Do you need vaccination before coming to Borneo

Do you need vaccination before coming to Sarawak or any of the state in Borneo island?

That may be a queastion most non-Asians eg. tourists from Europe may ask as you are not familiar with the condition over here.

According to my research, here is what i found out below.

As a precaution, you may want to be vaccinated for the following diseases.

1) Hepatitis A- To see a Doctor, 2 weeks before travel

2) Hepatitis B- To see a Doctor, 3 months before travel

3) Typhoid- To see a Doctor, 10 days before travel

4) Fever- To see a Doctor, 10 days before travel

5) Influenza- To see a Doctor, 10 days before travel

6) Japanese Enchephalitis (JE)-  Sometimes required, to see a Doctor, 1 month before travel

7) Malaria, the risks are minimal

The risk of malaria varies throughout South East Asia but appropriate preventive medicines are required for more remote areas. Measures should always be taken to avoid mosquitoe bites.  such as nets and creams.

Here is a  TRAVEL VACCINE PLANNER >> for you to download.

It is good to use as a checklist.

How to send Shopping Spree items from Kuching to your home

Are you on a shopping spree to Kuching?

I was at Kuching International Airport earlier scheduled to depart on AirAsia to Kuala Lumpur. I saw at the checking in counter a banner sign that states that now if you are planning to buy a lot of souvenir or food to bring back home but due to the limited baggage allowance, you can now send your things through AirAsia cargo service. It is a door to door service.
What this means is that they will send it right up to your door step for ….. are you ready for this?

ONLY RM5.50 per kg.

So fret not, you can shop till you drop especially if you are fond of food items like Ikan Terubuk masin Sarawak, rattan mat, the famous Kek Lapis Sarawak, and so much more. All you have to do is to contact the Information cargo counter at Level 3 at Kuching International Airport to send your items to your home in West Malaysia. There is a contact number there: 014 2873330. I tried calling whole morning but the number is off. Perhaps they changed number? I went to the counter before 9am and no one was there. Perhaps they start work at 10am? But the last time when i walked past there, i saw a staff manning the counter.

whatever it is, you know that there is such service available here in Kuching.

Are you planning a trip to Kuching anytime soon?

Check out this

3D2N Destinasiku Sarawak >>

For the more adventurous, check out

3D2N Magic Mulu >>

Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!

Today is our country’s 53rd Independence Day from the British rule. this is a day when we were liberated from the British colony and were able to decide for ourselves what and how our country should be run.

For the rest of us who were not yet born, celebrating every year on this day, means having the day off to go shopping, travel overseas, balik kampung or just sleep in and watch the Day’s parade around the country . This day may not mean much to us unlike to our parents or grandparents.

so the question is how do we show our patriotism? Hanging the National flag at our house compound, or car antenna is a good way to show patriotism. Even talking about our independence with friends is a good way to remind Us how lucky we are. We must instill this spirit of patriotism or knowledge of how Malaysia has advanced so much in 53 years to our children lest they will forget the past.

With time, society and culture will evolve and remembering how we fought our freedom is something that we must cherish forever for generations to come.

Let’s be proud that we are Malaysians!

1Malaysia Menjana Transformasi!!

Let’s ALL Join Hands to be One Malaysia and be the source for Transformation,

What do Kuchingnites do on a lazy weekend?

Having stayed in big city for several years, the weekend was always spent either shopping, watching a movie or just napping, I was curious how Kuching folks spent their Saturday afternoon. So I asked a few friends and here is what I found out and here was what I did.

Sarawakians have so much more advantange than city folks as they have the choice to do some of the activities below:

1) Go shopping at Spring Mall, Boulevard or the few shopping centre near Waterfront. Go window shopping, enjoy the FREE air-cond and watch cinema at the top floor.

2) Go outskirt where they probably own a piece of land and tend to their plantation or fruit orchard. My late father used to do that bringing with him a few workers and tend to our hundreds of rambutan trees and pepper crop there.

3) Sleep to distress after a stressful work week which is a universal hobby

4) If you are a “tai-tai” of the rich, have high tea at the Kuching hotels in the city and gossip about the week’s happenings.

5) Go do some outdoor activity like go fishing near Muara Tebas or angling at the bridge heading towards Sejingkat.

6) Go rock climbing somewhere.

7) Go trekking at Borneo Highland

Go Deep sea fishing

Head on to the huge state library across the river and either read some interesting books there.

9) Or just simply go eat rojak, prawn fritters, ABC at the very popular coffee shop off Rubber Road in the city. The stall used to be located beside Old Rex cinema. They close at around 5pm.

What did I do over the lazy weekend? Well, I was driving towards Spring Mall and I found the place jammed and I figured that my time is well worth more than getting stuck for an hour in a jam, I decided to head on to Old Rex coffee shop and tucked in on some ice cold ABC/cendol and some fried tibits. Get lazy and just purrrrr…. away

Mount Mulong Uma Expedition

for a larger version of the flyer go to 3D2N Mt Mulong Uma with Tenyok Rimba >>

Even the Cat celebrates X’mas

Ah! It is that time of the year again, the festive season of giving and forgiving.

The loner Kuching that beckons to tourists and locals alike every day of the year was seen wearing a new costume, akin to Santa Claus, a red hat, and a red vest with a bag full of gifts with one paw waving to passerby. This Kuching wears different costumes at every season, he would be seen wearing a chinese costume on chinese new year, a green costume for Hari Raya and on Hari Gawai, he would be wearing something to suit the occasion.

I can sum that he looks his best in RED for this Christmas Season.

Are you confirmed for AirAsia flight?

This weekend is the weekend and what are your plans for the weekend?

For those planning to travel, a long weekend is a good time tobring family away to nearby destinations. Malaysia now has the zoom Malaysia and soon to be revised to Magic holiday packages, that gives you low rate cost to travel and with extra cash left for shopping.

Have you booked your flights early? I remembered the other day when I was in Kota Kinabalu and supposed to be catching the next flight to Tawau enroute to Sipadan island. if you want to book last minute for the next immediate flight to the next destination, it may not be so easy. I was anxious to catch the next flight to Tawau. Sales counter told me the flight was full. the Airasia officer told me to go to the check in counter and queue. After queueing up for half hour, the check in counter officer told me all seats are full and she could not attend to my needs until the counter is closed and ONLY then she can let me know if there are any available seat.

Imagine if someone is on an urgent mission at the next destination, to be told that she cannot be on standby nor waiting list but just wait like a lame duck, is not very comforting. so, i had no choice but to wait until all passengers with tickets have checked through and the counter’s Check in sign was switched off, then i approached the officer again and was given a seat. When I boarded the plane, guess what? there were still around 5 empty seats. did these 5 persons booked but failed to show up?

Was all that earlier stress necessary?

AirAsia should revamp their booking system then. No point giving low travel fare but poor booking system.  Passengers should be able to travel yes, if with a budget airline but with ease of mind.

What is the lesson for the rest of us, passengers? Book early ! If you are not sure if you can get a seat but want to try your luck anyway, have an alternative ready.

Have a great weekend!

The New Jewel of Sarawak

This is the latest jewel in Sarawak. The State Legislative Assembly, completed at a cost of a few hundred million ringgit. It is located right across the river from Waterfront. You can take a boat to go there, a mere 5 minutes ride. The cost of the ride is less than rm1.

However, that does not mean that all legislators will need to take a boat to reach there. There are roads leading to it from the other side and the boat ride is a short cut to reach it from waterfront.  I will take more photos to show you when I go there the next time.

Hair Saloon’s Secret of How to Attract Good Luck with Hair Colour

Ms Talent of World Harvest Festival 2009

15 Finalists of Ethnic Beauty Pageant Ms Fair and Lovely World Harvest Festival 2009 vied for the subsidiary title Ms Talent World Harvest Festival 2009 held at Sarawak Tourism Complex on the 2 May 2009. The title went to Ms Atiqah Nur Fatma Nor. Ms. Atiqah won rm1,000 cash, a sash, a trophy and a bouquet. She is 18 years old and is a part time sales girl. She is finalist no. 12 in the webpage below.

Tickets to the 2009 Ms Fair and Lovely World Harvest Festival to be held on 23rd and 24th May 2009 are already on sale and can be obtained from Sarawak Cultural Village. Go check them out and vote your favoured ethnic Beauty Queen.

Check out their PHOTOS here >>

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