Air Asia X Dropping More Routes

AirAsia X, the long-haul arm of AirAsia, Asia’s largest low cost airline has announced it will drop flights to Christchurch, New Zealand as part of the carrier’s plan to realign its network to meet demand better.

Holiday Plans

I don’t think I know anyone who doesn’t like to travel. Maybe it’s because I don’t know that many people. But most people I know seem to be talking about going for their next holiday. I too am one of them. The difference between me and some of the people I know is that when I travel I want to see places. When they travel, their objective is to shop till they drop, or when their credit card is maxed.

For those who fall under the shopper-traveller group, this posting is not for you.

For those who like to see new places, read on.

Uncouth Singaporean Drivers on Malaysian Roads

I was on the North South Expressway near Seremban when I came across a very rude, uncouth Singaporean driver. I’m assuming he is Singaporean because he was driving a Singapore registered car, a black Cefiro 230 bearing the number 4010 (I think that was the number, I can’t recall the alphabets but it was on a black plate with white letters/numbers). He was obviously travelling way beyond the speed limit and even at one point was using the emergency lane to overtake. I guess he is in a hurry to meet his maker. The decadent car turned off into the Elite highway and continued to drive like his father owns the road. I know because I too turned into Elite and saw him disappear into the horizon. How I wished he had disappeared into oblivion.

I am sick of Singaporean drivers driving like wild hogs on Malaysian roads. It’s bad enough that we have Malaysians who drive recklessly and dangerously above the speed limit but Singaporeans doing it just adds salt (lots of it) to the wound. And to think that these very same Singaporeans wouldn’t dare drive 0.5 km/h above the speed limit back home.

Treasure Hunt-2

I participated in my first treasure hunt under duress. It was a bank organised hunt and my head of department wanted to send two teams. That's eight people which amounts to one third of the head count in IBD. My immediate boss was a regular and avid hunter but unfortunately he had two reluctant hunters in his car. To be fair to myself, I did participate and contribute and had fun in the process.

My second hunt was nothing like the first. I was all excited and raring to go. Who wouldn't when you have two beautiful and intelligent ladies as hunt mates! I even woke up at 5am and was at the starting venue before Subuh! We did extremely well considering the other three didn't have any prior experience treasure hunting. In fact, we lost to the champions on countback.

My third hunt was as exciting as the second but faced with experienced hunters, we only managed to finish, I'm guessing somewhere in the middle, maybe 15-16th place. The two ladies from the first hunt was replaced by a solitary young lady ... which a certain Ms Shaliza attributes to our dismal performance. 

I'm now hunting for my next hunt.

Treasure hunting is not an easy sport. Not even with two beautiful, intelligent ladies in the car. Some hunts have three parts; the part where the hunter have to find the answers based on the clues given. The answers are mostly on the signboards, visible from the vehicle without having to get out from the car. For a 7-8 hour hunt, there's usually 30-35 of such items to find.

The second part is called the treasure where the hunters must perform or purchase or make something based on the clues given.  There are typically 3-5 treasures to find/make/buy and must be presented to the COC at the finish line. This is much tougher than the first especially if legwork and creativity is involved.

Some hunts do have them but most might not. It is called the picture hunt where hunters are given tiny portions of a large picture and they must find out what 'big' picture it is. This is basically bonus points for the really hopeless hunters, that's how easy it is.

Solving the clues requires some IQ, at least three digits. Maybe that explains why I did so badly ... It also requires a lot of general knowledge and an extensive vocab in at least two languages. The clues a fairly standard; 'inside' or 'middle' or 'within' means we have to find a word inside a word; 'at the back' means read backwards; XI means 11; C is 100; Monkey is Ape or Baboon or Kera; 'in front' means first letter and a popular clue is anagrams. There are more clues and most are not really straight forward. Like I said, it is a game for people with reasonable amounts of IQ and who knows more than 30 words. 

Apparently, the seasoned hunters hardly leave their cars during a hunt. The pro hunters also know what to look for, they are able to put the clues together before even getting to the stations and when they get there, all they have to do is look for the answers. Amateur hunters like me however, look at every single signboard and guess if it fits the answer.  

Treasure hunts starts before sunrise and winners are usually announced after dinner. It's a whole day affair, tiring and draining but after the hunt, you'll never look at a signboard the same way again ...

Travelogue #9 - Melaka

I haven’t been to Melaka for quite a while. I was there last week and the first thing I noticed was Ali Rustam’s picture plastered on each and every billboard, at every street corner and in front of every historical landmark. Let’s just say there is one Ali Rustam every 200 yards. Ali however has done quite a good job making Melaka a nice city. I was quite impressed with what I saw, apart from his picture that is. The riverside is nice; Jonker Street is full of life, both during the day and at night; they have nice attractions like the tower thingy; and that ship in front of the Stadhuys is quite impressive.

I found something interesting a few days ago; one should not take everything written on the World Wide Web as gospel but I found this new “info-rumour” to be quite intriguing; apparently someone is claiming that Melaka is not as great as it is made out to be and Muar is the real Melaka of the 15th century. This author claims that there is no proof that Melaka was the famous, important trading port our history books have been telling us all this while. He/she claims that The Royal Sampan Armada (the sampan armada??) was never found, nor was there any grave of any Sultan during the classical Malacca Period and since all Ming Emperor's names began with "Tzu" (pronounced Chu), the fairy tale of Hang Li Poh being a Ming Princess doesn't hold water. The writer concluded that Melaka was actually in Muar and the Melaka we know was just a small fishing village.

Interesting indeed.

I’m no historian but despite his/her argument having valid-ish points, I remain unconvinced. I read a few pages from chapter three written by Prof Wang Gungwu from the book “Admiral Zheng He and Southeast Asia” and it is filled with proof of the existence of Melakan sultanate and empire. Wang Gungwu is a learned professor; he cannot be making all those things up, can he?

Tome Pires, the Portuguese royal doctor stayed in Melaka for a few years after the Portuguese conquest. He wrote a book, “Suma Oriental” which was apparently well researched. I wasn’t there when he wrote it so I can’t vouch for it’s authenticity but I’m sure the good doctor did not make up the stories. Even if he did, it won’t be throughout the book and he would have been found out.

R. O. Winstedt wrote a paper titled “The Malay Founder of Medieval Malacca” which talks about the origins of Parameswara. Winstedt is a reputable expert in Malayan/Malay studies and was fundamental in preserving several works of Malay literature including “The Sejarah Melayu”. So, if he says there was a Malacca sultanate, I’ll believe him.

The person claiming Melaka is a fraud may have his/her own reasons and/or motives but pasting it on the web will not have any serious impact or carry any weight. The proper way would be via the academic route, through proper research and peer reviewed thesis.

I want to believe in Melaka's glorious past because that was one of the greatest era in Malay history. Malaysia is a very young country with very little history, no doubt we have the Lembah Bujang, Langkasuka and what not but Melaka is the most well "documented" of our past. It will break a lot of hearts (especially Ali Rustam's) if the allegation was found to be true.

Melaka has a glorious past and unless there is concrete and proper proof that it wasn't, I shall continue to believe in Mansur Syah, Hang Tuah, Tun Perak etc.

Hard to Break Habit

The festive season is approaching and this time next month the highways will be jammed up with vehicles transporting the city-dwellers back to their hometowns. KLCC will be filled with Banglas celebrating eid ul fitri. 

If I'm not mistaken, last year, MTD, the operators of the ECE (LPT) offered toll free travel on the Karak-Kuantan stretch of the highway. The catch is you have to travel after midnight, or so I thought. I timed my journey to ensure I get to Karak after midnight but I was still charged the full toll. Lesson learnt; nothing is ever free, especially highway tolls.

A common sight on the highways during the festive season is full utilisation of the emergency lanes. Not due to breakdowns but for overtaking purposes. Those people who use the emergency lanes to overtake during a traffic crawl are a bunch of selfish idiots. 

Another type of idiot drivers are those who switch on their hazard lights during heavy rain. The hazard light is only to be used when the vehicle is stationary, never when its moving. Idiots.

Some drivers just do not know what fog lights are for. They are for foggy conditions. Switching on your fog lights in normal weather will blind the driver in the car behind. Idiots.

A Man’s House is His Castle

I went out on a “lunch date” a couple of days ago with; let’s call her Siti, because that’s her name, or at least the first part of her name. We ate at a café in a shopping mall near her office. It was a nice outing; we were talking all the way from her office lobby to the café and back to her office lobby. Topics were general, almost everything under the sun, almost.

No, I’m not bragging about my date. There is nothing to brag about and it’s probably not a date. Actually, I was passing some stuff to her and since its lunch time, we decided to have lunch together. Damn, it’s not a date after all!

What I want to talk about is one of the things Siti and me talked about – safety and security.

There has been so many cases of theft and robbery reported in the newspapers lately, from petty thievery like snatching handbags to house break-ins and car thefts, to mention a few. The robbers are getting bolder, my colleague’s girlfriend’s house was broken into in broad daylight in full view of everyone, thank God she was unharmed. There is even this case where two thieving brothers smashed the windscreen of a car at the stoplight to snatch the driver’s handbag. They however didn’t get far because they crashed and died after being chased by the victim and other good Samaritans (actually they got quite far, all the way the meet their Maker). What about the pregnant mom who was killed when thieves snatched her handbag causing her to fall off her bike?

I had a strange experience when I was in Basel recently. I was at a road side café having lunch with a friend and we both decided to go to the men’s room at the same time (no weird ideas please). I wanted to take my jacket with me as my passport was in one of the pockets and the loo was in the main restaurant building. My friend told me not to worry and just leave it there; no–one will take it. So I left it there and it was still there when I came back. That kind of confidence cannot be applied in KL.

Look at our houses, look at the grills and alarms we install just to keep the intruders out. Some even employ guards. Grills in addition to being ugly are also potential traps. We have heard many stories of people dying in a fire trapped by the grills.

Borrowing from Edward Coke (the 17^th century English parliamentarian), Calvin’s dad once said, “a man’s house is his castle but it shouldn't have to be his fortress”.

*this piece was written in August 2009.

Amateur Photographer

My feeble attempts at photography. I took the following pictures at Lang Tengah using an Olympus FE-230 camera. According to Will Greenwald (a camera reviewer) the FE-cameras almost completely automate their shots, making them literal point-and-shoot cameras. In other words, it's a camera for dummies. 

Travelogue #8 – Safari, Safari, Safari

One need not fly halfway across the globe to see wild animals running free on the plains. Well, actually one has to but if one can’t afford to do so there are always other cheaper options nearer to home, if you live in South East Asia that is.

Option 1 – Taiping Night Safari
The Taiping Night Safari claims to be the first of its kind in Malaysia.

The Taiping Zoo is right smack in the middle of the Lake Gardens which is right smack in the middle of Taiping. The safari is part of the zoo and it is well sign posted all the way from the Changkat Jering exit of the NSE. There is actually no excuse for getting lost.

At RM16 for adults and RM10 for children between the ages of 3 and 12, it is very affordable, especially for those earning in GBP, SGD or JPY. The safari is open till midnite on Saturdays and eves of public holidays and closes at 11pm on other days. Torchlights and flash cameras are not allowed to be used in the night safari as this will disturb the animals on display.

The place is clean and the walkways are covered by shady trees (not that it makes any difference at night). Ditch the train and walk instead. One and a half hour should cover the whole place. The night safari has most types of animals, including birds, crocodiles and snakes. Sadly the lion decided to go AWOL during our visit, content only with letting us know of his presence by roaring at the top of his lungs but refused to show himself. The hippo was similarly absent, probably tired of people making fun of its weight! There is also a snake enclosure but some of the signs are missing so you can only guess what type of snake is on display in some of the glass cases.

I must say the 2 hours spent there did not disappoint.

 

Option 2 – Singapore Night Safari

Apparently this is the first night safari in the world. There is a dedicated bus service from various points in the city that will take you to the safari. We hopped on the bus at Orchard road and it cost, I can’t remember how much but it was much cheaper than taking the taxi, the 45 minute ride was comfortable and you get a city tour (sort of) along the way.


There are some shows at the entrance near the restaurants. When we were there, they had a show where a few men in leather thongs blowing fire from their mouths. There was even a segment where the audience are invited to participate.

I’m not sure about ditching the train here but there is a mid-way stop where visitors explore on foot before taking the train back to the main exit. There are more animals here compared to Taiping but overall the Taiping experience seemed better. Check out the huge hyenas!


To get in adults have to pay SGD22 and kids between 3 and 12 pay SGD11. They are open from 7.30pm daily and won’t let anyone in after 11. At 12 they lock the gates.




Option 3 - Taman Safari Indonesia

The place is huge and is the only safari of the lot where animals roam free, at least, some of them.


The safari is near Bogor which is about one and a half hour’s drive from Jakarta, depending on the traffic. They charge different entrance fees, Rp100,000 for foreigners and Rp60,000 for locals. If you’re Indonesian looking, your tour guide might be able to pass you off as locals and get you in at the cheaper rate. You drive through the safari in your own vehicle.

It is recommended to buy carrots (to feed the animals) on the way up to the safari, they should cost no more than Rp10,000 for 3 bunches. As you enter the safari, you’ll be greeted by zebras, llamas, a variety of goats, camels and elephants. You may feed the animals; some might even put their heads through your window. As you proceed to the tiger and wilder animal enclosure wind up your windows, I don’t think your travel insurance covers tiger attacks.


After the open safari, there is a theme park with rides and all. Further up the hill are animal enclosures where you can see komodo dragons, crocodiles, tortoises, orang utans, kangaroos and snakes. You can have your picture taken with the orang utan and snakes for a fee of Rp10,000.


You’ll need one whole day to fully appreciate Taman Safari Indonesia. Kids will love it. The 2 hours spent stuck in traffic and Rp100k per person is well worth it.




Option 4 – A’Famosa Resort Melaka
Worst safari of the lot. Quite a number of animals but doesn’t have that safari feel. The ride was very uncomfortable and the smell of diesel fumes is nauseating. The elephant show next door is a better way to spend your money.

Foreigners in Our Own Country

Below is an excerpt of Sheridan Mahavera’s interview with political economist Andrew Aeria. Immigration control between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah/Sarawak. Although agreed to by the decision-makers in 1963, I think these controls have served to divide us and our common imaginings of a united nation. Where in the self-respecting democratic world — apart from Malaysia — does a country have internal immigration controls that limit the rights of movement and rights of citizens to work? Such controls not only run contrary to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (and arguably also our Federal Constitution) but also have a negative impact upon the psyche of those who travel between Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah/Sarawak. They only reinforce the perception of division and difference instead of unity.

Immigration controls in Sabah/Sarawak may have been perceived as necessary back in 1963 because Sabah/Sarawak feared being overwhelmed by an influx of immigrants from Peninsular Malaysia. And yet, the statistical record suggests that more Sabahans and Sarawakians have travelled to the peninsula over the years to work and settle down there than vice versa. So, why do the state governments of Sabah/Sarawak continue maintaining immigration controls when they don’t even serve the original purpose they were enacted for?

As well, times and thinking have changed. Restricting the movement and work of Malaysian citizens in an era of globalisation is potentially suffocating for the economies of Sabah/Sarawak and Malaysia as a whole. How do you attract talent to help develop local economies if Malaysians are treated as foreigners in their own country having to renew their work permits every year or once every two years? In the meantime, retired pensioners from Europe, Australia and Japan are given 10-year Malaysia My Second-Home Visas to settle down in Sabah and Sarawak without all the immigration hassles! Further, what does this say to citizens and pensioners from Peninsular Malaysia who wishes to settle down in beautiful Sabah and Sarawak? Presently, under the immigration controls, this right to settle down in Sabah/Sarawak is not available to Peninsular Malaysians even if we have worked here for decades. Thus, immigration controls in Sabah/Sarawak no longer serve any meaningful purpose. If anything, they only serve to reinforce the mental and psychological divides in our mind instead of building up a sense of oneness and emotional belonging. It is time we removed these barriers to unity if we truly believe in the idea of 1 Malaysia. Otherwise, we perpetuate division. But obviously, the dull thinking of our politicians (and judges) have not changed much since 1963 since they maintain immigration control for reasons best known to themselves and justified by their own unfathomable logic. After all, Parliament has amended our constitution numerous times over the last 46 years to suit evolving times and situations. Thus, to claim that we cannot remove immigration controls because it is a 1963 constitutional provision is a genuinely lame excuse. Like I said earlier, times and thinking have changed.

It is indeed strange for Malaysians to have to produce their passports and apply for work permits to enter and work in another Malaysian state. If 1Malaysia means every Malaysian is equal, then this ridiculous immigration policy has to be scrapped. I once flew from Kuching to KK via Sibu. While on transit in Sibu I had to disembark, exit the arrival hall at Sibu airport and re-enter the departure hall before getting back on the plane. I don’t know what the whole process was all about but whatever it is, it’s definitely a charade!

Some of the policies, processes and procedures in this country are so ridiculous it borders stupidity. Immigration restriction between Peninsular and east Malaysian states is only one of the many examples.
What about Bumiputers quotas and discounts for house purchases? Why is that a Bumi who can afford a RM500,000 house is given a 7% discount? If the guy can afford a house costing half a million, he doesn’t deserve a discount, Bumi or not! Why is a poor Bumi earning RM2,000 per month gets a discount to buy a house while a poor non-Bumi who earns the same amount has to pay 5-7% more for his house?

How does a single race university (UiTM) help develop global competitiveness? If the students are only restricted to a single race why is the university employing other races as lecturers and professors?

The truth, they say is stranger than fiction. I say, the truth can be quite mind boggling.

Now Everyone Can Be an Astronaut

Virgin Galactic, an offshoot of Branson’s Virgin Atlantic Airways, hopes the winged, minivan-sized SpaceShipTwo will rocket tourists into zero gravity beginning in two or three years.
“This will be the start of commercial space travel,” Branson said at the launch in California’s Mojave Desert. “You become an astronaut.”
In the Reuters Television interview, Branson said that the flights would be safer than NASA’s space shuttle. “I think because it’s so much younger, it’s just that much safer than what NASA has done using old technology which is 50, 60 years old”. The environmental impact would be minimal, Branson added.

Richard Branson is at it again. After the record company, airline, cola, trains, mobile telephony, he is now into space tourism. His name seem to carry so much weight that some 300 aspiring astronauts have put down deposits for the USD 200,000 (MYR 670,000) ride, which includes three days of training.

The Malaysian space programme allegedly cost the taxpayers RM 105 million. It is a bloody waste of money. The resources could be channelled to other more socially beneficial uses.

If the government had waited a couple more years, with the money spent on selecting, training and sending the Malaysian wannabe astronauts, we could have sent 156 Malaysians into space.

Travelogue #7 – Penang

I love Penang; I have been going there since I was a kid and I still go there, almost yearly. There are literally 1001 things to do and this short piece cannot list them all.

Pulau Pinang was once called the pearl of the orient. It however has nothing to do with oysters. It has a lot to do with promoting tourism. Excuse me for being ignorant but I haven’t seen that tagline for quite a while now.

Back in 16th century, Penang was used by the Portuguese ships as a stopover for supplies of fresh water. They used to anchor at the north of the Island at a place now called Batu Feringghi.*
Penang was once part of the state of Kedah but was given to the British East India Company in 1786 by the ruler of Kedah, Sultan Abdullah (I think that’s his name) in exchange for military protection in case the Siamese and Burmese armies threatened Kedah. Penang was renamed Prince of Wales (POW) Island by Captain Francis Light because the Prince was having his birthday party when Frank landed on the Esplanade. It was not until 1867 before the name Penang was re-instated. Frank also named his settlement Georgetown, after POW’s dad, King George III. Penang was the first British possession in the Malay States and Southeast Asia.
Apparently the good captain did not seek his bosses’ approval when agreeing to the terms of handover with Sultan Abdullah. As a consequence, the Brits did nothing when Siam attacked Kedah. The Sultan became murka (pissed or angry; not to be confused with marqa, which means boyfriend/girlfriend) and assembled an army to get rid of the British. DYMM Sultan amassed his men at Seberang Perai (Province Wellesley) to retake Penang Island but was defeated by the cunning Captain Light who attacked the Kedah army during the night. In 1791, HRH Sultan Abdullah of Kedah signed a treaty with the British, officially handing over Penang to them. He got 6,000 Spanish dollars (£1500) annually as part of the deal. Apparently, the Penang State Government still pays the Sultan of Kedah RM18,000 annually (for what, I don’t know). Frankie Light was appointed the first Superintendent of Prince of Wales Island. Between 1832 and 1935, Penang was the capital of the Straits Settlements.

Penang is about 4 hours by car from KL, depending on the traffic, driving speed and how many times you stop at the R&R. During the holiday period or festive season, it could take 7-8 hours, depending on whether you use the emergency lane or not. After exiting the Juru toll plaza, follow signs to the Penang Bridge, once the longest bridge in Asia. Pay RM7 and you’re on the bridge (the outbound trip is free, or rather, factored in the inbound toll), in less than 15 minutes, you’re on the island.

Traffic in Penang is a mess. The roads are bad, the one-way system is confusing and cars are parked illegally, indiscriminately by the roadside turning 2 lanes into one. I have never tried the public transport but apparently it is also a mess. Trishaws are still used as a mode of transport in some parts of the city, mainly as joyrides for the tourists. For a beautiful view of Penang, take the road to Balik Pulau, the winding uphill road offers wonderful view of the Island. The driver however is advised to keep all eyes on the road …

Penang is famous for food; Penang char kway teow, pasembor, nasi kandar and assam laksa. My favourite nasi kandar is Line Clear on Penang Road near the Chowrasta market. Good food can also be found on Gurney** Drive, on the esplanade. The stalls operate daily from sunset till past midnight. Gurney Drive also offers a good vantage point for sunset on the island.
Things to do and see Fort Cornwallis is the largest fortress still standing in Malaysia. Nothing much to see especially if one is used to the castles and forts of Europe but a must see nonetheless.

The E&O Hotel was once of the grandest hotels in the region, alongside the Raffles in Singapore and the Strand in Rangoon. It still looks grand but I haven’t had the chance to experience its hospitality. Suites (there are no rooms) start at RM570 all the way up to “Price upon Request”. It is definitely in my list of places to stay in Penang. Maybe I’ll go there for my honeymoon.

At the foot of the hill in Ayer Itam is the famous Penang Botanical Garden, with lots of monkeys and some Sakuras. Do not attempt to be friendly with the monkeys, they can be quite fierce and could be violent. Despite that, a relaxing walk around the gardens is highly recommended. There is also a Butterfly Farm in Teluk Bahang, you can see a lot of ummm ... butterflies there, all shapes, colours and sizes.
The Penang Hill funicular railway is known for its un-reliability but a trip up the hill (also called Bukit Bendera) could be worthwhile albeit a little risky should the train break down. There are quite a lot of things to do up on the hill, jungle walks, bird watching, look at flowers and plants … Interestingly, there is an Indian Temple and Mosque built side by side on Penang Hill with no racial conflict and tension. Residents of Sec 23 Shah Alam should organise a “lawatan sambil belajar“ here.

The 200 year old Kapitan Keling Mosque along Jalan Masjid Kapitan Keling (obviously!!), in Little India (duh!) is one of the best known mosques in Penang and was previously the state mosque of Penang.
Kek Lok Si Temple located on the hillside near Ayer Itam is the biggest Buddhist temple complex in Malaysia and is worthy of a visit. Another temple to visit is the snake temple in Bayan Lepas. Visitors are however warned not to pick up the snakes, just look at them, no touching, I doubt they’ll bite because the smoke form the incense makes them high but just don’t risk it.
Wat Chaiyamangkalaram is the largest Thai Buddhist temple in Penang which ironically sits on Burma Lane. Geddit? Thai temple on Burma ... oh nevermind!
The beach is a major attraction in Penang. All the way from Tanjong Bungah to Teluk Bahang there are picnic spots and pristine sandy beaches. Hotels of all classes and holiday apartments line the beachfront and there are many water sports to choose from. The world famous Hard Rock Hotel is located at the end of Batu Feringghi, next to the Bayview Beach Resort which hosts the annual Penang Jazz Festival. There is a night market every night in Batu Feringghi selling everything from DVDs, watches, handbags, clothes and souvenirs. Only the souvenirs are original.

I am already planning my next trip to Penang …

*Feringghi is the term used to describe the Portuguese or some say the Europeans.
**This Henry Gurney guy got his name on a street with good food as well as on a school for delinquents.

Travelogue #06 – Tioman

On the way back from Tioman recently, a friend asked if I was going to write about our trip. I promised I will but told her that no names will be mentioned. But since you asked, I dedicate this piece especially for you Len …

Tioman is apparently also known as Gunung Daik Bercabang Tiga and legend says that the island is formerly a Chinese dragon princess who while on her way to meet her beau in Singapore, decided to stop and rest in the calm waters off Mersing. She liked it so much there and decided to morph into an island.

Tioman is located off the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia in the state of Pahang.

The beaches of Tioman were depicted in the 1958 movie South Pacific as Bali Hai. In the 1970s, TIME Magazine named Tioman as one of the world's most beautiful islands.

Now Tioman is a duty free zone and offers a good selection of alcohol and cigarettes at very cheap prices. So, reasons to go to Tioman;
1) relatively unspoilt beaches and jungles
2) jungle trekking and mountain biking
3) scuba diving, snorkelling
4) to play golf
5) to get a tan
6) cheap fags and booze

The best time to visit Tioman is between mid March to early November.

To get there, one can either fly from Subang Skypark on Berjaya Air or drive down the NSE (E2) and exit the highway at Ayer Hitam, and take the Batu Pahat road to Kluang. Then take Route 50 towards Jemaluang and turn left into Route 3 for Mersing. The roads are quite decent albeit a little winding and are well sign posted. The journey via Ayer Hitam/Kluang takes about 4.5 to 5 hours from central KL.

Bluewater Express operates fast and comfortable ferry services to Tioman. The ferry is the only option and Kampong Tekek is approximately 1 hour 45 minutes from Mersing. There are three services per day in each direction and charges RM 35 for adults and RM 20 for children.

The biggest village in Tioman is Kampong Tekek where most of the government offices are. The Marina and airstrip is also located in Tekek, so is “Vision”, the biggest duty free shop on the island. Cheap accommodation is relatively easy to find but booking in advance is always advised.

We stayed at the family run Coral Reef Holidays chalets, located on a relatively private beach in Tekek, right next to the jetty. The rooms are decent (it’s not the Ritz), clean toilets, nice food and friendly, accommodating hosts. There is also a diveshop at the resort, Ray’s Dive Adventure, run by 3 fun loving and friendly dive instructors. There are hammocks for one to enjoy a book or nap and the clear mild-ish sea tempts even the most reluctant into swimming, although swimming alone will not make one a seacrab.

3G coverage (Maxis & Celcom) is good in Tekek, so updating your facebook status from your i Phone 3Gs is never a problem.

I’m definitely going back to Tioman once the monsoon clears.

Violation of Privacy

A human X-ray machine which produces "naked" images of passengers has been introduced at Manchester airport. The scanner, made by the firm RapiScan Systems, makes the check-in process much quicker for passengers, who will not have to remove their coats, shoes or belts.

It enables staff to instantly spot any hidden weapons or explosives.

The full body scanner which is being trialled will also show up any breast enlargements, false limbs, piercings, and a clear outline of passengers' private parts. The black and white image will only be seen by one officer in a remote location before it is deleted.

Airport bosses admit some travellers might not want to be scanned because of the graphic nature of the images. They can refuse to undergo the virtual strip search at Terminal 2, opting for the traditional "pat down" search instead.

I will not subject myself to this humiliating procedure. I doubt many will but I won’t be surprised if some good looking women find it difficult to get away from going through the scanner.

(ITN)

Poems on the Underground

Two poems from the collection titled Poems on the Underground* caught my attention. Being of relatively unsound mind and body, my choices may be questionable but these two really struck me as being reflective of my current state of being; or maybe they are the only two poems that made any sense to me ...

After the Lunch by Wendy Cope

On Waterloo Bridge, where we said our goodbyes,

The weather conditions brings tears to my eyes.

I wipe them away with a black woolly glove

And try not to notice I've fallen in love.


On Waterloo Bridge I am trying to think:

This is nothing. You're high on the charm and the drink.

But the juke-box inside me is playing a song

That says something different. And when was it wrong?


On Waterloo Bridge with the wind in my hair

I am tempted to skip. You're a fool. I don't care.

The head does its best but the heart is the boss -

I admit it before I am halfway across

Celia Celia by Adrian Mitchell

When I am sad and weary

When I think all hope is gone

When I walk along High Holborn

I think of you with nothing on

*Edited by Gerard Benson, Judith Chernaik, Cicely Herbert (2009)

Published by Poems on the Underground

Travelogue #05 – Port Dickson

I want to write about Bali, the Gold Coast, Hawaii and Costa del Sol but I decided to start at home. So I'll write (or try to write) about Port Dickson.

Why PD? It is probably the most popular seaside town in Malaysia. The beaches are not exactly pristine, the water not that clear but being less than one and a half hours by car from KL or PJ or Shah Alam makes it a convenient weekend getaway. The beach stretches 12 or so miles, the more popular spots being the 4th mile, Teluk Kemang and Blue Lagoon near the light house.

Port Dickson is believed to have been discovered by Sir Frederick Dickson, a British official who was looking for a suitable port during in the 1880s. The port was needed to facilitate the transportation of tin ore from the mines of Sungai Ujong, to Klang.

Hotels and resorts line the beach; from the luxurious Avillion (there are two, the water chalets and the one near the marina) and Thistle (ehem!) to the budget I’m not sure of their names hotels. There is also the Tanjung Tuan, Ilham and Ancasa apartments. Most large companies and banks have holiday homes in PD. There is a campside at the 4th mile but the toilet facilities leaves a lot to be desired. For a nice clean toilet/shower, go to the one near Ancasa.

What is there to do in PD? Swimming in the sea and be sea-crabs is a must. Walking on the beach hand in hand or just sit by the beach and talk or read is also nice. Water sports are abundant, jet skis, sailing and banana boats, but not scuba or snorkelling. There is a golf course at the Thistle and another at the Army camp. The Eagle Ranch has team building and paintball facilities.

Food, there is nothing special, “Thai seafood” restaurants are everywhere but for speedy service, go early. If you get there after 8, expect to still be there an hour and a half later.

Decent nightspots can be found at hotels. I’m sure there are karaoke lounges but I can’t recommend any.

What I feel is lacking in PD is a theme park, something like Blackpool’s Pleasure Beach or the one in Genting.

Whether it’s a day trip or for the weekend, PD is not perfect but nice place to go.

The Toll-gate Dilemma

Almost all the highways in Malaysia are privately owned. Projek Lebuhraya Utara Selatan (PLUS) owns the most highways (NSE, NKVE, FHR2, Elite, SPDH, BKE, Linkedua), other owners include Litrak (LDP); Prolintas (AKLEH, GCE); MTD (Karak, ECE); IJM (Lekas, Besraya, NPE); Kesturi (DUKE); SDE Holdings (SPGDE) and Silk Holdings (SILK)

Road users pay to use the highway and in return we expect a pleasant journey on well maintained roads, safe and clean rest facilities with decent and reasonably priced food outlets and rapid emergency response. I have little or no complaints on the services, they have been quite satisfactory.

However, I feel that all the highway operators should consider discriminatory pricing. No, I’m NOT suggesting that Bumiputeras get a 30% discount. I would suggest that discounts be given to users during peak periods. This is because we pay for convenience and during peak periods (school breaks, public holidays, Aidil Fitri, CNY, weekday mornings and evenings) we get very inconvenienced when on the highway. There is a long queue to use the toilet; you are unable to get parking at rest areas, driving faster than 60km/h is impossible due to the heavy traffic and worst of all is the queue to pay toll which can stretch for kilometres.

So, given all that, why can’t those bunch listed in the first para give us poor road users 50-60% discount during the peak periods, after all the traffic volume will surely compensate for the reduced price.

Travelogue #04b – Kuala Lumpur (Part 2)

In this part I’ll will list the museums in KL (there are lots!) and a list of places to shop.

Museums:

Travelogue #04a – Kuala Lumpur (Part 1)

If I was asked by a potential tourist what to do and see in KL, I honestly won’t know what to say. I have lived in KL for the most of my life and maybe that’s why I take the city for granted and not see the beautiful things it can offer. So to redeem myself, I shall suggest a few interesting things to do and see when in KL and its surrounding areas.

• Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad (above picture) – a must in any brochure on KL, used to be he city’s main building for everything.
• Dataran Merdeka – a big lawn where they used to play cricket and rugby and where they gathered on the eve of 31 August 1957 (Merdeka) to lower the Union Jack and raise the Malayan flag. People continue to gather here on the eve of Merdeka every year since.
• Royal Selangor Club – opposite the Bangunan Sultan Abdul Samad, separated by the above lawn, nice old building with lots of history
• KL Railway Station – previously the main station before KL Sentral
• KTM Headquarters – across the road from KL Railway Station
• Lake Gardens – KL oldest park, very crowded during weekend evenings and public holidays
• Titiwangsa Lake Gardens – the Eye on Malaysia ferries wheel was here
• Bird park at the KL Lake Gardens – apparently it is the world’s biggest aviary. Very Malaysian, always wanting to be the biggest, tallest …

• Orchid Park also somewhere near the Lake Gardens – you’ll only find orchids here.
• Butterfly Park at the KL Lake Gardens – for butterfly lovers
• Deer Park at the KL Lake Gardens – as the name suggests …
• National Monument (also in KL Lake Gardens) – statue of Malaysian soldiers defeating the communist terrorists.
• Parliament House – near KL Lake Gardens. I’m not sure if visitors are allowed in or how far in are they allowed.
• KL Hop on Hop off bus tour (like the one in London and Hong Kong) – ride a bus through the city’s traffic
• Kuala Lumpur Tower – telecommunication tower with a viewing deck, just like in Sydney and Toronto but nothing like in Paris.
• Petronas Twin Towers – once the world’s tallest building (see, I told you!) build on a former race course. The KLCC Park is next to the towers, with a jogging track and a public pool. Suria KLCC shopping mall houses most of the world’s glamorous brands.
• Central Market – once KL’s main wet market, this art deco building was turned into a cultural village in the mid 80’s. Handicrafts and souvenirs are abundant here.
• Petrosains Discovery Centre on level 4 Suria KLCC, a science adventure park for kids
• Aquaria KLCC, aquarium with lots of nice fish and sea life, kids will love it
• Masjid Negara (National Mosque) – built in the early 60s, behind KTM HQ
• Masjid Jame – KL’s main mosque pre Masjid Negara, on Jalan Tun Perak on the confluence of the Klang and Gombak Rivers, the site of the first landing in KL
• Zoo Negara, 8 miles from the city in the suburb of Ulu Kelang – national zoo
• Sunway Lagoon in Sunway, theme park and water park, for kids mostly
• Istana Budaya is the national theatre where plays are staged but if you are into theatre, good quality plays are also held at KLPAC in Sentul and TAC in Bangsar Shopping Centre.
• Batu Caves – Hindu temple in a cave, one has to walk up lots of steps to get to the cave
• Sri Mahamariamman Temple – KL’s oldest and richest Hindu temple, a short walk away from Chinatown’s Petaling Street
• Sze Ya Temple – KL’s oldest Taoist temple built by Yap Ah Loy, also in Chinatown
• St. Mary's Cathedral – next to Dataran Merdeka, the chief office of the Anglican Bishop of West Malaysia.
• Bukit Nanas Forest Reserve – a little jungle in the middle of the concrete jungle.

Fireflies in Kuala Selangor – take a boat ride in the early evening and marvel at the fireflies. Kuala Selangor is about 40kms west of KL and apparently the boat rides start at around 8pm.

Anyone wants a dip in the sea can go to Port Dickson (PD), about 110kms south of KL, the less crowded beaches are at Batu 4 near the Avillion Marina and Cape Rachado near the lighthouse.

Where to makan in KL

I’m not a connoisseur in fine dining nor do I know where to get good food in KL but I’ve been to a few places and I think they deserve a mention and recommendation …

• Nasi Kandar – Kudu on Jalan TAR, opposite the Honda showroom
• Beriani – Insaf on Jalan TAR, next to Gulati’s
• Beriani Johor – Uncle in TTDI Jaya Shah Alam
• Ikan Bakar – behind Istana Negara and another one in Pasar Keramat
• Thai food – Anwar (Ali) Tomyam in Kampung Baru, off Jalan Daud
• Nasi Padang – a shop with no name in Kampung Baru, off Jalan Raja Uda, near Surau Jawa
• Putu Piring – a shop in front of a house next to the abovementioned Nasi Padang shop
• Asam Pedas – Man in Kampung Baru, Jalan Raja Uda, behind Wisma Perkeso
• Sizzling Steak – Coliseum Cafe on Jalan TAR (some say it’s not Halal certified)
• Char Koey Teow – Aiman in TTDI Jaya Shah Alam
• Koey Teow – Bintang Henry in Uptown Damansara
• Hainanese Chicken Rice – Chee Meng on Jalan Bukit Bintang, opposite YTL
• Satay – Mulia in Jalan Gurney (Semarak) opposite the Celcom HQ
• Roti Canai – Raju’s in Section 5, PJ
• Ayam Kampong – Ayam Hassan in USJ Subang Jaya & section 13 Shah Alam
• Japanese food – I’m torn between Tykoh Inagiku (Menara Keck Seng, Jalan Bukit Bintang) and Kogetsu (Saujana Resort, Subang) but the Teppan Prawn at Tykoh Inagiku is highly recommended!
• Kelantanese food - there is this shop at Lorong Haji Hussein 2, opposite KL International Hotel in Kampung Baru
• Soup - Ani Sup Utara in Section 9 Shah Alam behind Concorde Hotel

• When in Penang, go have Nasi Kandar at Line Clear, near Chowrasta
• Go have Laksa at Lembah, by the river when in Kuala Kangsar,
• When in Tanjung Malim, have Pau and Mee Kari at Yik Mun
• When in Kuantan go have seafood at Tanjong Lumpur
• When in Muar have Satay for breakfast
• Look for Ikan Patin Gulai Tempoyak when in Temerloh