Malaysia Travel Guide
5/19/2008 at 9:00 AM
Tags: Attractions, Tourist Attractions, Asia Travel, Bridges (all tags)
As far as funky-shaped bridges go, the Langkawi Sky Bridge takes the cake as far as we're concerned. We're not really up with the latest bridge-building technology and can't really believe that it stays up, but we still plan to try walking over it the next time we hit the north of Malaysia.
It's been open since late 2004 (so it's had plenty of chances to fall down), and hangs there some 2,200 feet above sea level. The view is, obviously, pretty spectacular, but you have to be the kind of person who can keep their eyes open while slightly petrified to be able to enjoy this view.
Related Stories:
· Gephyrophobiacs Look Away Now [Deputy Dog]
· View Langkawi from a Cable Car [Jaunted]
[Photo: The Dilly Lama]
by amandak
4/01/2008 at 10:25 AM
Tags: Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia X, Air Asia (all tags)
Since we mentioned that Malaysia Airlines has great customer service, we've let them drift off our radar a bit in favor of upstart Malaysian LCC Air Asia, with its promises to spirit us across the whole world for nearly nothing.
And that's a pity, because if we'd been paying more attention to long-term good performer Malaysia Airlines, we might have picked up a really special deal recently: An error was made when uploading prices to the computer system, and the cost of a business class flight from Bangkok to Johannesburg was listed as 11,580 Thai Baht instead of 111,580.
That missing "1" made about US$3,500 difference to the price, and those in the know snapped up bargain-priced business class deals for under $400. Malaysia Airlines has now corrected the error but will honor the tickets bought at the cheaper rate. We just wish it had been us.
Related Stories:
· Pricing Error for Malaysia Airlines [eTravel]
· Malaysia Airlines Heart All Passengers [Jaunted]
[Photo: JanneM]
by amandak
3/28/2008 at 9:10 AM
Tags: Celeb Travel, Pussycat Dolls (all tags)
They're sassy! They sing -- kind of! On the CW, they claim to be empowering! But the Pussycat Dolls have been slapped with a $3000 fine for being a little too free with their favors at a concert in Kuala Lumpur. Two of the girls experienced "wardrobe malfunctions" (not pictured) during one show, causing the government to charge them for their "sexually suggestive routines." Too bad authorities missed their previous career as professional square dancers.
We're not saying to take Malaysia off your itineraries permanently, but wherever you travel it's important to be sensitive to cultural norms. (They probably would've been fined similarly in one of several American cities if something similar had happened... look at what happened to Jim Morrison!) Don't think of it as the host country cramping your style; no vacation is improved by a huge fine or time in jail. Even if it's sexy jail.
Related Stories:
· Eva Longoria Stars At Pussycat Lounge Opening [HotelChatter]
· Celeb Travel coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: IDLYITW]
by egw
3/27/2008 at 12:30 PM
Tags: Asia Travel, Magazines (all tags)
The magazine that showed us the ins and outs of New York, London and even Beirut has launched in
Kuala Lumpur.
TimeOut has been one of the few stand-out travel publications over the years, so we're excited to hear about their new magazine and website featuring this bustling Southeast Asian hub. Now you can
fly there on the cheap and know where to go.
TimeOut's KL web site covers happenings and happening spots around the city -- from bookstores to bars, from comedy clubs to clearance sales. It's a great tool for expats and even locals, but what we wish it had is maps; addresses don't mean much to the unfamiliar traveler.
Either way, it's a cool addition. And we'll be looking out for seven more launches from TO in 2008, including titles from Hong Kong, Bangkok and Jakarta.
Related Stories:
·
TimeOut KL [Official Site]
·
TimeOut launches KL site [Journalism.co.uk]
·
KL Travel coverage [Jaunted]
by benh
3/25/2008 at 9:30 AM
Tags: AirAsia, Low Cost Carriers, LCCs, Tony Fernandes (all tags)
If you haven't really heard much about AirAsia yet, never fear: according to the CEO Datuk Tony Fernandes, the whole world will be flying AirAsia soon.
Fernandes really loves his airline and has huge plans for it. The first low cost carrier in Asia, coming out of Kuala Lumpur, AirAsia has been flying for over 10 years now and is ready to conquer the world. Fernandes dreams of making the AirAsia brand as big as Coca-Cola and the airline's reach as significant as European LCC Ryanair.
Some of the latest plans for AirAsia's future include pioneering PDA check-in, adding 175 new aircraft to its fleet and having AirAsia advertising adorning football stadiums. And hopefully, remembering to give us good service at a good price.
Related Stories:·
Sky's Not the Limit [eTravel]
·
Air Asia is as Good as Formula One [ENP]
·
AirAsia Coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: lastsham]
by amandak
1/30/2008 at 9:45 AM
Tags: Airlines, New Routes, Low Cost Carriers, LCCs, Tiger Airways, Jetstar (all tags)
So much action in the flight routes of Australasia, so little time to fly every one of them. Big news this week came as Singapore and Malaysia finally opened up a route between the countries to competition. Until now, this flight has cost around $320, a crazy amount for just 55 minutes in the air.
There are plenty of potential takers for budget flights on the KL to Singapore route, with Tiger Airways (a 49% subsidiary of Singapore Airlines) and Qantas offshoot Jetstar already putting their hands up. AirAsia, a Malaysian low cost carrier, is also part of the market, with two flights per day on the route. It's now possible to grab tickets for only the cost of the airport taxes and charges.
And while the liberalization of this route is only partial--just four flights per day have been allocated to the budget carriers--the experts are predicting the traffic will triple within the next two years. The good news is that more openings of Southeast Asian routes should follow by the end of this year, which means we can fly more often and more cheaply. We're going to need some more time off work.
Related Stories:
· Win-Win As KL-Singapore Air Route Opens Up [The Age]
· Flash Mob and Shop at KL's Petronas Towers [Jaunted]
· Will Lion Air Roar Into Australia? [Jaunted]
[Photo: S J photography]
by amandak
1/29/2008 at 9:45 AM
Tags: It's Summer Somewhere, It's-Summer-Somewhere, Asia Travel, Flash Mobs, Crowds (all tags)
With an average high temperature of about 90 degrees year-round, you'd be safe to say that it's always summer in Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur. KL is modern and full of interesting sights to see and a whole lot of shopping, plus it's home to the tallest twin buildings in the world: the Petronas Towers.
And it's at the base of the Towers, home to one of KL's numerous shopping centers, that tourists might have been confused by a recent flash mobbing. Word of the sudden public meeting was spread by bloggers and at the appointed time, one of the mobbers tore up a newspaper in protest against a mainstream media mogul. Hundreds of people were suddenly there, and just as suddenly gone. (Reminds us of that hipster swarm in NYC.)
But if flash mobbing isn't your idea of a good time, then take a ride to the top of the Petronas Towers for a fantastic view over the city. If you get one of the free passes (1,700 per day), you can cross the Skyway that joins the two towers at the 41st floor. Of course that's only half way up--it's 88 floors tall--but you don't want to get greedy.
Related Stories:
· Malaysia's Foreign Tourist Arrivals Hit High [Forbes]
· Kuala Lumpur Gets a Metblog [Jaunted]
· Flash Mob in KL [Metroblogging]
· Flash Mobs coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: superciliousness]
by amandak
11/08/2007 at 9:15 AM
Tags: Disneyland, Disney, Asia Travel (all tags)
Is it possible that there could one day be too many Disneyland parks in the world? While some of us might think that this is already the case, others obviously believe that there's always room for one more. The newest could open in Bardar Nusajaya in southern Malaysia.
Depending on who you believe, the idea of a Malaysian Disneyland is either at an advanced stage of development, or has been considered and completely disregarded. Disney's had trouble with Hong Kong Disneyland because the locals prefer their own Ocean Park theme park. (Then there was the whole staff-frolicking-naked-on-video problem.) Will the company really go for a Malaysian version of the same trouble? We'll have to wait and see.
Related Stories:
· Disney Eyeing Theme Park Site in Malaysia [Reuters]
· Malaysia Disneyland Rumors Pure Mickey Mouse [Asia Times]
· Unhappy Birthday to HK Disneyland [Jaunted]
· Disneyland Not Always Good Clean Fun [Jaunted]
[Photo: Major Clanger]
by amandak
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