Category: Holiday Tips

Travel Tips

Regardless of whether you are travelling for business or simply a weekend getaway with your loved ones, it should be fun. To ensure that you can travel safely, arrive at your destination on time and avoid difficulties such as scams and culture shock, learn a little on travel safety tips. Read on for more information.

Tip 1: Keep photocopies of your passport, credit cards and other important documents

It is rather common for travelers to stash and hide their passports on the waist pack to prevent snatch theft. However careful you are, the professional snatch thieves can still get ahold of your important documents. Bear in mind that you are now abroad. To arrive back to your home country, you need to have passport with you. And without a passport, you need to travel to embassy/consulate to get a new one. To convenient the process, it is advisable to keep photocopies of important documents particularly passport and credit cards with you. However, keep these photocopies separately from the original documents. If your hotel room has a safe deposit, then keep the photocopies in it.

Tip 2: Avoid scams when abroad

No matter where you go, street scams and conmen tend to target tourists as their victims. Thus, do not overdress to flaunt that you are a tourist. If possible, try to blend in with the locals in the country. Be alert and watch out from time to time. Among some of the commonest scams worldwide happen when photographers offer to take picture of you. They will then ask for money in return for the pictures taken. Perhaps, in the last trip, you may have stumble cab drivers overcharging you when traveling from one point to another. Therefore, before you get into these public transportations, remember to bargain and confirm on the fare. Do not hesitate to walk away if they refuse to use metre.

Tip 3: Avoid culture shock when traveling

When an Asian travels to Western countries, most probably they feel uncomfortable with the different cultures practiced in the country. And the same applies to Westerners when they travel to Asian countries. No worries. Just take your time to adapt to the changing environment. To cope with culture shock, try to identify the symptoms and overcome it by picking up several common local dialects. You may also establish relationships with the locals to blend in and enjoy their culture. Bear in mind that you will only spend short period of time there, so why not take this opportunity to make new friends?

Tip 4: Coping with Jet Lag

First and foremost, identify some symptoms of jet lag (that way, it is easier for you to deal with it). Generally, jet lag occurs in a time zone with a difference of more than five hours. Individuals usually suffered from sleep disorders, mental confusion as well as stomachache (gastro-intestinal problem). To begin with, if you want to prevent jet lag, then you need to prepare yourself right when you board the plane. Take sufficient amount of fluid throughout the journey. In addition to that, try to move around when you are on board.

Tip 5: Using foreign currency when travelling

When travelling abroad, you should have more than enough foreign currency for emergency use. Try to understand that tourists must use the currency issued by specific country. If you still have currencies from your home country, head down to the nearest bank and buy the local currencies. Buy and sell the amount needed. Remember, try not to obtain more than the amount needed on daily basis as the rate differs day-by-day. Thus, if you acquire more than the exact amount, in the end you need to sell it back for your own currency. If the currency market fluctuates, you have to sell it at a lower price!

Tip 6: Pack luggage wisely

Prior to your journey, prepare a checklist on what you ought and oughtn’t bring. It is advisable to roll your clothes to save space in the luggage bag. Firstly, check out the travel rules and restrictions (liquid security restrictions) before packing your items. Grab a copy of travel book or search online on activities at your holiday destination. It helps you to determine suitable clothing items. Most importantly, bring along comfortable walking shoes as well as sandals. Do not bring fancy clothes that set you apart from the locals as you do not want to attract conmen or street scams.

Tip 7: Practical tips to select hotel room

Basically, it is rather safe if you opt to stay in five- or four-star hotels. You can store important documents in the safe deposit boxes available in the rooms and there are also security cameras along the corridor and everywhere in the hotel to safeguard you. But then again, it is better to be safe than sorry. If you choose to use the electronic safe deposit box in the room, wipe the touch keys before entering your preferred code. If you are travelling alone, be alert with the room security. Once you enter the room, check that it is clear. Besides, you should leave the lights on at night to give the impression that the room is occupied.

Tip 8: Health tips

Before you embark on your journey to other countries, check out useful numbers and addresses of nearest hospitals. You may also enquire the information when you check-in at the hotel. Also, take note on the diseases in your holiday destination to prevent you from getting infected. Look out on the food and drinks you consume. If you have food allergies, prepare a list to remind yourself about it.

After reading all the travel safety tips and secrets, you can enjoy your hassle free holidays!

Phrases you can use when travelling in Malaysia

The main conversational languages in Malaysia are English Language and Bahasa Malaysia, which is the local language. Hence if you are a foreigner coming to the country, it is essential that you have some knowledge of the local language in case you come across situations where the locals do not speak English. This can be quite rare but a few important phrases will surely be helpful in many ways. Malaysians are very friendly people and if you say or use the wrong phrases, they will not feel offended in any way if they know you are trying.

In most cases, English Language is commonly used so it is quite universal in that sense. If you know some Chinese like Mandarin and Cantonese or Tamil, you could also use them with the Chinese and Indian people respectively. The local language, Bahasa Malaysia or BM in short is generally similar to that of the Bahasa Indonesia although the way it is used and applied differs in some ways.

Perhaps the most common phrase that you will use when traveling in Malaysia is ‘How much?’ which a simple ‘Berapa?’ would be sufficient. It is also the word used to count which can also mean ‘How many?’. If you see a product or get into a taxi, you would need to tell the seller what you want and then proceed to ask ‘Berapa’ and they will reply you with the amount.

‘Saya’ is the word used for ‘Me’, or ‘I’. The modern BM have incorporated ‘I’ into its conversational methods and hence you can use ‘I’ if you are unsure. Eat or eating would be ‘Makan’. If you want to eat you can say ‘I nak makan’ or ‘Saya nak makan’. ‘Nak’ here is the lingo for ‘want to’ or ‘would like to’.

‘You’ is represented as ‘Awak’, ‘Kau’, or ‘you’ will do. ‘She’, ‘he’, ‘them’ are all represented with ‘dia’. ‘Money’ or ‘cash’ in BM is ‘Duit’ or ‘wang’. ‘Price’ is ‘harga’. So if you would want to ask the price of an item you could say ‘Berapa harga?’. Another common word which you will come across is the word ‘Please’ or ‘Help’ which in BM is ‘tolong’. Take note that Malaysians use the word ‘Lah’ in a lot of their everyday language. Here is where ‘lah’ is used at the end of a sentence and does not mean anything. It is somewhat similar to a comma or a full stop like ‘I do not want to eat lah…’.

Below are some of the common phrases that you will find useful.

Welcome – Selamat Datang

Good Morning- Selamat Pagi

Good afternoon -Selamat tengah hari

See You again – Jumpa lagi

Yes- Ya

No – Tidak

Thank you- Terima kasih

Please – Sila

My name is – Nama saya ialah ..

Please stop here- Sila berhenti di sini….

Can you reduce the price – Boleh kurang?

Wait a minute – Tunggu sekejap

Where is the toilet – Di mana tandas…?

What time is it – Pukul berapa sekarang?

bread- roti

beef- daging lembu

chicken -ayam

delicious- sedap

coffee – kopi

tea – teh

Bargaining

Shopping and bargaining goes hand in hand. If you are in Malaysia and you are in a night market or any of the flea markets, you will find that the prices of items are usually different among the stalls. The rule of thumb here is that if you are shopping in a market and not an official retail store, then you will need some bargaining skills to help you. The whole concept of bargaining in Malaysia is not to try and keep the price as low as possible but you will need to do this so that you do not overpay or get cheated by the sellers.

When do you actually bargain? The first thing you must know is that if you are in a shopping mall, the prices are usually fixed, so you can actually enquire if they offer discounts while bargaining will not do you any good. If you are in a market where sellers offer their products in makeshift stalls and such, then these are where your skills will be extremely useful.

If you are in Petaling Street or Chinatown, this is where you will find a lot of things that you can buy from the sellers there. As it is one of the major tourist destinations in Malaysia, you will need to be very tactful when buying anything there. At Chinatown, the common practice is to push the value down to at least half of the asking price before moving your way up.

In night markets and such, you will need to compare prices. There are many repeat stalls in these markets where you will most likely find the same product sold in different stalls and in different prices as well. So you must shop around and ask before deciding to buy. Unless you cannot find another stall that sells the item that you want, you will then need to start the bargaining process.

First of all, you must have a price range or a maximum cap of how much you are willing to pay. NEVER ever pay the price offered to you in the first instance even if it is lower than you expected. If your price range is US10 and they offer you at US6, don’t jump at the chance. You could get it for US4 which is way lower than you expected. Sometimes they will ask you to name your price and if that happens, you should start at US5 and then work your way up. If they do not bulge from the price you want, you can say that you don’t want it and walk away. In most cases, they will chase after you and make another offer. If they don’t then that item is not worth buying and chances are you would come across it again later. If you don’t and you really want that particular item, then you can come back at a later time of the day or another day if time permits. Don’t worry about being rude or anything because the sellers face these situations every day.

Tips on bringing cash into Malaysia

In terms of money, Malaysia is governed by the Malaysian Currency Exchange Control Order (Import and Export)(General) 1998 which stipulates that foreigners and tourists are allowed to bring in up to RM1,000 into the country while anything below USD10,000 should be declared regardless of they are foreign currency or traveler’s cheques. In most cases, you will not be questioned by the immigration when entering Malaysia but declaring how much you are carrying would be advisable. If you are not carrying too much cash, then it is considered alright not to declare your currency.

What is your best option?

One thing you must bear in mind is that changing your currency to the Malaysian Ringgit is very easy and readily available around the country. So you can easily bring in your own foreign currency and then convert them to local currencies here. Furthermore they usually have the different denominations in most of the banks and licensed moneychangers which can be found in most major shopping malls, airports and commercial areas.

Most moneychangers do not impose any charges for changing so it is very convenient. Your best option is to bring in major currencies like the British Pound, the US Dollar, Australian dollars and such because they usually accept them. That which you must know is the rates here are usually slightly better than changing Ringgit back in your home country. As mentioned, it is best to bring cash and change them in Malaysia. Moneychangers would always welcome most denominations although there are certain instances when they do not accept loose change and small notes. In most cases, they do not take coins as they are usually difficult to get rid off.

If you are doing this, then you should change about RM500 when you touch down at the airport which is quite sufficient to get you around to the cities. Once you are there, you can then find the shopping malls where the rates are better than that found in the airports. Bank notes which are damaged will not be accepted so you must ensure that your notes are in good condition. You can use your ATM cards to withdraw cash from the machines which are easily found in most places but the rates are usually higher so it is usually not advised for you to do so unless it is absolutely necessary. Change your Ringgit back to your own currency before leaving because the rates are always better here.

What to do during emergencies?

In most countries, the number to call during emergencies is 999. It is basically the same in Malaysia. However, you have to be aware that due to vandalism and sometimes poor maintenance, some of the public phones are usually damaged or not in working condition. Hence, it would be recommended that you actually bring your own cell phone in case such emergencies happen. If necessary, it would be very useful if you have some basic first aid experience as it would come in handy when needed.

Emergencies could range from accidents to theft and such and if you managed to get hold of a public phone which works, then you can dial 999 which is free of charge. However, if you are using your own mobile phone, you will need to dial 112 instead of 999 and this is possible even if are at a place with no service. What the phone will do is to tap into any available line and then connect you to the police or the relevant authorities. Most phone manufacturers allow the number the dial even when the keylock is activated.

If you need manual help, Malaysians are known to be very helpful where they can assist you in several ways. Tourists who come from countries which adopts left hand drive lanes might find it difficult to cross the road and any passer-by will be happy to help you if you need to. If in doubt, and you have access to the police officer, you can always ask them for assistance.

In a situation where you lose your belongings due to theft, burglary or misplacement, you would need to report it to the police. If you can find the station, you only need to walk right in and make your report. Otherwise, you can hail a taxi to bring you to one and inform the police that you have lost your belongings and they will settle it with the taxi driver. If you try to get help from people to bring you to the police station, it might be a bit challenging as not everyone would be that kind in fear of their own safety. In the police station, do NOT attempt to bribe the officer in any way as it is a serious offence to do so.

Certain phone manufacturers actually make their phones with hidden battery power. If you are carrying Nokia phone, pressing the key *3370# would activate the reserve battery power which is very ideal during emergencies and when the battery power is weak. When you charge your phone, the reserve power will be recharged. Do not however use this function too much as it is known to be damaging to the battery’s working life.

Is it a common practice to tip?

Tipping in Malaysia is not very common which means that in most situations, you need not tip for services offered. This is mainly because you will usually be charged a 10% service charge at places like restaurants, services and such. The most common places where tipping are practiced are at restaurants, pubs and cafes. Where this is concerned, take note that the 10% service charged are usually imposed and are absorbed into your bill. If you are paying cash, it is usually common to leave the loose change or RM1 on the bill jacket before leaving. Tips will then be accumulated during the day and then divided equally among the waiters and waitresses on duty that day. However, this is not mandatory although you will be considered to be extremely generous if you do. In most cases, RM5 to TM10 would be more than enough and is considered very generous.

The 10% service charge is actually used to cover the tipping and other miscellaneous charges so no one will fault you if you do not tip them. Furthermore, you might come across situations where you are not happy with the services that were offered. The rule of thumb to practice when tipping is to take the notes and leave the coins.

In the hotels, the common places to tip is first the staff who will bring your bags to the room. They will not stand around waiting for the tip so you would need to give them tips with your own accord. In these situations, you should pay them around the likes of RM5 or RM10 and that will do. It is also very kind to put a small token with a note for the housekeeping staff before you leave the room. This practice will ensure that they make your room better and provide you with better services. If you like to visit the swimming pool and the facilities in the hotel, it is also advisable to bring along some small notes to tip the staff working there and you will be remembered the next time you go there again.

When taking the taxi, you can choose to tip them if they follow the taxi meters. This can be done through rounding up to the nearest Ringgit and they will be very appreciative. However, if you are taking a taxi which does not follow the meter, then there is no need to tip the driver. This is where you get into a taxi and the driver offers you a price to take you to the destination. While this is not allowed, it is commonly practiced and the drivers usually target foreigners and those who need to get to the places fast. So if that is the situation, just pay the amount agreed and alight when you arrive.

Tips for Women Travellers

If you are a woman and travelling in Malaysia, there are a few things which you must consider. Depending if you are travelling alone or in a group, there are certain mannerisms and factors which you must be aware of so that you do not offend anyone or trample on anything which can be regarded as insensitive.

This is because, first and foremost you must be aware that a large population of Malaysians are Muslims and hence women are treated very conservatively, especially around states which are religiously strong like Kelantan and Terengganu. On the contrary, you will be able to find that in most major cities like Kuala Lumpur and Georgetown, the people there are more open minded. At these places, you can pretty dress up anyway you like especially if you are at the entertainment areas like pubs and clubs.

Dressing is very important among women so you might not want to under-dress when you are in public. Depending on where you are going and what you are seeing, be aware that people are looking and that some might not be too appreciative of you showing off too much. There are no beaches in Malaysia that allow people to dress skimpily. You can however wear bikinis and such when visiting the beaches if you are perfectly alright with people looking at you all the time.

When entering temples and places of worship, ensure that you have your chest, arms and legs covered which is deemed to be conservative and most appropriate. Check with the locals here where you might need to don a scarf. T-shirts, jeans and pants are considered acceptable but you might want to wear skirts which are too short. As certain parts of Malaysia are still very much conservative, some might regard smoking as indecent as well.

Tips for Foreigners Travelling to Malaysia

Malaysia is a renowned multicultural country with a diverse population in the eyes of the world. You’ll gain more than just experience and memories with every visit to Malaysia as travelers learn a lot about local culture and celebrations among the different races and religions – Malay, Chinese, Indian and many other ethnic groups in the country.

Generally, Westerners can enter Malaysia without applying for visa as a 30, 60 or 90 days entry permit will be issued to travelers once they get into the country. However, some nationalities are required to obtain a tourist visa on arrival. Travelers from Israel, Republic of Serbia and Republic of Montenegro are required to gain permission from Malaysia Ministry of Home Affairs prior to their trip in Malaysia.

Malaysia Airports & Airlines

Tourists can choose to travel into Malaysia by plane either by taking the national carrier Malaysia Airlines (MAS) or the world’s best low cost airline AirAsia. International flights will land at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) while those who take no frills carrier AirAsia, passengers will land at KLIA2 or formerly LCC Terminal slightly further away from KLIA. Besides the capital city, Kuala Lumpur, foreigners usually flock into other hotspots such as Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, Langkawi and Penang.

Once you reach KLIA or KLIA2, you can either take a bus, Express Rail Link or taxi to get into Kuala Lumpur city centre. It takes about an hour to get to city centre from airport. There are 13 states and 3 federal territories in Malaysia. Once you touch down in Malaysia, you have to explore not only Kuala Lumpur but also other historic towns and cities such as Penang, Ipoh, Johor Bahru, Kuching, Labuan and plenty more.

Generally, traveling around Peninsular Malaysia is convenient and affordable thanks to no frills low cost carrier, AirAsia. In addition to AirAsia, passengers can also travel by Firefly or MAS to get around the country. These carriers offer competitive rates to boost tourism industry in the country. For those who would like to embark on a road trip, you may rent a car, take a bus or train from one state to another. Overall, the transportation system between states is quite efficient.

However, if you intend to spend few days in other less developed state such as Kuantan, Ipoh, Perlis et ct, geared up as you either have to walk long distance to visit all the state’s tourist hotspot or hire a cab. Therefore, it is recommended to hire a rental car to travel when you are holidaying in these states.

Festivals & Celebrations

Travelers are advised not to travel to Malaysia during peak tourist seasons – from December until end of January. This is because major public holidays such as Christmas, Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Puasa/ Aidilfitri and school holidays last between these two months. The hotels and accommodations are fully booked during peak tourist seasons.

However, for those who would like to enjoy local festive celebrations, then you just have to plan ahead and book the hotels few months earlier. During festive seasons such as Hari Raya, Chinese New Year, Deepavali and Christmas, there are plenty of open houses organized by the government for people from different races to enjoy the celebrations and holidays together harmoniously.

Basically, Malaysia is a hot and humid country. Therefore, bring light and comfortable clothes if you plan to go sightseeing in the country. However, do take note on the dress code in Malaysia (since there is a mix of many religions but predominantly Muslims).

Westerners traveling in Asian countries can be rewarding and challenging at the same time as you do not know the local language (that will complicate matters and your journey in that particular country). But in Malaysia, no worries if you do not know how to converse in Malay Language since English is widely spoken nationwide especially in capital cities and tourists hotspots.

Various exciting and fun-filled activities await you in Malaysia. From golfing in world class courses to shopping, diving to outdoor activities, there is always something out there for you! Every year, a number of golf enthusiasts flocked into the country as Malaysia is a well-known golfers’ paradise in the world. So perhaps, you can try golfing in Kuala Lumpur while enjoying the scenic view of Petronas Twin Towers.
Among some of the must visit spotlight destinations in Malaysia are Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Pulau Redang, Pulau Pangkor, Langkawi, Mount Kinabalu, Endau Rompin Park and Tunku Abdul Rahman National Park.

Penang for foreigners

The beautiful Penang was voted as a Food Haven by New York Times Readers for scrumptious and mouth-watery local delicacies such as laksa, prawn mee, char kuey teow and plenty more hawkers’ food. In addition to that, beach lovers must also visit Batu Feringghi which is on the northern side of the island. Devout Buddhists must not miss out the opportunity to check out the reclining Buddha in Wat Chayamangkalaram Temple.

Other than the above mentioned Batu Feringghi, beach lovers also must spend some quality time with your loved ones at beautiful tranquil Pangkor Island and the pristine Redang Island. These are some of the must visit spotlight destinations in the country.

City Attractions

On the other hand, here are some city excitement attractions – Penang Museum and Art Gallery, Jalan Temenggong Kelantan, Petronas Twin Tower, Blue Mosque in Selangor, Cultural Handicraft Complex in Negeri Sembilan, Jonker Walk in Malacca and Jalan Satok Sunday Market in Sarawak.

For those who missed out the opportunity to try food in Penang, do not be disappointed as Malaysia is a food haven. Travelers can still get delicious and delightful delicacies nationwide. Dining in Malaysia is affordable and inexpensive. Among some of the must-try food are char kuey teow, nasi lemak, nasi briyani, roti canai, satay, prawn mee, asam laksa, teh tarik and plenty more.
Top 10 things to do in Malaysia are shopping, eco-adventure, events/festivals, hill resorts, spa & wellness, culture/homestay and hill resorts.

Local Markets and Bazaars

Exciting experience awaits you in Malaysia’s rich ecosystem – from Niah Caves to Gua Tempurung, Labuk Bay Proboscis Monkey Sanctuary to Royal Belum Forest, as well as Mulu Caves and Gunung Ledang. And similar to any other country, Malaysia also has its own version of Chinatown which is more commonly known as Petaling Street among locals. Shopaholics can purchase anything here from electronic gadgets to toys, t-shirts and even incense. Just remember to bargain with vendors or they’ll take advantage of you.

Travelers and holiday makers can travel all-year round as Malaysia has plenty of world class and local events to entertain you. One of the best events available annually in Malaysia is the Rainforest World Music Festival that features talented indigenous musicians from Indonesia, India, Canada, Russia, Burkina Faso, Japan, Iran, France, Peru and our local musicians from Sarawak. Other must-see festivals in Malaysia are Harvest Festivals in Sarawak and Sabah.

Where are the Budget Hotels

Malaysia offers wide array of accommodation from budget hotels to world-class services city hotels, as well as fascinating island and beach resorts. For those who would like to enjoy great stay but have limited budget for accommodation, perhaps you can book for rooms in Tune Hotel. Run by Tune Group Company, the concept is pretty much similar to Air Asia – no frill hotels.

Tune Hotels can be found in Danga Bay, Johor Bahru; Kota Kinabalu, Kota Damansara, KLIA-LCCT Airport, Downtown Kuala Lumpur, Waterfront Kuching and Penang. The hotels offer three luxuries to visitors – bed, shower and security. Visitors can request for additional services such as toiletries, wireless internet connection and air-conditioner by paying a little extra.

Multi-racial country

Foreigners who would like to experience village-style living can learn more about Malaysia’s multi-racial culture and practices, then homestay would be one of the best choices available for you to mingle with the locals. Homestay enables you to pick up lessons on preparing local delicacies, to harvest local fruits and cultural performances will entertain you in the evenings.

So all in all, homestay is an excellent choice for you to learn about Malaysia’s multi-racial culture. It can be fun and safe for foreigners. Instead of staying in world-class city hotels, you have a choice of staying far away from the hustle and bustle of the city.

 

Why people prefer Malaysia Airlines instead of Air Asia

Malaysia Airlines or Air Asia? We have the answer

If you have flown to a destination either for business or leisure, you will know that flying is no fun especially when there are so many procedures and processes to go through. To make matters worse, certain airlines make it so much more difficult for you as they have all types of weird restrictions.

Malaysians would be very much aware that they can now fly Air Asia, a low-budget airline as their tickets are more affordable. However, after many experiences and countless complaints, Malaysians would surely prefer to fly the national flag carrier Malaysia Airlines (MAS) instead of Air Asia for many reasons. If you can afford it, you will surely fly MAS.

Food services on board

In MAS, food is usually provided. When it is included in the price of the flight, chances are you will not complain. In fact, it has been found that food provided on-board MAS flights are quite good. On the other hand, Air Asia charges you for every single thing you consume. While the food is not cheap, if you are unlucky, you might not even get what you want because they might have run out of stock.

No doubt Air Asia has been trying to promote better food by bringing in local brands of nasi lemak and such. But the bottom line is that if you are planning to eat something on board, you need to pay for it. This is what no-frills mean.

Baggage and bags

This is perhaps the biggest problems that passengers face when flying Air Asia. You only get 15kgs in a standard flight. Anything more than that would be chargeable. In fact, if you excess even 1kg, you will be charged. Paying RM100++ for a few additional kgs is totally absurd and unreasonable. In MAS, a few kgs are usually fine and there is no charged imposed.

Air Asia is very strict when it comes to what you can and cannot bring into the cabin while MAS is more relaxed in every way. It must be noted though that regulations on what you can bring on board is quite standard across all airlines. On Air Asia though, they tend to restrict the number of bags you can bring and would even go to the extent of measuring them.

Cabin bags

Air Asia recently implemented a maximum of 7kg with a maximum of 2 bags permitted to bring onto the cabin. This is usually weighed prior to boarding of the flight. If your cabin bags are overweight, it will not be allowed on board. Another recent issue with baggage is that there is a highly likely chance that your baggage will be delayed. This is very common with Air Asia flights.

Seating size

The seats in MAS are very well maintained and larger than that in Air Asia which are small, tight and very uncomfortable. It seems like Air Asia is trying to install more seats into their planes by using smaller chairs so that they can maximise their income. On top of that, you will have to pay to choose the seats that you want, a service which is unheard of with airlines like MAS.

In recent years, MAS has been venturing into some major cost-cutting measures. Some have claimed that they have been charged for choosing their seats but overall, the experience is still better.

Schedule and delays

MAS flights are known to be on-time and seldom has any delays. On the other hand, flying with Air Asia is almost synonymous with delays because it happens all the time. The common reaction among passengers is that flying Air Asia will most likely have a delay.

Having said that, Air Asia has been quite pro-active in trying to change that perception. While they have improved over the years, if your flight was delayed, it is still nothing new to anyone.

Overall customer service

The overall service between Air Asia and MAS differs tremendously. It is as if through Air Asia, you are being penalized for wanting cheap tickets that they treat you as if you are in a bus terminal. The queues to check-in are long despite having the online check-in facility. MAS on the other hand is a lot more convenient and comfortable.

One thing for sure, you need not walk a few kilometres to get to the plane under the hot sun or the rain the way you do in Air Asia flights. This is more evident with the new klia2. You will have to walk about 20 to 30 minutes to get from the checkpoint to the gate where you are supposed to board your flight.

It is a big wonder why Air Asia wins awards when they provide horrendous services like those mentioned above.

Some statistics that might help you make your decision.

According to surveys, Air Asia gained a smart rating of 54 while MAS has 85. This is a stark contrast of both airlines in terms of the people’s acceptance and ratings. Besides that, MAS has more seat space as compared to Air Asia which means customers are happier with larger seats.

While both airlines serve international flights, MAS has more options as compared to Air Asia. MAS flies to almost all the continents in the world while Air Asia does not cover North America, Europe and Africa yet.

Comparing 40KG to only 20KG baggage allowance

Another factor that you might consider when choosing either of the airlines is on your baggage. If you are travelling light, Air Asia might be your best option especially if you are hand-carrying your own. If you intend to check-in any large baggage or anything more, MAS would be your choice Air Asia charges for every baggage.

Ultimately, it is the value-for-money which should determine which airline to choose. Flying Air Asia is cheaper always. But do you get your money’s worth or would it be better paying a bit more for MAS but enjoying the customer experience better? You make the choice.

Top 6 mistakes people make going on vacation

Travelling can be very fun if you make all the necessary arrangements and adjustments before you leave. Otherwise, you will find yourself worrying about home and work even when you are in the highlands of Kota Kinabalu or the deep sea waters of Sipadan. So to avoid having your vacation spoilt, take note of some mistakes people make below.

Continue reading “Top 6 mistakes people make going on vacation”

Bird Watching in Malaysia

Hundreds of bird species await you in Malaysia’s tropical climate all-year round. You’ll get a chance to see the birds flying in the open space without boundaries. The moss covered mountain ranges in Peninsular has more than 600 rare bird species while Borneo consists of over 580 species. Hence, a number of foreigners aka bird watchers visit Malaysia yearly solely for the bird watching.

Malaysia perfect for bird-watching

The diversity of habitats available around Malaysia including mountain forests, lowland forests and mangrove forests enable over thousand of bird species breed in the country. Bird watching is not only suitable for nature lovers as the activity is deemed interactive and educational for families. Those who participate in bird watching are required to scan the blue dotted skies and dense forests for birds.

Rare species are available only at certain spots

Of course, you’ll have to spend days to discover the rare species of birds as endemics can be found almost in specific locations only. For example, Malayan Whistling Thrush can only be found in Peninsular while Borneo Blue Flycatcher and Yellow-Rumped Flower Pecker are only available in Sabah.

Unique species

Other unique species such as Mountain peacock-Pheasent and Mountain Blackeye can be found in cool and moist climates especially on high altitude sections. But perhaps, the best site for bird watching is lowland forests as it is dubbed as the most extensive habitat for over 200 birds. Along lowland freshwater swamp, you’ll discover Storm’s Stock and Green Imperial Pigeon. Meanwhile, mangrove forest is an ideal site to spot Common Kingfisher. Therefore, nature lovers are advised to visit several ecological zones to experience variation of birdlife.

Popular Places for bird watching

Among some of the popular bird watching sites in Malaysia are:

  1. Maxwell Hill (more commonly known as Bukit Larut)
  2. Kuala Selangor Nature Park
  3. Taman Negara
  4. Kinabalu Park
  5. Bako National Park
  6. Gunung Mulu National Park
  7. and plenty more.

Tips for amateurs

For the amateur bird-watcher, remember to include three must-visit bird watching sites in your trip itinerary – Fraser’s Hill, Cameron Highlands and Kuala Selangor Nature Park (mentioned earlier). Easily accessible by bus or car, for those who plan to spend the night in these popular sites can choose from wide range of inexpensive and luxury accommodations available. But the best bird watching experience is in Taman Negara.

The best time for bird watching

The best time to visit Peninsular Malaysia for bird watching is from January to August while one is advised to avoid from visiting Sabah and Sarawak during October to February as rain usually falls heaviest within these few months. Reminder for first-time bird watchers, it is prohibited to disturb, hunt, shoot or harass the birds as the birds are subjected to Protection of Wild Life Act 1972 in Peninsula Malaysia. Sabah and Sarawak have different set of acts to protect these birds. Perhaps, you shall check with guides or tour agent before venturing into the dense forests for bird watching activities.

Here are some basic practical bird watching tips for avid amateurs – remember to bring along a pair of binoculars to identify the flying birds in blue dotted skies. You may also purchase a field guidebook before organizing your trip to selected national parks in order to help you determine the different species of birds. To ensure you have an educational and rewarding trip, jot down your observations in a notebook.

Flight Survival Tips

Perhaps, in a few days time, you will board the plane and fly off to your preferred destination. You may have talk to a traveling agency and book tours even before you arrive at your holiday destination.

Flying can be quite challenging

However, before you start your unforgettable journey in other countries, take note on several flight survival tips particularly if you want to survive long haul flights. If you have book economy seats, then above everything else, check that you have what it takes to survive and feel refreshed once you step down the plane. Here are some flight survival tips to guide you throughout your journey.

Tip 1: Wear shoes on-board

Wanting to go to the lavatory for you can no longer hold in the pee? Okay, you need to go to the loo right now and first things first. Wear your shoes before running off to the lavatory for you do not want to step on the splashes or puddles of water on the lavatory floor. Of course, you do not want to enter the germ-infested lavatory used by hundreds of other passengers in bare feet, right? In addition to that, it is advisable to use paper towel to turn the door knob and most importantly, use the seat liner provided to line the lavatory seats. Even though the stewardess assured you that they clean the lavatory constantly, it is better to be safe than sorry. Hence, protect yourselves against bacteria and germs.

Tip 2: Use airport restroom before boarding the plane

In fact, if you want to avoid using the lavatory on the plane, minutes before you board the plane, use the airport restroom. Of course, the airport restroom is much more spacious than the small and compact lavatory on board. Besides, you do not want to hold in your pee and queue for your turn to use the lavatory on the plane. Okay, even if you think there’s no need to visit the airport restroom, still you should go into it few minutes before you board the plane. Well, just in case.

Tip 3: Prepare basic toiletries

Prior to boarding your plane, check the liquid security restrictions imposed by airport. It is highly recommended to bring basic toiletries (and that includes toothpaste, toothbrush and deodorant) to clean yourself especially on long haul flights. In Malaysia, you are supposed to separate these items (less than 100 ml) and put it into zip-top/transparent white plastic. But bear in mind, if you are thinking of cleaning yourself in the lavatory on board, do not spend too long or take your own sweet time to freshen up. After all, hundreds of passengers are probably queuing to use the lavatory. Instead, you should freshen up once you arrive at your destination and use the airport restrooms.

Tip 4: Bring along sweaters or jackets on board

For first time travelers, bring along jackets or sweaters when you board the plane. At times, it is extremely cold in the plane and you will definitely feel uncomfortable throughout the journey. Yes, they do provide blankets for passengers’ convenience. But most of the time, it is not sufficient to warm your body. Thus, it is advisable to bring or wear layers of clothing to warm your body. This tip is even more important if you are travelling with kids.

Tip 5: Move around

If you are travelling on long haul flights, take actions now to prevent blood clot. Bear in mind that your clothing will also affect your blood circulation. If possible, try to wear loose t-shirts and pants. Stretch from time to time or you may even walk around in circles every hour to prevent from blood clotting. Moving around or doing simple exercises help to reduce fatigue and promote blood circulation. For elderly citizens, you may face difficulty walking or moving around on board. No worries as you can just massage your muscles particularly your legs. Other than that, adults can also suck or chew sweets throughout the flight.

Tip 6: Sucking and chewing gums or sweets

The pressure changes once the plane take off or landing. For those with low blood pressure, suck boiled sweets or chew gums to help prevent ear popping. Other effective methods to prevent ear popping include yawning and sipping drinks. Parents are encouraged to let infants suck their bottles or pacifier. Additional tip for all – please do not travel if you catch a cold or have fever. Unless you have no other choice, you may take oral decongestant when the plane takes off and during landing.

Tip 7: Bring iPod or board games

It can be boring on board if you have nothing to fill up the time. You can only rely on the in-flight magazines and newspapers to cure your boredom. But with the advancement of technology today, you can bring your iPod or other IT gadgets such as MP3 and laptop along. Meanwhile, kids can bring Scrabble, Monopoly and other board games to fill up your time on the plane. Avid book reader, bring a good book as your traveling companion. These items are meant to be your back-up tools to fill up the time if you do not want to watch programmes on the in-flight TV.

Tip 8: Pre-book your meals before travelling

This is one of the most important factors to ensure you enjoy your travelling experience. For vegetarians, pre-booking your meals prior to the flight is crucial as once you board the plane; it is rather hard to get vegetarian food for you. In addition to that, passengers also enjoy discounts if they pre-book meals (applicable for no frills airline).

Now that you have read all the important tips to help you survive long haul flights, you’ll get to enjoy your journey to holiday destinations. So, start your journey with a smile.

Malaysia’s Top family travel and leisure destinations

Malaysia, a renowned tropical vacation in the world, is a perfect destination for you to plan educational holidays with your family. Here are some suggestions for those who enjoy nature, landscapes and various rainforest attractions.

Kuala Selangor Fire Flies Tour

One of the most interesting places to visit around Kuala Lumpur is to go towards Kuala Selangor to watch the fireflies. Known locally as the Kelip-Kelip, most travel agencies will offer these packages which usually involve only half a day, which will take place during the evenings to the night. If you are not the adventurous type and would like to have everything taken care for you, the best thing is to engage an agency who will make all necessary arrangements for you. This tour has become one of the most popular tours that has saw hundreds coming to the swamps each month to experience one of the most amazing sights in the world.

Cost for this excursion

Price would usually range around RM150 to RM200 for adults while kids below 12 will be around RM100 to RM150 which will include a meal and transport. The whole trip will take about 6 hours and you will begin your journey at around 4pm. Located along the mangrove swamps of Kuala Selangor, you will embark from a starting point within the city where you will be visiting the swamp area as well as having a meal there.

The Experience

Once everyone is on-board, the bus will head out to Kuala Selangor through Kampung Kuantan, which is a sleepy town and is the main set out point to the natural habitat of this species. Take note that you should wear thick clothes if possible as there might be other insects like mosquitoes which will leave you scratching among one of the largest firefly colonies in the world today.

Visiting Kota Melawati

Before embarking to the swamps, you will first visit fort Altingsburg or known locally as Kota Melawati. This is where you will be brought towards Melawati Hill which is a scenic site that offers you a view of the town as well as the Malacca straits out there. The fort was built during the rule of Sultan Ibrahim in the 1780s where it is a 3 storey structure that includes a lighthouse which was enacted in 1907. From here, you might be able to see some of the rare animal species like the Silver-Leaf Monkeys and the Long-Tailed Macaques who are friendly if you give them peanuts.

After that, you will then be brought towards the highlight of your trip. You will be taking the tongkang here which typically is an un-motorised boat where you will head to the trees where the fireflies roam freely. This would be one of the most spectacular display of lights made up of thousands of fireflies that form a Christmas tree. After that, the guide will bring you for a meal nearby for a taste of the local seafood and cuisine before heading back to the city centre.

This is the first article for this Travel destination series. Check back this section for more destinations with tips.

Traveling with kids on long journeys

It is true that a child changes everything. Traveling with your kids around will never be the same again. In fact, it can be tricky to keep your child quiet particularly when you are embarking on a long journey. Hence, remember to keep a wide array of toys in the car to ensure that your toddlers sit still and play with it.

However, if you are traveling on airplane, it is best to carry a travel pack that contains drawing block and crayons or stickers to encourage them to sit quietly without disturbing other passengers on board. If you are traveling with infants, bring additional nappies, baby milk and food. A reminder for first time parents, bring healthy snacks on every journey. Avoid food that has high sugar content, chocolate or caffeine as it may create pandemonium. In short, sugar and kids indicate behaviour problems.

Family Bonding Time

Conducted correctly, traveling on long journeys with kids can be rewarding as it allows parents to build the bond in your relationship. This is the best time to bring out the best in your child by playing plenty of travel games instead of just asking them to sit quietly without doing any thing. Here are some suggestions of fun games to get connected with your kids – question game, name game, alphabet game, city alphabet and the quiet game.

Question game starts with a question from one of the players. Subsequently, the second player must respond with another question and stops when one of the players respond with a statement. Meanwhile, name game is suitable for older kids as it requires knowledge in particular field. It can be celebrities or cartoon character. The game begins with a player naming a particular celebrity or cartoon figure. Then, the second player must continue the game by giving an answer with the first alphabet from the previous answer’s last name. For example : Dora the Explorer, Elmer Fudd, Fantastic Four and so on.

Get creative with games

Alphabet game is an educational game that concentrates on alphabets as the core of the game. In city alphabet game, player starts the game by naming a particular town or city. Then, second player must respond by naming a town or city that begins with the last letter of the previous answer given. Quiet game is the easiest game to be played as it only requires the players to sit still as long as possible without making a noise. Other than the games suggested above, you can also purchase the travel games specifically designed to entertain kids on the journey.

Other matters you need to consider is to ensure that your child is comfortable during the journey. If you are driving to particular destination, stuff the backseat of the car with wide selection of pillows in the shape of animals, blankets, sleeping bags and other soft and comfy things to encourage them to relax during the journey.