FREE 1st Cup from ZUS Coffee

There is a new coffee brand in town, the ZUS Coffee. They claim that their coffee is 100% Specialty Arabica single-origin and promise to be cheaper priced than other major brands in the market.

The USP is not just the hand-crafted coffee and the choices offered, but the delivery to your doorstep.

Give it a try and see if you like their coffee or the delivery services
URL: https://zuscoffee.com/

SHOCKING! Technical Problem at McDonald's (Berjaya Times Square)

This is my first time in my life to see a technical problem at McDonald's causing them to offer only Spicy Chicken, Nuggets, Porridge and Rice. According to the staff and the notice printed on all the point-of-sales machine, they are experiencing a technical problem causing them unable to offer everything except the few stated products.

All the screen went blank - nothing you can order except chicken, nuggets, rice, and porridge

Can you imagine going to McDonald's but not able to buy any burgers and my favourite 'Happy Meal'?

What could have gone wrong that causes such problem for an International franchise business?

So, without technology, does that means we cannot operate our business anymore?

What say you about this?

5 Tips When Flying with Ryanair

If you want to travel cheap with Ryanair, you may want to know more about them. Here are the 5 tips when you want to use Ryanair service:

1. Baggage Allowance

Ryanair is very strict with the baggage allowance. They only allow 1 small bag that fits under the seat if you get the standard non-priority ticket.  If you are traveling with more stuff, you need to purchase extra baggage before your flight. If a couple is travelling, I would recommend one person to buy the "Priority Plus" which include one small bag, one 10kg cabin size luggage, one 20kg checked in baggage, seat selection, and priority boarding. The other can just go for the standard non-priority ticket (just pay a little more to choose seat if want to be seated together). By the way, don't give too high hope on the priority boarding because, during boarding time, somebody may cut your queue. Why do you think people want to rush into the airplane? - to get the cabin space for their hand-carry baggage :)

These are the Priority Boarding passenger but when set to go, some people from the back may just cut in your line.

2. Flight Delayed

You need to constantly check on your flight status because Ryanair is very popular for delayed. I experience it myself on my first time flying with them when traveling from Bydgoszcz to London. 

When my flight got 2 hours delayed, Ryanair started to distribute meal vouchers to all the passengers 

Actually, nothing much we can do when there is a flight delay but we can claim for compensation, depending on the hours of delayed. According to EC Regulation 261/2004, if Ryanair flight delays for 3 hours or more on arrivals, or flight cancellations without any intimation; passengers are eligible to claim compensation up to €600 from the Airline or can ask for a full refund on the unused flights of the journey (Source: claimflights.co.uk) 

3. Aisle Seat or Window Seat?

I would recommend for an aisle seat for Ryanair. Remember that this is a no-frills airline, don't expect the luxury of space. Comfort is something that you can put aside when choose to fly with Ryanair. My seat is small and luckily I got the aisle seat which I can still stretch my leg a bit.

I am stilling straight up for this leg space. Totally not a comfortable sitting position. By the way, the seats cannot be reclined 

4. Bring with you a wind-breaker or rain-coat

Boarding for Ryanair can be a painful process if you are not prepared for the "Ryanair-Experience". Passenger will have to walk outdoor to and from the plane for departure and arrival. Depending on the weather condition, it can be very cold or raining when walking outdoor to the airplane. Having a jacket with you can help to keep you warm and handy if it is raining. 

 

5. Go to the airport EARLIER!

Stanstead Airport Departure Waiting Hall

The queue can be very long at the entrance so be early to the airport. Most low-cost airline airports are very busy so it is better to reach early than rushing in late. There are also very limited seats at the the waiting hall. Perhaps this is for all travelers, not just for Ryanair :)

Overall, I think is a good experience to fly with Ryanair but if given a choice, I will choose other options.

What say you about flying with Ryanair?

WARNING! Haze Worsen in Peninsular Malaysia 2019

WARNING! Haze Worsen in Peninsular Malaysia

Updated Air Pollutant Index of Malaysia - 14th September 2019, 8.00AM.

The API increases day by day. Still UNHEALTHY for now and hope it won't turn Orange color

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Updated Air Pollutant Index of Malaysia - 11th September 2019, 3.00PM.

No sign of improvement at all. UNHEALTHY!!!

According to the Air Pollutant Index of Malaysia, the haze situation in some states are showing no sign of improvement with API hitting 196** in Rompin, Pahang at 3.00 PM today - 10/9/2019. Some other areas that shown "Unhealthy (101 - 200)" readings include:

STATE	LOCATION (3.00 PM)
W.P. KUALA LUMPUR	Batu Muda - 170**
W.P. KUALA LUMPUR	Cheras - 159**
W.P. PUTRAJAYA	Putrajaya - 144**
SELANGOR	Petaling Jaya - 149**
SELANGOR	Shah Alam - 140**
SELANGOR	Klang - 118**
SELANGOR	Banting - 121**
NEGERI SEMBILAN	Nilai - 152**
NEGERI SEMBILAN	Seremban - 121**

Source: Air Pollutant Index of Malaysia  http://apims.doe.gov.my/public_v2/api_table.html

Take care people, may the haze go away ASAP!

Shopping at Lazada 9.9 Sales Today

Just when you get so excited to do your shopping today (9th September 2019) on online shopping mall like Lazada, beware! The 9.9 Sales seem to offer many vouchers and discount, but some retail stores may try to take advantage of the sales too in a 'not-so-smart' way.

The top left store selling Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ is participating in the Lazada 9.9 sales but check the sales price carefully - RM 4,199 (same as before sales)

What is the point of having 9.9 sales when the store offering the same price to customers? 混水摸鱼?

What say you?

When Can I Visit Hong Kong Again?

Hong Kong is such a good place to visit for a short getaway - shopping, historical sites, food, food, and food. However, the current political tense with protestors on the street basically every day has made Hong Kong the country to avoid. Wonder when can I visit Hong Kong again?

These are some of the memorable moments I had last year in Hong Kong as a tourist. I look forward to the recovery of this amazing country soon.

People and Government - a complicated relationship

 

The usual morning market

Always busy streets at Mongkok

A dedicated street for buying sports shoe, really!

Bye for now and hope to return one day...

Previous post about Food in Hong Kong:

8 MUST-TRY FOOD AND DRINKS IN HONG KONG (2018)

UNIQLO x Kaws Restock In Malaysia AUGUST 2019

Are you a fan of Uniqlo x Kaws?

Today, Uniqlo Malaysia is restocking the UNIQLO x Kaws and this is what happens at Uniqlo Fahrenheit99 Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur.

Sweating already? Imagine what the staffs need to do end of the day.

 What say you about this shopping behaviour?

ChoeSay Fast Facts:

1. KAWS, the cross-eyed skull mask and character was founded Brian Donnelly, American artist and designer from New York in the 90's
2. Donnelly 's works include casting of figurative characters and motifs, deface billboards and bus stops, and now, crossover with UT graphic t-shirts in collaboration with Sesame Street.
3. The name ‘KAWS’ is just some letters which Donnelly put together aesthetically, it doesn’t mean anything.
4. In 1999, Donnelly design a small line of toys - Companion, a vinyl figure of Mickey Mouse with x-ed out eyes with a Japanese clothing company Bounty Hunter, which became cult collectibles today.

Review for Dahmakan: Malaysia Food Delivery

Dahmakan

You may have heard about 'dahmakan' by now. They claimed to specialise in chef-made food delivery to your doorstep. As I have tried other food delivery services like Foodpanda and Grab food, so why not giving it a try too. Furthermore, I was being offered a first-time user voucher worth RM48 at RM20 by their promoters at Berjaya Times Square, Kuala Lumpur. Sounds like a good deal right? Basically, they are giving out around 58% discount to try their food for the first time.

Here are some facts about their products and service:

• Dahmakan is different from other food delivery providers. They have their own chefs preparing the food by themselves using their own packaging. So basically you can only order from their selected daily menu, not from any other restaurants out there.
• Their menu is based on a daily basis and first-come-first-serve basis. Meaning, every item have a limit (users will not know what is the quantity available) per day. These items can be sold-out if there is high demand or towards later of the day.
• You are allowed to pre-book your meal a few days in advance. Just need to choose the items, indicate the time of delivery and location. Payment can be made via credit card, Boost and even pay upon delivery.

Now, this is my review:

• I tried to pre-book a meal for 2 days in advance and paid by Boost via the dahmakan app. Everything runs smoothly and I got email notification of my order. My pre-set delivery time was 12.20PM - 1.20PM. Take note that the options given were all with 1-hour range. At first, I didn't bother much because my experience with other food delivery providers was always early.
• Until the day of delivery, I realised that they have changed my delivery time to 1.25PM - 1.40PM. After a while, I received a notification stating there is a delay. As a typical consumer, I would expect to have my meal within the pre-set time and this delay for a pre-booked meal is not acceptable.
  
• Then I tried to contact their customer service, but there was no reply. I waited for so long until I gave up. The waiting time keeps changing from 15 minutes, 8 minutes, 6 minutes then 7 minutes...
  
• I cannot cancel my order and I cannot go out to get my lunch but to wait for the meal to arrive. Luckily I do not have any appointments during these hours. Can't imagine if other customers who have fixed lunch hours and the delay could cause them to rush for their work.
• Waited until 1.20PM, the dahmakan staff called and asked me to collect the meal myself at the roadside. Seems like they cannot deliver to the office, despite having the option in the app to drop the meal at my office reception. Again, luckily my job is flexible enough to go out of the office anytime and pick up my meal.

  

  The meal was cold when it arrived. 



Coconut Jelly for RM3.80

• This is the meal I ordered, Salted Egg Buttered Chicken with Rice for RM14.90. Delivery charges of RM3 are waived with minimum order of RM18. So, I add on a Coconut Jelly for RM3.80. In total, my lunch with dahmakan cost RM18.80. I think this is $$$$$ costly but glad I got discount credits for trying this. What do you think?
• By the way, I nearly forget to mention this too. The rice was wet and sticky, not sure why but maybe over-cooked... I hope Chef Wong saw my feedback from the app.

There you go, my very own review based on my experience only. I do not intend to promote nor comment on their products because this here is 'Choesay - Simply Say Something'.

Lastly, if you want to give it a try, first get a promotional voucher or discount credits :)

Research Insight in 3 minute

Research Insight in 3 minute

I find research work is insightful, but not all research topic is inspiring. These are some of the studies that I think are worth mentioning:

Mindfulness vs Motivation (updated on 23/7/2019)

• Professor Hafenbrack interviewed by Havard Business Review in the Jan-Feb 2019 (issue #97 volume 1) concluded that Mindfulness is demotivating. In his research, meditators' motivation level was about 10% lower than the level of the people who had not practiced mindfulness. However, he reported that despite lower motivational level, the samples in the mindful group completed their assigned tasks on par with others, and equally well. 

• Based on the above, can we conclude that less motivated employees may still perform as well as those who are highly motivated, as long as they meditate and practice mindfulness? Does this mean mindfulness is correlated to performance? or perhaps, are mindful people are more effective at work? There are still many unanswered questions on mindfulness but this is enough to put on our thinking cap and start investigating for more insights.

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Finally, Disney completes $71bn 21st Century Fox deal

Good News to Movies and TV series fans but not for Netflix

Picture source: https://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/disney-fox/64117/disney-fox-merger-finally-complete

The Walt Disney Company has closed its $71bn (£54bn) acquisition of Rupert Murdoch’s entertainment business 21st Century Fox as it looks to take on streaming giant Netflix.

As part of the deal, Disney will absorb the Fox film and TV studios, the FX networks, National Geographic and Indian TV network Star India. It will also bring together franchises such as The Simpsons, X-Men, Star Wars and Marvel under the same roof for the first time, supercharging its content and creating a media company of unprecedented scale.

The business will launch its Disney Plus streaming service later this year, which given its souped-up content offer puts it in a better position to rival Netflix and Amazon Prime.

In a statement, Robert Iger, chairman, and CEO of The Walt Disney Company, describes the deal as an “extraordinary and historic moment”.

“Combining Disney’s and 21st Century Fox’s wealth of creative content and proven talent creates the preeminent global entertainment company, well positioned to lead in an incredibly dynamic and transformative era.”

However, the merger is likely to result in job cuts, with experts predicting as many as 4,000 positions could be on the line.

Source: www.marketingweek.com 

More on: Disney seals $71bn deal for 21st Century Fox as it prepares to take on Netflix