettes are being put away with no back up as newer personal computers and notebooks do not have floppy disk drive.

So back up your memories with photographs.  That is why I like photography as it can bring back or restore some lost memories and passions of the past. Life must go on.  Some people lived in the past and preferred to be still living in the past even today and refuse to change with time just like when we like to talk about the good and funny experiences we shared with our schoolmates, partners and colleagues as we meet up again and again over the years with them such as the Chinese new year reunion dinners and gatherings functions, the old boys club. It sorts of bring us together and close affinity with the things that we know we cannot do again as we get older.  I am like that too. I got the chance to share and recount the joys of my youthful days. The tide of change will destroy some but bring joy to others.  Nothing is permanent here.

So let us look ahead.  Some are too futuristic and live in high expectation of things that may not exist and get fascinated by their own desire of a better life which do not match the reality of present day. It is dangerous as we may easily get disappointed if things do not turn out the way we expected it to be.  We may end up at asylum.


Live for now. Keep it simple. Today is what I am living for as I still need to do all the house chores, send my kid to school, provide for the household needs and serve others as in the nature of my insurance business.  I am being reminded by the sermon I heard  from the pastor at Bukit Mertajam Baptist Church last Sunday where the Holy Bible talks about little creatures like the ants that you see that are busy moving and crawling about in our house. It never stops moving or gathering food unless we stop them or they are already dead.  I guess I missed watching the animated movie ANTS. I got to find sometime to bring my kid to the cinema to watch some children movies and it could be the special moments that we can touch our children and they in turn will treasure the moments spent together laughing aloud like nobody's business in the cinema like everyone at the funny episode of the movie, as they reflect back when we are permanently changing home address to another world.  Leave a legacy.

Now you see it. Now you don't - People's Gymnasium Bukit Mertajam

To you who are celebrating the Chinese New Year of the Rabbit, the festival is still happy and merry. Wishing you prosperous new year. Soon, Valentine's Day is coming and then the Chinese Valentine's Day which is on the 15th day of the Chinese new year which falls on Thursday February 17, 2011.

Just when I went to the General Post Office at Bukit Mertajam this afternoon, I was caught in the queue at the railway gate as there was a very long goods train approaching from Butterworth.  When I reached the doorstep, it is time to close for business for the day. To my shock, as I came out and look around, the People's Gymnasium at Bukit Mertajam town located just next to the local public library building has been demolished today together with a row of buildings which used to be former government housing quarters for the government servants opposite the OCBC Bank.  The other two buildings, a former General post office and local Telecommunication Office situated in between the gymnasium and the quarters are still standing but have been vacated.  They will make way for the flyover interchange above the present railway tracks as the construction works for the double tracking for electric train project has progressed to a certain stage.  This is good in a way as there will be less traffic congestion as there will no longer be a gate crossing being closed for traffic when the train comes to Bukit Mertajam town.

The People's Gymnasium was demolished today

Gone with the wind?

The green netting barricades was the location of the former government quarters once stood

I mentioned that I was going to check out the gymnasium someday.  Now it is too late for me to get my six pacts abdomen muscles at the People's Gymnasium.  Let us hope the government will replace it and relocate it at a convenient place for the community of Bukit Mertajam, Penang, Malaysia. Let us hope there is no loss to Bukit Mertajam's heritage building as Penang State is under the UNESCO World Heritage conservation program.

Now you see it.  Now you don't.

Where is KBOX cafe and pub? Look for KFC?

I was looking for KBOX cafe and pub as a friend asked me to check out the newly opened entertainment outlet at Jalan Raja Uda, Butterworth.  I was told to look for KFC outlet as it is just a few doors away on the same block. The street was decorated with red lanterns and light up at night as seen on the video on the Chinese New Year Day Thursday February 3, 2011 in the year of Rabbit.

Chinese New Year 2011 welcomes Year of Rabbit with Red Lanterns

Welcome the Zodiac Calendar Year of Rabbit. Wishing You A Very Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year.  After family Reunion Lunch at Bukit Minyak, Bukit Mertajam in the afternoon, Bigoofthill went for Family Reunion Dinner at Butterworth on New Year's Eve Wednesday February 2, 2011.  On the way back to Bukit Mertajam on the Stroke of Chinese New Year's Day of the Year of Rabbit, we turned into Jalan Raja Uda and saw the beautiful sky lit up with fireworks while the street is decorated with red lanterns.  It is on the mainland of Penang State and is considered the heart of Chinatown at Butterworth. There is a Chinese temple for vegetarians which is frequented by worshipers offering prayers for good lucks and great wealth during the Year of the Rabbit.

Bigfoothill worships at BMBC and the Holy Bible teaches us, " Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life." ( 1Timothy 6:17-19 NIV).

May God bless you richly in His Grace.