Selamat Datang - Its #VMY2014

Its Visit Malaysia 2014 and this blog would like to wish

SELAMAT DATANG KE MALAYSIA

have a nice stay. take back all the nice memories 

Malaysian International Tourism Exchange 2012

Today I went to this event held at Malaysian AgroExposition Park Serdang (MAEPS). The event starts on 31 May 2012 and will end 3rd June 2012. This is an international tourism event organised by Torism Malaysia.

The whole event was held at the exhibition hall A (Local and and International Companies) Hall C  ( SMEs and Ecolifestyles) B. Hall D (Ground Floor) is the Food Court. The exhibition venue and quite represented by tourism stake holders. There are the official government tourism agencies: national and state, tour agents, tour related agencies and foreign National Tourism Organisations. 
I am not sure whether this is a working day (Friday) that the turnout was quite a dismal. I was surprise that there is not many visitors as shown by the number of cars at the carpark. Maybe there will be more visitors on Saturday and Sunday.

I think the organiser made a bad choice of venue which is quite far from the city and way out of the  the public transport route. It would be better if it is organised at KLCC or PWTC when at the same time there is also another International tourism event going on, the World Islamic Tourism Mart.

The exhibition is well represented by the 14 states in Malaysia besides tour agents with their competitive tour packages. Besides the states Tourism Council, I was surprise too by the absence of our national carrier, MAS. Firefly and Airasia made their appearance.

I went in the afternoon and sad to see that many booth are empty especially those represented by foreign NTOs. Among the foreign NTOs who came to “sell” tourism includes Taiwan, Cambodia, Mozambique, Kenya, Thailand, Cuba, Kerala and Madya Pradesh,India, Maldives and China Muslim Tourism Promotional Event.


According to the exhibition show map there are a few more other countries represented but during my visit I did not see them around. Malaysia by the way are represented by Ministry of tourism, State Pavilion, Hotels, resorts, tour & travels and other tour related services. There is also the Health Tourism sector, Education Tourism, M.I.C.E. Recreational and Adventure tourism but sports tourism is only represented by Golf and extreme sports.

At one end of the hall there is also The Malaysian Contemporary Art Exhibition


At the end of the day, this much brochure, leaflets and pamphlets I took home. I hope I will have time to read, digest and write posts on my Armchair Travelogue blog.

Destination Legoland Malaysia

This is a preamble to my future posting, if God Willing, about my visit to the soon to be opened Legoland Malaysia at Nusajaya, Johor. The new tourism landmark will be the first such attraction in Asia and sixth in the world. It is expected to be open end 2012. Legoland is owned and operated by a British Theme Park Company Merlin Entertainment. 

Merlin Entertainment operates the theme park at other five locations namely;

Legoland Billund (Billund, Denmark)

Legoland Windsor (Windsor, England, United Kingdom)

Legoland Deutschland (Günzburg, Germany)

Legoland California (Carlsbad, San Diego County, California, USA)

Legoland Florida (Winter Haven, Florida, USA)

I and many more bloggers, I presume, were invited by Millenium Associates on behalf of Legoland Malaysia to a site visit and witness the growing process and as a countdown to its launching in six months. We will be given an opportunity to witness the park come to life. However if you are anxious to get a sneak peek about Legoland click HERE and HERE for the Malaysian site . 

Walking Walking Kuala Lumpur - Dataran Merdeka: A Heritage of Its Own

This series is a continuation from Walking Walking Kuala Lumpur - The Beginning........................

One of the most visited places for visitors to Kuala Lumpur before Petronas Twin Tower is Dataran Merdeka or Merdeka Square. Its a place that cannot be seperated from the history of Malaysia on the whole.  Independance of the Federation of Malaya and Malaysia remains as nostalgic memories. For that reason the National Day of Malaysia every 31st August is very significance to this area as host.

Dataran Merdeka can be considered as one of the nucleus for heritage buildings in Kuala Lumpur. All around this field there are concentration of heritage buildings since it was one of the earliest developed site and located just at the confluence of Sungai Klang and Sungai Gombak, the birthplace of Kuala Lumpur. Looking at Kuala Lumpur's distribution of communities in the early days this can be attributed to the colonial immigrants from the West.

Among the heritage building here is of course I think is the most captured building on photo of Kuala Lumpur, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building.

It was site, that the Union Jack was lowered and the flag of Malaya was hoisted on 31st August 1957 marking the Independance of Malaya. Today, to mark that historical event of hoisting the flag of the Federation of Malaya, stand a 100 metre flag post, the tallest in Malaysia (and among the tallest in the world)  erected at one end of the square.

My Jalan-Jalan Kuala Lumpur starts from the bridge across the Sungai Klang from the junction of Jalan Tun Perak and Jalan Raja Laut and into Jalan Raja (scroll down to see the accompany map of this journey) . Jalan Raja is the road running in front and parallel to Sultan Abdul Samad Building where Merdeka parade took place every year. The Dataran Merdeka is just across the road from Sultan Abdul Samad Building.

For visitors to Kuala Lumpur taking the Hop On Hop Off bus, can disembark at bus stop 16 just next to the St Mary's Anglican Church. From here just walk across to the field that was once a cricket pitch where matches were played during the colonial days. However, today, since cricket is not a popular sports in Malaysia, one can hardly see people playing anymore on the pitch except for official events organised  once in a while. This open filed also hosts varieties of events occasionally. However it has already been renovated from the original ground in 1990, that will be very soggy after spells of rain. Just below this field (underground), is the Plaza Putra housing cimeplex, tourist information centre, food court and some small shops. There is also a 600 car parking bay.

Below are series of pictures of heritage buildings around Dataran Merdeka

Above: St Mary's Cathederal, Oldest Anglican Church in Kuala Lumpur

Above:  Royal Selangor Club.

 Above: National History Mesuem

Above: Kuala Lumpur Memorial Library

Above: A fountain to commemorate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee at one end of the Square and was built in 1897

Below: The route I took from where I ended the previous entry in this series. This series ends at the bridge across the Sungai Klang and next in the series will be Central Market. Do visit again.......................

Above: The Loke Yew Building. Read about Loke Yew HERE.

Below: Part of a structure of a heritage building was preserved when the Menara Patriot that belongs to Bank Pertanian Malaysia (now known as Agro Bank) was built. This series of Walking Walking Kuala Lumpur stops here. See you again in the next sreies................

Labuan 21-24 Sept 08 - I Missed My Flight.

Labuan Airport: 5.45 pm. en route to Kuala Lumpur on MH 2609

This is my second time this year I arrive her in Labuan. This short visit is during the fasting month and for me a Muslim the glitches of being here is during the breaking of fast and the sahur. Stayed at Hotel Pulau Labuan II. I have to buy packed food and eat a a restaurant on the first day. For sahur is packed nasi goreng kuning. 

Second day break of fast with Nasi Briyani kambing and as usual a glass of iced lemon tea. Sahur is mee goreng mamak in the middle of the night beside the Blue Wave Lounge. 

OMG!!!!!

Now that I had arrived at Labuan Airport and waiting to check in. My flight as I have been remembering is 7.20 pm. So when the counter is opened, I proceed to check in only to find out that I had made a silly mistake of being careless. I was told by the staff at the counter that my flight was at 5.20 and not 7.20. On the ticket it was 1720 and I just don't know why I made that simple and silly mistake. After been flying since 1973 this is the first time I made that mistake and I am for a time being stranded at the airport. 

Immediately I went to the MAS ticket office to enquire and being told that the next flight will only be the next morning and there is only Business Class. It means that I have to pay the fine for no appearance and the extra upgrading to Business class of RM 430.00. There is no more seat until Sunday since its the weekend and nearing the Aidil Fitri holidays. I jsut can't wait until Sunday. So I decided to try Airasia instead and if the fare is more than I have no choice but to take the business Class and it will be my first time flying Business. 

The Airasia office is closed maybe because of the time of breaking the fast for Muslims. The wait is quite stressful thinking whether there are anymore seat on the 8.50 flight to Kuala Lumpur. The stress increased when the MAS ticketing office is close. And It means if there is no seat on Airasia, I have no choice to fly back to Kuala Lumpur the next morning and that too is not confirmed since the ticketing clerk told me that there is only 3 seats left. Time flew so slow and in my mind I am thinking of the price. 

After seeing one man came out of the sales office that is still close I approached and asked when the office will be open. He said that the office will not be opened and that really shoot up my stress. Then I asked whether there is anymore seat on tonight's flight and the good news came. There are seats. 

I can buy the ticket at the counter and it costs me RM 421 plus RM 10 for luggage. That is cheaper than if I fly Business and above that I have to pay my hotel room for tonight which will be totalling more than RM 500 and going back a day late. 

Now that I had my ticket and checked in, I am waiting for the flight which I was told being delayed. The aircraft was delayed in Macau to Kuala Lumpur. However the delay is not a problem to me anymore since I am able to fly back to Kuala Lumpur tonight. 

Regency Tanjung Tuan Beach Resort, Port Dickson

After laying off for about three months I start traveling again. This time to Port Dickson for a two night stay at Regency Tanjung Tuan Beach Resort. This is the second time staying here, the last was in 1995 when I attended the induction course here and stayed for two weeks.

The resort situated next to the beach facing the Straits of Malacca. Location wise it can be considered central between Port Dickson Town and other resort along the beach leading South towards Malacca.

From the resort one can view the Straits and usually will not miss ships sailing along it. The Straits of Malacca is one of the most used seaway for ships from Europe to the Far East.

The view of the Straits of Malacca from the sixth floor three room apartment.

Facilities :

Two blocks of three and two rooms apartments.
Swimming pool with kids pool. At the time I was there life guards were always on standby.
Tennis court, Futsal court
PS2 video games terminals.
FREE Wifi at the 24 hours Api-Api Coffee Terrace and at the Coconut Grove. However at the time I was there I can receive the signal (2 bars) but can't get logged to the internet.

Guest Facilities (From Resort Website)

• self-contained deluxe apartments (1-3 bedrooms) & penthouse (4 bedrooms)
• complete with 24-hour reception and security service, living room, air-conditioning and hot water, bathroom, dry kitchen, television with selected ASTRO channels, built-in cabinets and refrigerator
• complete seminar and conference facilities
• Al fresco dining at the Coconut Grove beach front, open display kitchen
• Api-Api Coffee Terrace, serving western and local dishes
• barbeque facilities (by arrangement)
• beach volleyball, tennis and squash
• fishing (by arrangement)
• special packages for company and family outings
• swimming pool
• water sports
• gymnasium

The resort also provide other recreation activities and the rate is HERE.

I'll let the pictures do that talking.

The swimming pool with a 9 feet deep end. Also found is kids pool.

Coconut Grove to sit an relax in the evening. Opened till midnight. Movies are screened here. However the sound from the movie distracts guest in the rooms when the movie ends at about 2.00 a.m.

Sit and relax over ABC (Air Batu Campur) . Shaved ice with an array of beans. Sweet.

Quite a nice spot to watch the sunset.

PS II station for gamers.

For further assistance call: (03) 2715 7927/7928 or fax: (03) 2715 4899

1 - 6 April Labuan

Labuan is an island that was once part of Sabah and ceded to the Federal Government in 1984 converting it into a Federal Territory (other Federal Territories are Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya). The island has an areaa of 92km square and was made into an offshore financial centre.

The town of Labuan was called Victoria and is is an easy going life. Living in Labuan is not as hectic as living in other towns and cities of Malaysia therefore giving it a motto of ...to live and relax. Main economic activies is trading.

When in Labuan I stayed at Sara Hotel in the heart of the town being the reason there' s TMnet hotspots. One can get access to the internet using hotspots from the lobby but if you re lucky enough to stay in rooms on the first floor nearest to the lobby, you might get access from the room. I stayed in room 105 and get a weak signal. However I can get logged on to the net and that was a 24 hours connection.

Another reason is the next to the hotel is the Restoran Malindo for your decent meals. Labuan tourist information centre is about a hundred metres away from the hotel. If you love night life Labuan is a place to be.

References to Labuan

Labuan Online community
Labuan Offshore Financial Services Authority
Labuan Travel Guide (Wiki)
Labuan web
Mari-mari Guide