Some useful phrases when travelling to Indonesia

Travelling to a country without knowing a single word of its language is something that you should avoid. You can’t master a language in a very short period, but you can at least know some of its basics

There are some useful phrases that you can practise before travelling to Indonesia:

Good morning: Selemat pagee

Good afternoon Selemat seeang

Yes: Ya

No: Teedak

OK: Beres

Thank you: Ma-ka-si

You’re welcome: Ma-ka-si Kam-ba-li/Sama-sama

How much: Berapa?

Can you discount: Mooraheen

Please: Toelong

Excuse me: Permisi

Travel tips in Saudi Arabia

 

1.      When you arrive at Saudi Arabia, be sure to be greeted by your sponsors, friends or family members.

2.      Always greet people with “As-salam-alaikom”, which means “Peace be with you”. When you are greeted with “As-salam-alaikom”, say “wa alaikom as-salam”, which means “And peace be with you”.

3.      Remove your shoes when entering a living room or holy places.

4.      It will be useful to always behave like the locals.

5.       Learning Arabic will very much help you around the country, even in working out a great relationship with the locals.

6.      Try not to talk with the opposite sex if possible, unless you both know each other.

7.      Do not cross your legs or show the undersides of your feet when talking to someone.

8.      Respect their culture although they may be strange an unusual to you.

9.      Do not raise your voice when talking and avoid loud conversations.

10.  Women are required to wear Abaya when going out in public.

Fly away with Garuda Indonesia this Ramadhan!

Get a FREE SIM card when you fly to Malaysia or Singapore with Garuda Indonesia this Ramadhan!

As for those flying to Australia, they can get 50% discount for every purchase of LocalSIMKad™ Australia.

The promotion starts from 1st of July to 15th of August 2012.

For more info, visit http://www.localsimkad.com or http://tiny.cc/qww5gw

 

Visit ZOVBing Singapore now!

Let’s go Zorbing with ZOVBing Singapore! This activity allows players to get into a big clear plastic air-cushioned sphere, where they get strapped up and rolling down a slope in a virtual anti-gravity form of weightlessness like an intoxicated space traveller. Phew…sounds interesting right? Trust us; it’s not difficult at all! If you want to know what it is like to be running on a wheel like a hamster, try the ZOVBing! The activity is perfectly safe too, as there is a big cushion of air between you and the outside.

For more info, click http://www.zovbsg.com/ZOVBloop/Bloop_About.html

The Hong Kong Museum of History

The Hong Kong Museum of History was established in July 1975. In the year 1983, the Museum was moved to the temporary accommodation in Kowloon Park; it was moved to its present premises on Chatham Road South, Tsim Sha Tsui in 1998.

The main museum at Chatham Road South runs five branches museums:

(i)           Hong Kong Museum of Coastal Defence at Shau Kei Wan

(ii)          Lei Cheng Uk Han Tomb Museum at Sham Shui Po

(iii)         Law Uk Folk Museum at Chai Wan

(iv)          Fireboat Alexander Grantham Exhibition Gallery inside the Quarry Bay Park

(v)          Dr. Sun Yat-sen Museum at Mid-levels in Central

Travel tips in Vietnam

Some useful tips when travelling to Vietnam:

Travel tips in Vietnam:

1. Dress appropriately. You don’t have to show too much skin; after all, most Vietnamese dress up conservatively. Dressing up provocatively will only lead to unwanted stares by the locals.
2. Greetings are important. Always address someone politely, especially the ones much older than you. Politeness is a value one must always take with, whether locally or internationally.
3. When visiting holy places such as the Pagodas, dress up properly. If you are unsure of what to wear, follow the locals and feel free to ask around too.
4. Drink enough water. You don’t to bring a big bottle with you; there are many vendors out there selling drinks and mineral water. If you carry a backpack with you, perhaps take a small bottle with you.
5. Always take out your shoe before entering the homes of the Vietnamese. Wearing a shoe inside the house is considered rude. Bear in mind that the Asian lifestyle is different from the Westerners.

How to prepare an Australian Pavlova

The Australian Pavlova was invented in 1935 by a chef from the Hotel Esplanade in Perth, Western Australia; his name was Herbert Sachse, and he created the Pavlova to celebrate the visit of the great Russian ballerina, Anna Pavlova. The Pavlova is one of the country’s most popular dishes.

Cooking Time

75 minutes

Ingredients (serves 6)

• 1 tablespoon cornflour
• 6 egg whites
• 1 teaspoon cream of tartar
• 1 1/3 cups caster sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar
• 200ml pure cream
• 250g frozen raspberries, slightly mashed

Method

1. Heat oven to 200°C. Draw a 24cm (diameter) circle on a sheet of baking paper and then place, pencil-side down, on a baking tray. Dust lightly with 1 teaspoon of cornflour.
2. Using an electric mixer, beat the egg whites and cream of tartar in a large bowl until soft peaks form. Add sugar (1 tablespoon at a time) and beat constantly until thick and glossy. Add the remaining 3 teaspoons of cornflour with the last tablespoon of sugar. Fold through vanilla and vinegar.
3. Spoon meringue onto baking paper. Shape into a circle, using the pencil mark as a guide, with a slightly higher edge and a low centre. Reduce oven to 100°C. Bake for 1 1/4 to 1 1/2 hours or until dry and crisp. Turn off oven and open oven door. Cool completely in oven (Pavlova may sink during cooling).
4. Slide the Pavlova onto a serving plate.
5. Spread with cream and top with raspberries.
6. Your Pavlova is ready to be served.

Mah Boon Krong Sho

 

Visit Mah Boon Krong (MBK), one of Thailand’s most popular shopping centres visited by both tourists and locals. There are over 2000 shops here and 130 eating establishments over eight floors that sell almost everything, from clothes to electronics. When shopping here, don’t forget to also bargain for the best deals!

Fake handbags and clothes are also available here, but be sure to seek for help from the shop owner as they are not always on display. Make sure that the prices of the fake bags that you intend to buy are reasonable and don’t forget to walk with your Tourist Discount Card from one of the information desks on the first and second floors. Discounts may vary from 5% to 30%.
When you are tired of shopping, you can always stop by at the food court called the Fifth Avenue on the 5^th floor of the building.

 

Bungee Jump in Sunway Lagoon, Malaysia

To those wanting to try the bungee jump, head down to Sunway Lagoon in Malaysia and try it yourself!

Jump down 22m from above; the jump is as high as a nine-storey building! Jumpers will have 2 options; they can choose to either jump down individually or do the water-touch, which allows them to touch the water before the bungee cord pulls them back up again. Exciting isn’t it? Yes, it is exciting indeed!

To join the fun, all jumpers must be at least 10 years of age, with a minimum weight of 35kg or maximum of up to 285 kg. Each jump will cost you RM100 (for non-MyKad holder) and RM50 (for MyKad holder).

Hurry up and experience this adrenalin rush moment! If you managed to jump successfully, you’ll be awarded with a Bungee Jump Certificate from Bungee Malaysia.

*Please be noted that Bungee Jump in Sunway Lagoon is spelled as “Bungy Jump”

Travel tips when travelling overseas

Travel tips:

1. When travelling overseas, make sure you snap as many photos as possible! Store these pictures in your external hard disk to ensure that you have enough space to store new pictures.

2. Instead of making calls from your hotel room, why not use phone cards or better, a LocalSIMKad™ of your destination!

3. Make sure you have enough cash and do keep your cash and credit cards in a secured place.

4. Before leaving your hotel room, double check the things under your bed; you’ll never what is left behind.

5. If you wish to wash your undergarments, it’s better to wash them manually using your hands and the bathroom basin available as it is much cheaper than sending it to the hotel’s laundry service.