Cheap Travel Idea: Happening (3)

Year 2013 is coming very soon!!!

MAS is now having an Enrich promotion. With just 50% from normal Enrich point, now we can go for holiday to any promo destination.

Hurry up as the promotion is only up to 31st December and travel period is from 1 Feb 2013 - *30 Jun 2013.

by using 60,000 points you can get return ticket to LA for FREE

Go to Australia by using 22,500 for return ticket

Cheap Travel Idea: Tips (6)

It's school holiday now in Malaysia, however it is monsoon. Hopefully all the readers have a good plan so that the monsoon won't affect your holiday too much.

Earlier, we have posted a tips on predicting the weather while planning for any holiday. We hope that helps you.

While some of you might opt for driving, here we have some tips for you:

1. Tyres: Grip is important during driving and it is all depend on your tyre. Before start your journey, make sure your tyre is in good condition. If it is raining, underinflated tyre grips better.
2. Distance: It is incredibly important to maintain good distance from the vehicle ahead of you. Do not follow too close as you might not have a good time should anything happen. Do not think too far, given potholes also might not be avoided.
3. Lights: This is  another element that ensure your visibility. Your visibility on the road as well as your visibility by  other driver.
4. Wipers: Spending a little bit more on wipers can ensure our safety. It is recommended to change the wipers 6-9 months. Consider to use the liquid that help remove rain drop from your windscreen.
5. Air-condition: During rain, air-condition is vital to remove the mist on your windscreen. Still remember back in old days when I have to help my father wiping the mist away because during that day our car still don't have air-conditioning. This is dangerous actually.
6. Hazard light: Sometimes we can see driver turning on the hazard light in heavy rain. This is dangerous actually as other drive might have misinterpret. Just turn on your headlamp. This is good enough.
7. Surrounding: This applicable for normal driving as well. Always check side and rear view mirror to know your surrounding.
8. Braking: Do not slam your brake, instead steer out of the way first. This complement tips above where we ought to know our surrounding.

Cheap Travel - Melaka: Jonker Walk

Jonker Walk is one of the famous tourist attractions at Melaka. Located right in the middle of Bandar Hilir, it consist of rows of old building with shops selling antiques, handicraft, apparels, food and many others. Visit to Melaka will be incomplete without going to Jonker Walk.

The buildings at Melaka are well preserved. It makes you feel like back to old days when you are at Jonker Walk.

In addition, things sold at Jonker Walk are sold at reasonable price and makes them a perfect souvenirs to bring back home.

Jonker Walk becomes more happening at night. The road closes for all types of vehicles, giving spaces for all shop owners and local to open booth along the road.

During last visit, the most attractive item at Jonker Walk are the handicraft miniature and the expandable greeting cards.

Vespa miniature

The expandable greeting cards

The miniatures are sold at various sizes at really reasonable price. 

The Vespa and other miniatures are sold at RM12

Melaka trishaw are sold between RM8-RM25 depends on size

There are also varieties of greeting cards available with a very creative shape accompany each card. Each shape represents a very handful art and looks impossible to be done. However, the cards are cheap.

small - RM20

big - RM30

Various greeting cards available

The details of each card

Wedding card

Cheap travel idea: Tips (5)

For those who plan to travel by using airplane, here are some facts about travelling by air.

1. Do you know that travelling by air is the safest in the world?  One study found that the chances of dying in a scheduled commercial flight are one in 14 million in the United States. some say it is more like one in 11 million. However it is much less dangerous than driving
2. The safest airlines 2012 in alphabetical order are: 

• Air Canada
• Air France-KLM
• AMR Corporation
• Delta Airlines
• International Airlines Group
• Lufthansa
• Qantas
• Southwest Airlines United-Continental
• US Airways

Cheap Travel - Kedah: Langkawi

All of us know about Langkawi Island. Langkawi also has made itself into the world map. Le Tour De Langkawi, Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA). 

How much do we know about Langkawi? What is the main attraction there? What are the things to do there? Heheheh...just asking this question.

Let starts with shopping. Why shopping? As the picture above, everybody knows that Langkawi is one of the duty free zone in Malaysia. 

What does it mean?
It means we can buy cheap goods especially chocolate, cigarettes and alcohol. Some say it is also cheap to buy kitchen ware.

Where to buy them?

There are two main shopping complexes that you can find at Kuah Town (the main town of Langkawi) which are HIG (Hj Ismail Group) and Idaman Suri.

Idaman Suri from outside

For this post, the highlight is Idaman Suri. The new location of Idaman Suri, is  about 5km from Kuah Town. From Kuah Town, you will notice a big multi-storey yellow building on your right hand side. YESS. That is IDAMAN SURI!!!

kitchen wares

cutleries

Yes, as you can see there are a lot of kitchen ware. Its a heaven for real shoppers. A lot of brand available such as CorningWare, Arcopal, Corelle etc.

Even though dominated by kitchen-ware, Idaman Suri also have a variety of chocolates. The brands are almost similar compare to other outlets at airports around Malaysia but much  much much CHEAPER!!!

For example 400g Party Pack Snickers, normal price at airport would be RM27.90-28.90. Over here its RM14.90!!!

If you wonder how to get there, here I include the map:

cheap travel idea: Happenings (2)

Free seats

cheap travel idea: Happenings

MATTA FAIR SEPT 2012

This  fabulous travel fair has come back!!! Let's go to PWTC and grab our travel holiday.

The new entrance fee is RM4 instead of RM3 before.  :(

For those who plan to go, I think the best transportation is to use LRT instead of driving your car. The traffic could be ridiculous and the only  parking lot available is far away from PWTC.

Cheap travel idea: tips (4)

Have you ever get stuck in bad weather during your holiday???

Holiday is the time when we spend our time doing something we usually don't do to release our stress. Some like to spend time with family/ friends by the beach, picnic at waterfall or having some adventures. Most of the things we do during our holiday involve outdoor activities. Hence it is utmost to ensure the weather is fine for us to do such activities.

As for my experience, usually I will have an overview of the season that particular place. For example if I want to go to 4-season country, I have to see at what season is the best to that particular country suit to my activities. If I want to go to countries near the equator instead e.g.: Malaysia, Indonesia etc, I will see what is the best month to visit that particular countries. It is important as we do not want to get stuck in the rain.

 The question is where to get all that info???
 As for my experience, travelling book helps a lot to tell you about the destination that you are going to go. Just flip to the weather section (usually in the introduction chapter). It will give you the overview the best time to visit that place.

It sonuds tedious right? Of course I do have better choice. Just go to Air Asia website. Click 'Travel Info' at the left bar and 'Destination Guide'. Next just choose your holiday destination.

STEP1:

STEP 2:

SAMPLE:

Annual weather for Kuala Lumpur

Annual weather for Bali

Cheap Travel - Selangor: Selayang Hot Spring

Selayang Hot Spring is very well taken care

Cheap Travel heard about Selayang Hot Spring from friends. In the first place, it is quite hard to believe that we can enjoy such natural beauty so near to KL.

Selayang Hot Springs has been upgraded to be a tourist attraction recently. There are 3 pools available enough to attract visitor with the curative properties for muscle aches and minor skin conditions such as rashes. It is believed that the mineral content of the waters such as sulphur, helps in the healing process.

Of the three pools, the one under the shade of trees is the most popular. Visitors like to sit on the edge of the circling wall to relax. This is also the hottest pool; the other two have lower temperatures. In these two pools, it is possible to dip oneself into the pool, but some people prefer to use a bucket to scoop water from the pool to bathe. After cooling off, the bathing process is repeated a few times.

It is so easy to get to the Selayang Hot Springs, just travel along Jalan Ipoh towards Rawang. After passing the Selayang Wholesale Market on the right and upon approaching the Kia Service Centre, keep a lookout for the signboard on the left just before the flyover leading to Bandar Baru Selayang.

The entrance fee is absolutely FREE OF CHARGE however the parking fee is RM 2

one of the pool at Selayang Hot Spring

The 3 pools at Selayang Hot Spring

Since I experienced difficulties to find this place on my first time because the signage is quite small, so I share this map to you. Hopefully it will help.

map to Selayang Hot Spring:

Cheap Travel - Perak : Teluk Nipah

Teluk Nipah beach

Pulau Pangkor/ Pangkor Island is one of tourist attraction in Perak. Pulau Pangkor is easily accessible through Lumut Jetty. Since 2010, the access has become easier because we can opt to board from Marina Island (terms and condition apply).

If you are board from Lumut Jetty, it takes approximately 30 minutes because it is quite further and it has two stops. It first stop at the fishermen village and the second one is at the tourist jetty. The best thing if we board from Lumut is we can also bring our bike onto the ferry. Of course charges apply. The ferry from Lumut Jetty is however quite crowded.

Marina Island Jetty

The new jetty at Marina Island is brand new private facilities. RM10 for return tickets and it takes approximately 10 minutes to Pulau Pangkor.

Main transportation at Pangkor Island either by big taxi or motorbike. Motorbike can be easily rented at RM30/day (if I'm not mistaken, correct me if I'm wrong).

The BBQ area

Pulau Pangkor has few beaches, but the one and only for me is Teluk Nipah. My recent trip to Teluk Nipah, I can see a new face of Teluk Nipah. Some of the new facilities are well-lit BBQ area, more organized souvenir and food stall. And the best thing is the beach remain unchanged, still nice and beautiful.

Taking afternoon boat from Lumut and I will reach at the hotel just nice for check-in. Upon check-in, it is highly recommended to try the Lempeng Pisang (Banana pancake) and the Pulut Panggang sold by the beach. It is easily recognized because it is the only stall selling Lempeng Pisang and Pulut Panggang.

Once you get your tank filled, then you can enjoy the beach while watching the sunset. The weather usually is very cooperative. With that, I can say it is one of the best sunset view that we can experience. Not far from Teluk Nipah, there is also a observation tower where you can enjoy the sunset.

For those who are looking for water sports, there are few provider readily waiting for you. Some of the water sports available are Island hopping (not the best), snorkelling (worth the price), kayak, banana boat and many more. Do not forget to negotiate to get your best price.

All in all, Pulau Pangkor trip is a budget island trip. Everything is considerably cheap compare to other island in Malaysia yet not at the expense of the activity, view and the ambiance.

Cheap Travel - Sabah: Rumah Terbalik

If you happen to go to Kota Kinabalu, there is a new attraction located only 30 minutes away from KK town which is called 'Rumah Terbalik'.

As the name implies, the house is really built upside down!!!

 From the main road, you can really see the red single storey upside down house and 1 upside down red  Kancil  (a car) park outside the house compound.

The admission fee:

RM 18 for adults

RM 10 for adults with MyKad

RM5 for kids below 12 years old

By paying you can go inside the compound to get close up pictures (not much different actually if just takke pictures from outside). After that, you will be guide by the staff to go inside the house.

Inside the house, every single thing that you expect to be in a house like TV, sofa, bed, comic, cosmetic are arrange upside down.  However you are not allowed to move freely, instead you need to stay within the red carpet provided. Strictly NO PICTURES inside the house, failure to do so you will be fined RM100.

There are also a cafe and merchandise area outside the house.

Overall, I think "Rumah Terbalik" is a little bit overcharged. I certainly expect something more from the visit. By the way, without paying the admission fee, you still can go very close to the red Kancil to snap pictures.

Cheap Travel - Travel tips (2)

There were many occasions where I left my valuables at my room after I check out from hotel. It is a not so good thing to experience when we are travelling. Well, yesterday it happened again to me.  Even though I had check out, fortunately it was still early and I was not yet at the airport.

When we left our valuables at hotel, it is troublesome because we need to identify ourselves and specifically describe to the receptionist what is the item that we had left at our room. If we are lucky enough, they will find it for you and keep it for you. Fortunately yesterday, the staff at the hotel are so honest and posses high integrity. They found my valuables and keep it for me until I made my way back to the hotel.

Since I have experienced this for several times, let me share with you the hotels that has been so honest as my appreciation:

1. Le Meridien, Kota Kinabalu
2. Imperial Hotel, Miri

At Mega Hotel, Miri and Eastwood Hotel, Miri however, I never get back my left item. Let's put good assumption that the item really missing somewhere not because they do not posses integrity.

After all,

1. Prevention is better than cure. DO NOT LEFT YOUR VALUABLES BEHIND - Double check your belongings before checking out. Do some round check around your room.
2. It is worth to remember your room number. At least if you realize that you have left something later, it is easier to do identification.

Cheap Travel - Melaka: Pantai Klebang

It was my first time in Pantai Klebang. What drives me there?

Before this I was not so used to a place called Pantai Klebang, until it was promoted somewhere in TV about its Coconut Shake. It's an ice blended coconut juice with couple scoops of vanilla ice cream and some other ingredients which I don't know mixed together in the blender. It gets better you have it with some other light snacks like karipap or goreng pisang etc. perfected with the ambiance of Pantai Klebang in the afternoon. So yes, Coconut Shake does drive me to Pantai Klebang.

I have had a chance to taste the famous Pantai Klebang Coconut Shake after going round and round Pantai Klebang twice. It is not located exactly at the beach instead you have to drive  about 1-2 km towards Pusat Bandaraya and its located on your left. You can hardly miss it because a lot of cars park along that road to quench their thirst.

Enough about Pantai Klebang Coconut Shake because there are a lot more activities that you can enjoy at Pantai Klebang. In addition to walk by the beach, there is a big area of land where you can fly kites. I think it is bigger than the one in Selayang. No worry about the wind because you are at the seaside. Other than that you can also ride a horse or fill your stomach as there are a lot of food stalls available along the beach.

Also got news that the submarine showcase is also located at Pantai Klebang. Check it out!!!