Thoughts and facts about airlines

I promised it to you time ago but had problems with my PC and Internet, so I can write about it only today. And there are different notices to tell you.

So, I begin with the list of the best low-cost carriers (Forbes)

This year I travelled much with these type of companies and think they are good. The only problem I had was with EasyJet.

I prefer to buy tickets via Internet and there was written in my ticket: "Go directly to embark". I waited about 5-7 hours in airport for my flight and went directly to embark so as was written in my ticket. But it was not true. I had to register before and I didn't do it. If I felt good in that moment, maybe I had time to read more information in the time I had to wait, but I felt very bad and could not think about anything.
So I missed the flight because the confirmation mail had not right information.
And nobody from this company wanted to speak with me. For the team of EasyJet did not exist this passenger. The money they received from me, so what do you want else?

Other companies look for their passengers, call you 10 times to come to the place of embark, wait for you even if your airplane has to fly - so was with me before, with other companies, and this was the first time in my life that the customer service was so bad.

But the same EasyJet I found between the 3 best low-cost carriers of Forbes. The first is Jetstar Airways and the second is AirBerlin. In Europe.

What was the difference from low-cost ticket and normal price in one of the airplanes? Our places were in the tail of the vehicle and we had to buy coffee if we wanted it. The difference in price was about 200 euro for 1,5 hours flight.

The other notice is from Sweden.
In some of airports you will leave your finger-prints to check and then receive back your luggage. They say, it will help not only with terrorist's danger but the check up will be much more quicker and sure.
Something like this want to approve UE for the flights too. From February all the passengers will pass 3 types of control.

In airport of Naples they said me to undress completely (I don't joke) when a woman customs official saw a bottle about 30 ml of oil in my bag. Later I new that the law allows 50 ml of liquid to have in the bag. Without show striptease to presented persons.

Finally, if you read this post today, 30 January, you have time to win one of the prizes that other from the best low-cost carriers, Ryanair, will give to the best kissed couple in Dublin 31 January. 20 best of couples will have 50 euro prizes to fly with Ryanair on 14 February and all the best couple will sleep one night in one of the best hotels of Dublin.
So take your love and go to kiss her/him in Dublin tomorrow.

Camping at Mount. Ophir (Gunung Ledang), Johor

On the 23rd Oct 2006, 4am before dawn.......
Groups of the JRPILOTS (leads by 9W2LRR) with 13 cars are on the way from Johor Bahru to Tangkak to having their breakfast. And also last minutes shopping for their 3 days 2 nights camping trip at Mount Ophir (Gunung Ledang).

After breakfast, they drove to 'Gate B' and enter the palm oil estate, about 30-45 minutes of bumpy road, they reached the Ranger office.

The charges as below.......

Once the registrations done, they continue their journey by passing this barrier towards the peak of Mount Ophir.


The road condition is good, even normal cars are be able to climb. Along the road, the fresh air the cold temperature will makes you awake and fill with enjoyment. They took about 1 hour and 30 minutes relax drive from the ranger office to the campsite of Mount Ophir -1200 meter, the telekom tower at the peak is about 500 meter away.

Then everyone is busy setting up their individual tents, table and even kitchen!

You can have total relax over here because of the cold atmosphere (below 20° Celsius).......(24 hours free air-con, they said.) Sometimes it will drop below 10° during 2-5am.......

The activities include jungle trekking for the second day guide by the rangers.
The camp site has a washroom about 300 meters away.

There are 2 campsites on Mount Ophir, the other site is for the hikers. You need to hike from the recreation park (access through Gate A) to the peak. If you taking this path, you will pass through the waterfall and also the famous "Princess of Mount Ophir" shower area.....

But after the 2 incidents in 2007, this beautiful camp site has Close until further notice. (The hikers campsite still open for public) We only can pray and wish they (authority) can re-open this camping paradise to the nature lover!

Related post :-
* Mount Ophir (Gunung Ledang) Re-Open
* Hike on Mountain (Gunung) Panti, Kota Tinggi, Johor.
* Gunung Ledang Resort (Mount Ophir), Johor
* Hike on Mount. Ophir (Gunung Ledang), Johor

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Dulce de Leche in Argentina

What do you see on this photo is "Dulce de leche" and different forms of use for this product.

Why I write about this aliment in a travel blog?
Because it's a "national" product of Argentine.
And we are here in a travel-cafe or no?

Not that you don't meet it in other countries. There are many places where milk is worked in this way. It's concentrated milk with sugar boiled then for different hours, posted the tin in the pan with water.

But the Argentinians make worship with this product. They have infinite sorts of biscuits and chocolates where they use it. Some of them you can see on this photo. There are tins with pure milk like that on the left and there are all these other sweeties (on the right). I like "Bocadito" and that other biscuit in black (it's the same like other in white, but the recipe is much better).

So, if you are to go in Argentine, don't forget "Dulce de Leche"

Beautiful beach at San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua

Looking for beach vacation?
San Juan del Sur is the village by the beach in Nicaragua. It's about 40 minutes from the border of Costa Rica and also famous of surfing beaches.

NO worry about the accommodation. San Juan del Sur Hotels are the perfect hotel by the beach. One of the hotel around the charming fishing village - "La Posada Azul
Hotel".
This boutique hotel provide you the relax and peaceful environment. The inn has a large porch where you can enjoy your breakfast while sitting on the rocking
chair. The activities over here include : Scuba Diving, Sailing, Fishing, Exploring the volcanoes, canopy tours and many more! You can books your tour
packages by the help of the staffs from the hotel.
Let's explore the beautiful beach and hotel in Nicaragua now!

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Budget Hotel At Taman Senai Utama, Senai, Johor.

Impress Star Hotel (N1°36.593' E103°38.836')
1757 A & B, Jalan Senai Utama 1/2, Taman Senai Utama, 81400 Johor.
Tel : +607-5995202
Room rates : MYR38 - MYR68

Dragon Court Hotel (N1°36.727' E103°38.829')
140 & 141, Wisma SHS, Jalan Senai Utama 5/17, Tmn Senai Utama, 81400 Johor.
Tel : +607-5985000
Fax : +607-5996533
Room rates : MYR51 - MYR76
* Breakfast & newspaper included.


Budget Hotel related post :-
* Budget Hotel at Taman Molek, Johor Bahru.
* Budget Hotel at Taman Scientex, Pasir Gudang, Johor.
* Budget Hotel At Taman Putri Wangsa, Ulu Tiram, Johor.
* Budget Hotel At Kulai, Johor.
* Budget Hotel at Taman Rinting, Masai, Johor Bahru.
* Budget Hotel at Bandar Seri Alam, Masai, Johor Bahru.
* Budget Hotel at Taman Sutera Utama, Skudai, Johor Bahru.
* Budget Hotel at Taman Nusa Bestari 2, Skudai, Johor Bahru.
* Budget Hotel at Taman Nusa Bestari , Skudai, Johor Bahru.
* Budget Hotel at Taman Daya, Johor Bahru.
* Budget Hotel at Taman Desa Cemerlang, Ulu Tiram, Johor.
* Budget Hotel at Taman Mount Austin, Johor Bahru.
* Budget Hotel at Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, Johor Bahru.
* Budget Hotel at Taman Johor Jaya, Johor Bahru.

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Batu Caves Hindu's Shrines

I'm very happy to present you the second article of Berry Sudirno from Jakarta/Indonesia, author of these interesting blogs: howtoboostyourwealth, journeytomakemoney, sweetjourneyinmylife .
You know him in my blogs from the first article Endagered Species -Orangutans that many of you found interesting.

Batu Caves is a limestone hill in the Bukit Gombak District, about 13 kilometer north of Kuala Lumpur the capital city of the Kingdom of Malaysia. The cave is sacred for the Hindu’s and one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India.

Batu Caves could be reached by taxi or by bus from the Pudu Raya bus terminal at the city of Kuala Lumpur or you may use the tourist bus which is available at your Hotel.

You must climb 272 steps in order to access the temple at the summit of the hill. They consist of 3 main caves and number of smaller one.

You will be greet by a lots of long tail monkeys which expecting some foods like peanut, banana from you. You must be careful because some of them are very naughty they will raid you and steal your hat, bag or any other things. Besides that there a lots of birds around and expecting you to feed them with corn. Those foods could be purchased at around Batu Caves.

“The site serves as the focus of the Hindu community’s yearly Thaipussam festival. A procession begins at Sri Mahamariamman Temple Kuala Lumpur with some people carrying kavadi and last eight hours. In 2007, the festival attracted more than 1.5 million pilgrims, making it one of the largest gatherings history.” (Wikipedia)

(photo of my daughter at Batu Caves was taken a few years ago)

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Don't visit this places!

Every day I read now articles about different lists made by Forbes. People discuss if it's true and if translators know English good enough ecc ecc. Nobody wants to believe in these lists. So, I decided to control myself if these lists really exist and what are they about.

The first I found was the list of the most dangerous places (photo)where you have never go without professional security services or -in some cases- you have not to go there at all.

"Now, a tourist or business traveler might worry more about terrorist attacks on mass transit, getting caught in a spontaneous uprising or a bombing of a nightclub or hotel."

This is the list:
Somalia,
Iraq,
Afghanistan,
Haiti,
Pakistan,
Sudan,
Dem.Rep. of the Congo,
Lebanon,
Zimbabwe,
Palestine

I was surprised to see Haiti in this list. I thought, it's a paradise of beaches. But Forbes says it's paradise of drugs and corruption.

The other interesting list of Forbes for me is the list of the best Low-Cost companies. I use them from time to time and had a great problem with one of them in october. But I think it's better do not mix these 2 themes in one post.

Interesting blogs to visit:
Blogger Of The Web
OrCarrier Cruising
SiteProPlus

Indian coffee

What do you know about coffee?

I knew not soo much about it.
What I knew:
there is coffee from Brazil and from Vietnam. That from Brazil is ecological and biological, that from Vietnam is not very good because with dangerous, toxic substances. And I knew all sorts of coffee I can buy in the supermarkets here.

Today I learned, there are many different coffees from different countries.
And from India too. (I wanted to write a post about India and found this information)

Indian coffees are good balanced and mild with low acidity and spicy notes. And there is a special one -the Monsooned coffee. An other interesting case is High grown coffees with high acidity.

Coffee was introduced in India from Yemen by a Muslim pilgrim Bababudan Sahib in the Chikmagalur District in 1610. 123,681 farms with 3 000 000 workers produce it today. And India is the 2 in Asia and the 8 in the world. (I did not find all lists). And harvest is in November and February.

Interesting. I wanted to taste it too. Sunday we will go in a great supermarket, maybe I'll find it there?
Source

Violations in Goa

This map and really many interesting info about Goa -the best I found


I receive not very good notices from India for 2 or 3 days. You are right, I mean tourists and travel notices. They tell about very difficult situation, particularly in Goa, for european women travelling alone. Very great % of violations. Most women (that went in police) are Brittish but there are women from different countries. The men were not only first they meet on the beach for example, but the owners of the hotels, restaurants ecc. People, you would never think they can allow themselves something like this, because they had to think about the good name of their business.

All us we know this situation. It has different sides, surely. And we can say the same not only about Goa, but about many other countries.

1/ Many modern european women live alone, and are completely independent. They feel young, beautiful and full of energy in any age. They like to caress themselves. They have money and time for travelling. Why not? If she is a woman and doesn't want anybody that sit on her neck, it's forbidden for her to travel?

2/ Men in many countries (and european men in the depth of their souls too) want and continue to live in Middle Age mentality. They understand a woman only if she is sitting in a trunk (like in that fable about Jin). Women in that countries allow it to them because are dependent and for tradition. Every woman out of the trunk is for them a woman, inviting all men to abuse of her.

These 2 ideas are the main problem.
Women from all european countries don't understand they have not to feel sure and protected.
Because they are not protected.
Maybe now, after this scandal, the government of India will do something to assure it's income of money. And it will mean that India will become the most good place for alone travelling women. For some time.

I read many meanings about this problem in the forums.
Imagin, those who visited Goa, are saying 2 completely different things: it's true, it's impossible to go out there -and it's not true, persons are the best in the world there.
Can you add yourth?

Danga Bay, Johor Bahru

Danga Bay is the largest recreation park in Johor Bahru. It fall in the Iskandar Development Region A (IDR). It will be pack of peoples during every weekend evening. I take a change to snap every corner in Danga Bay.

(Total 57 photos)
Start from the begining once you turn left into the area, you will see the parking space of the International Restaurant.

Follow by the restaurants.......

They having buffet every Sunday.......

Beside the Restaurants, you can rent bicycle or tricycle.......

You can have a Danga river cruise for MYR10 for adult & MYR5 for children. But the boat only start when it fill of 12 adults.

Tram ride - MYR3 for adult & MYR2 for children.


Photos around the restaurant.....


The Bay Leaf Food Court next to it was sealed! I think maybe going to have major renovation. Follow by the Amphitheater.

And I reached the Fun Park. But they are still sleeping.....only wake up during night session.





Beside the fun park, there's a RC Racing Car Circuit and Skate board area......


But.....the circuit become.....kids toy car riding area. What a disappointment.

Around the area, you can see 'green' everywhere.......





There's a Dining Cruise available at Danga Bay - Danga Cruise 8. Available from Friday, Saturday & Sunday, 7:30pm-12:00am. On the cruise you can enjoy with International Buffet, Live Band Entertainment, Karaoke and shows.
For group packages & functions, please call +607-2352333.

After the garden, you reach the full series of "Limas House"





In front of every house, there's a special water feature the make a beautiful rhythm.





After this house, there will be a 'Orchid Garden'

The entrance.........to Orchid Garden.













Special decoration stone everywhere.......

Next to it.......the Festive Mall. It's just another shopping complex.

And I found this.......

After the mall, there are some constructions and developments......maybe another year will be complete. So....that's all for now, I will be back to update it till it the 'Danga Walk' complete.

Related post :-
* Danga City Mall, Johor Bahru
* Budget Hotel at Danga Bay, Johor Bahru
* Danga Bay Night Photography

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