Buying Car

Three years ago... when my previous car, the Proton Waja WJA 8262 is in bad condition, I decided to buy a new car.

I don't have much experience when it comes to personal car as I was lucky because ever since I was 18, my dad bought a car and I am the main driver of the car, the Ford Telstar MR6882. Its the family car and hence I am the family driver.

So, I have been driving the Ford until it is totally in very, very bad condition that I decided to get a new car. So, that is how I bought the Proton Waja.

I have used the Proton Waja for about 5 years. The Waja started to give me trouble. So, I decided its time for me to get a new car.

Why do I decide to buy a new car? This was because through my experience with the Ford. Dad bought the Ford. We have been using it as a family car. Dad really took good care of the Ford and the Ford is always in tip top condition.

Because of its good condition, we never think of selling off the Ford. Only after using the Ford for about 12 years, the car started to give us trouble. By the time, it was already too late for us to sell off the Ford because it has no more value. So, that is how I decided to buy the Proton Waja.

The Ford is still being used till today by Leong. I decided to give it to Leong since I have the new Waja.

So... because of the bad experience with the Ford, I was thinking a car is after all a car. The value will depreciate some way some how. It is always good to have a new car not more than 5 years because usually after 5 years the car will start to give all kind of problem. That is how I decided to sell off the Waja and get a new car.

But then which car to buy?

I have made a few visits to a few car show rooms. Finally, myself and Joanne decided to buy the Naza Ria.

The reason I buy the Naza Ria is because it is a MPV which can accomodates 7 people. And best of all it has a television set which I thought will be very good for Jia Chen. So, without thinking much I bought the Naza Ria for RM109 000.

At the initial stage of using the Naza Ria, I was very happy with the condition of the Naza Ria. It is very stable and very comfortable for driving. The only slack of the car is that the car consumed quite a lot of petrol. But then I was thinking, after all I don't drive much and the price of petrol is affordable, so it is still all right.

But after 2 years of using the Naza Ria, suddenly there is this world petrol crisis. The price of the petroluem increased tremendously. So, this is when I started to regret buying this car. So, I decided to sell off this car.

When I wanted to sell off the car, I got the shocked of my life. The salesman quote me only RM60 000 for the car. This means that the car value has depreciated near to 50%. I felt very angry. I wanted to dispose of this car but I cant now because if I sell off the car at RM60 000, I will need to fork out more money to pay to the bank. This is because the car loan is more than the selling price.

So, I have no choice but to keep the Naza Ria as it is right up till today. I really regret very much for not survey much when buying the car. So here is my advice when buying a car.

First of all it is very important to buy a reliable brand and economical petrol consuming car. Just like Joanne's current car, the Toyota Vios. I felt that she made a very wise decision to buy this car because this car is very save on petrol consumtion and best of all it is from a very reliable brand Toyota.

As from what I know and heard, almost every Korean car consumes a lot of petrol. Worst still is that the Korean car has no second hand value.

Please remember that if ever consider to buy a national car, never ever buy a brand new model. I had my problem with the Waja because it is a brand new model. The Gen 2 also gave a lot of people a lot of trouble. Kim Hoe also had a lot trouble with his Perodua Viva which is a brand new model in the market. Generally, Malaysia national car new model in the market always giving the consumer a lot of troubles.

If I have the choice again to buy a car, I will buy a car which is accomodative enough and also economical in petrol consumption. So, currently best choice is to buy the Perodua Myvi.

But then, I have no choice and got stuck with the Naza Ria. I cant sell off the car as it has no market value at all. The petrol consumtion of the car is really killing. I have only regrets for I cant buy another car due to the loan as well.

So, my another advise is that when comes to buy a car, buy the one which is affordable and save in petrol consumption. Never think of big car as to show off. Never buy big cars as the depreciation value is too great. It is better to invest in buying a house rather than buying a big car.

Remember.. house is always an asset. House will never depreciate in value. So, when it comes to buy property, buy big house but buy small car.

The Life Partner ( Wife or Husband )

Last week, Kim Yeong ( bro-in-lw ) came back to stay with us.

I came to know that he ran away from his wife and her family. It seems that his wife and family have been pestering him to buy a new 3 storey house together with them. They wanted to have 3 names (owner) for the house, namely Kim Yeong, his brother-in-law and his sister-in-law.

Kim Yeong felt very angry and disappointed because he has been very supportive of his wife's family. Almost every expenses of the family borned by him.

But of late his wife been pestering him to purchase the new house together with her family members, this is when Kim Yeong felt the full stop for everything.

Kim Yeong was saying, even the family's car, proton saga monthly installment has to be paid by Kim Yeong. What if after purchasing the new house and he has to pay everything for the new house.

Feeling overly pressured, Kim Yeong decided to leave his wife and child behind and come back to stay with his mother.

When I came to know about Kim Yeong story, I did not pity much on him. Why? Because when he was staying with me, I have been advised him so much about family matters.

I have told him and shared with him about my previous marrage. Now, he certainly agreed with me that when a man marries, its no longer about the man and his wife but also about both family together.

Kim Yeong's situation is very much like my situation on my previous marriage.

Initially when I was with Ching ( ex-wife ), we still get along well because she agreed and understood how her parents are.

Her father thought by giving me the bakery business means that giving me the golden bowl. Almost every expenses he incurred, has to be borned by me. Even when he drove to KL or Genting Highlands, the meals, the petrol, charges for car services have to borne by me. Even his daily 3 meals eating out will be claimed.

When he has his relatives from KL visiting him in Ipoh, he will bring them out for sumtious dinner. There he will pay for everything. But upon reaching home, his hand will be taken out to get money from me.

I felt very angry with the in laws. But I still can work out the marriage is because Ching still support me and against her parents as well.

Thinking of what her parents did, I thought the best way is to bring my whole family together with me in Ipoh. So, my parents and younger brother shifted to Ipoh. But, my in laws never gave in and are always demanding.

When dad shifted in not long, dad quarrelled with Ching. I can understand this because I knew dad has bad temper just like Ching.

Ching basically cant get along with anyone with my family member as well. She even dislike my brother, Leong.

I told myself, the only person who has the best temper is mom. If mom also could not tolerate with Ching, this is the time when I should put a full stop to my marriage.

True enough, one day, mom also explode with Ching. That is the time when I know the end of my marriage.

When we look for our life partner, it is very important that we should always put into the consideration of both parties family members and relationship as well.

The way they interact, their financial status will some how affect us and we can know whats our position when we are married.

So, it is very important to choose our life partner wisely.

Friends

Ever since I am at very young age, I can easily get friends and befriended anyone.

The inner behaviour in me which is very strong... did not like to hurt or disrespect anyone in any way perhaps earned me many friends. Well... At times I really feel this is disadvantage as well. Cos I do not know how to turn down people politely. Any way, I learn as I grow up to say no to my friends.

Friends... Please take note: Friends can be of great help and also can be our worst enemy and disaster in life...

When I was at my teenage life, practically I have friends everywhere. Who is good and bad, I don't really know how to differentiate them. To me at that time, those who hurt my feelings are the bad ones. But very few of these friends will show their true colour.

At the age of 14, I started to learn how to socialise around. I mixed with few groups of friends. I even mix with friends who are not from my school that is my cousin, Kee. So lucky that mom has always been against me getting close to this friend. Mom told Ms Devi (my tuition teacher) to made me realise on her worries about me and the people I mix with.

I felt so lucky that Ms Devi managed to make me realised how much my parents love me and from that time onwards I did not mix with Kee. Mom is very right. Kee ended up becoming a drug addict and went to prison a few times. So do Kee's friends. Majority of them became drug addicts as well.

By right from here I should learn my lesson well but then I just learned that not to mix with the wrong party. I still do not know what are the harms that friends might do on us.

When I was in my college life, as usual I mix freely with friends. I still remember at one time when I was with few friends walking along Bunga Raya Road in Melaka, I was waiving practically non stop to people. My friends even noticed this and even said I was waiving to so many people from the beginning of the road till the end of the road. That shows how popular and friendly I was.

Finally, it is when at my college life that I learned my lesson well from my classmate, Meng Kiat. At one he was my room mate. I spent so much on him as he is not from a well to do family till he took things for granted out of me. From him, I learnt my lessons well.

From that time onwards, I really learnt my lessons well. Even though I still mix and be friendly with people, I choose my friends carefully.

When I was having my bakery business in Ipoh and Butterworth, I basically do not have any close friends at all through my college lessons.

After divorce, when I am in the tourism industry, again I felt the importance of friends.

It is Chee who helped me back into the tourism industry. And during my guiding life, I come across few friends who are very sincere and helpful. I started to treat Kong, Sam and Thum as very close friends like brothers.

It is very well important that the people we mix with should be the creme de la creme: Meaning to say that if the people that we mix are of top quality, generally we will be one of the top as well.

However, if we are not careful, the friends that we mix with are gamblers, generally we will become gamblers. Please note that friends tend to mould us into what we are as well indirectly without us realising it.

Of course there are just too many bad incidents and experiences that I am very careful with my friends. I always when we have more friends, they are more harmful then useful. Mom has always reminded me this from time to time.

I have few very lucky moments that through friends help that I go through my hardships.

Sam lend me the money so that I have my deposit money to buy this house I call home.

Kong entertain me and accompanying me when I was so down when I broke up with my girlfriend.

Thum helped me when I was really down at my job. He voluntarily allowed me to follow him during his tours. He made me wake up and well aware on how to earn money again.

So, friends could be very helpful. Friends could be very harmful as well. The power is in our hand to choose our own friends. Be smart in choosing friends and they will help you in a lot of ways...

Using Heart And Brain... Recipe For Success

Formerly when I was drinking with Thum most of the time, he used to say we must use our heart when taking the tours. I don't really know what it means till one day I follow his tours.

By using our heart means we will go all the way, work real heart, with full of sincerity, little minor things also we will becareful.

It is very important that no matter which work we do, we use our heart to give it all the way so that we can be very successful.

When I was in the bakery line, I remember from time to time I will invent new cake. Even though when the cake appeared all right, but by the time I put the cake into my mouth, if it doesn't give me the ooomph that I have the urge to go for another bite, then I won't put the cake to the market for sale.

I will keep on trying improving on the flavour of the cake... no matter how long it takes, just like the ma lai koh. It proved to be one of the best among the bakers and now most of the people will go for it.

Not only that when use our heart in our work, it is also very important that we put some time to sit down to think. This is a very, very crucial period.

There are many unsolved problems or inspirations come in when we are able to sit down to think. (using the brain)

It is really a magical thing when we are spending at times only 5 yo 10 minutes on what we are doing.

Of course, in order for us to be successful, there are still very much more important factors. But I always believe we must put in our full effort (heart) and brain.

Lessons We Don't Learn In School

There are actually 2 important aspects that the schools do not teach us. They are:

1) How we can manage our financial
2) Relationships In the Family

So here, I would like to share my opinion on both topics.

The first one, how we can manage our financial. Since schooling, we are always told by the elders that we must know how to save. But then its just in and out of the ears only cos we are only kids at that time.

Well, how many parents actually do encourage their kids to save money? When I was in primary and secondary, my pocket money for food is given daily by my parents. Basically, I will finish all the money for food. Because dad operates a sundry shop, I am never short of any thing. When I need to replenish any thing for my stationery, etc. I just take it from the shop. In short, I never know and learn about money and how hard it is to earn money.

Only when I am out in the working world only I realised how important it is to learn how to save.

Even when I am at working field, no matter how much I earned, I still find it hard to save money. Mostly I will over spend my money and thats the reason why I have terrible debts with the credit card.

Always remember, credit card is only for convenience. Never take for granted that some way some how, you will be able to pay the bank for using the credit card. Once its accumulated, the outstanding is a never ending process. I have been in nightmares all the while to pay for the credit card. And lucky thing that I only own one credit card.

When buying the house and the car, its always taken for granted that we can pay them back through installments. The banks are actually earning our money.

Its ok to buy a bigger house. Most important thing is that we should try to get as much down payment as posible so that the interest will be low.

As for cars, the smaller it is the better it will be. I really regret to buy the naza ria. Initially I thought it will be in good use for me to travel with family. But after thinking of the petrol that I have to spend the car is really a waste.

Worst of all, my monthly installments for the car and house will come to about $3500 and this did not include other expenses. This also mean that monthly I must earn more that this amount. I am really pressured by the amount that I have to pay for the installments. From time to time, I really regret to buy the naza ria and really wish that I have bought a small and simple car instead.

So, its important that we should know how to save. The money that we save, will be good when we are in need for emergency or investments.

As for the relationships, I was a failure too cos I am a divorcee. I had lots of problems with my first marriage. I find it very difficult to adapt to a new environment and new family life. As such, we quarrelled most of the time which ended in lots of family feud and divorce.

We were brought up in different family and different situation. As a man, I used to demand my wife to have the qualities of my mother. The way my mother took care of dad and the children. I failed to understand that my life partner grew up in a different family and different environment totally. So, naturally I will demand my wife to be like my mum.

Due to these mistakes, after reading books, I realised books have great influence in my life. So, in my next blog I will explain which are the important books which influence my life.

Greediness...I Hate Most...

Ever since small, parents have taught me not to be greedy. From time to time they will always tell and remind me that we should not take things from other people which are rightly not ours.

As a tour guide, I am also bound with bribes from time to time. Most of the time when I am at the North South Highways, those stall owners will not want my money for the fruits or drink. And when I am at Ah Gu's fruits stall, he will sure to offer me fruits most of time.

Its really heartache to see the drivers and tour guides to abuse this little advantage that they have. No matter how, I will not fall in the trap of greed. Recently Gu's wife visited me at Genting Highlands and she gave me an angpau which has RM600. I intend to return to her through her daughter by wrapping it up and tell her daughter the envelope is for her mom. Its been 2 to 3 years, Gu gave me angpau during CNY which contains about RM500. I have always return the money to him. Its really pity to see him working so hard. How much can he earn from the fruits? So, I will never take any money from him.

From time to time, Gu also always offered me durians or any other fruits. If at any time I do take any fruits from him, I always insist that he must take my money for at least the cost of the fruits.

Recently, I am very very angry with the greediness of the people around me. One of my Indian guests, Mr. Nagpal lost 4 of his luggages. He willing pays RM1000 for the rental of the van to take him to Genting and KL.

During this trip I encountered 2 really bad incidents which really see the ugliness of human beings. The first one was the policeman at the Genting skyway. Met me for only 5 mins and he demanded money from me. Giving me all kinds of excuses for how tired he is just to arrange to call up the manager of the store.

The second and the worst is the van driver. When we (myself and Sam Chua) know that the guests insist on going to Genting to look for the luggages, Sam immediately suggested Mr. Wong. Mr Wong is the van driver and owner of the van. We were thinking its good to let Wong to earn more money instead of the guest getting a taxi from outside.

When Sam called up Wong about the trip to Genting and asked him on how much his charges for the rental of the van. Wong said RM700. Myself and Sam were saying he can charge more because its already late night and furthermore it will be in the morning by the time we reach back to PD. But Wong said RM700 is enough and agreed.

After making the police report, the guest insist on going to Resort hotel and Dorsett hotel. Wong immediately got angry and was grumbling and making a fuss out of it. He said he agreed with Sam that he will drive the guest to Skyway and make a police report only and not to Resort and Dorsett hotel.

I was very angry because when Sam was dealing with Wong I was by Sam's side. I know what is the whole deal like. We felt that we will give RM800 and we share it out the remainder RM200. Wong was grumbling and angry and said if he knew that he has to drive here and there, he would have demanded more. I was angry because he is the one who agreed to do the job but later on grumbling on not paid enough. Later I told Wong that we infact will give him RM800. Upon knowing this, he immediately keep quiet.

I am really very angry with Wong because he didnt pity to the Indian guest and wanted to take advantage of him. From this lesson, its good also to happen in this way because I learnt my lesson well in order to know the true colour of Wong.

When I was back to the hotel and I told him about the bad incidents between me and Wong. He agreed with me that we are actually trying to help Wong hoping that he will earn more money but never reallised that he is so calculative and greedy. From here, we tell each other, should we in need of help we will never let him earn any more money.

LESSON LEARNT: If we are greedy and calculative, people will definitely afraid of us and will not let us have any more chance to earn more money. Greediness will chase away friends.

Learning Languages

As I am now taking the Indian group, I really felt the importance of languages.

When I was a kid, parents used to send me for tuition classes. I started to attend tuition classes ever since I was in standard 3 till when I am in form 5. Most of these tuitions are mainly on improving my english, bahasa and mathematics.

I remembered most among my tuition teachers are Mr. Kasi, Ms Devi and Mr. Tan. Mr Kasi was my std 5 class teacher and also my tuition teacher. He is very, very strict in class. If we have more than 2 mistakes for maths then we will be caned on our hand.

Ms. Devi is someone who I must really thanked for. Until now I do not know where she is now. Wherever she is, I wish her all the best. She taught me the english language. At that time I was in Form 2. That is the time when I started to mix around and socialise. I was mixing with two groups for friends at that time.

One is my own classmates. With these classmates, not much of harm done except that at very young age already wanted to know more female friends and was hoping to have a girlfriend as well.

As for the other group, I mixed with my cousin, Kee and his friends. Kee and his friends all all so much more elder than me. My mother really worried that I like to mix with this group. Initially, I do not know why mom really against me mixing with Kee. Kee and his friends at the end turned up to be drug addicts and Kee was even prisoned twice. It is very fortunate that mom talk to Ms. Devi about this problem. One day, after the tuition class, Ms Devi asked me to stay behind and talk to me. She made me realise how important for me to have my parents trusts and how much my parents loved and worried for me for mixing with the wrong parties. She really made me realised and from that time onwards, I dont mix with Kee and his friends anymore and I started to earn trust from my parents. I really owe Ms Devi for this favour or else I could have been a drug addict.

Lesson Learnt: It is very important we know well the people that we mixed with. At the teenager age, it is well known as the rebellion age. Its lucky that Ms Devi made me open up my eyes and turn a new leaf.

Mr Tan was my Form 4 and 5 maths teacher. After form 5, he was also the one who made me got interested with computer. He was the one who taught me the basic programing. He is a very serious teacher and learned a lot from him too.

When I was in Form 6, parents sent me for english tuition with another Mr. Tan but then he is too boring. Learn nothing much from him.

It was very lucky that when small, parents nurtured me with what ever education which they feel suitable for me. They always encourage me to study well and improve on languages. I was lucky that in a way I was born a linguist as well. I catch up languages easily.

My only regret is that during school days I never took up the Mandarin classes seriously. If only I am willing to learn Chinese, then for sure I am going to be a better tour guide. I really feel handicapped since I dont read or write Chinese. But still I am very lucky that I can speak Mandarin very well and I can be a China tour guide to earn a living.

Lesson Learnt: Always learn as many languages as possible. They will be the most useful tool for communications. Any professions will require good command of languages. Once a person who is good in languages, he/she will automatically master whatever courses, job skills, etc easily. The most important language is English. Then its the Mandarin. And if one can learn about French of course it is so much better.