To my fellow treasure hunters in Sabah—and also some in KL—I'm sad to report that the Sutera Harbour—Angkatan Hebat Treasure Hunt has again been postponed. No new date has been announced so far. It is not likely to happen in July too.
Some friends have approached me to set a replacement hunt for the 29 June 2008. Now I usually set my KK Challenge hunts around July/August (the last one in January was an exception). But I may have to do it earlier due to this latest development.
I have sent out emails just shortly ago to some hunters to gauge their interest for a KK Challenge 4 on 29 June 2008. If I can gather enough teams, then I will embark on creating a nice and juicy mental torture for you all. Bear in mind, the KK Challenge 4 will be an unofficial hunt. Prizes will be small. For the record, there were 20 teams hunting in the KK Challenge 3 last January.
Those of you who're keen to hunt, please email me your info soon. At the same time, please feel free to spread this news to your friends too. I am getting a bit ambitious now—I'm hoping to attract 30 teams; the more the merrier, right? If it happens, get ready for a fun-packed hunt!
UPDATE (Status as at 23 June 2008):
Team 01:
CK Tan, CL Teo, Leslie, Frederick
Team 02:
Grace Chong, Vivian Cham, Harry Koh, Chan Mon Hueg
Team 03: FL@ME
Francis Omamalin, Lee TJ, Moina Liew, Eileen Yeoh
Team 05:
Amy Chee & team
Team 06: HRU
2R1I & team
Team 07: The Pink Ladies
Anne, Angeline, Zyee & Rina
Team 08: Mung Cha Cha
Mary, Shirley, Ellen, Dr Liaw
Team 09: Tomb Raiders
Masri & team
Team 10: Scooby-Do
Withdrawn
Team 11: Jolly Roger
Withdrawn
Team 12: The Scofield
Carl Eddison, Grace Joy Chin, Claire Andrew & Fazlee Rahim
Team 14: She is 51 in the Highest Card
Alice Mathew, Noorainee Jamal, Merlvin Sylvester, Retty Felicia Simok
Team 15:
Paival Yahya & team
Team 16: Main Tembak
Bernard Liew, Alvin Wong, Christine Netto, Audrey Chin
Team 17:
Donald Stephens & team
56 comments:
Any prizes for 1st team to sign up? Count us in - 4 pax.
You know what would turn a memorable hunt into an even more memorable hunt? Ans: Finishing the hunt at a wonderful seafood restaurant (slurp slurp)!
Hahaha!... That's Sutera Hunt, 2R1I! This is KK Challenge 4—no prizes for first team to sign up. Besides, even if there is a prize for the first team, 4 other teams have beaten you to it! They responded directly to my emailbox and cellphone! You crazy people should seriously consider getting into bed before midnight!
I have a feeling there will be a more interesting fight for the top position this time. Main Tembak should know about the inclusion of a team from KL. No more a walk in the part for them this time I guess. You can feel the adrenaline starting to flow, can you not?
we are in!!!!!! 2R1I, expert team like urs no need aim for 1st team signing up prize lah. reserve tat for us lah hehehe...
by the way, corny. we r the 1st to sign up right?
Yes, CK, technically, you were the first to "sign up" for the KK Challenge 4.
But I'd like to say that actually, this whole thing was already under "preliminary exchanges of text messages" between 2R1I and I yesterday and the day before! Throughout those communications, I have not made up my mind to actually do the KK Challenge 4. 2R1I actually confirmed that early that IF the hunt's gonna be organized, his team would join.
But I didn't count from that far back. I started counting after I have made up my mind and sent out the invitation by emails; and after I published in my blog. It's in that sense that you're the first on technical grounds!
But let's not quarrel about it, OK? It's not like I'm gonna give return air tickets to London for the first team to sign up... HAHAHA!
CK, don't worry, I'm just pulling Corny's legs. We will be there more for the torture, the excitement of meeting up with the KK hunters, and not forgetting the crustaceans too!
See you in 7 weeks, if at all it happens.
aiyah~~~i also just pulling corny's legs mah. sent sms middle of the night somemore. was having one of my non-dry dreams hahahahahaha
c u in KK and i pity the crustaceans. god bless them hahaha
CK, your team must give more priority to the treasures this time, ya hear? You must climb back to the top 3 position! But as you can see, there are some hunt gurus coming over to show you people how to do it right!
Unfortunately, a team member of Main Tembak might be in KL on 29 June, and the entire team might just end up giving KK Challenge 4 a miss! I'm still trying to convince them to hunt anyway. I've waited for a long time for a possible rematch between these top teams! I don't count KK City Hunt, because too much luck elements; and debatable clues!
Let's see which of these two top teams are more precise!
sidetrack: 2R&1I, you should start blogging. You write well and have interesting thoughts. Corny, pls egged 2R&1I on.
Yeah, I'd second delurk's call for 2R1I to start blogging. Someone told me recently that after the recent general election, almost everyone has a blog, including many of our politicians. Just imagine how many jobs have suddenly been created for blog writers. Obviously not all of those politicians can write, right?
Thank you for the kind words. I'll stick to the sidelines for now, and throw in a few cents here and there to help out the up-and-coming hunters.
Owning a blog is a big commitment. I can imagine that Cornelius's life is now centered around his blog!
Buka mata - check blog,
Lepas gosok gigi & basuh muka - check blog,
Lepas sarapan - check blog,
Reach the office - check blog,
Tea time - check blog
Lunch time - check blog
Boss not looking - check blog
After work before leaving office - check blog
Arrive home and after pecking the wife on the cheek - check blog
Before dinner - check blog
After dinner - check blog
After putting the kid to sleep - check blog.
2R1I,
You're beginning to scare me, my friend. I'm wondering if you've hired a private detective to spy on me round the clock?
But jokes aside, it's true that owning a blog is a big commitment. However, like many other hobbies, if you enjoy doing it, then it is not that bad anyway.
I'd like to add that there is no necessity to spend all the time online. It is entirely up to the blogger. Do it within the pace you're confortable with. You own the blog, you call the shots! Some people update on a weekly basis; some on a daily basis. There is no hard rules!
Having said that, however, there is also that possibility that you "accidentally" write about something interesting, and that leads to a very absorbing discussion or debate with your readers; and that will somehow "force" you to keep pace with your audience!
Right now I don't have very many visitors—or at least not many who will comment. I am therefore able to keep pace (I try to respond to all of my readers). But I don't know if I can still do that when the numbers increase substantially.
2R&1I, how about just setting up your blog, register it with any of the free services. No need to be about TH. No need to write anything. Just stand by, in case you are inspired one day. 5/10 minutes of your time at most. Let us know the site.
Hehehe... delurk, you should do sales!
I have a number of credit cards which I hardly ever use. So many of these people promote credit cards; and all sorts of credit card "promotion" all year round. Whenever you tell these people that you already have more than enough cards, they'd say,
"Never mind, it's free anyway! Just apply and keep it if you must—just for standby. There is no obligation to charge anything to the card."
I really end up keeping those cards away. But I know that most people would somehow end up charging those cards in the end. And I know from my very own circle of friends that some of them got into trouble with heavy debts too. Psychologically, they'd say since I have it, why not use it?
OK, the freak rain has stopped now. It's time to go chart the hunt route! I'm outta here!
Hi ... wish to take part in the june 29 proposed thunt ... kindly pls keep me update ya ...
Metro
starcity2@gmail.com
metro, lama tak nampak, suddenly going for hunt in KK.
Walao-eh! Another team from the West!?
Well, I don't know if you've read the above thread properly, but the KK Challenge 4 will be an unofficial hunt and the prizes will be miserable! There is no way a team from West Malaysia will be able to make a profit from this hunt, even if it can get first prize!
However, it will be nice to have more visitors. I have also made a special invitation to the Sutera Harbour members.
In the past series of the KK Challenge, there was never a need to set a limit on the participation. But for KK Challenge 4, it seems that more people are keen (although they have not actually committed to join), and there is a chance that we're going to see a bigger crowd this time. Therefore, I am setting a limit of 35 teams on first-come-first-served basis. I think this is the size of crowd the Rumah MPMS hall can accommodate confortably.
I doubt that we will actually get this many teams. I'm just trying to be fair by letting everyone know that there is a limit. Who knows, I am just using the sales gimmick of many developers. Even if no one is keen, just say that you have many people interested... so that they will rush for the product!... hehehe.
I'd like to make it clear to participants who've never experienced the KK Challenge series before.
The KK Challenge 4, as were all the KK Challenges before this, will be a pure hunt. I don't do the coconut-bowling nonsense. Even if I do include games, it won't be "silly" ones, that's for sure! Besides, the points allocated for games, if any, will be a very small percentage of the total score. I want all the teams to know this before they make up their minds to join.
Aw come on, folks, don't be too superstitious!
Someone just wrote to me, saying that she'd expect it will take a while before the next team sign up for the hunt. And that is because the next team number will be Team 14! You never know, maybe that team number is the lucky one for your team!
I sent out emails to keep the hunters informed of the progress of this hunt. In it I reminded them, jokingly, to bring along panadols for the hunt—implying that there will be some tough (or shall I say very tough!) questions.
This morning I received a reply from one of those teams. It says that if panadols are reguired then they will not take part; that they will boycott my hunt!
I'd like to say that it is not very easy to set an open hunt which will suit everyone's tastes. There will be some of you who're all out for easy questions all the way. Some would want the challenge of tough questions, even if they end up without anything to show!
The strengths of the respective teams may vary substantially, and it is impossible to set a hunt that is 100% suitable to all the teams. Therefore there is a need to strike a balance in the difficulty levels.
For the KK Challenge 4, I will throw in about 30% "easy" questions; 40% "intermediate" questions; and 30% "tough" questions. That way I hope all the teams will have a shot to answer at least some of the questions.
I'm afraid we haven't progressed very much since my last update about a week ago.
More teams have been communicating with me through emails, but they have somehow refrained from actually committing to the hunt. Well, you know how it is, still over a month to go. It's not like them to sign up so early!
In the mean time, I've received news from yet another freak hunter from KL who's keen to join—although she can't confirm this early. Might even have to find a local team for her (and a friend?) to tumpang.
I'm more or less done with the route. Route Qs more or less 75% done. Having a tough time fighting my inclination to give tough questions... hehehe. Will have to continue working on this hunt next week, since I'm doing the Kiwanis this weekend!
Perhaps you need to hang up a banner in front of Sutera Harbour (ha ha).
Nah... no need to go that far, 2R1I. I have informed Irene of Sutera Harbour about this hunt. She's supposed to have forwarded the info to her members. I haven't heard from any of them up to now, so I guess they're not interested!... or perhaps they're just afraid of my kind of questions!?
I am confident that we can gather at least 20 teams this time round. But as I said, I am trying to get a bigger crowd than that.
Actually, a few more teams have "confirmed" their participation, but I'm not counting them yet, until they submit their Entry Forms together with payments. Of the teams in my "comfirmed list" above, I can only consider one team as "paid". The rest are there because I know that they will join, rain or shine!
And the team that has "paid", it's because I still owed her some money in the past! A few months ago, Anne sent me an SMS. Her club arranged to do a charity trip to Kota Marudu; and she asked if I'd like to contribute anything. I contributed RM200 for the good cause, but we somehow never had the chance to meet up after that. (We only meet for treasure hunts!..... hahahaha). She said I could "pay back" by means of treasure hunt entry fee. And that's what I'm doing now. Nice arrangement, huh? So, Anne, if you are reading this, I still owe you RM50.... don't charge me interest please!... hehehe
Oops! Perhaps Claire of The Scofield saw my last comment above. She has since walked over to my office this afternoon to make payment for her team!
hehe i havent read ur comment b4 i went to ur office today, i thought my team was among the late team to submit the entry form and payment...
maybe u should consider an online payment and registration, would be easy for all :=)
Wow! good thing I'm online now! Am replying some emails. Won't be accessing my emailbox and blog for a couple of days while I'm away for the Kiwanis hunt. But I will have a lot to tell when I come back!
Yes, Claire, I did accept payment through "online" transaction during KK Challenge 3 last January. Don't ask me how it worked. Some of the participants said they couldn't find the time to come and make payments; they asked for my Maybank account no, and they paid into that account. It worked wonderfully! I don't know whether they did it "online" or if they had to go to the bank to do it manually. I'm extremely outdated when it comes to all these online stuff! The beauty of it was that the bank had automated notifications of those transactions to my emailbox! Amazing technology, huh?
HSBC also has this online banking thing. In fact I tried checking my account balance and credit card info etc. And it worked well. But when it comes to remembering passwords, now that's my weakness! Perhaps next year, I should make a new year's resolution to at least try to remember my wife's cellphone nos for a start. I'm sure I can memorize her phone nos if I tried hard enough.
Last Saturday, while I was hunting in the Kiwanis Hunt, I received a text message from Ms Jong of HSBC, KK (About a week or two ago, I've sent her an invitation to join my KK Challenge 4). She said their Sports Club might be sending a few teams; she will be joining too. This should be interesting! I wonder if I can get them to sponsor anything, perhaps in return for allowing them to promote/advertise their products during the hunt?... hehehe
I received an email from a friend just shortly ago. She asked me if the KK Challenge 4 is really on. I found her question a bit surprising. Then I read through the above thread again and realised that I have not actually confirmed on the status of this hunt! All I said was "If I can gather enough teams, then I will embark on creating a nice and juicy mental torture for you all." My sincere apology to you all.
Let me announce now that the KK Challenge 4 is indeed confirmed on 29 June. I will also send out more information to known hunters on the details of the hunt. By the way, I have decided to do a pure hunt this time, i.e. no games.
More later via emails!
Listen up, folks. We still have a few weeks before the hunt. The briefing will be held a week before the hunt. We need to expedite things a bit here.
Those who're keen to join, but haven't submitted forms, please do so soon. This time round, the "challenge" is reflected in 2 of the 4 treasures. Once the teams are finalised, I will begin to collect ONE cellphone no. from EACH team. This is required in connection with 2 of the 4 treasures. Yes, 2 of the treasures will be connected. I will elaborate further during the briefing.
Aiyo! Can you send out the briefing notes plus any juicy tips to the orang-seberang, after the briefing. I am 100% sure we can't make your briefing!
Hehehe... don't worry, 2R1I, I will certainly email the briefing notes over to orang seberang!
But not many tips to give you people; you masters have more or less seen 'em all!
The same old stuff—answers visible from the car (smile); treasures to be submitted intact unless otherwise instructed; write answers in full etc...
The 2 connected treasures also very easy to understand. T1 is a clue which teams must solve and then the answer to be sent by means of text message to CoC (No tangible submission for T1 required; merely correct answer by text message is sufficient).
IF that answer is correct, the team will earn 5 pts immediately and will be provided with the clue for T2, also via text message. That team therefore gets a shot at solving T2 too.
But if the answer to T1 is wrong, the team is automatically disqualified from attempting T2. Meaning that team loses the opportunity to earn 10 points on the spot!
In other words, if answer to T1 is correct, team is assured of 5 pts and may earn another 5 pts for T2 (if team can solve T2 and submit the treasure at the finish station!) If T1 is wrong, then no chance to know what's the clue for T2, i.e. 10 pts gone just like that! In such a case, team should just hope that other teams didn't solve T1 too!... hahaha!
I know it sounds very "dangerous", because missing one treasure leads to missing 2 treasures, i.e. 10 points. But at least it is not as bad as coconut bowling!? At least in this case teams have a fair chance to compete for the 10 points. Coconut bowling is 95% luck and only 5% "skill".
Oh! I might as well add that each team will get only ONE attempt for T1, because that ONE attempt is itself a submission of answer (as if submitting a tangible treasure at the finish station). So all teams have more or less 5 hours to decide on the answer, but of course the sooner they text the answer for T1, the sooner they get the clue for T2. Anyway, I will repeat all this during the briefing. So those who still don't get it here, don't worry, I will explain again during the briefing.
Aiyo! Aiyo! Aiyo! I hope you will word T2 such that teams still have a shot at T2 but of course with less clues (ie. the key clue to be given over SMS)!
Treasure collections help to fill up the cupboard, after all (Ahem!)
You worry too much, 2R1I.
I am an advocate of fairness in hunt clues. If I produce something unsolvable, all my fans will not forgive me!
I'd like to repeat that my clues are solvable—any reasonably strong and careful team has a fair chance to get perfect score. I am not saying that they certainly will! Mistakes happen, even in strong teams.
Hmm, I do have a bad feeling that T1 will be like one of Mr Jay's "Mobius" treasure!
Mobius!... That's a good one, you know! Thoughest hunt I've joined so far, but I have to say it's the best one too. I could tell that Jay spent a lot of time and efforts to set that hunt—something which, sad to say, many CoCs don't do!
Not exactly my style though. I have a simpler approach in my questions. I like to conjure up something which require the knowledge of an "average person" in the street. If the clue involves "word power", perhaps many people would know the required word. And even if it's not a common word, it's probably just synonyms which one can quite easily find in a dictionary or thesaurus.
It will be very easy for me to google up some obscure words and then use those in my clues. But I prefer to use tricks and wordplays to beat the hunters. It is something to beat the hunters with "big" words, but to me it is sweeter to beat them with something simple and straigtforward.
So don't worry, no mobius in my clues.
I received an email from one of my readers. He pointed out that some of my virtual hunt questions were not so "simple and straightforward".
Let me explain.
When I said "simple and straightforward", I meant for motorised hunts. Obviously virtual hunts are different; the solver has substantially more time to mull over the questions, as well as substantially norrower scope of search. The questions would have to be substantially tougher too, otherwise it would have been a walk in the park for the masters!
Having said that, however, I still insist that even my virtual hunt questions are solvable, and it's been proven several times already!
Arghh!... some of you are not making it easy for me, huh?... hehehe
When I said "simple" of course I didn't mean that simple like ABC. I meant the basic idea; the knowledge required to solve the clues are simple. But that doesn't mean the clues are not tricky! It will be twisted and tricky—in fact, most of them are!
Consider this clue:
Q) To walk in shallow water, we must hold this.
The surface reading is very simple, isn't it? We don't have to know about a whole range of liquors and terrifying beings.
But we still need to have some basic cryptic clueing knowledge. We need to realise that the word "hold" is a container indicator; and the word "this" must be referring to the required answer.
We need to know the cryptic "instruction" that if we want to get the word that defines "to walk in shallow water", then [the letters] WE must contain (hold) the required answer, viz:
W-?-E = to walk in shallow water
Therefore that ? must be the letters AD, so that when contained by WE, would give us WADE which defines "to walk in shallow water"
A) AD Unisex Saloon
Simple, huh? But wait till you are out there in the hot sun... hehehe
Oh what a weekend!
My team mates went for a "test drive" of the KK Challenge 4 today. I did not have very high hope for them to score well. In spite of 10 training hunts they've had before this, they're still having problems with direct anagrams and roman numerals. However, today they did surprisingly OK! Not excellent, but I can say they have improved, albeit marginally. They scored 57/100 points; not enough to achieve prize position, I'm afraid, but still impressive all the same.
So my estimate is about right after all. I meant to give about 30% easy questions; 40% moderately tricky ones; and 30% tough ones. So I'd say my team mates breached quite far into the "moderate" portion of the questions. I am also impressed and happy to report that they even managed to solve 2 of the 4 treasure clues!
In view of the above "test drive", I have decided to allow 6 hours hunting time instead of the initial 5 hours planned. That should give an idea to the hunters the difficulty level of the KK Challenge 4.
I consider the extended hunting time as an added advantage for the top hunters to try to achieve perfect score. I doubt that they will achieve it, but now that there is "extra time", it might just happen!
Not that this will have an effect on the regular hunters anyway, but I'd like to remind that teams may still run into time trouble if they try too hard to answer all the questions. I don't intend to teach the master hunters how to manage their time.
To those in the chasing pack, let me just say that it's highly unlikely that you will be able to achieve perfect score. The sooner you realise and accept this, the easier it is for you to drop some Qs here and there. A comment by my friend, KK Chai, was like this: If we're having a tough time, so are others! So don't be discouraged when you fail to solve a question every now and then. That is bound to happen!
i think you pay way to much attention to the fact that there will be some regular hunters in your hunts. you focus on the distinction between the regulars and the rest. this is not a healthy thing for a coc to do. maybe it's true that the rest of the hunters are intimidated by the few regulars, maybe the rest have resigned to the fact that they will not win this hunt but that is their problems to overcome. the last things we normal hunters want to hear is the COC confirming that we can't win. Give us encouragement, hope. Believe in us, we make up 95% of your participants.
I think a coc should just concentrate on doing the hunt. If you want to make provision because there will be regulars ok do it. As to who is likely to win, who is strong etc. let it be known on hunt day. in your participants eyes, you must be seen to treat ALL teams the same.
if you really want to distinguish the regulars, create a separate category. if there is only one category, treat everyone the same. if you want to "teach" about time management, teach everyone or not at all.
You have a point there, delurk. Doing an open hunt where a whole range of hunters compete with each other can be quite a challenge to the CoC.
Each time after a hunt one of the most common complaints I get from the new hunters is that there is "no hope for them to win". They grumble that the regulars "have seen 'em all; that they're big bullies who grab candies from small kids".
The new hunters want easier questions; the regular hunters want tougher questions "for the challenge".
I do believe in the new hunters, but I am also a realistic person. It is unlikely that a new team will be able to win anything after only one or two hunts. This is especially so for pure hunts like the KK Challenge series. There are no games to "level the playing field". But I have seen some teams winning after only 5 - 10 hunts.
Experience still counts in the end. It is in this sense that I feel I am not qualified to "teach" the regulars about time management. But the new hunters should be reminded. If the regular hunters want to heed my reminder, that is even better. Perhaps the regulars will be able to finish the hunt in 4 - 5 hours anyway. So the 6 hours I'm giving will be for the benefit of the new hunters.
A fellow CoC had planned to "separate" the regulars from the newbies by giving the latter an extra 1 hour hunting time. I'd like to treat everyone the same by giving the same amount of hunting time. The only "problem" is that the very strong hunters have a better chance to get perfect score.
So, yes, I will admit openly that I do focus on the fact the there will be regulars and non-regulars. And I am trying very hard to even things up a bit. But at the end of the day, I think we all know that there will be teams scoring near perfect; whereas some teams may score closer to the other extreme.
you are missing the point
all that is true and like i said do all you want to design and cater for regulars/non regulars. in fact you should.
your "treatment" to your QUESTIONS should take into consideration that there will be regulars. Your treatment to you PARTICIPANTS should all be the same.
I chair and judge Toastmasters speech contests where there are always favourites to win. but when I do the briefing for the contestants or introduce them everyone gets the same treatment. No specials remarks for any one. In fact we introduce the contestants without their Toastmasters "title"
you duty as a coc is not about being realistic but to organise a positive and fun hunt for all. let the participants deal with reality.
my 2cents.
Ah! in that case, delurk, I have to reluctantly admit defeat!
May I say that your "2 cents" is worth a lot of cents [Sounds like a lot of "sense" (smile)].
Thanks for the advice; I shall be guided accordingly, my friend.
Hey Chief!
May I know what time does the hunt start on Sunday? Would like to know whether I have time to sneak in a good KK breakfast before the torture starts.
I like the title of CoC much better, especially in connection with the KK Challenge 4. "Chief" sounds too out of this world for me!
Final briefing is at 7:15am; flag off at 7:30am. If you're an early riser, you'd have plenty of time for breakfast. 6 hours hunting time for everybody; I think everyone will have a leisurely hunt this time. How I wish I'm hunting instead of clerking... arghh!
A little over 2 weeks to the hunt.
I've received some emails asking me how many teams are hunting in KK Challenge 4. Sadly, I have to say that we haven't even achieved 15 teams as of today. I'm confident to see a few more teams by the closing on 20th, but I suppose we're not going to get anywhere close to 30 teams!
Apart from promoting the hunt in this blog, I haven't really been doing very much. I did contact some people, but obviously that's far from enough. Furthermore, some regular teams that I know are unable to join this time.
If this were my source of income, I'd have nothing to put on my dinner table!... hehehe. Thankfully I'm doing this for fun.
Keeping my fingers crossed for more teams to confirm participation soon...
Dear Cornelius @ Chief
I guess 2R1I will agreed with me that you are the only CoC with that extra title. CoC is too common. Chief CoC will be unique.
Have fun, everyone! Though I will miss this KK Challenge 4, I'm sure I can make it for next year. By then, you would have already got to know me better.
Thank you for your faith in me, SWEETS, but CoC (without the Chief) is good enough, thank you.
I have travelled all the way from KK to Penang for the sake of treasure hunt. So it would be nice to get someone all the way from Perak to KL to KK for my hunt. I am sure the Sabahan hunters will welcome you here.
Dear Cornelius
Can I thank you first for the expected warm welcome?
To reciprocate, one of these days, I would surely like to give you a treat when you are here, in the West, for a visit or holiday.
Yeah, the treat would be to reconcile our friendship.
Several hunters have asked me how come the hunt briefing is to be held a week before the hunt. I have to admit that it is a bit strange for KK hunts. But in West Malaysia, it is not exactly uncommon for briefings to be held several days before the hunt.
In the past KK Challenge series, all the briefings were held on the day prior to the hunt. But this time it will be different. Let me explain.
Since the KK Challenge 4 is an unofficial hunt, I'm trying very hard to cut cost. The cheapest venue for the event is the Rumah MPMS. It is a bit secluded and equipped with air-conditioners etc. I can't get another venue with similar facilities for the same price. Unfortunately, the hall has been booked for the 28th. So I had no choice but to hold the briefing on the Sunday prior to the hunt, which is on the 22th.
Besides, I'm attending my Rotary Club's Installation Night on the evening of the 28th. So perhaps it's a blessing that Rumah MPMS isn't available on that day.
Some hunters are trying too hard to anticipate my tricks, and they suspect that there is some sort of trickery in the one-week gap between the briefing and the hunt. I found this quite amusing. Lighten up, folks! It's not my choice; if the hall was available on the 28th, I'd gladly do the briefing on that day. Don't try to hard to guess my tricks; it's not like you will know until the day of the hunt anyway!... hahaha!
Well, folks, unfortunately some regular teams have withdrawn at the last minute because of other commitments. I'm sad to say that only 13 teams will be hunting this time round. Several other teams would have been able to make it if I were to postpone the hunt to the following Sunday. But I've decided not to postpone the hunt. Let's get it over with!
I'm afraid not a very good turnout and doesn't look very good for the KK Challenge series. If this were a commercial hunt, I'd be a bankrupt in no time!... hahaha. As I've said through my emails to the hunters, this might be the last KK Challenge hunt. It is becoming increasingly difficult for me to find the time to set hunts. But if I can still find the time, I will keep up with at least the KK Challenge hunts every July/August. Otherwise I will just hunt rather than set hunts.
I have plenty more interesting ideas for hunt questions, but of course I can't throw them all into this hunt. Who knows I will be able to bring in some of those ideas indirectly through this blog one of these days.
Apart from paying special attention to T1 and T2, I'd like to remind hunters that I've divided this hunt into 2 legs. This is an idea I got from a fellow CoC, Michael Pang. Hunters will have to submit the answers for Leg 1 before they're provided with the questions for Leg 2. That can at least save a bit of time on my part, as I will be able to mark the answers for Leg 1 while the hunt is still in progress.
Hi Corny,
13 teams or 100 teams it would still be a Hunt, and lets make it a great hunt this Sunday. Dont give up la Corny.....if not for you, we might end up with only 1 hunt a year!!!!!! Imagine,what a shame if compared to KL where hunters can even choose which hunt they want to participate in a week!!
My team will always support you and also any other Hunts coz we r "FREAK HUNTERS" hahaha as you have called us in the KK City Hunt 2008!!
teo,
Thanks for your support, my friend. Your team has always been amongst the first to sign up whenever I organise hunts.
No—I'm not overly concerned with the size of the crowd. It's not really about the money. But of course it could've been better if we have a few more teams.
This lately it's becoming increasingly difficult to find the time to set a proper hunt. As you probably know, I'd like my hunts to be "perfect", although I know there is no such thing as "perfect"! I can't forgive myself if I come up with a sloppy job.
Don't worry, teo, I will still keep it up if I can find the time. But perhaps I will try to escape to west M'sia to hunt instead of setting hunts here in KK. A friend, Michael Pang, said that CoCs need to hunt too in order to experience different styles/formats etc. And I agree with him. But I also enjoy the thrill of hunting as much as setting hunts.
Don't think too much about KK Challenge 5,6,7... teo. Focus on this weekend. And yes, I'm sure it will be a lot of fun!
May I also say, teo, that I am impressed by your team's spirit. So much trouble for you from Kota Marudu, CK from Sandakan and Leslie and Frederick from KK to reunite each time there is a hunt. You should thank me for coming up with a good reason for your reunion. Just make sure you people don't drink too much on Saturday night!... hehehe
I can see that more people are coming back to check out on this particular post. I can only guess that they're mostly hunters for this Sunday's KK Challenge 4.
The excitement is mounting, is it not? Will we see any surprises on the podium? We've had quite some surprises in the past KK Challenge series, didn't we? Who knows, perhaps one or two "new teams" might find their way to the prize positions?
Well, I'll publish the results by late Sunday afternoon. Stay tuned, folks!
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