Golf4U Penang: Affordable Second Hand Golf Clubs

If you're looking for a shop that sells second hand golf clubs, come to Golf4U Penang.

With a testing area room, you can test the golf clubs of your choice before making a purchase.

Details:

Waze: Golf4U Penang

Location: 47-1, Pesiaran Bayan Indah, Bayan Bay, 11900, Bayan Lepas, Penang

Business Hour: Monday to Friday, 11 a.m to 9 pm

Saturday: 11 am to 6 pm

Sunday: By appointment

Website: www.facebook.com/golf4upg

7 Stores that Absorb the 6% GST

I support stores that absorb the ever so popular 6% GST charges, and was pleasantly surprise to learn of the following stores without the 6% GST tax.

Forever 21. I vouch for this truth because I shopped here on April 1st, and although the 6% GST is printed on my receipt, i was not charged for it.
 

Uniqlo. Unfortunately, this is just a word-of-mouth. 

SSF. Read it here.

MYDIN. Read it here.

Al-Ikhsan. Read it here.

Mr.D.I.Y too. Read it here.

Zalora absorbs GST. Read it here.

Boracay Honeymoon

Station 3, White Beach

Us!

Puka Beach

I got my tan, and Abu got out of character by spending a bit more than he normally would for a vacation. We're talking about beach front hotel (we stayed at Villa Caemilla Hotel) and charging everything to the room.

Boracay is magic. I love waking up to the opaque water and white sandy beach. Time moves slowly in Boracay too, but it's OK. We did not have meetings or things to do anyways. We were not in a hurry. Early on we decided to not check our emails. 

We'll eat when we want to, swim when we want to, sleep when we want to. 

Though I feel that the magic ends whenever the opaque water leave our sight (or side). Vendors selling their stuffs are everywhere, and they'd approach you no matter what you were doing. Kids that should be in school weren't in school but were out earning a living through any ways possible. 

I have a bone to pick with the Korean tourists though. In my personal opinion, they are rude and self-absorbed. We were lining up for food like good Malaysians we are when a Korean couple just waltz in to Oppa Gangnam Style music (kidding!) and cut our queue! I was staring at them, mouth open, because I realize they won't understand "HOI, K-POP, TAK RETI BERATUQ KA?! 

Lucky for us, the cashier stopped them and took our order instead.

Oh I hope they got indigestion that night.

Food is expensive. We spent about RM 50 per meal per person. It was either paying that price for mediocre food, or make your own peanut butter sandwich. We found shops that sell peanut butter and other sandwich fillings like tuna and sardines, but we could not find bread! To our dismay, on our last night in Boracay, we only found out that they don't sell bread in convenient shops. They only sell bread in a proper bakery.

It just doesn't make sense. Why don't they sell bread next to jars of peanut butter in their convenient shops?

Urgh.

But I really, really love the beach. 

And the company I was with.

Hope for Seniors with Knee Osteoarthritis

Mimoo knees got really bad. She was in extreme pain all the time, and became very grumpy and withdrawn.

She's no longer fun.

Her traditional Chinese masseuse refused to massage her knees further, saying that massages do not help her situation. Resigned, Mimoo said she was fine about walking like a T-Rex (bow legs...you get what I mean) as long as she does not need to see a real doctor.

She'll use an umbrella for balance, she said, because a lot of senior folks like her walk with umbrellas in the market, too.

"So you want to lau juak (have fun) with them?" the masseuse asked rhetorically.

Emily and I were concerned about the effect (severe stomach ulcer) of the cheap painkiller Mimoo took religiously to solve all her problems. After much convincing, we took her to Tags Spine and Joint Specialist in Bayan Baru to get her knees fitted with a special knee brace. The knee brace is a non-surgical treatment for knee osteoarthritis that addresses the root cause instead of providing stop-gap measures of pain relieves.

Mimoo showing off her T-Rex walking skill to her doctor

The Knee Brace

Since then, Mimoo walks better with no pain. She gets to exercise now too, something she has not done in years because of her knee osteoarthritis.

The knee brace cost about RM 4,400 and the treatment is expected to complete within 6 to 24 months.

She's our fun time gal again!

12 Ways to Save Your Money

One of the many reasons why I was attracted to my husband is, he's very kedekut (frugal).

After two weeks of dating, I asked him if he'd like to go to a fancy restaurant for dinner.

His reply was "I don't have the budget for entertainment this month".

Other men would have just swiped their credit card instead of straight out admitting they don't have the budget for it, at such an early stage of courting. I think this is a 20th date sort of confession.

Of course, being a freelance writer means that a boho degree in frugality is part of the deal.

Here's a list of how my husband and I stretch our money.

Eat In and Eat Simple 

Last night I fried three pieces of Ikan Kembong (Indian Mackerel), and we ate with rice, sweet soy sauce, and chilies.

This simple meal only cost us RM 1.50 per person.

Quit Smoking

We smoke. At RM 12.00 per pack, that's RM 24.00 per day already. I decided to quit buying my pack because I'm freelancing. Abu's working, so he can afford this luxury.

Stop being a Princess. Buy Used Clothes. 

I remember spending at least RM 250 buying brand new clothes every month. I stopped being a princess and started buying used clothes instead. Doubt in Bukit Jambul (above Nasi Kandar Rashidiyah, next to Petron petrol station) sells gently used Forever 21, H & M, Zara dresses. The ones that I usually buy only cost me RM 10.00 per outfit.

I think buying used is really fun. Even Hollywood actress Shailene Woodley buys used clothes.

Academy Award winning actress Julia Roberts shops for her kids clothes in thrift stores, too.

Buy Used Books or Used Golf Clubs

We all have hobbies. I'm a reader so instead of buying new books, I buy used books at Salvation Army  Family Thrift Store now.

If you love golfing, Golf4U offers high-quality, used golf clubs at great prices!

Don't Attend Weddings

Do you really need to attend your neighbor's wedding? That's RM 100 ang pow already.

I'm not saying you should stop attending weddings. You can, however, be selective about it. Attend only relatives' weddings.

In Malaysia, a lot of couples get married in November and December. You should start planning a vacation then.

My friend, Sabrina Hashim, went for her honeymoon during my wedding. Thanks for the idea.

Don't Shop Online

Why make spending money easier? Enough said.

Avoid Malls and Supermarkets

It's easy to sway from your frugal intentions when you're in a mall. Sales and discounts are everywhere, and you'd end up buying things that you don't need, just because they are on sale. Avoiding malls is easy for us because we hate crowded places.

If you must get your groceries, we suggest heading over to your neighborhood kedai runcit (grocery shop) instead.

Use Your Credit Card Points

My twin sister, Emily, recently converted her credit card points to Enrich points, hoping for a free vacation.

I remember using my credit card points to pay for my groceries.

My husband used his credit card points to buy electrical items for the house.

And Then Cut Your Credit Card in Half

It's hard, and I understand, but this breakup has to happen.

Keep Your Change

This isn't much, but we saved the coins for seven months, and rewarded ourselves with a short getaway to Melaka. The coins we saved bought us a one-night stay at River Song Residences.

Downgrade

Abu rides his motorcycle to work while I am planning to walk more. We get to save on petrol and I get the exercise I need.

Be Realistic

My secret shame is watching Keeping Up with the Kardashians. But let's be realistic and don't get sucked into their lifestyle. We have to work for months for a handbag we see the Kardashian girls get just by breathing.


I'd love to hear from you. Tell me how you stretch your money!

Thomas Powell's From Here to There Exhibition: A Prelude to the Interview

British artist Thomas Powell's super power is to make a married woman forgot that she is married. So, here's a picture of our family picture.

Our cat-daughter cute or not?

I kid. I kid.

All jokes aside, Julia and I were at Tom's art exhibition at Hin Bus Depot earlier this morning. Tom was being interviewed by another magazine when we arrived, so we took our time to wander about the hall. 

Titled From Here to There, this exhibition is mighty evident of Tom's interest in the South East Asia's culture, particularly Penang. There is an apparent change of style from his previous exhibition, the Chinese Zodiac. In the Chinese Zodiac, there is a subtle hint of the neoclassical era style of painting, as opposed to the play of contrasts and overlays found in From Here to There exhibition.

Of all the paintings from today's exhibition, I was drawn to this painting. Aptly named The King and Queen (I wish I had thought of that), this painting depicts Queen Victoria holding our King of Fruit, the Durian. 

The King and Queen

The Painting Tag? Also, I've always wondered how much a painting cost. Life's mystery solved!

I should refrain from spilling too much details of my assignment lest I have little else to write about for the magazine.

Nevertheless, the details for Tom's exhibition...

Thomas Powell From Here to There

Date: December 20, 2014-January 25
Time: 12pm-7pm daily
Venue: Hin Bus Depot Art Centre, 31A Jalan Gurdwara
Admission: Free

I Quit My Job

I wish I could say I quit my job and is moving to the South Pacific to be a bikini designer.

But no…I quit my exciting technical writing job to write creatively on a part-time basis for a year.

This year-long sabbatical frees me from the obvious skill-career-passion mismatch and gives me the time to figure out what I want to do next.

Before you ask me “Are you being realistic?”, let me assure you that I've considered every possible option with my husband before deciding that this is the right time to send my boss a Dear John.

Assuming I’ll die when I hit sixty four, this mid-life crisis made me want to live humbly (did I just give my age away?). I had this perpetual thought of spending time on more rewarding life experiences, the kind of stuffs that do not come with the I’ve-Made-It Dior handbag and I’m-More-Accomplished-Than-You Mercedes.

I just want to write and to create and to contribute.

Of course having the freedom to freelance comes the other not-so-fun stuffs. I have to downgrade and cut back on a lot of things.

Like my premium Spotify account.

Of course I realize I will get bored sitting on my butt all day. That's why I am planning to go for an hour jog, eat breakfast and go on my first assignment for a local magazine tomorrow.

(I’ll be interviewing this bat shit crazy hot handsome British artist.)

(Yeah.)