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.

Prostitution Scene in the Backpacker's Area of Saigon, Vietnam.

Prostitution is a never-ending story in a tourism city such as Ho Chi Minh City, Bangkok and Singapore. Even if your travel intention is just for sightseeing and visiting tourist attraction places, single or group male travelers normally cannot avoid from being approached by sexual offers from male or female prostitutes in town. Even, the industry is not as open as in Bangkok or Phuket, the scene in Ho Chi Minh is on the rise especially at the backpacker area, Pham Ngu Lao.
In this article, we describe female prostitutes as “Night Butterflies” which to portray their image who are flying around the city seeking for customers .
“Night Butterflies” on the Bike
Motorbike is a means of transportation in Vietnam. These “Night Butterflies” are very mobile when they are moving around by motorbike. They can ride on streets, alleyways and even in the pedestrian walks. When you walk alone from Ben Thanh Market heading to Pham Ngu Lao across 23/9 Park, do not be surprised when there are beautiful girls on bikes nicely say “Hello” to you and offering sex service. Its can be 1 girl and sometimes they come with another friend. The best way is, just smile and go without looking at their eyes. If you be chattier, they will think that is your “buying signal” and they will bother your way.

“Night Butterflies” on the Pavement
Some of these girls are working together with other teams who are finding customers by using motorbikes. When you out for drinks with travel buddies and walk to your hotel a bit later around 10pm, some girls on the walking side sometimes daringly will ask if you are looking for prostitute and they are very open talking about their services. Not only that, some motorbike taxi or locally called “xe om” driver also play a role as an agent for this prostitution business in backpacker area. With coffee-dirt teeth smiling faces, they will repeatedly asking every male tourist if they are looking for “massage” or pretty women.

“Sexy Shampoo Girls” in Saloon
There are some Hair Saloons or massage centres with half dozen of beautiful girls with a very short mini skirt sitting in front of their saloon premises. It is fine if you just want to cut your hair, but you have be careful whenever the girls are trying to do something weird to you as normally it will come with different price. Some say, it’s kind of weird when it is hard to see a scissors in a hair saloon. The best way is, avoid these places and Google for places that tourists always go.
Mid Age Women at Bar
There are many bars in the backpacker area with American-Vietnamese interior design which are always welcoming American veterans as their customer. The best part is, the waitresses in the bar are just their type which is middle age Vietnamese women with sexy low-cut dress. Not all of them are prostitutes as many say so. It will be best for you to be gentle towards those women and politely say no if you are not interested in other intimidation movements.
For more information you can visit this website as This article was published in The Vietnam Guide on June 25, 2012.

Prostitutes cruising streets in downtown Ho Chi Minh City a few years ago. Photo by Nghia Pham  

The number of sex workers in Vietnam -- criminals according to the government -- increased last year and prostitution became harder to control, the social affairs ministry said Friday.
A report by the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs said the number grew to nearly 33,000 in 2013, up more than 9 percent from the previous year, Tuoi Tre newspaper reported.
But the number local government agencies have on file dropped by more than a third.
Prostitution is illegal in Vietnam and sex workers face fines of VND300,000 (US$14.2) for their first offence and up to VND5 million for repeat offences. Their clients are fined VND500,000-5 million depending on the circumstances.
But civil society has been pressuring the government to legalize prostitution so that the industry could be regulated.
The ministry said prostitution has become increasingly complicated to control as those involved are employing new ruses to avoid being detected.
It is most rife in large cities like Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong and nearby Nam Dinh Province and in tourist destinations, the ministry said.
Local statistics showed that of the country’s more than 83,000 shops offering body services, such as spas, salons and barber shops, more than 8,000 are suspected to provide sex services.
Programs to help sex workers reintegrate into the community were established years ago, but only 500 of them were supported and with loans worth just VND2 billion ($95,000), the ministry said.
It also said other crimes related to prostitution increased from 2012.
This article was published in Thanh Nien News.Com  Sunday, January 12, 2014

 google image.