A is for Air Asia

The A to Z Blogging Challenge begins today! Exciting month ahead.

For the month of April, my posts here will primarily be on Malaysia, the theme I chose to write about for the Blogging Challenge this year. Welcome to Malaysia!

And let the Challenge begin!

A.. can be for many nice things in Malaysia but I have chosen Air Asia, but of course.

The World's Best Low Cost Airline is Malaysia's very own Air Asia. They have been the Best for the 9th year in a row. You read it right. This was revealed at the 2017 Skytrax World Airline Awards held at the Le Bourget Airport in Paris, France in June last year, 2017.

When Air Asia has a Mega Sale, at least once or twice a year, I have lost count, one is able to travel with a '0' fare ticket to selected destinations. You only need pay surcharges. Now Everyone Can Fly so says Air Asia.. it's even on their aircraft livery.

Source: Yahoo.jp
Malaysia has seen an increase in air travel for leisure - in and around the country as well as overseas because of the availability of cheap airfares, thanks to Air Asia.

Imagine going to Johore Bharu, Bali, Hua Hin or Xian for as low as RM 29! For perspective, that's roughly USD7.50. Or visit Seoul, Jeju, or Busan for as low as RM 249 (below USD65)! Incidentally, these are their current offerings for a travel date later this year. See image below. For more information, visit the Air Asia website.

Ahem... a little digression here, a pretty picture no less. AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer Tony Fernandes married his Korean girlfriend, Chloe, in France.

B... comes up tomorrow. See you then.

You can read my posts for the 2016 A-to-Z Blogging Challenge.

Malaysia Airlines - 3-day flash deals

Planning a holiday between July 27 to Sept 30, 2017? MAS' 3-day flash deals offer discounts for travel within this period.

The national carrier is offering customers a chance to enjoy up to 35% savings on economy class to selected routes.

Air fares are from as low as RM359 to Phuket, RM369 to Jakarta, RM899 to Manila while for flights to Beijing, the fares start from RM1,009 to Beijing and RM1,299 to Mumbai. These fares are for departures from KL International Airport (KLIA).

Fares from Kota Kinabalu International Airport (KKIA) start from RM839 to Taipei, RM999 to Perth and from as low as RM 1,269 to Tokyo.

MAS is also offering all-in, one-way promotion from RM99 to all domestic destinations, during selected periods throughout the year.

Promotion comes with no hidden charges or credit card fees and include a baggage allowance of 30kg and complimentary meals.

Book your tickets here: https://www.malaysiaairlines.com/my/en.html or at participating travel agents, through its mobile app, MHmobile or call centre at 1 300 88 3000.


Image source: The Star

Air Asia wins again - World's Best Low Cost Airline

The next time you fly with Air Asia give it a thought that you would be taking to the air with the World’s Best Low-Cost Airline, and for the ninth consecutive year this year.

Just yesterday, this was revealed at the 2017 Skytrax World Airline Awards held at the Le Bourget Airport in Paris.

MSN.com - Provided by MToday News Sdn Bhd airasia-skyrex

The airline, which has always placed importance on the strength of its frontline staff, also demonstrated its commitment by having its cabin crew head, Suhaila Hassan, receive the award on its behalf.

The long-haul arm of the airline, AirAsia X, also added another feather to its cap, after it was named World’s Best Low-Cost Airline Premium Cabin and World’s Best Low-Cost Airline Premium Seat awards for the fifth year in a row.

The long-haul arm of the airline, AirAsia X, also added another feather to its cap, after it was named World’s Best Low-Cost Airline Premium Cabin and World’s Best Low-Cost Airline Premium Seat awards for the fifth year in a row.

You can continue reading here on MSN: AirAsia is world’s best low-cost airline for 9th year in a row

AirAsia.com - 3 million promo seats

Source:AirAsia.com

Air Asia in its first major promotion of the year is giving away up to three million promotional seats starting from March 13 to 19 for travel period from Sept 1, 2017 to June 5, 2018.

Zero fares? You bet as fares will be as low as RM0 to destinations such as Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Miri, Bangkok, Phuket, Jakarta and many more. The airline is constantly adding new places to connect travellers to new and exciting destinations, their latest being Luang Prabang, Laos; Bhubaneswar, India; and Honolulu, USA.

However, if you wish to travel immediately, AirAsia has a special promotion for bookings during the same period for travel period from March 14 to Aug 31.

AirAsia was named World's Best Low-Cost Airline eight years running while AirAsia X won the World's Best Low-Cost Premium Cabin and Premium Seat for the fourth straight year at the 2016 Skytrax World Airline Awards.

AirAsia is Asia's leading and largest low-cost carrier by passengers carried, with a network of more than 120 destinations to Asean countries and other parts of Asia, Australia, New Zealand and the Middle East.


Source: The Star

All North-South Expressway toll plazas go cashless in Malaysia

All 94 PLUS-operated toll plazas along the North-South Expressway will go cashless starting noon on April 26. They include toll plazas on the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE) and the North-South Expressway Central Link (ELITE).

You can pay using PLUSMiles card, Touch ‘n Go and SmartTAG. Touch ‘n Go and PLUSMiles cards are sold at PLUS Customer Service centres. I got my Touch n Go card from Watson which is actually a Watson store membership card, i.e., you collect points on purchases like any other store card.

The go-cashless move here should lessen traffic congestion, cut down on transaction time and is in line with the Government’s call to move towards a cashless society.

Worried about where to top up? Fret not as there will be at least one top-up lane to reload the Touch ‘n Go and PLUSMiles cards at each plaza that would run 24 hours daily following the implementation.

Happy motoring!

Little India in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur

A friend sent me this picture of a sort of a procession that took place yesterday downtown Kuala Lumpur in the part of the city known as Little India.

I have no idea what's the occasion, perhaps the blessing of a new chariot. It's a beautiful one, no doubt.

Little India in Kuala Lumpur is located in Brickfields, a residential neighbourhood just outside central Kuala Lumpur. Brickfields as the name suggests used to be the centre for brick-making in the early days of Kuala Lumpur.

From Wikipedia..
In 1881, a flood swept through Kuala Lumpur, in the wake of a disastrous fire. These successive problems destroyed the town's structures of wood and atap (thatching). As a response, Frank Swettenham, the British Resident of Selangor, required that buildings be constructed of brick and tile.[2] Hence, Kapitan Yap Ah Loy bought a sprawling piece of real estate for the setting up of a brick industry which would spur the rebuilding of Kuala Lumpur. This place is the eponymous Brickfields.

Later the area was developed by Yap Kwan Seng, the fifth and last Kapitan Cina of Kuala Lumpur. As a businessman, he foresaw an increased demand for bricks in fast-growing Kuala Lumpur and established a kiln in the district. The area soon became the centre for brick-making in the early days because the whole area was a clay pit and good quality bricks are made from clay. Therefore, Brickfields became synonymous with good quality bricks.

Brickfields also houses historical government quarters built during the British era which are under threat from rapid development.

Brickfields is popular for its Indian food delights especially the unique banana leaf rice and thosai (Indian pancake made from fermented rice flour).

Also tagged as a "Divine Location", Brickfields is home to many religious structures, some over 100 years old, are concentrated in the area, particularly Jalan Berhala. The aptly named road ("Berhala" means shrine) houses the Buddhist Maha Vihara Temple and the Sri Sakthi Karpaga Vinayagar Temple.

Sri Kandaswamy Kovil on Jalan Scott

The Sri Kandaswamy Temple is one of the most prominent Sri Lankan Tamil or Ceylonese Tamil temple located along Jalan Scott. It is huge and showcases rich Tamil Architecture and has become a popular tourist attraction in Kuala Lumpur. This temple was built in 1902.

The Lutheran Zion Church

A sprinkling of churches of different denominations can also be found here. Among the larger churches in the area are the Holy Rosary Church (est. 1903), Our Lady of Fatima, and the Zion Lutheran Church. Most of which are located along Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad. There is also an Indian orthodox church called the St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Cathedral in Jalan Tun Sambanthan Satu.






There is a Surau (small mosque) located on Jalan Sultan Abdul Samad called Madrasatul Gouthiyyah. This mosque is mainly attended by Indian-Muslims, and the sermons are sometimes conducted in Tamil.

Finally, another major landmark in Brickfields is the 50-year-old Three Teachings Chinese Temple along Jalan Thambillay.


Read more about Brickfields on Wikipedia.
How to get to Brickfields and more..


Source of images and information: Wikipedia

Top 10 Budget Travel Tips for an Ultimate Kuala Lumpur Experience

PETRONAS Twin Towers
Source: Wikipedia

Kuala Lumpur is definitely one of the must-visit cities in Southeast Asia. Its unique blend of multiculturism makes it an exciting and vibrant city to explore.

The people you will meet, the places you will see, the food you will taste, the shopping for exciting retail therapy, the nightlife to experience in this bustling city that almost never sleeps can keep any traveller happily occupied and entertained wherever the interests may lie!

Some may find Kuala Lumpur slightly more expensive than most other cities in Southeast Asia, however, there are ways to make your visit more affordable. Here are 10 Budget Travel Tips for an Ultimate KL Experience.

1). Stay at hostels around Bukit Bintang or Chinatown for cheaper accommodation. Dorm rooms can be found from RM20 – RM45 per night, while budget hotels can cost anything between RM90 to over RM100. Check out HostelWorld to see the available hostels around the city.

2). Utilise public transportation in the city. Kuala Lumpur offers easy access to plenty of public transportation including the Light Rail Transit (LRT) or Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) systems where fares start from RM2, buses from RM1 and the GO-KL free bus service that takes you around the major landmarks in Kuala Lumpur including the Petronas Twin Towers and the KL Tower.

3). Experience the local street food that only costs from RM5 – RM15 per meal. Visit the mamaks for Indian food, warungs for Malay dishes and the street hawkers in Chinatown for Chinese street food. Another recommended street food venue that is popular with tourists and locals alike is Jalan Alor (Alor Street) - located off Jalan Bukit Bintang. Here you will find a variety of Asian food from RM10 – RM45 per meal.

4). Shop at Sungei Wang Plaza and Berjaya Times Square for great prices for clothes, shoes and bags. Clothes from as low as RM10 are also available here! Looking for affordable grooming services including manicure, pedicure and hair salon services? Sungei Wang Plaza is where to look. Wigs too as well, of course.

Chinatown
Source: CompareHero

5). Chinatown is not to be missed when in Kuala Lumpur. More shopping opportunity here. Central Market is another place not to be missed if you are looking for souvenirs. When shopping in these two places, time to exercise your bargaining skill. A must try in Chinatown is the street food and a chance to sit back and take in the sights and sounds of a bustling Chinatown.

For a bit of local culture, the vicinity of Chinatown has two nice temples to visit. One is a Chinese temple, the other an Indian temple.

6). Look for the free things to do in the city including free movie screenings. This happens every Monday evening at Publika, or head on over to Pisco’s Bar for their free foreign movie screenings on Tuesdays. If it's art you are interested in, head on to the Petronas Art Gallery at Suria KLCC for some Contemporary Art appreciation. Entrance is free.

7). Experience the nightlife in Changkat even when you’re pinching pennies, there are many clubs and bars that do not charge entry fees and offer free drinks for the ladies every day of the week. Visit Sky Bar at Traders Hotel for a fantastic clubbing experience with view of the entire city for free!

8). Visit the Petronas Twin Towers and experience the view from 1,500 meters high on the deck of the skybridge. Entry costs RM85 per person, but the view is well worth the price, especially at night. Kuala Lumpur Tower also offers a fantastic view at 790 feet above the ground, along with other fun activities for both adults and children. Ticket prices start from RM32 (depending on the package).

9). Check out cultural heritage sites such as Batu Caves, Sri Mahamariaman Hindu Temple, National Mosque (Masjid Negara), Little India and Sin Sze Si Ya Temple that won’t cost you a dime.

10). If a park visit is on your itinerary, enjoy a day in the sun at the Lake Gardens (known as Taman Botani Perdana in the local Malay language) that also houses the KL Bird Park, KL Butterfly Park and KL Deer Park. Admission to the Lake Gardens is free. Entrance fee of RM45 and RM18 respectively for the KL Bird Park and KL Butterfly Park.

KL Bird Park
Source: Wikipedia

There you have it, Top 10 Budget Travel Tips for an Ultimate Kuala Lumpur Experience!

Kuala Lumpur is a relatively safe city. However, best to take necessary safety precautions as you would anywhere else. Commonsense prevails always. Also, as travelers in a foreign land, it is always advisable to have a carbon copy of your passport with you at all times while the original copy is safe somewhere else such as in a hotel safe. It’s also advisable for you to carry less cash and use your use your travel credit card for your expenses. Besides, you get to earn rewards points and cashbacks!

Visit CompareHero.my blog for more financial tips and advice.

Welcome to Kuala Lumpur!

Inter-monsoon season is here

I is for Inter-monsoon season.

We are still on the weather, yes.

As a follow-up to the 'H' post on Haze in Malaysia, let's talk about the Monsoon today.

Malaysia not only has a monsoon season, it has two. That's right T-W-O.

One is the southwest monsoon which is about to start anytime soon just as we speak. In fact, MetMalaysia said the inter-monsoon season had set in last week with west coast states expe­riencing heavy rainfall in the past few days.

The other monsoon season is the northeast monsoon which occurs late November right through to January. The latter is when we get heavy rains that cause much flooding, devastation and hardship to the people in the east-coast states of Kelantan, Terengganu and parts of Pahang. Sadly, this is a yearly affair. There is much to be done.

The southwest monsoon on the other hand affects states on the west coast of the peninsula, including the capital city of Kuala Lumpur which is located inland. The expected heavy downpour should provide a respite from the heat wave we are experiencing right now which results in hotspots from peat fires and subsequently causing the haze over the country.

If you are planning a trip to Malaysia, best to check up on the weather/monsoon season for the part of the country you are visiting. For example if you are going to the island of Perhentian or to Clud Med, on the east coast, you may want to avoid the months of November to January. Other than that, every month is a good month to visit Malaysia. And that includes the island of Borneo which boasts of one of the best dive sites in the world, Sipadan.

Source: Tourism Malaysia

Malaysia celebrates a number of festivals that may make your visit here with us more enjoyable, more memorable. Shopping is definitely one good reason, if nothing else. So is food. With our melting pot of cultures, expect to be amazed what you can feast on. Tourism Malaysia is a good reference for a start.

Genting Highlands - The City of Entertainment

G is for Genting Highlands.

'The City of Entertainment' - this is what Genting Highlands is also known as.

Just an hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur, Genting Highlands is a place where city folk can get away from the heat and the hustle and bustle of the city.

The hill resort, at an average elevation of 1,740 metres (5,710 ft) above sea level has a cool spring-like climate with the average temperature falling in between 20°C to 25°C during the day and to around 15°C at night so it can get quite cold. Do pack a cardigan or a jacket. You will need it not only for the night but for when you go outdoors as the winds can be chilly.

Resorts World Genting has five hotels. One of the five hotels, the First World Hotel, holds the Guinness World Record as the largest hotel in the world from 2006 until 2008, and regained the title in 2015 with a total of 7,351 rooms.

First World Hotel

Genting Highlands resort is popular with tourists and locals alike (like I said it's only an hour's drive from Kuala Lumpur) for the many attractions available. There is something to do for everyone from the young to the young-at-heart.

This is the First World Plaza or what is commonly known as the Indoor Theme Park, where there are games and rides for everyone. And, of course, many food outlets, you'd be spoilt for choice. The place never sleeps.

There's even a tow boat ride a la the Venice gondola.. without the gondolier, of course.

The Genting Outdoor Theme Park is currently closed, since 1 September 2013, to make way for the RM1 billion world’s first 20th Century Fox World, originally due to be completed by 2016 but has now been delayed to 2017.

Over the years, Gentings had evolved into a shopping destination as well.

Genting Premium Outlets is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2016. It will be Southeast Asia's first hilltop Premium Outlet Centre. The development will cover 600,000 square feet and costs MYR 200 million. (Wikipedia)

But now open is a Nike Factory Store, where prices are a real knockdown from the ones in the city. So if you are there you may want to check the place out. It's in the vicinity where the bowling alley is. That's right. There is also bowling (ten pin) available besides other activities to spend a fun and eventful holiday there.

A word of warning though, unless you don't mind standing in line or get caught in both human and vehicular traffic, try to avoid going there during public holidays.

If all those rides and stuff are not exciting enough for you, try your hand at the casino.

Genting Highlands operates the only land-based casino in the country. When it was first started there was a strict dress-code for men (jacket or long-sleeved batik) but not anymore. Currently, a collared shirt is what's required. No shorts or slippers allowed I should think.

Also, formerly a RM200 deposit to enter was mandatory but not anymore.

Gentings can also be reached via a cable car system. Called Genting Skyway, it is a gondola lift connecting Gohtong Jaya and Resort Hotel at the top. Its lower station at Gohtong Jaya township, located approximately 51 kilometres (32 mi) northeast of Kuala Lumpur, comprises a 5-storey station building and a 10-storey car park while its upper station is located at the Resort Hotel.

Genting Skyway is also recognised as the "World's Fastest Mono Cable Car System" with a maximum speed of 21.6 kilometres per hour (13.4 mph) and possibly the "Longest Cable Car in Malaysia and Southeast Asia". It is a 3.38 kilometres (2.10 mi) transport to the hilltop.

By the way, if you are there and if you are interested to know more about Genting Highlands do go by their gallery. It's located somewhere near the lobby of the main hotel. I stumbled upon the place on my last visit. Genting celebrates 50 years.

Also when you are there, if you are interested in exotic cars, on weekends mostly, there'll be a whole line of such cars parked just in front of the main hotel as well as at Maxims. You'd see many admirers taking selfies with the cars.

Did I mention there's an indoor heated pool? If you are a guest at one of the hotels, (but of course), that is available for you.

If you are a tourist to Kuala Lumpur and want to know how to get to Genting Highlands, check with your hotel. They'd be able to assist.


Sources:
- Wikipedia
- Genting Highlands website

Best Airlines in the World

B for Best.

Today, I choose to blog about the Best Airlines in the World.

Malaysia, with a population of about 30 million people, is just a small young country in the Southeastern corner of the world, i.e. Southeast Asia. Despite that Malaysia has scored some accolades in the world, for example, Malaysia's Air Asia has been voted the World's Best Low-Cost Airline. This has been released by Skytrax, an expert on air travel.



The World's Best Low-Cost Airlines - 1. AirAsia

Voted as the best low-cost airline, AirAsia operates at the lowest unit cost in the world of just US $0.023 per available seat kilometres.

AirAsia’s other airline AirAsia X follows it on the list - 2nd placing. Third comes Norwegian Air Shuttle. Check out The World's Best Airlines across different categories..

Image source: Msn.com


This post is part of the Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Interested enough to join the challenge? Hurry you have less thatn 1 day and 23 hours left to sign up.

Cameron Highlands is still a cool hill station

The Cameron Highlands is one of Malaysia’s most extensive hill stations.  The other hill stations being the one on Penang Hill and Fraser's Hill which is in the state of Perak.

The size of Singapore, Cameron Highlands occupies an area of 712 square kilometres (275 sq mi) in the Titiwangsa Mountains.

Many think that the "Camerons" is no longer cool or rather not as cool in temperature as it used to be before rampant development took place in the last few years.

Still, the temperatures there are still much cooler than in Kuala Lumpur, for instance.   The mean annual temperature of the resort is about 18 °C (64 °F). During the day, the temperature seldom rises above 25 °C (77 °F); at night, it can rarely drop to as low as 9 °C (48 °F), at the higher areas though it would be comfortable to have a heated blanket, I should think or at least a hot water bottle for the night...

Are you going to Egypt?

Everyday, day or night, you switch on to CNN, BBC, Al Jazeera or Skynews and you'd be hit with news about the violence in Egypt. It used to be news about Syria. Both situations are just as bad, worrisome and saddening, like why are we killing each other?

Egypt, like China, has a rich history and civilization that date back centuries so it should be a very interesting place to visit from what we know. If you are thinking about going to Egypt, you may want to hold on to that plan for now.

With the escalating unrest, many countries are issuing travel warnings about going to Egypt including the seaside resorts along the Red Sea though one owner of a diving centre in Hurghada said:

"Most of the events are 600 kilometres away in Cairo and in Alexandria, but people just don't realise that," he told Reuters by telephone.

"Downtown Hurghada is absolutely quiet. All I saw today were some people and police sitting together protecting the church."

He said the media coverage of the deadly violence was partly to blame.

Let's see which countries are issuing travel advisories to their citizenry..

German tour operators Thomas Cook Germany and TUI Germany, part of Europe's largest tour operator TUI Travel, cancelled all trips to Egypt after the German foreign ministry advised against travelling to the beach resorts popular with European sun-seekers and divers.

Similar advice from Sweden's foreign ministry led Swedish tour operators to stop all trips to the resorts of Sharm el-Sheikh, 400 kms from Cairo on the Sinai Peninsula, and Hurghada on the Egyptian mainland.

Belgium followed suit, extending a travel warning to tourist resorts on Friday that led to travel agencies Neckermann and Jetair cancelling all trips to Egypt until August 31.

The United States on Thursday warned Americans against travelling to Egypt and urged U.S. citizens living in Egypt to leave the country.

Egypt attracted 14.7 million visitors in 2010 including 2.8 million Russians, 1.5 million Britons and 1.3 million Germans, according to OECD figures.

Three years ago the $13 billion (8 billion pounds) industry accounted for 11 percent of GDP, according to the World Tourism Organization.

Russia, the biggest source of tourists to Egypt, said its citizens should not travel to the country and its tourism agency advised against tour operators promoting Egyptian holidays.

Britain's foreign office has advised against travelling to Egypt except to Red Sea resorts, although a spokesman said this guidance was under constant review.

He said some tourists in resorts at Hurghada had been advised not to leave their hotel grounds after one man was killed in clashes there on Wednesday.

Millions of foreigners visit Egypt each year to laze on its beaches, tour ancient ruins and cruise along the Nile.

Travel advice issued by governments affects tourism as travel health and cancellation insurance will often not apply to locations deemed unsuitable for travel.
Source: The Star..Travel firms cancel holidays as violence grips Egypt



The two images above capture the views from the top of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. They are two of a number of illicit photos taken by tourists in March of this year who secretly climbed the wonder of the world at night.

A group of Russian tourists waited until official visiting hours were over at Egypt's famous Giza Necropolis, before scaling the enormous Great Pyramid as the sun began to set.

The Russians managed to escape the attention of security guards at the ancient site, allowing photographer Vitaliy Raskalov to snap pictures of the surrounding desert and the majestic Sphinx from the top of the 455ft structure.

Here's another view from the top of the Great Pyramid..

For more information and photographs, visit The view from the TOP of the Great Pyramid: Illicit photos taken by tourists who secretly climbed wonder of the world at night


Better yet, view a video by CNN from which the above photos have been taken, I think.


The Russian photographer has apologized for ignoring regulations prohibiting the public from climbing on the Pyramids at Giza, Egypt.

"No words can express the fascination I felt when seeing my childhood dream come alive. Probably this very feeling made us climb onto the top of the Pyramid and see the the panorama of the whole complex, the desert and Cairo itself.

"It took us around 20 minutes to get to the top. We were taken breathless by the view.

"What we saw from up there was the seventh wonder of the world. We tried to capture the beauty of the scenery in the photos, so that the others could also see this magnificent panorama."

He said they were not the first to scale the pyramids.

"The pyramid's peak was filled with different inscriptions in many languages, some of them being hundreds years old." More on CNN..Russian photographer apologizes for pyramid photos

Malaysia has 3 beaches on CNN's World's 100 Best Beaches

What a glorious morning this is! Blue skies and bright sunshine and on a Sunday too!

Malaysia is like this most of the time if you're wondering about the weather here. Humid, yes. Haze, not right now, but great to be outdoors most days - perhaps to a beach?

25. Sun Island Beach, Maldives

Speaking of the beach, three beaches in Malaysia made it to CNN's updated list of the World's 100 Best Beaches. Better yet, all three are in the top 50.

Coming in at..

49. Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi, Malaysia

49. Tanjung Rhu, Langkawi, Malaysia

CNN says:
Most tourists on Langkawi flock to Pantai Cenang beach, but the quieter Tanjung Rhu has an earthy beauty and serene atmosphere. The long beach area is surrounded by ancient limestone caves, rippling waterways and dense mangroves.

Highlight: The Four Seasons Resort offers boat tours around the mangrove forests.

If you are planning your next island holiday or a Malaysian holiday, here is CNN's 10 best islands for a Malaysia holiday to check out.


At
21. Juara Beach, Tioman Island, Malaysia

CNN says:
Less developed and less polished than Thailand, Tioman Island's Juara Beach brings an all-natural, quiet vibe to the beach experience. This isn't the place for parties or nightlife, unless you like your parties hushed and your nightlife nonhuman.

Worth knowing: Various travelers report sand flies on the beach.


And at
13. Pulau Perhentian Kecil, Malaysia

Now will you look at that! Yep, that's right here in Malaysia.

13. Pulau Perhentian Kecil, Malaysia

CNN says:
Malaysia's Perhentian Islands are to beach bums what Kobe beef is to carnivores; once you've experienced it, nothing else quite matches up.

The two main islands are the backpacker-happy Pulau Perhentian Kecil (Small Perhentian Island), and Pulau Perhentian Besar (Big Perhentian Island), which has slightly more expensive accommodations.

Highlight: The blue waters off Pulau Perhentian Kecil invariably contain turtles and small sharks.


I'm sure you'd want to know which beach tops the list of the World's best beach. It's

1. Grande Anse Beach, La Digue Island, Seychelles

CNN says:
Secluded and easy to skip because it takes some effort to get here, Grand Anse on La Digue is the archetypal beach, the benchmark against which others must be judged. It's a must, especially if you're a surfer.

Worth knowing: The waves can be boisterous and there's not much shade.


Hey Rurousha, the Boulders Beach in Cape Town comes in at #22!

CNN says:
Boulders Beach is home to 3,000 jackass penguins, which are often spotted waddling in and out of the sea. The best place to see the penguins is from a viewing boardwalk constructed on nearby Foxy Beach.

And another one in South Africa, coming in at

78. Jeffreys Bay, South Africa

CNN says:
Jeffreys Bay's legendary breaks attract top surfers to the annual Billabong Pro ASP World Tour surfing event. Nearby lagoons make ideal venues for boardsailing and canoeing. The Seekoei River Nature Reserve, a haven for rare birds, is nearby.

Highlight: Migrating whales pass by the bay to give birth every season.


You're scoring another one too for Japan..

58. Akajima, Okinawa, Japan

CNN says:
The islet of Akajima is popular among Japanese day-trippers during summer, but foreign travelers are a rare sight. It retains a sequestered charm even during peak season. The beaches are spotless, usually dotted with just a handful of surfers.

Highlight: Further inland, a quaint Ryukyuan heritage house is open to visitors.


Ai Shiang, Bondi Beach makes the cut too.

44. Bondi Beach, Sydney, Australia

CNN says:
For an iconic all-round great city beach you can't miss with Bondi. The wide curving crescent of white sand can get incredibly busy, but that's only because the surfing is gnarly, the sands are clean and the nearby eateries are fantastic.

Highlight: After a day in the sun you can chase down the day with a meal at Bondi Trattoria, one of the best Italian restaurants in the city.

Here's another..

88. Byron Bay, Australia

CNN says:
Pubs, cafes and bookshops host buskers, musicians, artists and drift-ins who walk the streets barefoot and bleary eyed. There's a lingering scent of the Flower Power generation, while surfers wait for perfect waves.

Highlight: Every year, the Byron Bay Bluesfest attracts some of the biggest names in world music, and with it, thousands of Sydneysiders.


PandaB, Fiji is also on the list. So is one in Hawaii..

46. Natadola Beach, Fiji

CNN says:
Probably Fiji's finest beach, Natadola Beach is one of the few places in the country that's good for swimming 24 hours a day. A luxury resort backs onto the beach and attracts vendors selling coconuts and beach fashion accessories, so you'll need to put distance between you and the resort if you like solitude.

70. Punalu'u, Hawaii, United States

CNN says:
No sugary sands and idyllic swimming conditions, but you will find a dramatic black basalt shore and might spot green and hawksbill turtles, as well as dolphins and whale sharks, if you snorkel off this Big Island beach.

Highlight: Getting here involves a 20-minute trek through a wooded dirt trail, underlining the remote and undeveloped beach.


Alright, here's the list of World's 100 Best Beaches for your holiday-planning. Happy holidays!



Image source: CNN

Always pack Swimwear..

I've often read that the one piece of clothing not to be missed when packing for a holiday is the swimwear or a pair of swimming trunks if you are a guy. Unless you don't swim, of course. Still.

I came across this website of a la blanca swimwear sale the other day and thought you might also be interested to keep the site in view for your next swimwear shopping.  Nice pieces they have.   If you are in the market for a swimwear, now's a good time to check it out to enjoy their great discounts.

TripAdvisor's 25 Best Destinations in the World -- 2013

TripAdvisor.com is a travel website that assists customers in gathering travel information, posting reviews and opinions of travel-related content and engaging in interactive travel forums. TripAdvisor is a website many travellers go to for information on a place or city they intend to visit.

Eight cities in the Asia Pacific region made it to this year's TripAdvisor's list of 25 Best Destinations in the World. The cities are ranked according to travellers' choice.

Here are the eight cities that made the cut:

Sydney, Australia - comes in at #10

Bangkok, Thailand - at #13

Tokyo, Japan - #15

Beijing, China - #21

Shanghai, China - #22
Siem Reap, Cambodia - #23
Chiang Mai, Thailand - #24
Queenstown, New Zealand - #25

Here's the 25 in ascending order..

25. Queenstown, New Zealand
24. Chiang Mai, Thailand
23. Siem Reap, Cambodia
22. Shanghai, China
21. Beijing, China
20. St. Petersburg, Russia
19. Marrakech, Morocco
18. Buenos Aires, Argentina
17. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
16. Cape Town Central, South Africa
15. Tokyo, Japan
14. Chicago, U.S.A.
13. Bangkok, Thailand
12. Istanbul, Turkey
11. Berlin, Germany
10. Sydney, Australia
9. Prague, Czech Republic
8. Florence, Italy
7. San Francisco, U.S.A.
6. Venice, Italy
5. Barcelona, Spain
4. Rome
3. London
2. New York City
1. Paris

How many have you been too? Is there any in your 2013's travel list?

Find out why travellers have picked these cities to make them TripAdvisor's Travellers' Choice 25 Best Destinations in the World.

Make New Zealand your next holiday destination

New Zealand, "land of the long white cloud", is a beautiful country to visit. I know. I have been there, both North and South Islands. Auckland is usually the city that a visitor flies into when visiting New Zealand. The Auckland metropolitan area, in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country. It has close to 1.4 million people which makes up 32 percent of the country's population.

Though covering a huge area, Auckland is easy to get around and getting from the airport to the hotel is not a hassle either as auckland airport rental cars are readily available. Car rentals come with rates from as low as NZ19 a day.

Queenstown in South Island is not to be missed if you are planning to visit New Zealand. Seeing is believing how spectacular the city is. A Queenstown Apartment is an ideal choice of accommodation especially when you are travelling in a big group or with your family.

An apartment provides the comfort and convenience of a home in which you can do your laundry and your cooking. That way you save time from having to go out looking for food in addition to having the luxury of home-cooked meals. Also, cooking your own meals can mean savings to spend on something else.  There is more to gain from staying in an apartment.

Going on the Silk Road in China

The other day, I mentioned about family members signing up (and paid for) for a tour of Shanghai and surrounding cities in October and my contemplation on whether to join them. That was ten days ago.


Over the weekend, a girlfriend said her girlfriend will be going on a Silk Road package tour middle of next month. Horrors! There is no turning back now as everything has been paid for. She assured that they will not be anywhere near Beijing or Shanghai, if that's helpful.

China is a popular travel destination for Malaysians particular the Chinese community, many of whom speak and write the language and who may still have relatives in China.   Family relations aside, China is still a fascinating country to visit.

Malaysia is right now heading towards the polls so we see more news coverage of matters concerning politics and none or very little of this new bird flu, the H7N9, of which infection is currently found concentrated in eastern provinces in China. Here, this could be a case of no news is good news, perhaps, but it is still good to have current update on this flu that health authorities fear of it becoming pandemic should the virus become transmissible human-to-human. As of now, there is no human-to-human transmission reported.

Bloomberg reported yesterday that

Beijing confirmed that a 7-year-old girl has H7N9 avian influenza and Henan province reported its first two cases, opening a new front in the spread of the virus in the world’s most populous nation.

Shanghai said today two people infected with the strain of bird flu died, taking the country’s death toll to 13. The city also reported three fresh infections today while the eastern provinces of Jiangsu and Zhejiang also confirmed new cases, raising the national tally to 60 from 49 yesterday.

More..China Bird-Flu Deaths Rise to 13 as H7N9 Virus Spreads

Air Asia offers 2 million FREE seats from April 2

Free AirAsia flights to several destinations are up for grabs from April 2.

If you are planning a vacation early part of next year to ASEAN countries (the Far East) or domestic locations, you are in luck. Free seats are for destinations including Penang, Alor Setar, Johor Baru, Kota Baru, Terengganu, Vientiane, Phuket, Ho Chi Minh, Bangkok, Chiangmai and Siem Reap. Travel period is between January and April next year.

There is more - If you are a member of AirAsia's BIG Loyalty Programme, you get priority to redeem the seats a day before.

The BIG Shots, as the members are called, will get first pick within 24 hours for the two million seats up for grabs from zero BIG Points onwards.
More..Free AirAsia flights up for grabs


Btw, here is the layout of the plane if you would like to pick a seat of your choice.

46 Places to Go in 2013 - NY Times

Holiday-seekers practically have the world at their feet, what with budget airlines and budget hotels plus a million free seats on AirAsia.

There is a whole lot of places to explore in every corner of the world, from one list of hot spots that CNN suggests on their Top travel destinations for 2013 to more recommendations by New York Times in their The 46 Places to Go in 2013. Let's take a look at this countdown.

Topping the list of 46 places is Rio de Janeiro - because the world will be there in 2014, for the World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Click on image to enlarge it..

That must be Christ the Redeemer on the top left, illuminated, statue of Jesus of Nazareth. According to Wikipedia, it is considered the largest Art Deco statue in the world and the 5th largest statue of Jesus in the world.

Coming in at second place is Marseille, the second largest city in France. An ancient port town on the Mediterranean, it has become a vibrant ethnic melting pot. Marseille is also home to an increasing number of contemporary art and avant-garde performances.

Nicaragua comes in third. The article says it's eco and the food is good. Enough said.

..then Accra in Ghana while Bhutan comes in at fifth spot.

6 Amsterdam
7 Houston
8 Rossland, British Columbia
9 New Delhi
10 Istanbul

11 Singapore (yes, Singapore at 11th) - Spot green shoots in a financial capital.
15 Mongolia
16 The Big Island, Hawaii
17 Philippines - A surfing and beach destination goes luxe.
20 Ningxia, China
27 Changbaishan, China
28 Porto, Portugal
30 Koh Phangan, Thailand - A party island goes upscale and family-friendly.
31 Kalpitiya, Sri Lanka
33 Bangkok - Still the party city of Asia but for a more sophisticated crowd.
42 Mergui Islands, Myanmar - Live-aboard diving in a remote archipelago.
44 Washington, D.C.
45 Casablanca, Morocco
46 Paris

No Malaysia. Even Sri Lanka makes the list, no offence. Surprisingly, Japan doesn't either.

For the full list and why you would want to be in these places, visit NY Times' The 46 Places to Go in 2013.


Image source: NY Times

One Million Free Seats from AirAsia

AirAsia is back again offering One million Free seats for holiday-makers.

The promotion covers flights throughout the AirAsia network, with flight codes AK, FD, QZ and PQ, which travellers can book from today until Jan 20 at www.airasia.com.

Under the promotion, all-in fares start from RM26 one-way to domestic destinations and RM52 one-way to international destinations.

The travel period is from Aug 20 till Feb 9 next year.

In conjunction with the free seats campaign, AirAsia X is also offering promotional fares with all-in fares from as low as RM249.

AirAsiaGo is also offering hotel rooms from as low as RM13 per night at destinations such as Penang, Langkawi, Bali, Bangkok, Guangzhou and Beijing.

This promotion is available for booking at www.AirAsiaGo.com for stay also from Aug 20 till Feb 9 next year.


Booking for AirAsia free seats is normally a challenge so patience would definitely come in handy. Good luck!


Source: The Star