I wanted to “earn” (insert Chinese gambling cliché joke) RM 2,000 for reasons of my own. It was a stupid thing to do. I went up with RM 4,500 which I converted into RM 4,000 worth of chips. I played Baccarat in the International Room and lost it all in two rounds.

I used the spare RM 500, random bank notes worth RM 250 and withdrew (!!!) RM 5,000 from my credit card with a 5% service charge.

I lost it all on high stakes Baccarat with RM 4,000 minimum per hand. :x

I then went and withdrew another RM 2,000 from the ATM for a last minute save. This makes the total buy-in exactly RM 12,000.

First near save – RM 11,500

I went to the Roulette table and by some fluke managed to win consistently. I hit the single numbers twice with RM 100 which pays RM 3,500 with 35-1 payout.

I found out that the dealer was consistently getting 1-12 with his spins and the numbers 4 and 8 came out several times over 10 spins. My mistake was just putting RM 1,000 on 1-12 and going for the numbers instead. I should have bet higher to get back my money. :x

It didn’t last long coz the pit boss saw the croupier was spinning the same numbers over and over again and switched dealers.

I switched back to Baccarat and lost it all again – it’s very easy when you bet RM 5,000 per hand.

I should have left with a RM 500 loss. It’s A LOT better than losing RM 12,000. I didn’t. This was the best time since I got back up from a RM 12,000 loss to RM 11,500.

Second near save – RM 61,000 (!!!)

I am still fuming over this. I put RM 1,500 on the number 0 (house number) and the dealer went “No more bets” and took my chips away.

I had other chips on line, even, and other configurations so in total I would have won over 61k. The RM 1,500 bet alone would have netted me RM 52,500 with the 35-1 payout.

This would go considerably well for my condo fund. Unfortunately, I put the number 0 last and the bet was not accepted. :(

Third near save – RM 8,500

This is actually more like RM 13,500. I would have nearly achieved my goal of a RM 2,000 win and I would have instantly run off after getting back my RM 12,000 with a RM 1,500 win.

There was a Player dragon going and from just RM 600 I got it up to RM 13,500. However, I die die wanted a RM 14,000 win (RM 2,000 profit) so I slapped down RM 5,000 at the end of the 12 consecutive Player wins in the Baccarat table.

I lost it coz it went to Banker during the 13th deal.

It all went downhill from there. I lost everything except RM 50 I earmarked for the bus home. My dinner is a RM 1.90 bread roll.

Silver lining

I don’t actually spend a lot of money but I’m pretty much flat out broke right now. I know I’ve said this before and I don’t need to convince anyone but I’m not going to gamble again. I managed to quit methamphetamine and other drugs after several relapses so I know what I’m like.

I’m not going to step foot into a casino again. I’m just bummed I disappointed one of my closest friends. Sorry Xinxian.

I could get back the RM 12,000 by doing stuff that’s not very legal (technically downright illegal) but I’m not going to. It’s about consequences. Everything you do has consequences and you must be prepared to face them.

There’s no such thing as a free lunch, which surprisingly a lot of people don’t understand. I’ve met a lot of people who has an “I WANT” mentality but is not ready to accept the consequences for it.

I have accepted all the consequences of my actions, and I think I know what’s fundamentally wrong with me – I have a “dead man walking” mentality. I’m going to fix that.

On the plus side, now that I don’t have any money so that would force a lot of circumstances and personal prophecies to be fulfilled so that’s one good thing that came out of it.

I would be a healthier person (not diet wise, I’ll be eating bread and instant noodles for a long time) after I weather this fortune reversal.

This is one of the most sinfully delicious finds that I’ve had the pleasure of eating recently. I was at the Langkawi pasar malam and chanced upon this deep fried burger stall.

Let me reiterate the awesomeness of that sentence just in case it didn’t quite sink in.

It’s an entire burger that’s been dipped in batter before being deep fried in glorious churning oil until it’s golden brown.

It’s just RM 1.50 but the patties seem to have been sliced in half.

This burger will clog your arteries faster than you can eat it. :)

I was rather intrigued by this device. It has grown men grunting and groaning. I just *had* to investigate.

This gym-worthy device pits you against a counter-weight that you need to sign an indemnity form to even attempt. I tried it at the default setting and just managed to press it down. *ego deflates

There’s also a harness to test your strength which I managed to pass with a bit of effort at full power. It’s all part of the All New Ford Ranger roadshow which had contests galore, including the main Ford Ranger Challenge.

(girl and kid are optional extras not included)

…and now, the finalists has been announced!

The voting phase for the best 5 videos from the Ford Ranger Challenge contest will be held from 21st May to 22nd June 2012. There will be three (3) winners chosen from these five finalists and they will receive:

Grand Prize
A brand new 2012 Ford Ranger XLT 2.2L Manual Transmission with the approximate value of RM 100,000 plus merchandise

First Runner Up
RM 9,888 in cash and a RM 10,000 voucher to purchase the All New Ford Ranger plus merchandise

Second Runner Up
RM 3,888 in cash and a RM 5,000 voucher to purchase the All New Ford Ranger plus merchandise

Anyway, if you didn’t win, all is not lost. You’re still in the running for some awesome prizes!

What has that got to do with me?
Well, you have been vested with the power to decide who wins by casting votes. :)

Why would I want to do that?
You’ll stand a chance to win special merchandise like a G-Shock watch, Ford t-shirts, thumb drives (I want!), caps, tumblers and so on.

This won’t be a popularity contest so it’s all down to your skills (and a bit of luck) – voters will be chosen at random (50th, 100th, 150th etc etc) and you will need to answer a tie breaker question to win the G-Shock watch.

The voter with the most creative answer will snag the G-Shock watch while the rest will get one item from the smorgasbord of Ford merchandise.

Do you feel like your wrist needs a bit of accessorizing? ;)

Well, register at http://fordrangerchallenge.com.my and start voting now to get a chance to win that G-Shock!

I was at Tropicana City Mall yesterday, getting some Japanese snacks when suddenly Xinxian pointed out a rather familiar figure.

It’s pedobear!!!

Figured he’ll be there since there was this anime and manga cosplay event going on.

Guess he couldn’t resist making an appearance with all that action going on.

I’ll be honest with you, I don’t go to CapSquare Centre that often. I usually just park myself in Starbucks and find someplace to eat dinner before heading for a movie. I’ve got this Top Gun: Star Access card by TGV Cinemas that allows me to watch movies for free, and even though CapSquare has a relatively small number of screens, it’s a lot easier to find a parking space compared to Suria KLCC!

I’ve been there a couple of times a few years back and when I started going again this year, the mall totally changed on me.

Watch out Low Yat Plaza and Digital Mall – there’s a new player in town!

CapSquare Centre is now known officially as PIKOM ICT Mall CapSquare and I went to the media briefing a couple of days ago to check out what they have in store for the grand launch – you just can’t argue with the tag line “We’re opening with a bang!!!”.

The mall is just one part of the integrated CapSquare development by BRDB – there’s 6 CapSquare, the second residential project that’s under development, after CapSquare Residences, which is already occupied, and two completed office towers.

However, what’s really interesting about the place is that PIKOM, the National ICT Association of Malaysia, has chosen to align itself with CapSquare. I asked about their unique selling point, being so close to Low Yat as it is and John Sironic, Head of Group Retail Operations and Darrell, Senior Manager from Centre Management couldn’t have replied more succinctly.

• It has 2,000 car park bays
• There’s plenty of F&B outlets serving a wide array of cuisines from Western delicacies to Asian delights
• They have a cinema
• They will soon have a supermarket
• The rent is relatively cheaper so that should translate to lower prices for customers

I usually just go straight up to the cinema so it’s like an educational trip, walking through the mall with Li-Ann, as she explains the existing layout and future plans. There are about 60 shops occupying the centre with room for 200 kiosks (not 20, I asked twice coz I was afraid I misheard) more.

PIKOM ICT Mall CapSquare is already pretty well represented in the technology arena – there are huge anchor tenants like Challenger, which is the largest IT mega store in Malaysia…

…to specialty premium shops like iStudy by Apple. Epson has a presence here (first concept store in Malaysia) and so does Canon and other competitors in the printing and imaging department.

TomTom opened up their first concept store in Asia right inside CapSquare so naturally Garmin took up the shop lot beside it. I also saw a PaPaGO! kiosk so that’s the holy trinity of GPS navigation devices right there. :)

The major telcos also have stores and kiosks inside CapSquare. It’s really a mixture of everything tech related down to the relatively niche Robotica Toys, which sells original PC games, merchandise and collectibles!

One thing that PIKOM ICT Mall CapSquare is offering is a premium IT shopping experience. There will be no dodgy shops with cigarette smoke wafting in the air while feng tao music is blasted out of speakers as the latest Hollywood movie plays on a TV overhead as a “preview” while runners get your pirated DVD/Blu-ray for you.

Not. Going. To. Happen.

PIKOM ICT Mall CapSquare is going to be a premium retail experience – a one-stop tech haven with the latest and greatest genuine IT products and electronic gadgets. Add “competitively priced” to the list and you have yourself a great tech mall in the making, with credible and reliable stores, minus the wild wild west elements.

There’s even a food court if you want to grab a quick bite without going into a full service restaurant.

Head down during 25-27 May for their grand opening! Parking will be free on the 26th and 27th and there’s performances galore, everything from ManHanD to Upin & Ipin with fun and games and prizes to be won!

The retailers have banded together and come up with incredible promotions that’s too long to list – grab the flyer above when you go in, whether it’s a broadband subscription or a printer, they’ve got it covered.

There’s also going to be an Outdoor Cinema with six sci-fi flicks being projected on the huge facade of the building right at the photo above. It’s geek heaven, back-to-back screenings of:

25th May
8 pm Star Wars Episode 1
10 pm Real Steel
12 am Transformers

26th May
8 pm Monsters Inc
10 pm Iron Man
12 am Avatar

You’ll be sitting here so bring a blanket or a sleeping bag. :D

Check out the Spend & Win contest too – spend RM 100 at any store in CapSquare (including F&B – asked about that) from 15-27 May, submit your receipt at the Information Counter and come for the grand launch on the 27th May to win prizes that includes an Alienware laptop (!!!), MacBook Air, the new iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Blackberry 9810 and vouchers!

It’s geek heaven, yo!

There’s so much going on during the launch on 25-27 May that it’s impossible to list everything down. Surf on over to the PIKOM ICT Mall CapSquare Facebook page to check out all they have in store for you this weekend!

I’ll be honest, I don’t know who Rafidah Ibrahim (or Fida as her fans affectionately call her) was when I first met her. I heard from the others that she’s a Malaysian artist that sings, acts and does modeling work. I was bunking with her talent manager in Perak, a guy called Shah and I quite admired her gung-ho attitude.

Fida went white water rafting and did the Leap of Faith in Tambun with us. That’s my Kuta beach bum outfit, all that’s missing is me going “Magic mushroom, magic mushroom” while sitting on my bike in a dark alley near Poppies Lane II.

She bought us KFC at 3 am in the morning on the very last night which was very cool of her. Thanks for supper by the poolside, Fida! :)

I have a tendency to chuck stuff into my car’s dashboard. I was driving my friend back last night and took a folder out. I had a stack of paper completely blocking the dash – didn’t even know I was low on fuel before I decided to check the fuel indicator.

I was horrified to see it was blinking and way past Empty.

It was a little after midnight and I managed to get to the nearest gas station before it actually stalled. I restarted and *just* managed to get to the pump.

Phew.

I never knew my Genting WorldCard actually holds a cash equivalent that can be cashed out. I lost mine and headed to the casino to replace my WorldCard and managed to redeem 50 Genting Points for RM 50. I decided to try my luck at the Baccarat table…

…and managed to win RM 1,500 thanks to a Player dragon. It was a cold table when I started with my RM 3,000 buy-in and it was packed when I left after RM 4,500 in chips. I was up RM 2,000 for a while before going down to RM 1,000 so I decided to leave satisfied with my RM 1,500 win.

…and lived to tell the tale. ;)

This is Kellie’s Castle. It’s located in Batu Gajah in Perak (about 20 minutes from Ipoh) and it was built by a Scottish rubber and tin tycoon over a century ago. The construction of the castle never completed.

It’s quite a high structure as you can see from this picture. Here’s a vertigo inducing picture from the very top of Kellie’s Castle:

I strongly recommend you do not attempt to jump off unless you are decked out in BASE jumping gear. However, if you want to do the “Goodbye, cruel world!” thing, you can actually scare the crap out of a lot of people by jumping from the other side of the castle and onto a ledge.

You have to be quite accurate though coz if you miss the ledge, there’s nothing to stop you from really plummeting down. Heh.

I also did the Leap of Faith in Sunway Lost World of Tambun. This is quite a quirky experience – you wear a harness that connects to rope and it’s basically a controlled fall.

The interesting bit about this is that it’s purely manual. This literally puts the man in manual as there are two people down there to act as counter-weights as you jump off.

You climb up several ladders secured to the side of the limestone cliff and appear on a metal ledge 75 feet up. It actually takes three people (the third is a fail safe) to slow down your descent and your velocity actually lifts the two people down there as you stop in mid-air.

I wasn’t wearing anything under those board shorts and I highly recommend you do if you value your family jewels. ;)

I have written about some of the experiences I’ve had in Maxims Genting. Here’s the rest of it – the second and final post on the luxurious gastronomical and other adventures I had during my 2D/1N stay there. :)

Totally chilling in the Maxims Royal Suite.

There’s everything you could wish for in a suite – and probably some that you didn’t even know you want. ;)

I’m loving the jacuzzi!

The Maxims Royal Suite has guest rooms equipped with computers at the working table in addition to a huge dining table that seats 14 people! :)

It also has a balcony that’s even larger than my studio apartment at home. The “balcony” (patio) is actually located…

…right beneath the old Genting Hotel sign. How cool is that? :)

The newly refurbished Maxims looks nothing like the one I used to stay in as a kid. This is the floor area you’ll see in the Maxims Premier Room, Maxims Suite, and Signature Suite.

The suites are amazing and equipped with the latest in technology, like that huge 42-inch plasma TV there. This is standard in Maxims Suite and Signature Suite but the photo above shows the décor in the latter. There are two options to choose from – Modern or Arabian.

The other rooms at Maxims starts from RM 550++ for Maxims Premier – it’s their most basic room but it’s surprisingly luxurious. Here’s a video tour where you can see the amenities and services provided.

There’s even a bottle of Moet et Chandon champagne in the mini bar. How many hotels do you see stocking that? :)

Maxims is the place to stay in if you want the best experience in Genting. There’s accommodation for every budget – all the suites comes with a private butler (!!!) and starts from RM 1,320++ for Maxims Suite to RM 4,125++ for the Signature Suite. You can find the full list of features in each room/suite at rwgenting.com.

Anyway, after the grand tour of the Maxims Genting we headed to The Olive for a Continental fine dining experience.

The Olive is another award winning restaurant in Maxims Genting and there are private rooms where you can eat in relative…er, privacy.

Squid Ink Bread
The bread basket served up when you’re seated is filled with a selection of different varieties of bread. One in particular stood up – the squid ink bread.

It’s the irregularly shaped black bread that’s made with squid ink. It’s delicious when dipped in the vinaigrette of balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.

Portobello Carpaccio
This is The Olive’s signature dish for starters and it’s a wonderful plating of Tartufo nero (black truffle), shaved pecorino (cheese made from sheep), grissini (breadsticks), aged balsamic, and truffle oil soft herb salad. The black truffle is the highlight of this dish and the flavor goes very well with the mushrooms. I had quite a few helpings of this. It’s delicious and it comes highly recommended from me.

Bruschetta Pizzetta
This mini pizza is made with semi-dried Roma tomato, sauteed mushrooms, Bocconcini cheese, basil pesto, olive oil and aged balsamic. It’s delectable but a bit heavy so small eaters would want to share this with someone.

Lamb Rack
This 3 pin lamb rack comes served with a white bean cassoulet, braised artichoke, carrot puree and rosemary juice. You’ll love this if you like mutton, I was half tempted to order this for my mains before deciding on beef.

Chilean Sea Bass
This is the signature dish of The Olive. The fresh Chilean Sea Bass is served with mushroom ragout, buttered asparagus, ponzu sauce and wasabi, providing a bit of fusion there. You can’t go wrong with this one.

Wagyu Sirloin Steak
I went with the chef’s recommendation of a Wagyu sirloin steak with a Grade 8 on the marbling scale. The beef was so fresh that I immediately regretted having it done medium rare. It’s a great cut of Wagyu beef and it should be treated with the respect it deserves.

I’ll recommend you go for extra-rare (also known as a blue steak) – the quality and freshness of the meat really shines through. I had a taste of the extra-rare Wagyu tenderloin and it practically melts in your mouth. The chef mentions that it takes just as long to properly cook a blue steak compared to one that’s medium or well done – it has to be allowed to “rest” before being served.

The Olive has different cuts of steak and marbling grades but if Wagyu is not your thing, they also serve Black Angus beef, which has been grass fed for at least 150 days in the Australian countryside. There are a lot of sauces you can choose to go with your steak, from Creamy Garlic to Truffled Morel.

Crème Brulee
This wonderful dessert comes in a trio – starting from left, there’s the petite apple (which actually is a very tiny apple), clove ice cream, and crème brulee with rhubarb and blackcurrant compote.

A petite apple with a slice of regular apple. Gotta love the presentation.

I loved the creamy crème brulee with an almond biscotti on the side and I couldn’t stop eating the clove ice cream too.

Hot Chocolate Ravioli
Good things comes in threes and this dessert is no different.

There’s the black cherry gelee topped with orange blossom pashmak (a type of Persian candy floss).

Pistachio ice cream which has the consistency of pudding, a wonderful texture from the ingredients and a delightful taste that tantalizes the taste buds…

…and as the star of the show – the chocolate ravioli. It’s rich and sweet and the oozing hot chocolate from the ravioli would have you clamoring for more.

The Durian
This is the signature dish for the desserts menu of The Olive. It’s easy to see why. The aptly named dessert has The King of Fruits served as ice cream in a caramelized meringue with fresh strawberries.

Durian is a fruit you either love or hate. I’m a huge fan of durian and this beautifully made dessert (spiked to look like a durian) had me at first bite!

Chef Daniel Sheen took time off to chat with us and the question on how he created the chocolate ravioli popped out. This is actually the second version he’s come up with. He was in the kitchen attempting to fuse pasta and chocolate – essentially creating pasta made out of chocolate and out come the chocolate ravioli.

It’s always interesting to hear the chef talk about how his creations came about. :)

The Olive is also featured in Must Eat – it’s in Mandarin but a really interesting watch even if you don’t understand the language. The video tour and awesome food shown transcends linguistic processes. :D

We adjourned to The Olive Lounge after the heavy dinner. There’s a live band playing in the background and the drinks menu features quite an extensive single malt Scotch whisky and wine list.

The sommelier recommended two bottles of wine…

…while Eiling chose the third bottle, being a bit of a wine expert herself.

I smoked one of her cigars while the entire group talked over wine and cigars. The Olive Lounge is a great place to relax and chat with soft music playing in the background. It was the perfect ending to one of the best dinners I’ve had in a while. Pure decadence. :)

Breakfast at Coffee Terrace the next day never tasted so good. ;)

Coffee Terrace has six different cuisines ranging from Chinese to Western and we all had a huge breakfast before heading back to KL.

Thanks for the experience Chloe, Irene, Dee Lin, and everyone at rwgenting.com! I totally enjoyed my stay at Maxims Genting and all that fine dining. :)