Pava's Hunts

Professional Treasure Hunt
& Event Organisers

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RESOURCES

Guide

  • HOW TO BE PREPARED   

    A. WHAT TO BRING
    Teams must be equipped with a good dictionary and reference books as a source of reference in answering questions.

    Sample checklist:-

    • Encyclopedia, Word Almanac, Atlas, Books of Places and Facts, Book on Plants and Nature, etc.

    • Clip Boards: A place to write on.

    • Pens: Preferably the "hang around the neck" type to avoid misplacing.  Bring along a few spares, of different colours.

    • Papers: Blank sheets used for writing possible answers and etc.

    • Food and Drinks: Usually treasure hunters would spend the time given looking for answers rather than for lunch and so on.


    B. ATTIRE
    Most hunts provide the participants with a T-SHIRT and participants are to use it throughout the hunt, otherwise wear something that would be comfortable for a long journey, e.g. shorts, jeans and t-shirts. 

    C. PLANNING
    The preliminary planning should be after the briefing.  The team should plan in advance each team member's role.  It would be a good idea to identify who will be writing on the original answers sheet, where and what reference books are available.  The final planning is after the tulips are handed out, which involves division of time in distance and number of questions to answers and a brief check on the route. Please refer to time planning below.

    D. OTHERS
    An early night's sleep for a fresh mind and body the next day.  Have a proper breakfast since you may skip lunch.  Do things like filling up fuel, shopping for snacks, etc on the day before the Hunt.  Arrive early as there will be last minute instructions given.

  • TEAM FUNCTIONS - ALLOCATION OF TASKS   

    Select among your members who is to be the driver, navigator and passengers according to each member's strength and weakness.  The navigator should be a person who is familiar with tulip reading and road signs.  The division of duties are as follows:

    A. DRIVER
    Assign to a team member who can drive well and has the most experience driving.  He should be able to communicate well with the navigator and drive according to the navigators instructions.  Drive slowly in the sectors where there are questions and faster on the other sectors.  Always bear in mind the traffic rules and good road conduct.

    B. NAVIGATOR
    He must be able to read and translate the tulips well while the car is moving and be able to communicate with the driver.

    C. PASSENGERS
    Their duties will be to do most of the research and look out for the answers.

  • HOW TO PLAN YOUR ROUTE AND TIMING   

    Plan the timing of your route in advance.  Your first planning should be done immediately after the briefing.  By then you would know the distance to be covered, the time given, the number of questions and treasures.  The final planning should be done immediately after the tulips are handed out at the starting point.  After the starting point, stop for a few minutes to do the detailed planning.

    A. TIME PLANNING
    The suggested time planning should be based on the number of questions and distance.

    • Identify the total distance to be covered

    • Identify the time given and deduct 30 - 60 minutes (depending on the number of treasures to be solved) from the total time given.

    • Divide the number of questions with the remaining time.  This would give you the time you should spend on each question.

    • Then calculate the required number of questions to be answered within an hour, etc.

    • Mark on your tulips, the time you are supposed to reach these points.

    B.  ROUTE PLANNING
    Study the tulips a second time.  Mark out where there are going to be long stretches of driving without any questions.  During the hunt, when you arrive at these points drive your vehicle at a fast but safe speed.  Use these stretches to:-

    • Study the treasure questions
    • Reference key words of the coming questions
    • Discuss earlier questions which have not been answered

    C.  QUESTIONS PREPARATION
    It is also a common practice to mark on the question sheet the questions that are grouped together in one sector once you receive your questions.  Also spend some time reading through all your questions.  Sometimes the question will be based on something you need to observe in an earlier sector.

  • DRIVING AND HUNTING HINTS   

    Study and digest the questions before you arrive at the question spots.  Also write down possibilities and do all the necessary research.  As you reach a question sector, drive at a comfortable speed in order for your team-mates to spot the answers. The navigator usually concentrates on the left side of the road and the back passengers on the side nearest to them.

    Where there are many shop houses or signs, you may stop the vehicle and park by the roadside where you are not obstructing traffic.  Look at every sign and then move the vehicle further in front, stop and repeat the observation until the whole row is covered. Avoid getting out of the car unnecessarily as this may tire you in the long run. All answers are visible while inside the car and visible to the naked eye.  If you do not find the answer you may choose to backtrack, but manage your time properly.

    Drive faster, but at a safe speed, between physical tulips where there are no questions to make up for lost time or to gain more time for answering questions.  Spend about 30 - 60 minutes to discuss and solve the treasures (try using the spare time in between questions).

  • HOW TO TACKLE QUESTIONS   

    TYPE OF QUESTIONS

    Questions will mostly be cryptic, involving the application of general knowledge, anagrams, word play, etc.  Some questions may test the participant's power of observation.  Answers are normally on signboards and graffiti, or it can be the physical landmark itself such as buildings, etc. Some of the various types of questions that you may come across are: Anagram, Direct, General Knowledge, Simile, Riddles, Power of Observations, Combinations.

    A. ANAGRAM QUESTIONS

    An anagram is a word or phrase - the letters of which can be rearranged into another word or phrase.  Anagram questions can be difficult for beginners, but it is just a matter of getting used to.  Anagram questions can be identified by the following use of words or phrases within a question:

    • For
    • Mixed
    • Multiples
    • Manoeuvre
    • Confused
    • Hindsight
    • Remodelled
    • Kick
    • Removed
    • Broken
    • Made
    • Rearranged

    It could be in other forms of words and phrases (in addition to the above), as long as the words or phrases indicate something to the effect of rearranging or playing of words.  Anagramming of words can be the words within the question itself or the words of the answer.

    B. DIRECT QUESTIONS

    Direct Questions are very precise and exact.  These questions require direct answers, perhaps a word or phrase with the same meaning as the question, etc.

    C. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE QUESTIONS

    This type of question is a test of your general knowledge.  They normally relate to current affairs, music, political, film, etc.

    D. SIMILE QUESTIONS

    Simile questions can be statements that express the resemblance of one thing to another of a different category.  Or it can be in the form of a metaphor - a statement in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action that it does not literally denote in order to imply a resemblance.   And it can also be in the form of a literal translation or the alteration or manipulation of the wordings.  Simile questions normally begin with "Sounds like", "Sound as", "I hear", etc. These types of questions include cases where something has to be changed to answer for what you see for it to be the correct answer to the question.   Letters to be replaced or added in a word may not be indicated by a direct letter.  They can be the form of similar sounds such as:

    • B: Bee
    • C: Sea, See
    • D: Dee
    • E: Eel
    • K: Kay
    • L: Al
    • N: Anne
    • O: Zero/Love
    • P: Pea / Pee
    • S: Ass
    • T: Tea/Tee
    • U: You
    • Y: Why
    • W: Double U
    • Z: Zee
    • I: Eye
    E.  RIDDLE QUESTIONS

    Riddles are questions, puzzles or verses phrased that ingenuity is required to decipher the answers or meanings.  It could be quite tricky.  In riddles, every word, sentence and phrase is a keyword.

    F. POWER OF OBSERVATION

    Some questions just test your power of observation.  Answers can be in the form of physical landmarks; objects or graffiti.  The phrasing of the questions can be in riddle or direct.

    G. COMBINATION QUESTIONS

    This type of question is a combination(s) of any or all of the above.

    STEPS TO ANSWERING QUESTIONS

    Analyse each question to determine which category it falls into.  Then find the keyword(s) inside the question.  Obtain the meaning of each of the keywords by referring to a dictionary, encyclopedia or other reference books. Interpret the questions to find its possible meaning and/or answer but still keep an open mind for other possibilities.  Then look out for the answers on every sign and object.  Find the meaning of the word on each signboard if you do not know the meaning.

    Should there be more than one possible answer, repeat the above steps again.  If there is a tie in opinion(s), take down the possible answers and discuss again later, to make the final decision.  Once consensus is reached in the answers, take your mind off the question completely (for the time being at least) so that you can focus your attention on the next question. 

    Once you are sure of your answers, write down on the original answer sheet, do not wait until the end.  Write your answer legibly on the answer sheet.  Transfer the exact words seen on the signboards, etc.  Write the full wording and not only a part of it.  For example,  Restoran My Sdn. Bhd. Should be written as such and not Restoran My.  Incorrect transcribing may result in not obtaining points.

    If you are running short of time and still cannot find the answer, take down the possible answers and discuss it later when and if you have the time.

    STEPS TO SOLVING TREASURES

    Treasure questions are usually in the form of riddles or puzzles.  There are no hard and fast rules on how to solve treasure questions.  You will need your best thinking cap for it.

    However, it is advisable to read and understand each word, read and understand each line / phrase, find the keyword(s), for they correlate with each other.

    Treasures normally could be bought or collected along the route.  But if you know where you can find the treasure off the route you may do so.  It is always advisable to spend at least 30 - 60 minutes to solve your treasures.  Stop your vehicle (if you have the time) at a convenient place to discuss with your other team members.