Princess and The Frog meet Bigfoothill at AIA Northern region 2012 Kick Off

Hello AIA,   This is Princess and The Frog kicking and rocking with you. Here is the party time for AIA agents from the Northern region comprising Penang, Northern Perak, Kedah and Perlis at the Annual Kick-Off event which was held on Monday 5 December, 2011 at Hotel Equatorial, Penang Matahari Grand Ballroom.  It is the First AIA Kick-Off held outside Kuala Lumpur as this is in honor of all Northern AIA agents and business associates for emerging as the Best in Overall performances for Financial Year 2011 outperforming the rest of the regions in AIA Malaysia.  Thank you to all the loyal and faithful clients for your business, confidence and trust in us. One AIA...Premier is the Way.

Need a financial plan to achieve your financial goals? We are here to help you. Wealth and Investments, Savings, Retirements, Estate Planning, Health and Personal Accident, Travel and Golfer's insurance? Commercial Fire, Retail and Services business package, Personal Lines such as House-owner and Householder Insurance, Auto Insurance and Home Loan are all available here in One AIA. AIA is your Premier choice.  For our Muslim friends and clients, we have AIA-AFG Family Takaful products and services to meet your family goals too.  Want financial freedoms and to become Premier Agency? AIA welcomes you to join the party.  Ask Bigfoothill.

Fire at row of three-storey shophouses at Kota Permai, Bukit Mertajam, Penang

Fire! Breaking News.  Fire engines sirens could be heard from my house when I just returned home about 11.00pm. I went out to check and there were fire engines going towards the road leading to Billion Supermarket and residential houses. The shop-houses on fire were the ones selling toys.

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Teen Idol Singing Competition at Sunway Carnival, Penang

Since Friday December 31, 2010 is a public holiday because Malaysia football team has won the Asean Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup for the first time. Thanks to the Malaysia football team and Prime Minister. I took this opportunity to rest and reflect on year 2010 and looking forward to the countdown for New Year 2011 in Penang Island.  As the traffic was heavy almost everywhere in Penang, Bigfoothill decided to head for dinner and then proceeded to Sunway Carnival on the mainland to shop for the new dairy for New Year 2011 at the Popular Bookstore.

There was a slight drizzle and by the time I went into the Sunway Carnival Shopping mall, the main lobby was full of people and shoppers.  There was a Teen Idol Singing Competition held at the stage specially decorated for the Christmas and New Year Celebrations.

The teenage contestants came from all over Peninsular Malaysia for the competitions dressed in the glittering dresses and suites.  Here are some of the songs and videos captured by Bigfoothill which I would like to share with you.  I salute the competitors for their talents and participation in the contest and for allowing me to capture live recording of their show and sharing it worldwide with you.  So here is a little sweet memorable moments in the final hours of year 2010 for us to reflect back and to countdown to New Year 2011. Here are my favorites teen idol finalists.

New Year 2011 Countdown with singers Ahli Fiqir and Wana at Penang

Happy New Year 2011 to you.  I am adding this post to the New Year 2011Countdown as it has been very slow in uploading so many video clips that l have to leave it overnight.  Please enjoy the live recording of the show by the famous singers.

The group singers Ahli Fiqir had us entertained with their songs titled "Evolusi KL"(Evolution Kuala Lumpur)and "Samseng" (meaning Ruffians) which are the hit songs from the Malaysian film Gangster.  Singer Wana had the audience singing along with her.  At this hour, the other uploads are on its way. Stay tuned to Bigfoothill channel at You Tube too.

2011 AIA New Year Kick-off with special appearances by famous Ah Niu and Dayang Ku Intan at Stadium Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur

Happy New Year to American International Assurance(AIA) agents.  Bigfoothill joined fellow agents of AIA nationwide at the Stadium Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur for AIA annual New Year Kick-off to start the new financial year.  The celebration was grand and the National Sports Stadium was filled with seas of red-shirted AIA agents, staff and management.

The Group Chairman and CEO of AIA, Mr Mark Tucker was with us together with Mr Khor Hock Seng, CEO of AIA Bhd and his teams of senior managements and executives to launch the New Year 2011 with a big bang offering many goodies and challenges in bags including a BMW car for agency force and new products for clients.

There were special guest appearances by famous and beautiful singers like Miss Dayang Ku Intan and Mr Ah Niu who by the way is from Penang see link here for his bio-data. Click here to link and visit his website. The audiences were very excited and joined in the chorus especially when he sang his popular song "The girl from across has looked over here".

Scene at the Stadium entrance as the event just started

A very young AIA family member

The DJ on duty

Celebrating a New AIA poster

A banner picture Group Chairman & CEO of AIA, Mr Mark Tucker

AIA trademark balloons add colors to the occasion

A team from St John Ambulance on the march

A section of the agency force inside the Stadium

G-Next 2 soon

Another view of the agency force

Mr Khor Hock Seng, CEO AIA Bhd at the launch of AIA New Year Kick-off 2011

Mt Everest a Strong and an Everlasting icon synonymous wit AIA Logo

We could be driving home this BMW for the top grand prize challenge

The AIA performers

Ah Niu at AIA New Year Kick-off 2011

Listen to Ah Niu's song here

Credit goes to Mr JuiYinJong for posting and sharing this Ah Niu's song on You Tube

Bukit Mertajam People's Gymnasium

Gimnasium Rakyat Bukit Mertajam, Seberang Perai Tengah, Pulau Pinang

This is the People's Gymnasium or "Gimnasium Rakyat"  right in the middle of Bukit Mertajam Town along Arumugam Pillai Road,   It is located in the former Magistrate Court of Bukit Mertajam which have already shifted to a new premises at Betek Road

Jalan Muthu Palniappan in front of Pejabat POS Bukit Mertajam

Public Library at Bukit Mertajam

One way street at Cross-Junction of Arumugam Pillai Road and Muthu Palaniappan  Road from Sungai Rambai Road

The gymnasium is situated along with the Public Library of Bukit Mertajam which is a government building also built with Malay home style architecture about the same time as the former Magistrate Court.  I am not very familiar with the history of Bukit Mertajam as I was not a local until I become one of its residents in early 1993.
Have been to the library a few times long time ago when I just moved in.  Now I used to go the the Main Public Library at Seberang Jaya, Pulau Pinang.

I remember I entered once into the former Magistrate Court with my late father who was as curious as I was of what it was like inside back in the 1993 during an ongoing proceeding at court. Then, I was enrolled in the London External LLB course at Perkim-Goon Institute (IPG). We we required to be silent and sit upright and acknowledge our respect for the Honorable Magistrate sitting that day as we entered and were ushered to the seats for the public gallery by the police officer at the entrance.  There were no other people present at the public gallery except for the advocates and solicitors with their clients and a handfuls of the court administrative staff , Policemen and the Honorable Magistrate   We left shortly after seeing what it was like and had to again acknowledge the Honorable Magistrate on leaving the court.

General Post Office

As fate would have it, I did not become a lawyer.  Instead I am selling Professional Indemnity Insurance policies to lawyer clients.  Anyway, that was just another episode of an ambitious me to doing part-time study which was then an opportunity to enhance my career.  I will not dwell further as I have a right to remain silent.

About the gymnasium, I will have to check it out as my pot-belly is not good for belly-dance and it has been thought by many acquaintance that it is from the alcoholic drinking sessions. I do not intoxicate myself with alcoholic drinks but probably I need to have a scheduled regular exercises to keep my youthful looks and dynamic V-shape gymnast outfit which have long been a pear-shape in recent years.

The Green building on the right is Alka Ria while the high building in the centre is The Summits Hotel.  The building on the left partly obscured is General Post Office.

For now, just peering at gymnasium from outside and by the roadside in front of the General Post Office which is just a walk across the street will do. Those of you who go to Post Office monthly to pay your bills and those who like the night time famous hawker food stall "Char Koay Teow" near Alka Ria on its left will know exactly where is gymnasium.  Further to its right-side, it is the Telekom Office and the Government quarters for civil servants which is just opposite OCBC Bank.

Traffic queue at railway crossings as a goods train from Butterworth arriving

You will also not miss the Railway crossing gates cutting across the road from Jalan Sungai Rambai which is now undergoing construction works for the electrified double tracking railways systems from Butterworth to Padang Besar near the Malaysian-Thailand border town.  Just check with the Bukit Mertajam railway station on the timetable of the trains calling at the station to avoid being caught in the rush as the railway gates are closed to traffic for the trains to pass by.  

Oh yes..just reminded of one of my favorites songs "Last Train to London" by Electric Light Orchestra (ELO).  I have yet to learn on the gadgets to add the music and links to articles to my blog without infringement on the copyrights and the rules.

BigFootHill Arise

Hello and welcome to my maiden post.  I have been keen to learn about blogging and have bought a book to help myself better understand what blogging is about.  I have also spent hours on the internet to search for information including seeking views and advice from friends, including one of my cousins who have been blogging for awhile.  My appreciations to all of you.

It has been months, and now I finally decided that I just do it.  I hope to improve as I go on to the next and future posts.  It is my desire to be more adapt and savvy with the gadgets for more pleasures and enjoyable postings.

At the moment,  I will keep an open mind on the topics to share in this small footprint through Big Foot Hill which is the direct translation of the Chinese for the town known as BUKIT MERTAJAM in Penang State of Malaysia.