Firefly

FIREFLY, the budget wing of Malaysia Airlines will launch flights from several Malaysian cities to Singapore starting in July 2009 as part of its regional expansion.

Firefly will be the fourth no-frills carrier to fly the lucrative route from the Malaysian city of Kuala Lumpur to Singapore, adding competition to rivals AirAsia, Jetstar and Tiger Airways in a market hit by the global economic slump.

Firefly lands on Subang airport is only 25 kilometres from the city, less than half the time it takes to travel to the main airport, which is 60km away.

Getting there/away:

The best way to get there is by taxi.

Rapid KL bus U81 (destination Mah Sing and Pekan Subang) from the Sultan Mohd Bus Hub next to the Pasar Seni LRT station goes past the airport. Fare is RM2 and the ticket is valid for the whole day for all RapidKL routes with "U" prefix.

Schedule Link : http://www.fireflyz.com.my/flights/schedule

Speaking Malay in Sarawak

Please notice some basic communication terms in Bahasa Melayu Sarawak.
Kamek - I
Kitak - You
Auk - Yes
Sik - No
Igek - Piece
Kamek Mauk Pergi Jamban Dolok - I Would Like To Go To The Toilet
Kitak Dari Siney? - Where Are You From?
Nyaman Juak Makanan Tok - This Food Is Quite Tasty
Kamek Ngupok/Mupok Dolok - I'd Like To Make A Move
Nama-NameMaok-Want
Jamban-Toilet
Duit-Money

Sarawak

You shouldn’t go Sarawak for holiday if you have seasickness as boats are a common mode of transport in Sarawak. This is because of the dense vegetation of its interior is crisscrossed with rivers. However, experiencing the impossibly dense jungle wall breezes past will ensure you an unforgettable trip.

Sarawak lies in its capital city Kuching. Kuching was built along the banks of the Sarawak River and it is also very near the coastline, about 32 km away from the sea. Kuching is a tranquil location with nice landscaped parks and gardens, classic colonial buildings, colorful markets and a beautiful waterfront named as Kuching Waterfront. It is a good place to stroll around and relax.

Besides that, Sarawak’s charm also lies at its most popular and scenic beach, Damai Beach. Damai is located on the Santubong Peninsula, which is about 35 minutes away from Kuching. Besides the beautiful sandy beaches to relax on, there are also water sports such as jet-skiing and windsurfing. The Santubong Peninsula also offers several sites for bird watching. Bird-watchers can enjoy sighting a variety of birds likes Sandpipers, Egrets, Terns, Collared kingfisher, the White-bellied Sea Eagle and Brahminy Kites and Buntal village, an important wintering ground for migratory birds, is the best place for bird watching. Want to have more adventurous activities, you may climb through the rainforest to the summit of Mount Santubong, which is about five to six-hour trek. Others than that, Damai is one of the best places to see the rare Irrawady dolphin, particularly in Santubong, Salak and Buntal river estuaries. This kind of dolphins is really shy, so you need a good guide-cum-spotter to catch a sight of this dolphin in the Damai area.

To find out more about Sarawak’s historical background, visit The Islamic Museum in Kuching is a must. Opened in 1992, it was originally a Malay college but now houses seven galleries displaying elements of the Islamic culture and religion, which includes History of Islam in Sarawak, Islamic Architecture, Science, Technology, Economics, Education and Literature, Music, Costumes and Personal Ornaments, Weaponry, Decorative Arts, Domestic Utensils and a Quran Collection.On the other hand, you also have to visit the Chinese History Museum, which was originally a court for the Chinese community in Kuching. It depicts the rich history of Sarawak’s diverse Chinese groups. At there, you will learn about their origins, traditional skills and culture through the exhibitions there.

Others than that, Sarawak’s charm also lies at the Cultural Village, which is dedicated to preserving and exhibiting the cultural heritage of Sarawak’s major ethnic groups. Catch a glimpse of the lifestyles of major indigenous groups which include the Iban, Bidayuh and Orang Ulu.

Overall, a visit to Sarawak entails a wonderful journey of discovery into its culture, heritage and history. From the peaceful sights of Kuching city to the awe of its historical museums, there are a lot of things for you to do and see in Sarawak.

The best time to go Sarawak is from June to August. In that period, Sarawak has the least rainfall. Besides that, if you intend to go for bird-watching at Buntal village, the best period is from October to March.

Where & What to Eat
One of the Sarawak specialties is Umai. Umai is a traditional dish of the Melanau people, which is a spicy salad of raw marinated fish, limes and shallots. You may get it at Penrissen Inn, Tapanga Tree and Malay food stalls in Top Spot (Taman Kareta).

Apart from that, you also must try the Iban’s fine delicacies likes Pansoh Manok, which is chicken with rice wine cooked in bamboo. The same technique is also used to cook fish. You can savour this dish at Penrissen Inn or the Cottage.

For seafood lover, you must try the steamed pomfret or manchong fish, asam prawns, sambal prawns and slipper lobster.

Others Sarawak specialties like Sarawak laksa, Kolo mee (simple but popular Sarawakian noodle dish), Tomato Kueh Tiaw and Foochow bagel (kompia) are the “must eat” if you make your to Sarawak. The Foochow bagel can only be found in Sibu where ethnic Chinese of Foochow clan formed a majority.

Stay Away From
Be careful of saltwater crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus) because they are very common in certain parts of Sarawak. Caution should be taken when entering water, especially brackish areas such as Batang Lupar.

Move around

By bus
Most cities in Sarawak are now linked by express buses although travelling times can be long because of the distance. Companies include Vital Focus Transportations Sdn. Bhd., which operates Suria Bas, PB and Borneo Highway express buses, and http://www.biaramas.com/.

Timing and cost of express bus : http://www.vftransportation.com.my/schedule.html

By boat
Express boats run from the coast inland along Borneo's larger rivers. They are generally faster than buses and cheaper than planes. Popular routes include Kuching-Sibu (4 hours) and Sibu-Kapit (3 hours).

Local transport
Most cities have local buses and taxis serving not only the city centres and their surrounding suburbs but also adjacent rural districts.

Visit
Sarawak Cultural Village, some 45 minutes' drive from Kuching. Entrance fees are RM60 per person. It is a living museum of different tribes and architecture spread over a lovely green area at the foot of Mount Santubong. You will be able to see how Iban, Melanau, Bidayuh, etc. tribes live, work and cook in the longhouses, each with its own identity. It is also best to visit this place during the annual Rainforest World Music Festival which happens each July. The festival is held on the grounds of the Sarawak Cultural Village, hence you don't need to pay the entrance fees (festival fees include entrance to the Village).

Rainforest World Music Festival has been around since 1997 and its popularity is growing from year to year. Accommodation around the festival grounds are snapped up as soon as bookings open so be quick. Good places to stay are Holiday Inn Damai Beach and Damai Lagoon, both a few minutes' walk away from the festival. Alternatively, you can stay within the heart of Kuching city and take the daily shuttle to the festival (RM10 each way). The three-day world music festival brings together some of the best world musicians for workshops and nightly live concerts. Tickets for the three-day festival are RM250, or RM90 for daily entry.

Take a tour to an Iban Longhouse. One longhouse provides accommodation for visitors. The facilities are very basic, but tolerable for one night and an interesting insight into the Iban culture.

Alternatively, you can visit to one of the very old Bidayuh longhouse (namely Annah Rais Longhouse), which is nearer to the Kuching. Visit Longhouse Adventure website for more details about their full-board longhouse homestay program.

Link: http://www.sarawak-hotels.com/

Getting to Genting Highlands

Genting Skyway

Genting Skyway connects Genting Highlands with the skyway station in Gohtong Jaya town. Covering a distance of 3.8km, it is South East Asia longest skyway system and also the world’s fastest skyway (at the maximum speed of 6 metres per second, the 3.38 kilometres journey up the mountain peak takes only 11 minutes).

Passengers will disembark at the smart and impressive Genting Skyway Station at Gohtong Jaya. Bus and car parking facilities are readily available. The ultra-efficient station will allow hotel and luggage check-in procedures to be completed at the station itself. Visitors need only sit back and enjoy a leisurely ride up to the holiday resort without having to go through further hassles of checking-in formalities while at hotels.Fare: RM4.00 one way, RM7.00 return

Genting Express Bus is a conveneint and economical way to travel to Genting. The buses leave from various locations in KL to Gohtong Jaya as follows:

Puduraya - Gohtong Jaya Skyway station
GENTING EXPRESS BUS SERVICETicketing Office: Counter No.43, Ground Floor,Puduraya Bus Station, Kuala LumpurOpening Hours: 7am - 7pm (Monday - Sunday)Tel: (603) 2072 6863
KL Sentral Station - Gohtong Jaya Skyway station

GENTING EXPRESS BUS SERVICE

Genting counter at Level 2,KL Sentral Station
Hentian Duta - Gohtong Jaya Skyway station
Terminal PUTRA LRT Gombak - Gohtong Jaya Skyway station

GENTING EXPRESS BUS SERVICE

Ticketing Office: Ticketing Counter,Terminal Putra LRT Gombak.

Opening Hours:7.30am - 7pm Monday - Saturday.8.30am - 7pm on Sunday

Tel: (012) 2369 611

All buses take around one hour and cost RM8.30-8.50 one way. From the skyway station, its a mere 11 minutes journey by the Genting Skyway to Genting Highland. However, if the skyway system is closed for maintenance, all buses will go straight to Genting Highland. Buses departing after 8 PM head directly to the resort.

If you do not want to take the cable car:Go to TITIWANGSA station in Kuala Lumpur, head for the PEKELILING bus terminal visible from the train station. Board the maroon red Genting Bus (depart every 1/2 hr till bout 10 or 11 at night. fare is RM5.60 per person) which will take you all the way to First World Hotel bus terminal (estimated 1 hour bus ride).

GENTING EXPRESS BUS SERVICE

6.30am 7.00am 7.45am 8.30am 9.00am 9.30am 10.00am 10.30am 11.00am 11.30am 12.00nnand every ½ hour until 9.00pm
Transtar also operates one daily bus direct from Singapore (S$68/57 one-way from/to Singapore).

By Car

It will take approximately 45 minutes to reach Genting Highlands - City of Entertainment if you start your journey from Kuala Lumpur Karak Highway. You can drive up either along Kurak Highway or the Batang Kali Road.

From South:
1. At Sungai Besi Toll, proceed straight, keep left, enter exit to Cheras heading up the flyover.2. Follow Cheras direction, go straight.3. Pass by Makro on your left, go straight.4. Follow Ampang direction5. Pass by Ampang, go straight and you will pass Zoo Negara and Melawati (on your right).6. Go straight, follow Kuantan direction.7. Exit Kuantan flyover. Go up the flyover and join Karak Highway.8. After the Karak Toll, proceed on till you pass the Genting Sempah tunnel. Exit to Genting Highlands after the tunnel.

From North:
1. From Ipoh (North-South Highway), exit to Rawang Interchange. Proceed to Rawang Town.2. Pass Rawang, Sungai Choh and Serendah Towns.3. Next town is Batang Kali. Turn right to Genting Highlands (Signboard shown)4. At the next T-junction, turn left to join road to Genting Highlands.5. Afyer about 10-15 minutes, you will see Genting Skyway Station on your right. Proceed and follow directions to Awana and Genting Highlands.

Toll Charges from Singapore to Genting Highlands:Malaysia causeway RM2.60Enter N-S highway at Skudai toll , exit at Sungai Besi - RM41.90From KL, go on till Karak highway - RM5.00Total one way : RM49.50

Perhentian Islands

The Perhentian Islands are a small group of beautiful, coral-fringed islands off the coast of northeastern Malaysia in the state of Terengganu, not far from the Thai border.

When to go
Due to the eastern monsoon, the season in the Perhentians (and all other east coast islands) is effectively limited to the period between the beginning of March until late October. Outside this period the seas can be very rough with currents that make swimming dangerous and most (though not all) accommodation options are closed. Do not believe the travel-agents when they claim the accommodations are open. Even if they will provide a room, restaurants and all shops (i.e. no place to get water, food, sunscreen etc.) are closed in off-season. If the restaurant is open, food choices will be very limited and over-priced.

When going during off-season be aware that there will be literally no one there but you and maybe a handful of locals.

From the main ferry terminal at Kuala Besut there are effectively two options:
Speed boats - usually small fibreglass boats with two or three outboards which take 30-45 minutes, charge RM70/person for to and fro and RM40/person for one way, and depart according to demand (4-5 times a day). Some are enclosed, some have a fabric roof, some are completely open. If the sea is choppy expect a bumpy ride and in the case of the latter two types expect to get very wet. There is no safe space for electronics, you might want to wrap anything that will not survive being wet in plastic beforehand.

Slow boats - usually wooden fishing boats with some seats on the deck which take 2-3 times as long as the speedboats, only available if you book in advance at RM300/boat/way. Maximum 12 pax per boat. It seems that their services have been discontinued though.

All ferries take their passengers directly to their destination, wherever it may be on the islands. Passengers may be charged an extra RM2 to get a small boat from the ferry to the beach at Long Beach. Elsewhere, jetties are springing up and enable people to get off the ferry without the need for an additional small boat ride to shore and without getting their feet wet.

All travellers to the islands must pay a marine park conservation charge of RM5, valid for the length of their stay.

NOTE!

Mosquitoes. Bring repellent and consider burning a mosquito coil.
Tap water is generally not safe to drink. Bottled water is widely available at a fairly expensive RM 3-5 per 1.5L bottle.
The sun can be extremely hot and burning in the afternoons till early evenings. Ocean conservationists do not encourage sunscreen to be in contact with the sea water as it ruins the corals!

Electricity is only provided at night. It seems most places that have outages on Besar are only limited to 3-hour blackouts during the late afternoon (4-7pm, a good time to snorkel or jungle trek).

Accommodation

There is very little luxury accommodation on the islands, with the top of the line being air-conditioned chalets (RM100-200) and the bottom being a bunk in a longhouse (RM10 and up). Discounts are usually negotiable in the off season (although most resorts are closed), for weekdays, for longer stays, if you show up late and they have room... but the better places can get snapped up fast, especially on weekends and holidays, so book in advance (easily arranged in Kuala Besut) or arrive early.

The most popular backpacker destination is Pasir Panjang (Long Beach) on the eastern coast of Kecil, where a bed in a longhouse can go for as little as RM20. More private "chalets" with fan, electricity and bathroom start at RM50.

Redang Island

Redang Island boasts with white sandy beaches lined with palm trees, crystal clear waters and spectacular coral reefs. It’s everything that you hoped a tropical island would be and this idyllic place is less than an hour from the east coast of peninsular Malaysia.Most of the resorts on Redang Island are lined up along Pasir Panjang (Long Beach), arguably one of the best stretches of beach in all of Malaysia. A handful of other resorts are tucked away in private beach coves, the most impressive being Teluk Dalam (Deep Bay) where the Berjaya Beach Resort is located. With excellent visibility and spectacular, easily accessible coral reefs, it is no wonder that Redang is hailed as a scuba diving and snorkelling paradise. Even right in front of the most popular beach, the rocks are home to various species of coral, reef sharks (harmless to humans) and moray eels. Redang and the surrounding islets were gazetted as a marine park in the early 90’s and human activity in the area is strictly controlled in order to protect the marine ecosystems. Under the protected status, Redang has experienced a tourism boom and is a very popular weekend destination. Apart from the impressive diving, picturesque beaches (and beach parties), another thing that has contributed to Redang’s popularity in recent years is the hit Chinese comedy Summer Holiday that was shot on location here.

Redang Island has everything that you need for a fun island holiday – great beaches, warm tropical waters and plenty to do during the day and night time.

Climate
Redang has a tropical climate with temperatures steadily around 30°C and frequent but brief thunderstoms. Like the rest of Malaysia's East Coast, Redang is affected by the northeast monsoon in winter, so most resorts are closed and ferry transport schedules are severely restricted between November and February.

Going there by bus
From Singapore buses depart from the Lavender St bus station and are operated by Transnational. Tickets cost around SGD 40 and the journey takes around 10 hours. Buses depart early in the morning or late evening for overnight journeys. There are other coach & travel companies operating out of Golden Mile Complex at Beach Road (e.g. Five Stars, Enjoy Holiday Tours, Konsortium and Gunung Raya etc.) that provide Redang holiday packages and coach services to KT or Merang. These buses are more luxurious, but are also significantly more expensive.

From Johor Bahru buses depart from the Larkin bus station. Several choices are available, including Transnational, Damai, Adik Beradik and Cepat express. Tickets cost around RM 40 and the journey takes just under 9 hours. Buses depart early in the morning or late evening for overnight journeys.

From Kuala Lumpur buses depart from the Hentian Putra bus station. Several choices are available, including Transnational, Damai, Konsortium, Plusliner, Sutera and Mutiara. Tickets cost around RM 30 and the journey takes around 7 hours. Buses depart early in the morning or late evening for overnight journeys.

From Penang buses depart from Komtar or Butterworth bus stations and are operated by SP Bumi or Atieza. Tickets cost around RM 35 and the journey takes around 9 hours. Buses depart late in the evening for overnight journeys.

Drive there

From Singapore / Johor Bahru Cross the border at Woodlands or the Second Link and from Johor Bahru take the Plus highway north. Exit at Yong Peng. Follow highway 1 to Labis and Segamat, highway 12 to Kuantan, then use either highway 14 to KT or coastal highway 3 via Kemaman, Paka and Dungun.

Boat services to Redang
Most resorts include return boat transfers, either from Kuala Terengganu or Tanjung Merang to Redang in their packages. You can also charter a boat from the nearby Perhentian Islands or Lang Tengah Island. There are shops, banks and ATMs in Kuala Terengganu. There are no banks or ATMs on Redang.

From Kuala Terengganu – Shahbandar jetty
The Shahbandar jetty is in the city of Kuala Terengganu itself and is within walking distance or a short drive from the bus terminal and a thirty minute drive from the airport. Taxi services are readily available or your resort can arrange a land transfer from Kuala Terengganu airport or bus terminal. Resorts either have their own scheduled boat transfers or make use of the common ferry operator. Ferry transfers cost around RM95 return and take up to one and a half hours. There are two to three departures daily (09:30, 12:00, 17:30) and more during peak season. Ferries only depart during daylight hours.

From Tanjung Merang jetty
Tanjung Merang is a small fishing village 45minutes north of Kuala Terengganu and the jetty is a few minutes outside of the village. Local buses and taxi services are available from Kuala Terengganu or your resort can arrange a land transfer from Kuala Terengganu airport or bus terminal. Speedboat departures from here are usually pre-arranged with your resort and take 40-50 minutes. It is also possible to charter a boat from Merang to Redang, though this may be costly. There are small shops selling souvenirs and snacks at the jetty. There is a convenience store and an ATM at one of the petrol stations, five minutes from the jetty.

Getting to Kuala Terengganu / Tanjung Merang
Directions for buses and flights are to Kuala Terengganu. From Kuala Terengannu, you can take a taxi or local bus to Tanjung Merang jetty or arrange a land transfer with your agent/resort from the airport or bus terminal. If you are driving, continue north on highway 3 and follow the signs to Merang jetty.

No matter which way you choose to arrive, a marine park fee (RM5) is levied on all visitors to the island. Transfers can be arranged directly with resorts.

Accommodation

http://www.lagunaredang.com.my/promo.html

Jurong East Swimming Complex

21, Jurong East Street 31, Singapore 609517Ph : 6563 5052 ; Fax : 6897 5972

Operating Hours:

2.30 pm - 9.30 pm (Mon)

8.00am to 9.30pm (Tue - Sun)

Facilities

1 x Competition Pool

1 xWading Pool

1 x Wave Pool

1 x Lazy River

3 x Water Slides

1 x Jacuzzi

1 x Bubble Jet Station

Seating Capacity - 300paxEntrance Fee
Weekdays

Adult - $1.50
Children - $0.80
Senior Citizen - $0.80

Weekends
Adult - $2.00
Children - $1.00
Senior Citizen - $1.00

Nearest MRT

Chinese Garden MRT (EW25) 0.58 km

Lakeside MRT (EW26) 0.99 km

Jurong East MRT (EW24-NS1) 2.02 km

Nearest Shopping Center

Bukit Batok West Shopping Centre 1.7km

Boon Lay Shopping Centre 1.8km

West Mall 2.3km

IMM Building 2.4km

Jurong Point 2.6km

Gek Poh Shopping Centre 3.5km

Pioneer Mall 3.6km

Chengtai Nursery 3.8km