Are You Spooked?

Today is the 14^th day of the 7^th month of the Lunar Calendar. So happens it is also the 14^th day of the month on Western calendars. If you are Chinese, you will know it’s the Hungry Ghost Festival day!

Are ghosts and evil spirits more powerful today? I don’t know but it’s better to play safe.

Most of us have stayed in hotels before. It is widely known that a certain hotel in Genting Highlands is haunted. It is an urban legend among Malaysians but if you do not know which hotel, read about it at Spooky Corner.

Now let me tell you some beliefs of hoteliers.

Every single hotel, there is at least a permanent room which should be left vacant at all times. No matter how full the hotel is, they are not to sell that room to any guest. It is said that the special room is "reserved" for those "special visitors".

So, if you plan to stay in some hotel, always book in advance. Try to avoid walk-in. If the receptionist tells you there's no more room available, do not insist or try to bribe them to give you a room. If you do that, most of the time the room you have will be that "special room".

Sometimes those "special visitors" might go to other rooms also, so here's some tips on how to protect yourself.

1. Before entering your room, always knock on the door first, even if you know the room is vacant.

2. After you enter the room, if you feel very cold suddenly, immediately leave the room quietly and go to reception to request for a change of room. Most of the time the receptionist will understand and will consider your request.

3. After you enter the room, immediately switch on all of the lights, and open the curtain to let the sun light in.

4. Before you go to bed, arrange your shoes so that one of them is upside down. Some say this is representing yin & yang to protect you while you're asleep.

5. Always leave at least a light on while you're sleeping, preferably the toilet's light.

6. If you're staying alone and they have given you a twin bed, do not, I repeat, do not sleep with the other bed vacant. Instead try to put some things like your luggage on the other bed before you sleep.

7. When you enter your hotel room, look for the Bible. Some hotels place the Bible inside a drawer. Well, some do, some don't. But, if upon entering, you see the Bible on the table, DON'T STAY IN THAT ROOM! It means "special visitors" are there.

If you see the Bible opened up on the table, LEAVE THAT ROOM IMMEDIATELY and request a change of room!!! It means the "special visitor" is really creating trouble in that room!!

If you are reading this on your laptop in a hotel room right now, and you see the Bible or some sort of religious book opened up on the table, heed my warning and LEAVE YOUR ROOM NOW!

Of course ghosts are not limited to places like hotels. What better place to linger than those dark, creepy places like inside the cinema?

Here's what I've been told about cinemas. A lot of people like to rush and be the first person to see a particular movie before everyone else sees it. Are you one of them?

Let me tell you this. Do not attend the first screening of any movies in the cinema. By the first screening, I mean the first time that movie is being shown in that particular cinema hall. The reason? The first screening is meant for "the special audiences".

However, if you insist on going, then sit somewhere in the middle of the cinema hall. The first and last rows are reserved for them. Be warned!