70 days left. Yes. Number of days left to Chinese New Year which falls on Thursday 7 February 2008. The coming Chinese New Year marks the end of the current 12-year cycle and the beginning of a new 12-year cycle of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac.

The hype in cities and towns currently is the Christmas celebrations with shopping malls, restaurants and hotels all decorated for the Christmas. And once the Christmas festivities are over, Chinese New Year decorations will take over in January until the end of the 15-day Chinese New Year celebrations on 21 February.

The BAD NEWS first…

Toll will be increased between 6 to 50% for the following expressways:

• Seremban - Port Dickson Expressway
• North - South Expressway Central Link (ELITE)
• Butterworth - Kulim Expressway
• Malaysia - Singapore Second Link
• North Klang Straits Bypass
• North - South Expressway (Open toll stretches at Bukit Kayu Hitam and Johor Causeway)

Now, the GOOD NEWS…

Toll will remain unchanged for the following expressways which are due for increase on 1 Jan 2008:

• North - South Expressway (Closed toll stretches) & New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE)
• Ampang - Kuala Lumpur Elevated Highway
• Sprint Highway
• Penang Bridge