The Electric Train: Faster Ipoh-KL travel

Yes, beginning April 2010, get ready for a 140 km/h speed train to shorten the journeying time from Ipoh to Kuala Lumpur.

The first of five sets of the six-car electric train had arrived on Dec 3 from South Korea. When deployed on the tracks, this comfortable electric train will take you from Ipoh to Seremban in less than 2 hours (1 hour 55 minutes estimated time). It takes about 3 hours now. The day of drudgery on trains will be gone from this stretch from then on.

The five sets of train cost RM240 million and each train has a capacity of 350 seats.

I am looking forward for this to happen. If the schedule works for me, it means an option is now open for me to perhaps relocate to Ipoh or Seremban when rents are cheaper and cost of living lower so that I can stretch further the ever shrinking ringgit, no thanks to the government.

Gentings is Now in Cairo!

2009 is one real eventful year for Genting Berhad and its subsidiaries.

Sentosa Island Resorts in Singapore is days away from its opening. Development is on-going in Manila and Gentings Hong Kong has been incorporated.

Genting Casinos is now the new operator of casino in Cairo.

Genting Casinos Limited, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Genting UK Plc, is the new operator of the casino at The Nile Ritz Carlton Hotel, Cairo.

Genting Singapore Plc said Genting UK, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of the company, has been awarded the casino concession for an initial period of 10 years.

According to the press release,Genting UK plans to open the new operation under the brand,"Crockfords on the Nile".

It said this step is being taken, as part of the group's strategy to expand its casino resort network as well as strengthen and develop, Genting UK's leading position in the premium market through its key high-end London casino clubs, Crockfords, Coloby and Maxims.

Genting Singapore said the Nile Hotel is owned by Misr Hotels Company, a leading, government-controlled hotel owner and operator in Egypt.

Misr Hotels will shortly be undertaking a major refurbishment of the renowned Cairo hotel on the banks of the Nile.

The hotel, considered an icon in the Egyptian capital, has contributed to the country's travel industry for the past 50 years.It first opened in 1958.

It will be re-opened as The Nile Ritz Carlton Hotel, Cairo, following an extensive renovation and refurbishment plan, expected to be completed in early 2012.

So, what do you know? Isn't Genting real busy in 2009?