UNCLE CHONG'S 1ST ECONOMY HUNT - MAKING A COMEBACK

PETALING JAYA, 14 Jun 09: I am going to go out on a limb today and share my views on how to excel in Chong Foo Seong's treasure hunts rather than discuss about today's Economy hunt in general. (What has so far not worked for me may perhaps work for one of you!)

I have been researching into Foo Seong's whims and fancies for quite a while now (because of a fetish to add the Kiwanis trophy to my collection). But darn, after the 25th Kiwanis hunt in 2008, all the hard work turned out to be a lost cause when he decided to announce his retirement as a CoC. However, the birth of his Economy Hunt series allowed me to dust out the cobwebs and put some of my old notes to good use.

Foo Seong's standard questions need no introduction for they are usually textbook - good and tight (sometimes overly so). However, his toughies are a different proposition altogether and deserve more attention. I find that employing the right know-how and/or strategy when dealing with his toughies, will in the end make a significant difference to one's final position! His toughies can be categorised into 3 main categories:

1. The Improbable Ones

Foo Seong has a mischevious knack for selecting signs, usually eye-testers, in the unlikeliest of places. In the past his targets have included windows, far end of alleys (in between shops), word-in-pictures, car registration plates, TNB boxes, Alarms, Doctor's placards and more.

However, I have noticed that he is not totally heartless here. His Find-Me-If-You-Can ones are generally not difficult (just difficult to find!). There are no layers upon layers of cryptic intricacies to decipher (as always, there are exceptions). In fact most of the time, there is no sniff of even a keyword in this category of questions. But still, searching for a teeny sign in a 200 - 300m stretch loaded with signages, big and small, is no easy task and can easily zap the zest out of hunters.

So the next time you hunt in Foo Seong's hunts, do bring along 4 pairs of binoculars. Another option is to get out of the car and walk. You'll be surprised how many more signs you can suddenly spot when walking in a question sector.

Q: An important existence that is under a day.
Ans: Key Life below Kedai Kunci 24 Jam (word-in-picture).
(Uncle Chong's 1st Economy Motor Hunt, 2009)

Q: Where you can find parts stacked up, state only the part that is crazy colloquially in your answer.
Ans: 3 QTR (TNB box).
(21st Kiwanis Treasure Hunt, 2004)

2. The Impossible Ones

Ever tried looking for a needle in a haystack? That is how impossibly difficult questions in this category can turn out to be. Meant as a challenge for the regular hunters, this is Foo Seong's pet category. Hence you can bet that there will be at least one question (from this category) in each of his hunts.

My advice when facing these type of questions is to JUST TAKE OFF AND GO! It would be more prudent to spend time looking for The Improbable Ones.

Not surprisingly, most of the time, questions in this category end up unsolved at the end of the hunt.

Q: The foreigner from south of the equator is displaced here.
Ans: The Gary.
(Uncle Chong's 1st Economy Motor Hunt, 2009)

Q: To see a pop star completely, she first must mingle with a word in the answer.
Ans: Presbyterian.
(Gong Xi Fa Cai Hunt, 2007)

Q: City in the southern hemisphere created after money and food are finally brought back to the answer.
Ans: Johan.
(21st Kiwanis Treasure Hunt, 2004)

3. The Imposing Ones

Another one of Foo Seong's fancies, here he provides the definition and expects you to figure out his intended word. The level of difficulty is compounded by the fact that the intended word is not served on a platter, but instead needs to the pieced together by combining other letters he deceptively provides, with a signage.

Now, with the advent of this, what used to be a gruelling task is now very much solvable.

Q: Add a variety of beans to it for a missing person at this facility.
Ans: Tee.
(Uncle Chong's 1st Economy Motor Hunt, 2009)

Q: With a sound beginning, by the end of December it will reveal a funny means of relieving tension.
Ans: OU.
(23rd Kiwanis Treasure Hunt, 2006)

Disclaimer: The information contained in this posting is for general information purposes only. Any reliance you place on this information is therefore strictly at your own risk. In no event will I be liable for any loss or damage caused by the usage of any information obtained from this posting.

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Uncle Chong's 1st Economy Hunt Results:
(Maximum possible score: 110)

1st: Catherine Ng, Adrian Wong, Michael Pang, Toh Weng Ngai (89)
2nd: Liew Kok Seng, Jayaram Menon, Lim Kong Yew, Teoh Cheow Teong (88)
3rd: Alexander Hoh, Andre Teh, Rosemawarni Abd Rahman, Mohd Shahrin (82)
4th: Angie Teh, Yow Hui Hui, Teh Boon Kai, Sam Rahman (82)
5th: Chai Koh Khai, Margaret Sha, Lim Soo Khian, Chong Voon Kiat (79)
6th: Muhammad Razif Ahmad, Dharmataksiah Abai, Ahmad Zahrol, Mazri Muda (78)
7th: Yeap Heng Boon, Pavananthan K, Shandra Dass, Ho Mun Yee (69)
8th: Kumaran, Pirabarkaran, Suhaimi Zainal Abidin, Tommy Ng (69)
9th: Christopher Foo, Claire Chin, Julie Tan, Goh Teck Koon (68)
10th: Selina Yong, Toh Wei Ming, Lily Loh, Low Siew Fun (68)
11th: Tan Eng Siang, Kong Siau Ching, Ong Kheng Heng, Wong Sze Lynn (67)
12th: Simon, Venkateswaran Nagappan, Buvanes Tharmalingam, Eeeswaran Kanesalingam (63)
13th: Anuar Jeffrey, Tan Kok Cheeng, Chan Kah Seng, Kwan Ju Woey (58)
14th: Anis Syahrein, Shahrul Nizam Shahruddin, Shahrul Nizam Abdollah, Noor Nazamudin (56)
15th: Lim Kim Meng, Viki Lim, Jeffrey Wong, Lim Shu Shin (56)