Extracted from THS Tulip newsletter (Jan-Mar Edition 2014)
FOR THS members in Penang, the year 2013 witnessed a unique trilogy of treasure hunts! With the theme Down Memory Lane 2013, the hunts invariably put the participants’ knowledge to the test, while their cryptic skill was simultaneously challenged.
“How did you manage to devise such a hunt? Where did you derive the idea?” a hunter eventually asked me after one of the hunts. Well… it wasn’t an overnight impulse; in fact the brainchild had been percolating over the weeks.
Since the start of 2013, it had been my intention to conceive something unique for THS Penang hunts. After the success of the thematic traffic-light hunts (Red Yellow Green) in 2012, the challenge was to uncover another theme for 2013 hunts.
A perusal of newspapers during 2013 yielded mixed reactions from the public on a slew of issues.
The Idea of Theme
For the optimists among us, it was expected to be a year of change and excitement. THS was organizing its first motor hunt and the nation was eyeing the much-anticipated election on the horizon.
For those seeing the half-empty glass, 2013 was a period of tragedy, suffering and despair! From natural disasters to the deaths of famous personalities, from unrestrained crimes to the blatant mismanagement in the findings of our annual Auditor General’s Report!
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| The demise of Nelson Mandela |
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| Victims of Typhoon Haiyan |
In particular, the heart-breaking tragedy of Typhoon Haiyan rendered thousands homeless, while the uncalled incursion of Lahad Datu inevitably struck a chord for our fellow East Malaysians.
Our police force was lamentably put on the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. The frequent shootings and rampant snatch thefts in Malaysia deservedly raised our doubts about the street safety; hence the doubts on their effectiveness.
Just when the dust was about to settle, our AG Report arrived right on cue. The unaccounted loss of their firearms, handcuffs and vehicles, triggered ripples of mockery among the Netizens about their nocturnal habits and latrine jests. Seeming to lose authority on street safety is one thing, contriving to lose their very own arsenal in such half-past-six manner is quite another.
And we haven’t even touched on our comical political scenes, which set a new boundary of idiocy as each day elapsed! For Penangites, who can forget how the year was kick-started? CNY 2013 Open House (‘Are you ready for Psy?’ farce), followed by ludicrously free concerts!
Then the events in the run-up to 5th May naturally raised eyebrows as did the recycled jokes of empty promises and blatant handouts of baits! If only such lavish goodies were bestowed on the participants in every treasure hunt!
Of course, then came the mother of all jokes – the alluring manifesto, the indelible edible ink and ‘now-you-see-it-now-you-don’t’ blackouts during General Election!
With such prolific topics for amusement, the brainstorm hit all of a sudden! Why not make these the theme for the hunts? Voila … the news of 2013 for THS hunts of 2013!
Wouldn’t that be a perfect proposition for the hunt fodder, and worthy of a good chuckle or two later?
Hunters in Action
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| Hunter Leep Sean having a fun time? |
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| Hunters Navin & Iniyaraja |
The Gathering of Knowledge
With the idea in mind, the next phase was the preparation – the gathering of knowledge.
The primary intention was to ensure that the topics covered were wide-ranging!
From the distressing local news to the gripping headlines from overseas, from the blockbusters in the silver screen to the catchy tunes on air, from the triumph in sports to the mourned demises, from the uplifting celebrations to the disastrous force majeure and much more! In essence, that was practically almost everything under the sun!
The key to this phase is to read, read and read! Dailies were religiously devoured, magazines were selectively read for additional info, websites were occasionally surfed for juicy news deemed too exotic for mainstream print.
After a prolonged period of such discipline, the stage was set for the next juncture.
The Suitability of Venue
Next came the selection of hunt venue. The common criteria was a comfortable layout for the event, with easy walk-around for participants. Likewise the site should offer sufficient signboards; yet not too overwhelming for the hunters.
However due to the 2013 hunt theme, not all shop names can present an ideal fit. With the limited outlets on each floor, the task became more challenging, hence one needed to be conversant with all the signs out there, large or small. These inevitably required one to be fairly up to date with the latest displays and happenings on site, as the hunt date approached.
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| Hunters Edward and Kar Peng |
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| Googling time |
The Match Make
Then came the ordeal to match the signs on hand to the cryptic deciphering of the news in 2013. This phase involved the most daunting labour and was the most time-consuming as well!
Possession of such knowledge was merely the prerequisite; the Herculean challenge was how to convert these into cryptic posers, based on the available signboards without giving the game away too easily.
Not all outlets can fit well into the theme; so it was imperative that all signs were thoroughly scoured and every angle deliberated! Sometimes an innocent word could spark an inkling, a train of thought which led to another.
Once an idea had been latched to a signboard, then the formulation of cryptic questions began. Poser crafting was rather easy if one couldn’t care about the surface reading. The greater chore was to concoct a smooth good reading, which narrated a story, while cryptically it may yield another.
Such practice would require the setter to spend hours of diligently fine-tuning the questions. This would definitely force the solvers to delve beyond the obvious in search for more. It was in such exercise that the hunters learned to habitually train their brains to solve problems from various perspectives.
My favourite questions from THS Penang hunts:-
Two-thirds majority goal – a mandate for dazzling result!
Supporter for National Front gets identity card.
Men down on knees here craving size-L outfit for Anfield player?
Brilliant show despite F1 driver getting 4th in Nurburgring circuit?
Hunt Winners
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| Gold Category - 2nd Runner Up |
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| Gold Category - 1st Runner Up |
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| Gold Category - Champion |
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| Diamond Category - 2nd Runner Up |
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| Diamond Category - 1st Runner Up |
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| Diamond Category - Champion |
The treasure questions were designed in a similar fashion, with the introduction of news headlines as the posers. Hunters must cryptically decipher the common 2013 headlines to bring back the items.
BOSTON BOMBING – LAST MARATHON CANCELLED!!!
The above could be the recent news headline! But cryptically, it can also be the name of chocolate from Cadbury that you must find!
TAN SRI KHALID ABU BAKAR OUT TO CURB CRIMINAL SNATCH THEFT BY 50%
The above could be the recent news headline! But cryptically, it can also be an edible treasure that you must find naturally!
THS Rebus Challenge was also introduced, where pictures were shown for hunters to derive the answers, based on the category of 2013 events.
Conclusion
Personally, the trilogy of THS Walk Hunt 2013 has been a brain-draining, yet satisfying project for me as the COC. I certainly pray that Penang participants (and some KL hunters who travelled to the north) have thoroughly enjoyed the hunts.
My deepest appreciation for those who had steadfastly joined all 3 hunts, to witness how the trilogy eventually ended!
For those who have joined THS Penang Walk Hunt 2013 - Leg 1 & Leg 2,
you may be aware that the hunt theme is "Down Memory Lane 2013"!
The same applies for the upcoming Leg 3 on 22nd Dec 2013!!!
As a run-up to Leg 3, this HNN posting will display a number of photos to trigger your memory of incidents or events that took place during 2013!
If you miss some of the photos, don't worry too much!!! If you have been keeping abreast with 2013 events and happenings, you would do fine!
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Posted on 25th Nov 2013
Are you prepared for the THS Walk Hunt 2013 Leg 3 in Penang?
As the year comes to a close, get ready for this final leg of THS Hunt on 22nd Dec! The end of a magnificent trilogy!
Come and celebrate with THS, as we pay tribute to the end of 2013 and welcome the advent of 2014!
For those who miss out the first two, check out THS Walk Hunt 2013 - Penang Leg 1 and Leg 2 !
2 comments:
I am wanting to know which of these men in the Penang photo is David Tan and did he live in NZ
David Tan is the Diamond champion, who was sandwiched in between in the winner photo. Not sure about his NZ experience. Is that the one you are looking for?
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