Friday's Newsflash - MyPass Prepaid Card

For foreign travellers planning to visit Malaysia, a new product launched by Touch N' Go Sdn. Bhd. is here for your travel convenience. Introducing MyPass, a multipurpose electronic purse which you can use to make payment on most of the public transportation in Kuala Lumpur, selected retail outlets, food and beverages chains, attractions and theme parks, and so on. Examples of shops that accept MyPass are 7-Eleven stores, MyNews outlets, The Chicken Rice Shop, and so on.

Besides using it as a debit card, you can also redeem discounts at attractions around the capital city as well as selected ones in the country. To name a few of its discounts and privileges, you will receive 10% discount on tickets to KL Tower Observation Deck, 15% discounts for Petrosains, 30% discounts on buffet lunch and dinner in Shogun Japanese restaurant, and many more. 

Sold at the price of RM 38.00, MyPass comes with RM 10.00 preloaded as well as complimentary Hotlink SIM pack and Malaysia travel guide. The MyPass pack can be obtained in the both KLIA and LCCT, KL Sentral, Touch N' Go hubs, KL Hop On Hop Off counter, and selected petrol stations. You can also easily reload the card at any LRT, monorail and KTM stations and petrol stations bearing the Touch N' Go logo. For more information, do look at its website at www.mypass.com.my. I believe such a card will be a popular product among tourists as it is easy to use and comes with lots of discounts and benefits. 

Friday's Newsflash - Malaysia Airline's MATTA Fair Promotion

Even though MATTA Fair was over last weekend, most of the full-fledged airlines are still having promotions in conjunction with the travel exhibition. However, as a Malaysian, I am going to focus on the promotions given by our national airline, Malaysia Airlines (MAS).

While I am still very much used to Air Asia's dirt cheap prices, there is no doubt that sometimes, even MAS can up its game when comes to giving Air Asia a run for the money. While comparing with other full-fledged airlines, MAS' long-haul flights are not that cheap. Return tickets to Europe (Armsterdam, Frankfurt, London & Paris) are at RM 2,799, slightly higher than others like Qatar Airways, Emirates Airways, etc.

However, its regional flights are at a better price fare. Flight to Medan from Kuala Lumpur is only at RM 160 for two-way tickets while from Kuala Lumpur to Jakarta, Yangon and Phuket is at RM 299 for return tickets. Meanwhiles, Siem Reap, Bangkok, Phnom Penh, Ho Chi Minh and Bali are just at RM 399 return flights. I find these places reasonably priced, especially if you are looking for a last minute holidays. Even Air Asia cannot compete with that.

Look it up yourself at MAS website and book yourself a well-deserved year end break with your family.

Friday's Newsflash - Air Asia X Flies to Busan!

Air Asia X has added a new destination to its ever expanding flight routes and this time, the airline is making a stop in Busan, the second largest metropolis in South Korea after Seoul. Busan seems like an eventual route after Air Asia Japan launched flights to the city last year from Tokyo as well as the hallyu wave that has been hitting the world by storm.

So, what are Busan's attractions? Among of the are the Korea's largest beach, Haeundae Beach, as well as Korea's longest river, Nakdong River. Besides these two, temples and historical monuments are aplenty in this Korean city. Another main selling point, according to the advertisement from Air Asia, is that Busan serves as the main gateway to Jeju Island. That's my dream place to be.

As with every new launching, Air Asia X is having a sale and you can fly to Busan from as low as RM 199.00. Booking period is from 17 April 2013 until 28 April 2013 while travel period begins from 15 July 2013 to 30 April 2014.

Grab this deal before it's too late. For more information, visit Air Asia's website.

Friday's Newsflash - Air Asia's 2,000,000 Free Seats Redemption

Here it comes again. Air Asia is having another round of free seats redemption, with a total of 2,000,000 seats up for grab from ZERO Big points onwards. Redemption starts midnight, 2 April 2013, with Big Shots being given priority redemption, starting on 1 April 2013. 

So far, there is little information being released. So, stay tune for updates.

Friday's Newsflash - MATTA Fair 2013

If you are looking for places to go for a holiday, you are in for a treat for MATTA Fair 2013 is back. Short for the Malaysian Association of Travel and Tour Agents (MATTA), this year’s first edition of the travel fair will be staged at its usual spot, Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), starting for 15 to 17 March 2013.

What to expect from the fair? Besides the normal booths of travel agents with cheap packages, this year will be the first appearance of Malindo Air which will begin its inaugural flight comes this 22 March 2013. The airway has launched its ticket sales to its first two destinations, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu, with all-in fares starting from RM 38 and RM 68 respectively.

I will definitely check out Malindo Air’s booths (1M55, 1M61 and 1M62) to find out more of its upcoming routes as well as other possible promotions from the airline. Can’t wait for it.  

Friday's Newsflash - Air Asia Ceases Flights to Colombo

Sad news to all of you who are planning to explore the island of Sri Lanka for Air Asia is withdrawing their flights to Colombo, the capital city of the country, effective 26 February 2013. The reason for this withdrawal is that it was, and I quote, "part of the commercial realignment of the airline". 

Those who are affected by this decision can either have their flights pushed forward without any extra charges, offered credit shell, or asked for full refund. For more information, you can go directly to Air Asia Service Centre to help you out with the process.

Sri Lanka is part of my to-visit countries and now that Air Asia is ceasing flights to the country, I have to make changes to my plan.

Friday's Newsflash - Win A Trip to Sabah Worth RM 4,000

Happy Friday, everyone!

Today is the last Friday for the year and to end the Friday’s Newsflash series for 2012, here's a good news for those of you wanting to win a free trip.

Sabah Tourism Board, in collaboration with Time Out KL, is having a contest where 2 lucky winners will receive all expenses paid trip to Sabah. All you have to do is just to answer 2 simple questions and name the attractions of Sabah in the pictures. Clues and hints are given to make it so much easier.

To join the contest, click on this Time Out KL link. The closing date for the contest is 31 January 2013. For more information regarding Sabah (or to find out the names of the places in the pictures), you can go to the official website of Sabah Tourism Board.

See you in 2013!

Friday’s Newsflash – Air Asia’s ‘Fly for Free’ Contest

Great news for those of us who like to win free flights for Air Asia is organizing one with Visa. All you need is just to make a purchase of any Air Asia (AK, FD, QZ, PQ) and Air Asia X (D7) flights with Visa credit cards or debit cards and you stand a chance of being one of the 50 weekly winners of Air Asia E-gift vouchers worth RM 500.00. It is that simple.

In order to participate in the contest, you have to make a purchase on any Air Asia flights using Visa cards. The said purchases have to be made in Malaysia through the Malaysian IP address. Then, if you are eligible, you will receive a 3-question survey within 10 working days and the first 50 persons to reply that questionnaires will win the E-gift vouchers.

There will be a total of 11 weeks the contest will be running and you may win more than once. However, you are only allowed to win once per week. The contest started on 30 September 2012 and ends at 23:59 (GMT+8), 16 December 2012. For more information, you can go to the contest page here.

RM 500.00 is quite a lot and will initiate people to buy air tickets and try their lucks, be it near or far. Sure, it is a marketing ploy but since when every movement from Air Asia isn’t?

I bid all of you out there, good luck!

Friday’s Newsflash – Air Asia Free Seat Promotion and AllMalaysia’s Virtual Travel Fair

This week’s Friday’s Newsflash will be packed with information for us travel junkies.

The first one being that Air Asia is having its Free Seat promotion. It’s not exactly smoking hot news as most of you should know about it. Domestic flights from Kuala Lumpur begin an all-inclusive fare of RM 26 while international flights are from RM 56 onwards. Booking period is from 18 to 23 September 2012 with international flights open for booking from 20 to 23 September 2012. Travel period is from 1 April to 30 September 2013.

To be frank, this Free Seat promotion is nothing to shout about. Yes, it is cheaper than the normal fare but not as cheap as the old days. I mean, flying to Kota Kinabalu takes more than RM 100 for return ticket? Last year, I managed to secure a return ticket at RM 40 plus for this year’s April (though I ended up burning the ticket).

As for the international destinations, flying to Semarang takes more than RM 200 for return trips? I went there with their launching price at around RM 176 for return ticket. All in all, cheap, but not THAT cheap. However, I’m still a sucker for it since I’m planning to fly somewhere around that time frame.

The second news of the day is the Virtual Travel Fair 2012 that is going on at the moment. Starting from 7 September to 30 September 2012, you can hunt for the perfect travel package that you have been waiting for. With both domestic and international travel packages to choose from, you will be spoilt for choices.

Besides that, Macau Tourism Office is sponsoring a 3D/2N trip for two worth RM 3,000 for one lucky person. All you have to do to win that fantastic prize is to just count the number of SOTA logos in the picture and create a creative slogan. That’s all and you are on your way to winning an amazing trip.

For more information regarding the contest or the travel packages, click here.

Friday's Newsflash - Malindo Airways is on the Way!

There is a new low cost carrier venturing to the sky comes next May and we consumers will definitely be spoilt for choices. Besides the reigning Air Asia, next year, Malindo Airways will make its maiden appearance and join other LCCs in connecting regional countries.

Malindo Airways will be making the new KLIA2 as its transit hub and that its initial routes would be between Malaysia and Indonesia as well as connecting the Peninsula with the East Malaysia before expanding its network to neighbourhood countries within four hours of flight. Its ticket fares will be lower or at least at par with Air Asia, according to Lion Air director Rusdi Kirana during press conference. PT Lion, which operates Lion Air, owns 49% share of the new LCC.

Our PM holding a Malindo aircraft - photo courtesy of The Stars

Even though Malindo Airways is a LCC, it will offer free in-flight entertainment, a light meal and WiFi facilities and there will be two classes, business and economic. There are still no news regarding its flight routes and the airline has yet to have Malaysian air operating license. However, once all these issues are settled, you can be sure that the air traffics will be much heavier next May.

Speaking of Air Asia, another new route has been launched and it is to Nanning, China. Air Asia will be flying thrice a week (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday) starting 11 December 2012 and for its launching promotion, you can fly to Nanning at RM 99 one way. This promotional fare lasts until 16 September 2012 for travelling period between 11 December 2012 and 22 May 2013. You can learn more about the deal and what the attractions are in Nanning here. 

Friday's Newsflash - Matta Fair 2012 is Back!

If you do not have anything planned this 7 September till 9 September 2012, maybe you should drop by at PWTC for Matta Fair 2012 is back! This is the time to realize your long awaited vacation and search for the best vacation deal at the fair.

I have not been to the KL Matta Fair before but I went to the one in Ipoh last year and it was not very exciting, to say the least. There is nothing worth looking at, but maybe it was because the venue itself was small and that not many people in Ipoh would chunk out money to go for travel.

Anyway, I doubt I'll be doing any purchasing at the KL Matta Fair but I will definitely go to have a look. So, if you want to buy tour packages, safe these dates now. For more information, click here to the website.

Friday's Newsflash - Win Trips to Paris from Accor Hotels

Fancy yourself a 4 day/3 night trip to Paris for free? Well, all you have to do is check into one of the 20 participating Accor hotels in Malaysia, Singapore, Bali and Lombok and stand a chance in becoming one of the two lucky winners getting a trip of the lifetime absolutely free.

Simply go to this website and make a booking from 1 August 2012 until 31 December 2012 for stay up to 31 January 2013 to be qualified for the lucky draw. There are other monthly prizes up for grab as well such as Samsung Galaxy SIII, iPad3 and free stays at Accor hotels in these three countries. Grand prize would be the trip to Paris with accommodation in an Accor hotel and flight courtesy from KLM airline or Garuda Indonesia.

For guests in the Malaysia hotels chains, they are entitled for a 25% discount on rooms with free breakfasts as well as 24 hours WiFi access. Other than that, they will also receive a RM 50 dining voucher (for minimum spending of RM 100) or a spa voucher at any one of its hotels in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya or Kuching.

Pullman Putrajaya Lakeside

Meanwhile, guests in the Singapore hotels will get, besides free breakfasts and 24 hours Internet access, a free city tour. As for the Bali and Lombok packages, guests will receive free breakfasts, airport transfers, and a one-time dinner experience for two for a minimum of two night stay.

Other than that, if you are Le Club Accorhotels or Accor Advantage Plus members, you are entitled for triple points on stay before 31 December 2012 as well as double the chances of winning that free trip to Paris for every booking of the Fly Me To Paris promotion. Continue reading to find out the list of participating hotels in these three countries:

Friday's Newsflash - Air Asia Finally Launches Flights to Lombok!

As first reported here, Air Asia has finally launched its ticket sales to Lombok yesterday, 16 August 2012, at 12.00 am, with its launching fare as low as RM 88 one way from LCCT to the Indonesian island. This special promotion began from 16 August 2012 until 26 August 2012, for travel period from 12 October 2012 until 22 May 2013.

The tri-weekly direct flights to Lombok are highly in demand, especially with the cheap deal, for after a few good hours, almost all the promotional fares have been taken up. I tried searching for it myself but sadly, unable to secure return ticket to the island.

Air Asia flies to Lombok every Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Meanwhile, on a side note, the award-winning budget airline has add another daily flight to Yangon, Myanmar, and from 15 August 2012 until 26 August 2012, you can fly to Yangon from RM 119 onwards. The travel period for the promotion is from 8 October 2012 until 22 May 2013. For more information, go to their official website here.

Friday's Newsflash - The Colosseum is Leaning

I'm back! Well, technically, I'm back for few days already but this is my first post after the trip, so, you get what I mean. I'll get to the details of my one week Vietnam exploration soon (and boys, was it damn fun!), but first, a little bit of news in the travelling section. London is the hot topic now with the Olympic is proceeding so I'll skip those news. Instead, let's focus on Italy for the famous Colosseum is apparently leaning ala the leaning tower of Pisa!

Before you go into panic mode and buy air flight to see the famous monument, the officials in Rome stated that while the ancient amphitheater is indeed leaning slightly, there is no danger associated to the complex and it is still very stable. Apparently, the south side of the structure is 40cm lower than the north part and the Italian medias were on alert, creating furrows about how the Colosseum is in danger. Well, now that the Italian government already issued a statement about it, we can rest assure that this gladiator battleground will still be standing for a long time.

In fact, the Colosseum will be undergoing massive renovation for the first time in 73 years. The renovation project will start in December until 2015 and once it's done, more areas will be accessible by the public. As at now, only about one third of the complex opens for public's exploration. Renovation will be in stages. Therefore, the Colosseum will not be closed entirely during the process.

You can read more about the news here. I'll be back soon with my trip to Vietnam!

Friday's Newsflash - Air Asia Is Flying to Lombok Soon

Air Asia has been on the radar quite frequently, it seems, or maybe I have been entering their websites far too often already. After winning the accolade for World's Best Low Cost Airline for the fourth consecutive year in the SKYTRAX World Airline Awards, which in turn awarding us with the so-called World's Best Ever Sale (not the best, in my humble opinion, but still quite good), now comes the news that the carrier will be launching another new route to Indonesia, this time to the neighbouring island of Bali, Lombok. First, Kathmandu, Nepal. Now, Lombok, Indonesia. More to come, please!

The launching date has yet to be announced but you can be sure that everyone is waiting for it. Air Asia often gives cheap promotional fare for its new routes and the same can be expected out of this flight to Lombok. My trip to Semarang was in due to the promotional launching fare and I hope to do the same for Lombok. Maybe I can even visit the alluring Bali as well. After all, Bali is just 2 hours speed boat ride away.

Photos of Lombok courtesy of Air Asia

Friday's Newsflash - Air Asia X Now Flies to Nepal

There is another reason to be joyful about for globetrotter for Air Asia X now brings us to Nepal!

I first read it in Air Asia's website where the budget airline has officially launched a new destination, which is to Kathmandu, Nepal, and that the first flight had departed on 3rd July 2012. I knew nothing about it and now, Air Asia X has reached Nepal??? Since when Air Asia has been so secretive, I thought. But anyhow, when I first saw the news, there was no online booking available yet and that you have to go to its exclusive sale agent to purchase the tickets.

Nepal is the main entrance to Mount Everest

However, not any more for you can now buy the air tickets to Kathmandu through its website. Starting at RM399, the Air Asia X flight will depart from LCCT to Tribhuvan International Airport, Kathmandu on every Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting from September 2012. You can find out more information about the flight as well as what to do in Nepal at Air Asia's promotional brochure here. 

After cancelling so many routes (Paris, London, Wellington), Air Asia X has finally introduced a new destination in a brand new country. Hopefully, more new destinations will be launched soon. Let's hope it will bring back European cities into the list.  

Friday's Newsflash - Lenggong Valley Inscribed in UNESCO Heritage List

Lenggong Valley Archaeology Site has been inscribed into the UNESCO Heritage List! Another UNESCO Heritage Site in Malaysia and this time, it's in Perak! This great news was confirmed by our Information Minister, Datuk Seri Rais Yatim, last Sunday.

Truth be told, I'm not exactly familiar with the site at all even though it's just an hour plus drive from Ipoh. But, a little bit of digging and I'm now much informed. Lenggong Valley Archaeology Site hosts four such sites where findings from Palaeolithic, Neolithic and Metal ages were found. Findings included stone paraphernalias as well as human remains. The most famous discovery from this site has to be the Perakman. 

Perakman remains

The complete skeletons of Perakman was the earliest human skeletal remains to be found in this region, believed to be around the age of 11,000. It was first discovered in 1991. Now that the archaeology site had been completely excavated, UNESCO awarded the Lenggong Valley Archaeology Site the World Heritage Site status based on the criteria (iii) and (iv), "to bear unique or at least exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or to a civilization which is living or which has disappeared" and "to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architecture or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates significant stages in human history".

Lenggong Archaeology Museum

There is the Lenggong Archaeological Museum located nearby the excavation ground which housed artefacts of the sites. You can learn more about this museum at this website. I will definitely pay a visit the next time when I'm back home.

Friday's Newsflash - Big Ben Renamed Elizabeth Tower

It's official! Big Ben will be renamed to Elizabeth Tower in honour of the Queen's diamond jubilee, according to the announcement made by the House of Commons Commission. There has been campaign made by lawmakers to change the name of the London's famous landmark in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II's 60 years of reign in the country. Her Majesty is the second monarch to rule the country for such a long period of time, the first being Queen Victoria. There had been a grand ceremony at the beginning of the month with concerts and festivals gracing the country and the renaming of the tower being the icing on the cake, a fitting tribute.

Big Ben = Elizabeth Tower

The iconic parliament clock tower's official name is not Big Ben but the rather unimaginative Clock Tower. The name 'Big Ben' was a mystery in term of its origins. There are two theories as to why the clock tower came to be known as so, the first and widely accepted being in honour of Benjamin Hall, the engineer whose name was inscribed on the bell, and the second, named after Ben Caunt, a champion heavyweight boxer in the 1850s.

Even with the name change, the affectionate name of Big Ben will continue to stick around.

Friday's Newsflash - George Town Festival is On!

Did you guys know that the George Town Festival 2012 is back? Beginning from 15th June until 15th July 2012, it is a "month long celebration of art, music, theatre, dance opera and film to commemorate George Town's inscription on the UNESCO Heritage listing" which began in 2009, a year after the much-awaited inclusion in 7th July 2008. With the inscription and the festival, George Town has since turned into a vibrant and arty city, attracting crowds from all around the world. 

After a fantastic run last year including the launching of the Marking George Town 2011 (the heritage sculptures I mentioned last week's first Friday's news), theatre show No. 7 (the life story of Cheong Fatt Tze's seventh wife starring Tan Kheng Hua of Phua Chu Kang fame), photography exhibitions and so on, this year, the organiser outdo themselves with a selection of performances and shows of both local and international productions. 


Among the highlight of this year's festival are as followed:

• Silat - Our Heritage of the World (15th - 16th June 2012), a performance which showcases the graceful martial art practised 2000 years ago at the dawn of Malay civilization. 
• Blinded Mind (4th July 2012), a contemporary dance performance by Finnish company.
• The Manganiyar Seduction (6th - 8th July 2012), a unique confluence of traditional Rajasthani music and striking contemporary theatre.
• The Philippine Madrigal Singers (1st - 2nd July 2012), choir shows by one of the most awarded groups in the world.

There are more events being held during this one month and you should go check it out yourself. Even if none of the events interest you, you should take this opportunity to visit the beautiful island of Penang and explore the historic city of George Town.

For more information, go visit the official website here. Did anyone went to the Silat show or any other events? If so, mind sharing your views here?

Friday's Newsflash - Penang's Heritage Sculptures Completion Ahead of Time

From today onwards, I'll start a weekly entry every Fridays on tourism news I read about throughout the whole week and share it here in my blog. I always believe in the notion, good things are meant to be shared, and when it comes to tourism sector, I'll definitely do my part in promoting more people to go travelling, be it local tourism or overseas tourism.

The spotlight for today falls on the news I read last night on The Star about the caricatures graffiti scattering around George Town, Penang, to commemorate the UNESCO heritage listing. I first found out about this heritage project back when I was still doing my first degree in USM and I saw a few of these witty sculptures that had been erected along the streets of Penang.

Where's My Husband? along Love Lane

This "Marking George town" project has a few phases and apparently, it has been going along ahead of its Tscheduled completion date in the first half of 2013. Instead, all the caricatures will be installed at its respective streets by the end of this year. There will be a total of 51 sculptures and to date, 25 had already been set in place. Most of these caricatures depict the daily lifestyles of Penangnites in the past as well as the present. You will be given glimpses of the island's history through these funny, often sarcastic, graffiti.

Here's Kedai Tuak at Market Lane

Personally, I'm amazed of this initiative the State Government had taken to mark the beautiful heritage of Penang. This hipster approach to instil appreciative nature towards heritage as well as contemporary art is innovative idea. We need more awareness towards preserving our heritages and with this project, a new breath of air will be given to George Town. Besides the delicious foods at the island, tourists can now understand more about the peoples of Penang with these sculptures. Therefore, heck of a good job!

After I left George Town, I only saw two or three of these unique arts and I had been constantly searching for more news and information on it. Well, I guess I will be dropping by Penang soon (at least by end of the year) to hunt these street arts down. You can read more about this project here at the Sculpture At Work (that's the company)'s official website or click here for The Star's news I mentioned above.