Dorby Miao Miao

Sunday, March 31, 2024

Cuti2 Malaysia tour

Penang, Cameron and Ioi city

Kuantan with ecrl and ets

Trx, luge park, gpo, kidzania

Kluang hill

Recently visited genting highlands, janda baik and kukup

Saturday, March 30, 2024

Countries that I want to visit or revisit

1. Ireland - Dublin and Belfast - June summer

2. Scotland - Glasgow and Edinburgh - June summer

3. Australia - tasmania -Dec/ cairns - June / brisbane/ sydney

4. Japan - naha- dec, osaka, fukouka, nagoya, Hokkaido

5. Finland/ Norway/ Sweden in June summer

6. South Korea - Seoul/ Jeju

7. HK-Guangzhou

8. Vietnam - Danang, dalat, fansipan

9. Austria - June summer or Dec during Xmas

Things that make cross border travel more convenient in the last 5 years

1. E-wallet/ QR local and cross border acceptance

2. E-sim with cheap data roaming validity of more than 1 year like eskimo

3. Google map that makes driving or taking transport easier to navigate

4. Proliferation of booking app for hotels and activities like agoda, trip or klook

5. Budget airlines & trains availability

6. E-gate at airport that make immigration clearance so much faster

7. No forex credit card like trust and you trip that reduce the need to carry lots of foreign cash. You can even skip the card if u have apple pay

8. Smart phones which can basically provide entertainment during long train/ bus ride and it will reduce print since most of the information is either in the whatsapp, internet or email

Basically to travel u need data, money and passport

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Local hotel chain vs international hotel chain

When we went to Taiwan recently, we realised there are also reputable local hotel chain that are quite value for money and conveniently located. The reason why it was not marketed more widely as compared to international chain which are more expensive. Next time will try it on our next stay and if possible mix local with international chains. All hotels preferably comes with free laundy self service

Example in taiwan is Mitsui Garden, Chateau de Chine, Cozzi, Silk/ Just sleep and Fullon

In Japan, there are even more local chains that are worth trying out like Mitsui Garden, Tokyu stay, Tokyu Rei, Prince, Royal Park Hotel, Lively Hotel, Okura

Sunday, March 24, 2024

Brisbane and Gold Coast Feb 2018

Last visit to Australia before covid struck and ETA long wait and hassle become a pain in the ass. That was the last long trip for Sabri before mei mei is born. Only in 2024 did I realised nothing is being blogged for this Brisbane trip 6 years ago. Time flies with chubby fat cheek.

We went to Mount Tambourine. I still remember the Emirates flight arrived very early in the morning, so we need to scramble for a hotel at Pullman near the airport. It was quite an adventure with Sabri tired and lots of uncertainty.

Best weather to visit Australia, basically during winter June go to the north and summer Dec go to the south.

Perth/ Adelaide - Apr

Melbourne/ Sydney - Aug to Sep

Brisbane - Apr/ Aug

Tasmania - Dec/ Jan (summer)

Cairns - June to Sep (winter)

When covid struck, I was grounded for more than 4 years. Literally no flying and only go for cuti cuti. Start to appreciate how big is Malaysia and hope by 2025 ETS KL-JB will be up and running.

In 2022 I planned to revisit Brisbane and Sunshine Coast with my kids but didnt manage to go. Post covid the cost of flight has increase by 50% at least.

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Converted from android to iOS

One of the main reason why I changed from android to iOS was because of Apple Pay. I started using iPhone 6 in 2016 once Apple Pay was launched. I find it very secure and easy to use the contactless payment.

Finally in 2022, Malaysia iPhone user can pay via Apple Pay on certain bank credit cards.

It has come a long way in Singapore since contactless payment begin, ezlink card launched in 2001 for mrt payment and first mass payment method visa Paywave was launched in 2007. This is followed by mobile contactless in 2016 and e-wallet QR payment started ard 2017.