Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts
Showing posts with label travel. Show all posts

Saturday 5 March 2016

7 Breath-Taking Malaysian Road Trips For All Thrifty Travellers

Road trips are a great way that Malaysians can tour our beloved nation. Plus with the weakening of the Ringgit, we will definitely feel the pinch if we were to travel overseas. Driving around some of our scenic local spots is certainly more cost-friendly than flying half way across the world and also cures a sense of wanderlust.
Here are 7 must-have Malaysian road trips for thrifty travellers who do not want to skimp on the experience. Each destination is known for their food, culture, sights and sounds, which are impossible to list here, but you’re welcome—because with this list, you now have a place to start!

1. Kuala Lumpur – Kampar – Ipoh – Taiping

Some assortment of food from Medan Selera Kampar (Image Credit: Kampungboycitygal)
Kampar is a quiet town known for its rich tin reserves. The food that are a must-try while making your stopover here is the famous Kampar Chee Cheong Fun from Restaurant Wing Lok Yuen, and the economical array of food from Medan Selera Kampar.
You can also spend some time to visit the place which houses the history of Kampar and that is none other than Kinta Tin Mining Museum. Best of all, a trip to the museum is free of charge and also provides visitors with a colourful background about tin mining.
After that stop in Kampar, you can drive on ahead to Ipoh where the famous Canning Garden Chee Cheong Fun resides at Ipoh Central Cafe. Some of the other must-try meals at Ipoh are the nasi lemak from Medan Selera Stadium Ipoh, and Nasi Vanggey from Restaurant Nasi Vanggey. If it’s a hot sunny day, you will definitely need to try the ais kepal, a yummy flavoured ball of ice at Bits and Bobs in Kong Heng Square.
The mysterious and alluring Kellie's Castle (Image Credit: www.danceoftheclouds.blogspot.com)
The mysterious and alluring Kellie’s Castle (Image Credit: www.danceoftheclouds.blogspot.com)
Kellie’s Castle and Gua Tempurung also make great stops, be it for photo ops or to test your adrenaline.
Next in Taiping, you should try a bowl of cendol from Ansari Famous Cendol and special rice noodles in Restaurant Kakak.
End your night with some up-close encounters! (Image Credit: Gaya Travel Magazine)
End your night with some up-close encounters! (Image Credit: Gaya Travel Magazine)
Taiping is also known as a place that’s suited for families, especially with the Taiping Lake Gardens being located here. There is also the Taiping Night Safari which provides educational value and fun whilst mingling with wildlife. Perfect way to end the day. 
Distance travelled: Approx. 205km.

2. Kuala Lumpur – Bukit Tinggi – Fraser’s Hill

Bukit Tinggi's architectural design makes an amazing backdrop for photos (Image Credit: http://blog.malaysia-asia.my)
Bukit Tinggi’s architectural design makes an amazing backdrop for photos (Image Credit: http://blog.malaysia-asia.my)
If you want a road trip that travels up to higher altitudes, then this is the one for you. First stop is Bukit Tinggi, where Colmar Tropicale is located. Colmar Tropicale is a French styled area with several hotels, restaurants and shops. The backdrop of the French village makes a beautiful backdrop for photos. There is also a Japanese village with a botanic garden and a rabbit park.
Moving upwards to Fraser’s Hill, there will be more nature-based activities such as archery and horse-riding in The Paddock. There are also several trails to explore by foot, like the Bishop Trail, Hemmant Trail, and Jeriau Waterfall.
Distance travelled: Approx. 144km

3. Alor Setar – George Town – Batu Ferringhi

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Scrumptious Char Kuey Teow at various locations (Image Credit: VKeong)
Penang is popular for their famous hawker food. Remember to sample some char kuey teow(notable ones are in Khoon Hiang Cafe, Lorong Selamat, Mei Le Hwa, and Kimberley Street), Penang cendol (famous ones are in Lebuh Keng Kwee, and Macalister Lane), and asam laksafrom Air Itam Market Food Court.
Other local favourites are the apom manis at Kedai Kopi New Cathay, nasi kandar at Nasi Kandar Beratur (yes, many people do queue here for their food), and pasembur,  a Malaysian-Indian salad like a rojak that can be found at Hussain Pasembur and Gerai No. 9 at Gurney Drive.
For a walk through history, you can visit the Camera Museum in George Town. And for those who are more adventurous, there’s Escape Adventureplay, an outdoor adventure park that has various physical challenges of different difficulties to suit everyone.
Take a look at some local craft while chomping on street food (Image Credit: Timeout.com)
Take a look at some local craft while chomping on street food (Image Credit: Timeout.com)
To enjoy the sea breeze and ocean views, next stop would be Batu Ferringhi. Here you can take a stroll by the beach or through the night market which is popular for street food. Everyone here typically speaks in Hokkien, so if you’re about to order something, just remember the key word, “kam sia” which stands for thank you, and it would bring you a long way. 
Distance travelled: Approx. 134 km.

4. Seremban – Malacca – Johor

Malacca is perhaps one of the most historically intact locations in Malaysia and this is why tourists flock to this history-rich place. You can also opt to put your swim suit on and head over to the A’ Famosa Water Theme Park, it is after all the cheaper option in comparison to other water parks such as Sunway Lagoon.
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The queue for the Klebang Coconut Shake is long but it’s so worth it (Image Credit: Go Melaka)
Malaccans would be the first to recommend their mouthwatering delicacies inclusive of the seafood from the Portuguese Settlement Malacca restaurant and the Klebang Coconut Shake. Other meals to sample would be the wide array of food from Jonker 88, and cheese naan from Pak Putra Tandoori and Naan Restaurant.
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A place for family fun! (Image Credit: Malaysia Travel)
Johor Bahru is an ideal location for travellers who are looking to enjoy some theme park adventure such as Legoland, Hello Kitty Land, Little Big Club and Angry Birds Activity Park. Instead of spending the money to travel to overseas attractions such as Disneyland, these local attractions are good alternatives.
Those who prefer to take a more scenic route can opt to tour around the heritage district which comes to life with its rustic old shop houses. On the other hand, The Hutan Bandar Recreational Park and Pulai Waterfall will be a treat to nature lovers.
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The famous signature paper wrapped chicken attracts both locals and tourists (Image Credit: Miss Tam Chiak)
Some of the must-try food while at JB is the signature paper wrapped chicken at Restaurant Teck Sing and the sup tulang at Restaurant ZZ Sup Tulang. Both these places won’t break the bank but they will certainly pack a punch of flavour.
Distance travelled: 293 km. 

5. Kuala Lumpur – Sekinchan – Kuala Selangor

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Be here in time for sunrise or sunset for some amazing shots (Image Credit: Sekinchan.org)
Mention scenic paddy fields and Sekinchan would probably pop into Malaysians’ minds. Many have dropped by Sekinchan to host their bridal shoots and there is a good reason for that. Vast open spaces dotted with bright green paddy makes for a photoshoot one would definitely remember.
Life here is slow paced so pay a visit to the Fisherman’s Wharf. For meals, seafood is the delicacy to sample here and Cha Po Tion Restaurant is one of the more well known ones.
When one is at Kuala Selangor, fireflies are the experience not to be forgotten, and this can easily be done at Firefly Park Resort. Other than that, tourists can also visit Bukit Melawati to enjoy the view amidst a bunch of friendly monkeys.
Some of the must-try meals at Kuala Selangor are the famous Aroma Ikan Bakar and Cendol Bakar Kuala Selangor. It’s clear that grilled is the way to go at Kuala Selangor, but for those looking for a lighter meal, they can try sampling the seafood from Restaurant Makanan Laut Bagan.
Distance travelled: Approx. 68 km. 

6. Sibu – Bintulu – Miri

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Take a walk on the wild side (Image Credit: Malaysia Travel)
Bintulu is where nature comes to vivid life and locals have sites like Similajau National Park, Tanjung Batu Beach and Taman Tumbina, which are home to plenty of reptiles. Whilst in Bintulu, one must try out the belachan, a spicy shrimp paste and cincaluk (shrimp that has been fermented).
The reason shrimp seems to be a local staple here is because fishing is one of their main activities, which anglers at heart can participate in at fishing spots like Sungai Sebiew.
Gunung Mulu National Park is a park with limestone mountains and caves in the rainforest (Image Credit: Alan Cressler on Flickr)
Gunung Mulu National Park is a park with limestone mountains and caves in the rainforest (Image Credit: Alan Cressler on Flickr)
Miri is where some of East Malaysia’s gems can be found. There’s a myriad of national parks to view from Gunung Mulu National Park and Niah National Park to the indescribable beauty that is Loagan Bunut National Park. For beach goers, there is also the Tusan Cliff Beach.
Whilst at Miri, don’t forget to sample the north Indian food at Khan’s Taj Restaurant, and thelalapan (raw vegetable dish) from Restaurant Muara Lalapan.
Distance travelled: Approx. 414 km 

7. Kota Kinabalu – Kundasang – Ranau

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This is right in Malaysia, not overseas! (Image Credit: Great Leap)
Kundasang is akin to Malaysia’s version of New Zealand. Cows graze in the fields against a blue sky backdrop and it tends to get rather chilly here as well, so it’s best to pack along a sweater.
At Desa Cattle Dairy Farm, dairy products such as yogurt and ice cream are their bestsellers. Alternatively, there are plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits being sold by the side of the highway by local farmers, for those looking to grab some road trip snacks.
A soak in the spring will sooth sore and aching muscles (Image Credit: Stefan Fussan on Flickr)
A soak in the spring will sooth sore and aching muscles (Image Credit: Stefan Fussan on Flickr)
At Ranau, some of the things to do are to visit the UNESCO world heritage site of Kinabalu Park which is worth the hike for its spellbinding glimpse of Mount Kinabalu itself. Other attractions are the Poring Hot Spring and the Sungai Moroli Fish Massage at Kampung Luanti Baru.
For meals, some of Ranau’s best places to grab a bite are right at Sabah Tea Garden’s restaurant itself which serves meals specially prepared with tea, and that is an experience like no other!
Distance travelled: Approx. 129km
Travelling is one of life’s greatest pleasures and road trips are one way that we can kill two birds with one stone, for they are more cost effective and they also help friends and families bond together over the long hours spent on the road.
honda city 2
However, the most important aspect is always to prioritise safety on the road. The last thing you’d want for your road trip is a car that breaks down or that doesn’t have enough leg room (which is horrible if you’re travelling with a group of family or friends). So keep this in mind as you plan for your travels—you’ll need to have a vehicle that is safe, spacious, fuel-efficient, and high in performance. Plus it wouldn’t hurt to have one that looks stylish too.
The Honda City is a vehicle which gets points for being all of the above and is an ideal choice for road trip junkies. We all know that when it comes to road trips, other than food expenses, another hefty expense would be the cost of fuel. With the Honda City ECON mode, drivers can enjoy smooth driving with improved fuel efficiency. Now that’s a way to add more kilometres into your drive and lower the total expenditure.
After all, if you’re looking to go long distance, it is wise to choose a vehicle that can keep up with you.

Thursday 4 October 2012

6 Ways To Avoid Paying For Hotel Wi-Fi


It's not hard to find free Wi-Fi as long as you're not staying at a hotel. How many times have these annoying series of events played out for you? After a long day of traveling, you finally make it to your hotel. All you want to do is go to your room, kick off your shoes and check your email, surf the net or watch a movie on your laptop.

When you get there, you're relieved to see a strong Wi-Fi signal in your room so you log on, but rather than bouncing straight to the net, you see pricing options. You don't need 24 hours of Wi-Fi since you'll be asleep for most of it, so paying $10 to $15 for a few hours of service doesn't seem cost effective to you. You could use your phone, but the screen is too small for your tired eyes. Having to pay for Wi-Fi at a hotel seems contrary to the idea of true hospitality, but fortunately there are ways around the charge.

Head Downstairs

Wi-Fi may come with a price when you're in your room, but in the lobby, bar and other common areas it may be free. Much like other restaurants, setting up an environment for business lunches and dinners encourages more traffic to the restaurant, making Wi-Fi a necessity since other restaurants close by are likely to offer the service free-of-charge. Head downstairs with your laptop or tablet and you'll likely find a connection.

Tether

Most cell phone carriers provide an option to use your cell phone as a hotspot that provides connectivity to your tablet or laptop. Newer phones allow for a wireless connection that requires only a password.

The downside is that tethering will cost money. In order to use the option, you'll have to enable it with your cell service provider. If you're not a frequent traveler, paying the fee for hotel service may be cheaper than paying for the tethering service, even for a month or less.

Rent an Aircard

If you are a person who travels frequently, an aircard provides a connection to the Internet regardless of where you are. Unless you travel frequently, paying $35 or more each month for the card isn't cost-effective. To solve this problem, some companies allow you to rent an aircard for around $6 per day. With some hotels charging $9.95 or more each day for Internet service, renting an aircard is not only cheaper, but it allows you to take it with you, ensuring service anywhere you go while traveling.

Loyalty Has Privileges

Even if you don't travel many times a year, try to remain loyal to the same hotel chain. Just as airlines have frequent flyer programs, hotels have similar loyalty programs that come with privileges as you amass more points. Often one of the perks that come with even the lowest levels is free Wi-Fi. Sometimes just being a member of their loyalty program is enough to earn the privilege regardless of how infrequently you book a reservation. Having your contact information for advertising is more valuable than charging you for Wi-Fi.

Just Ask

Hotels are in the hospitality business and they know that saying no to a customer is bad for business. Rather than complaining about the fact that even fast food restaurants offer free Wi-Fi, politely ask if they can provide the service free to you. If you're a frequent guest, they'll likely say yes and if they do say no, they'll probably help you find a way to get connected free-of-charge.

Become a Hacker?

There are numerous Internet sites that tell you how to work around the hotel Wi-Fi system to obtain free service, but it's unethical. You may have to make changes to your computer that could cause you to lose connectivity even when you leave the hotel. The network settings in your computer aren't easy to navigate if you aren't an IT professional. Instead of trying to steal a hotel service, pay the fee or go without it for a night.

The Bottom Line

Although a hotel may charge $10 or more for 24 hours of Internet service, there are ways to avoid paying the fee. If it's not available for free in its restaurant, consider eating at a nearby restaurant or go without connectivity for a night. It wasn't too long ago that people found a way to live a prosperous life without a constant connection to the Internet.


Read more: http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0912/6-ways-to-avoid-paying-for-hotel-wi-fi.aspx#ixzz28JSpLHZt

Monday 27 April 2009

Swine flu: the UK shares affected

Swine flu: the UK shares affected

The outbreak of swine flu, which has killed more than 100 people in Mexico and spread to the US, Canada and New Zealand, has hit UK shares linked to travel and agriculture, and give a boost to pharmaceuticals companies. Some of the biggest companies affected are listed below.

By Amy Wilson
Last Updated: 10:26AM BST 27 Apr 2009
GlaxoSmithKline
Shire
British Airways
Easyjet
Thomas Cook Group
TUI Travel
Carnival
InterContinental Hotels Group
Cranswick
Genus


Pharmaceuticals

GlaxoSmithKline: its shares rose as much as 44p, or 4.4pc to 1,050p. Glaxo makes a flu drug called Relenza, which could be bought up by governments seeking to treat and halt the spread of swine flu. Relenza has been shown to work against viral samples of the disease.

Roche: The shares rose in Swiss trading. Roche's Tamiflu drug can reduce the symptoms of swine flu and said it has an ample supply of the drug as the outbreak spread outside Mexico.

Shire: the drugs company’s shares rose in sympathy with Glaxo's.

Airlines:

British Airways: The airline has been hit along with others in the sector, on fear the swine flu outbreak will reduce demand for travel.

easyJet: The low-cost airline fell.

Ryanair: the Irish budget airline was also under pressure.

Travel companies:

Thomas Cook: The holiday company fell on concern the spread of swine fever will curb foreign travel. Mexico has been a popular destination for holidaymakers trying to avoid countries using the euro while it remains so strong against the pound.

TUI Travel: The Thomson holiday group also declined.

Carnival: the cruise operator, whose Caribben cruises take in Mexico, dropped.

Intercontinental: Shares in the hotel operator also fell.

Agriculture:

Cranswick: The food firm, which has just bought a Norfolk-based supplier of pork for Tesco and a number of other major retailers, fell on concern shoppers will avoid pork products as a result of swine flu.

Genus: The pig breeding specialist declined.