Remember I told you I was busy for the past few weeks? Yeap, this is one of the main agenda in my so called *busy-list*. I think after this I got not much activities dy… Hehhehe.. Actually, I register for the competition under Malacca region (Registration was a few months before the competition date) for a few reasons and the main one being:-
- Its like 45 minutes to my hometown and hence I can make a trip back to visit my family cos its like ages since I went back. (Note : End of the day I didn’t go back because I was down with flu a day before the competition)
- I might not be able to make it for the regional showdown in KlangValley on 22-23 November. I’ve got two agenda on my list on that weekend. First being A1 Race @ Sepang that I might be going andI’ve got a Company Go-Kart Event to attend @ Shah Alam Stadium.
So there you go… and this blur-devil ended up in Malacca on a Sunday morning @ 10am for registration @ Dataran Pahlawan, Malacca. I’m not too sure about the parking charges so we parked at Equatorial Hotel, located next to the mall. =) MSIG Samurai Sudoku Showdown, here comes the devil!
The set-up of the event for this competition was similar to the one I attended last year @ One Utama. Still remember my post? Only thing is that the competition area (in terms of size) is much much smaller. Under the Individual category, there was approximate 129 participants who registered andapproximately 70 odds turn up for the competition. Round1 of the competition is actually meant for Elimination Round(Differs from last year, as last year was a one-to-one knock-off round) and its divided into two parts as the seats are not able to accommodate all of them. As usual, participants who registered early will get Part 1 and so on. =)
Event set-up similar as last year
Registration is separated accordingly to Alphabet (of your name)
Organisers having some discussion before the event
The survival-kit-not to the competition. Its actually a notebook with sudoku puzzles and MSIG pen
Not forgetting the Samurai headband (I didn’t wear it this year, though) cos I only spotted less than 3 person wearing it. Last year, it was compulsory
Ok, now my turn to be in the picture la… Excuse my tired look (but still excited la)
Oh, still need to stick the warrior detail on “yourself”.
During the Round 1, a classic 9*9 grid is given to all participants to solve it within the time limit of 10 minutes. Frankly speaking I think the difficulty is of Medium difficulty. Still okie la. When I reach the 4thminute with only 2 blanks cell to fill in, I realise there was a repetitious number!!!! I tell you, when you see double digits in a Sudoku competition, its not a joke, its a nightmare! Immediately I erased the whole puzzle and start solving the puzzle all over again and manage to submit in at the 7thminute plus. Gosh, I can feel my heart jumping out of the devil’s mouth!
Ok, endof the day all the participants finished Round 1 andit was stream down to approximately 36 participant to continue withthe Round2! Round2 is similar to Round 1 and all participants is required to finish a classic Sudoku puzzles. I manage to submit at approx 4th minute and this kinda boost my confidence a bit la. Andthe organiser’s announced that 21 participants from Round 2 make it to the Finals! But But but, a freaking 5 hours later! I was like, errrr… what am I supposed to do for 5 hours in Malacca?
So while trying to figure out what is in the menu for lunch, we search high and low, contemplating to go Mahkota and finally realised that there is actually a cinema in Dataran Pahlawan. Knowing that the new cinema is operated by GSC, makes us felt so much better too. So we purchase tickets to watch Eagle Eye. Anyone of you who haven’t watch this show, you should. I think its nice even though the story line looks so familiar. Minority report?
Anyway, we went for lunch at this restaurant Taro – D’melting pot. The reason we choose this restaurant cos its one of the decent-looking restaurant. But that is just the beginning of our wrong judgement. The settings of the restaurant was cosy but small. I can actually almost felt the girls next to me breathe. Ok maybe i’m a bit exaggerating but just put it this way, its near lor. I don’t find it funny.
Restaurant Taro
Then we went on to make our orders, the menu pictures were pretty impressive than the food. Since we had steaks the previous day, we were reluctant to stuff ourselves with more red meat. Instead we order two pasta, Spaghetti Carbonara and Fettucine with Gratinated Smoked Salmon. Sounds impressive. Not the taste though. Spaghetti was too thick (I don’t know why but thicker than the normal spaghetti) and the Fettucine was filled with flour-taste. And not forgetting the Salmon was well.. pathetic. See the pictures and you know what I mean.
See, the menu is pretty nice right?
Take a picture before the food arrives cos you won’t want to see my face after that.
The too-fat-spaghetti carbonara
See the pathetic salmon! Gosh… What were they thinking?
After paying for lunch they gave us 3 milk candies. As much as they are trying to be nice, I just think the candies doesn’t suits the restaurant. What I mean is, when you are expecting a proper dining place, you don’t give your customers some cheap candies right? Oh and another point to note, the ventilation is so bad you smell like “recycle-oil”. *yikes*
Can you jive these candies with the restaurant? Not me!
Anyway after lunch, we went to catch the movie, happy that it turns out worth while andrush straight to the competition area. The finals for individuals started off around530pm, with 30 minutes time limit to finish the Samurai Sudoku puzzles (Note: Samurai Sudoku consist of 5 interlink classic sudoku puzzles). When I went in I was quite happy, but after the competition I look like this…
Why?? Cos I realised there was 3 persons that have submitted the puzzles before me andI thought I was fast enough already. I remember seeing the timer at the main electronic board and I finished approximately 17 minutes 55 seconds or so. And I was well, extremely sad cos only the Top 3 winners will represent Melaka region for the finals at Klang Valley next year. =(
So we ended up lingering around the shopping mall again cos the prize presentation and winners announcement will start only at 8pm. That’s like another 2 more hours. hmmmph… To a point I actually wanted to leave cos I was quite sad la. But then again they got 3 consolation prize of RM150 each. So I waited…
Everyone waiting for the announcement…
And when they were announcing the winners for the consolation prize, my name wasn’t in there. Almost crumbled down. Then when they announce the 2nd Runner Up, it went to this Chinese guy that I remember he submitted AFTER me. And I’ve already lost hope, I must have made mistakes in the cells. To my suprise, when they announced the 1st Runner Up, it was actually my warrior number. I was shock but of course happy la. That means the 2 guys who submitted ahead of me must have make mistakes. I was so happy.
Far-shot of me winning 2nd prize cos some people just lazy to help me take picture
Hahha… But then again I was happy withmy physically-big mock cheque. But the stupid thing is, I only get my money next year. Which I’m thinking of calculating Time Value of money with them… hmmm…. More pictures…
This is my look when the organisers trying to arrange “us” for a group picture
And everyone is discipline enough to pose for a shot or two… =)
Close-up of the devil
The dinal step, fill in particulars so they can prepare my payment…. next year!
Anyway after all the photo-taking, filling up forms etc, we went straight to Jonker Street for dinner. Ate every small lil snacks andfoods we can find. Jonker Street was my last stop for this Malacca trip. Tired but fruitful. Enjoy the food pictures
This uncle makes good popiah!! Only RM1.80
Mua-Chi coated with loads and loads of peanuts!
Then we stop by at this shop for a bowl of noodles and chendol
The wantan noodle reminds me of the wantan noodle i can have back in Muar
Mango Chendol (Nothing great, u can’t taste the mango but the gula melaka is heavenly)
Durian Chendol (Same thing, cos they don’t use the fresh fruit but just puree, so very normal only)
Oh I forgotten to add, the top 3 for each category (Individual, Student andSenior) will represent each region to a Grand Finals in Klang Valley. =)
*love always, blur-devil*
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