Plane-Spotting is an Interesting Activity.

Plane-spotting is an interesting activity that involves times of great excitement and boredom, along with some planning if you want to know what to expect.For last week outing, I really wanted a nice picture of the daily AirAsia,Malaysia Airline,Malindo Air and MASWings flight, which is tough because it lands on runway25 of Kuching Internaional Airport, not known for good spotting locations. I did however locate a nice spot that was not only quiet, but pretty damn close to plane final approach. 
 While the weather was terrible for pictures, I still managed to get a couple of shots on approach.

 More plane spotting collection My Flickr.

Planning ahead – far ahead – for your travel.

Vacations? The kind of things that most people take in during public holiday and school holiday?right now is about the latest time you want to be planning your vacation for next holiday or next year 2015 if you want to maximize the bang for your buck.
Why would you want to plan vacations so far in advance?For starters, the earlier you know where your destination is, the longer you have to shop around for bargains on travel. No matter what you’re purchasing, the longer you give yourself to find bargains on that purchase, the more likely you are to find a bargain. Another advantage of deciding where and when you’re going to travel far in advance is that it’s much easier to get the exact days off that you want. At most jobs, it’s very difficult to get the days off that you want – particularly if you want several days off – if you wait until the last minute.Even more important, it allows you to take advantage of truly low rates. For example in my case I wanted to go to Langkawi Air Show better known as LIMA2015 (March 2015).
Remember  Planning ahead – far ahead – for your travel saves you real cash.

 Photo of LIMA13 in Langkawi March 2013.
Another important factor to note is that airline and hotel prices vary throughout a week as well as throughout a year. Generally, prices hit a low point several months away from the actual date of the trip, and it’s been established pretty clearly that Tuesday afternoons tend to be the cheapest time of the week to reserve a flight.Try to booked your Hotel & Air Ticket at WEGO
The end result of planning that far in advance is that my airline tickets were incredibly cheap AIRASIA FREE SEAT

 

#AirAsiaFreeSeats are back & it’s time to book your perfect trip!Check out the full list of exciting destinations @ http://t.co/j9v8YKTdSz
— AirAsia (@AirAsia) February 23, 2014

How to score Cheap Flight Tickets with AirAsia .

Regional Flight Travel in Asia has come a long way over the last decade. While flights around the region used to cost hundreds of Ringgit until still in the late 90’s, this changed dramatically with the introduction of Budget Airlines in Asia, just a few years into the new millennium.
Nowadays, brands like Jet Star, Tiger Airways, Cebu Pacific Airlines, Air Asia,Malindo Air,Lion Air and fireflys airline are common household names, who revolutionized the ways people in Asia travel. Especially Air Asia, ‘World’s best low-cost airline’  deserves further mentioning, if you have no money to waste and plan to fly as cheap as possible in Asia.
 Here is what you need to know, to ensure you are getting the cheapest possible prices, if you are planning to fly with Air Asia to destinations in the region:

Excited about AirAsia FREE SEATS sale?
You can now start planning for your travels from 1 October 2014 – 30 April 2015!
If you’re an AirAsia BIG Shot, you’ll be delighted to know that priority redemption starts NOW – TODAY only! Not a BIG Shot? Sign up now at www.airasiabig.com!
No worries if you are not a BIG Shot, it is also open to public from 24 Feb – 2 Mar 2014.
For the first time ever, AirAsiaGo members will also enjoy priority booking for hotels & free seats @ www.airasiago.com!
 
To assist you on a smoother booking experience, AirAsia came up with a simple guide to help you to grab your low fares!

Check out our Bargain Hunter (Booking 101) guide for an easier and smoother booking process!HERE
 Happy planning & booking.

This could be you!Take a break & shop till you drop with our free seats tonight(00:00 GMT+8) @ http://t.co/OsC52vu7AM pic.twitter.com/WHraJvfGhr
— AirAsia (@AirAsia) February 23, 2014

Sunday Outing -Plane Spotting.

On days like today where there isn't much to do and nothing else to surf for on the net, I usually end up looking at pictures of aircraft and if the weather is fine I end up take my camera and go for aircraft spotting.To-day I only carry my Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX3.This camera is aimed at DSLR users who are looking for a compact camera to complement their existing SLR gear. Consequently the LX3 comes with comprehensive manual controls and a fast F2.0-F2.8 24-60mm (35mm equivalent) Leica DC Vario-Summicron lens. Images are captured on a 1/1.63-inch CCD sensor sporting 10.1 million effective pixels.

 Lumix DMC-LX3.(2.5x zoom)
 Ideally, plane spotting should be an outing where you go out, of course somewhere close to the airport and look at airplanes and take pictures and stuff. Now in Kuching International Airport, yes you can sort of do that, but lets be honest here, how many different types of aircraft  and Airlines lands at our KIA /WBGG. To be frank, I do plane spotting every week day in  KIA  regulars. The MH,Maswing, the Malindo  Air and the Air Asia  So that would not make an interesting outing would it?  the busier the airport the better it is for plane spotters example KLIA.
There are those who consider plane spotting a serious hobby. As for me, I would not consider myself anywhere near that. Merely I am simple and plain plane spotter. Occasionally looking up in the sky when there is a plane passing by.  Anyways, I have a few pictures that I shoot to-day arm only with compact camera the panasonic lumix lx3.

AirAsia :Self Service.

If you travel using AirAsia, most likely you will using LCCT instead of KLIA and soon KLIA2.This low cost terminal served mainly AirAsia. Recently AirAsia implement self check in policy and most of local flight need to use kiosk or mobile check-in. If you have luggage to check in, you still need to use the kiosk n then proceed to drop off luggage counter but  to-day we be able to check-in using self-service kiosks, tag their own bags, and – towards the end of this year – deposit them at a self-service bag drop without the assistance of an airline agent. While this kind of all-encompassing self-service process is becoming commonplace in Airport in Malaysia, it will be a groundbreaking experience for many Asian travelers.klia2′s self-tagging, bag drop and next-gen kiosks

 Photo credit to Datuk Tony.

 In LCCT there are a few kiosk for self check-in and also to print your Boarding pass from your mobile. The one near domestic departure hall was little bit crowded compare to one near international departure hall. Overall LCCT is full of people n make sure you have ample of time to check in, drop your luggage n scan through security.

This morning AirAsia twitt " Our guests like the new machines. No more document check."

 Photo credit to Datuk Tony 

 Checking in can be a nightmare at the LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal) . With International Departure check in counters opening 2 hours before flights and domestic departures opening 1 hour before departure time and with a gastimate of 40 flights a day with an average of 140 passengers (normal capacity of a AirBus 320) per plane? That is a lot of people at the airport! 

 For more free travel information, visit AirAsia website .

Plane Spotting, Again.

This time I'm not too far  to the plane final approach to land at runway 25 in Kuching International Airport.

 This map show my location for plane spotting and this location is just the end of runway near to the approach lighting.

The Kuching Airport approach landing Lights.

 The danger with planespotting is that nowadays you are at risk of being regarded as a potential terrorist. In some countries you could even be arrested on suspicion of spying but in Malaysia plane spotting is probably safer. Just for information,you don't need have a DSLR for plane spotting at this point because once the plane approach for final approaching its look so near to you and compact camera with zoom lens is just nice .
So below is a set of aircraft photograph that I shoot this morning .

The most common aircraft that land in Kuching International Airport (WBGG) is.
AirAsia airbus 320
Malaysia Airline B737-400 and 800 series
Malindo Air B737-900 series.
Next time you wanted to go for plane spotting lust make sure it's a clear day, otherwise don't bother.

Traveling Alone -No Boundaries of Enjoyment.

Credit google image.
To be honest during the 80's and 90's I love traveling alone,traveling solo brings more freedom,brings an experience of bliss ,rejuvenate us for the life ahead.I travel solo to Bangkok,Hatyai,Taiwan and HongKong well,that was long time ago.When age and health catching up I prefer to going for vacation with my lovely wife.Talking about traveling solo of course you cannot skip the night life.I don't want to sound like I'm some kind of social outcast unable to relate to others.Traveling solo I'm sociable and come alive but I like to sociable on my term and  when I had enough ,I like to be able to leave without offending anyone .It's easier to do that with strangers.

Traveling solo the 90's to Taiwan and HongKong and meet the strangers to snap this photo and we making friend.

Traveling solo crossing the border of Malaysia/Thailand.