.

KLCC Travel n Shopping Paradise

Living the good life in KLCC

Jeremy's World

...................FUSION of FOOD, SHOPPING, TRAVEL, PEOPLE and LIFESTYLE............


" You have been chosen to be one of the sixteen Featured Users on the RedGage Homepage".




I received this email from
RedGage, a new social network site that pays you for all your online contents. I was confused and yet happy and proud. I have no idea what I did to deserve this. Nevertheless, it really made my day. I tried to recall what I did during the past 1 week. Was it the new blog I recently uploaded or could it be the new photos? I have no way of telling. Whatever it is, the email ask me to go to RedGage's homepage so I did. And at the bottom on the right hand side, there were photos of sixteen Featured Users proudly displayed. Oh yes, I was excited all right! You see, I am actually a newbie at RedGage, joined them just slightly over a week ago. RedGage is full of happy surprises, read the following and you will "rush in" to join this amazing site.




I got paid $4.83 by RedGage last night!
I joined RedGage less than 2 weeks ago. Not knowing if this site is genuine or not, I search the internet for answers. I found many videos on Youtube talking about how easy you can make some good money with this site. I couldn't find any negative remarks or posts on this new site. So 4 day's later I decided to become active. I uploaded my profiles, my blogs, Twitter, Facebook and Flickr. Then I went to bed. The next morning, when I loggged in to RedGage, I have earned $4.83 ! Impossible I thought, How can it possibly be? I haven't done anything yet! But I did, I have uploaded my blogs. RedGage has centralised all my contents including my photos and blog articles into one. They have paid me for one of the articles in one of my blogs and featured it on their homepage. For that, they paid me a bonus of $4.80. I earned the other 3 cents.






Another article featured on RedGage homepage.

Today, which is 5 day's later, I woke up to find I received another bonus from RedGage. They have picked another post of mine and posted it on their homepage! For this post, they paid me $5.25 just for that. Now my earnings are $10.51 for only about a week!

Three hours later I received an email from RedGage saying "You have been chosen to be one of the sixteen Featured Users on the RedGage Homepage". That really made my day.






What is RedGage?

RedGage is both a Social Networking site and a Social Bookmarking site. Redgage pay people for their online content that they are already doing online such as facebook, Youtube, twitter and Blogger.
RedGage pays based on the value of your content, measured by page views/popularity. They pay you for all of your blogs, pictures, videos, documents, and links. The things you are doing online, Redgage centralised all of them together and pays according to the number of page views. You get paid for visits, comments, votes and favourites.






To know what RedGage is, read my write up on this amazing site and how to join on my link "
RedGage Paid me $4.83 ". or "What is RedGage ".

You will be surprised what this site can do for your blogs and pays you at the same time.


Many have heard of The Curve at Damansara Perdana in Petaling Jaya. After 1-Utama shopping malls, the Curve has to be the if not the most popular shopping ,in all PJ. When some one mentioned The Curve, it is actually not The Curve Shopping Mall itself. The whole area is actually referred to as Mutiara Damansara. This peculiar layout is some what like a big maze. It inter-links and inter-twines with several other shopping malls. There is Tescos, the British Supermarket chain, IKEA the Swedish home maker's paradise, Harvey Norman - a giant electrical and electronics superstore and of course the Curve itself. Each is it's own entity with it's own car-parks and sub-stalls at their respective walkways and corridors. From furniture to Hi-Fi, and from groceries to handbags, you can find almost anything in this place. With so many malls inter-connected by walkways and underground passage-ways, this place is undoubtedly my favourite place to visit or take the kids out for a day of fun.



IKEA for home furnishing ideas.

IKEA is the most visited mall on this area. Almost all who has bought a new condo or a new house will at one time or another come here to get some bright ideas to decorate their new dream home. However there are those who dislike the quality of its products. But you will definitely go back with some small things which are irresistible. Here too is the only place you can savour the " Swedish Meatballs".



In any mall, we cannot leave out Starbucks can we? They seem to be every where!

Supermarkets for your grocery needs.


Buying books in this outlet. There are other bigger book shops too.

A stall selling fancy foot wear.

The foyer at The Curve.

This walkway - the East street leads you to Tesco.


Pet Safari, a favourite among children. Most exotic pets can be bought here. Dogs, cats, fishes including marine fish, snakes, rabbits, and many more.


There are a number of snakes for sale here.



DIY shops where you can find most home repair items.

A famous local Secret Recipe outlet.

Next American Idol at 2 years 10 months? Well, could be and why not? After seeing how Simon Cowell and the American audience responded to children singing on talent shows especially on American Idol, it may be a good start at the tender age of three. This is actually a clip of my daughter singing in my garden when she was only 2 years and 10 months. All the songs that I sang to her before she goes to sleep since she was 1 year old, she somehow remembered. So whenever she is happy, she just blurted out these night time "before bed" songs. And when she does, there is no stopping her! Singing away one song after another till she is out of breath.




Come along, my little angel, lets go meet Simon Cowell in Hollywood!


Calling all pussycat dolls fans!
pussycat dolls
Join me on myLot! Discuss pussycat dolls topics and make a little money while you're at it.

Its the time of the year where seasonal harvest of local Malaysian fruits are in abundance. This time its the Cikus, Langsats, Durians, Mangosteens, Rambutans, Jackfruits and Pineapples. Malaysia being in the equitorial belt enjoys a great variety of tropical fruits all year round. But certain fruits are only available on a seasonal period. Durians, Langsats, Mangosteens and Ranbutans are on sale at certain time of the year.



I got paid today Rm64.00 !


As a child I used to like Langsats and Magosteens. Their authentic tangy and yet sweet flavour is unlike any other. Since I got paid 3 times from my internet business this past 2 days, I thought I might as well give my family a treat. Today was my payday from 2 of my PTC sites. The payment was instant and I only joined them for a week! I received RM64.00 (USD $15) from them. These are trusted sites that pays. If you want to make a little pocket money as well you can join the first one called Neobux ....here. The other site is called Palmbux and to join you can go .....here. If you are serious about making money from the internet, I suggest you follow my money making blogs. You can find my blogs here or type this in your browser http://jeremyptcmoney.blogspot.com/. Join as many as you can, they are all free but you can make quite alot of money if you keep following my posts updates regularly. Everytime I find some new ways of making money from the internet, I will post it there. My other money making sites are listed below, at the end of this post.



Some of the local fruits in season and available with photos of how they look like are portrayed here.


(1) Rambutans (2) Cikus 3) Jambu Air


Ranbutans are succulent and sweet and rich in vitamin C. Cikus resembles Kiwi fruits. Unlike Kiwi fruits, Cikus are sweet and are brownish inside,not green. It also has large black seeds. Jambu Air is also rich in vitamin C. They are soft and crunchy and very juicy!




(4) Watermelon (5) Durians (6) Mangosteens


Watermelons are available all year round. They come in two varieties, the red and the yellow seedless type. Both are succulent and very tasty! The Durian is not every foreigner's "cup of tea". To the locals, its heavenly aroma is enticing! To a foreigner, the smell "pongs" for miles!
Ah yes, my favourite mangosteen! Just look at it. Need I say more?


Before I forget, here are some of my blogs on how to make money from the internet.

(1) All about ptc money: http://jeremyptcmoney.blogspot.com/
(2) Quick Money makers: http://quickernetmoney.blogspot.com/
(3) Make money blogs : http://klblueknight.blogspot.com/


To start with you should join Neobux and Palmbux. These are the most trusted and recommended programs. They really pays!


Join Neobux here and Palmbux here.


Happy money making!

Almost everyone loves sushi. It's an imported cultural cuisine from oriental Japan, the land of the rising sun. The popularity of this exotic and yet mystical delight can be found in almost any country. In Malaysia, as far as I can recall, sushi became popular about 20 odd years ago. Now you can find restaurants selling sushi almost everywhere, from hotels to local restaurants and even food courts. Travel to any country and you won't fail to find a sushi outlet. Sushi recipes are churning out even in family recipes.

When you have travelled so far to Kuala Lumpur and the KLCC, you may not think so much of a oriental Japanese dinner. More to your liking, you maybe trying out local dishes instead. But if you ever have a sudden craze for an authentic Japanese food, head on to Starhill and the J.W. Marriot hotel in downtown Jalan Bukit Bintang. There is a restaurant called the Jogoya which serves real authentic Japanese food, more specifically, sushi. It cost merely $25 per person for a sumptuous buffet dinner. Be prepared though, this is no ordinary buffet. Make very sure you have skipped breakfast, lunch and dinner. This place is full of gorgeous, delightful, mouth watering, most appetising and wonderful display of sushi, sushi, sushi and more sushi you can ever find anywhere!. It has the most variety of Japanese food I have ever seen. Lobsters, fresh scallops, fresh oysters, prawns, young coconut drinks, hundreds of sushi types, mushrooms, dim sums, vegetables, cakes, ice creams and not to be missed, capuchinos and also tea!

Eat what you want, drink what you want, it's all in the $25 you have paid prior to entering Jogoya. It truly is an oriental food haven. I mean, look at the food dishes they have, you just want to try them all! Some dishes requires you take a number clip whereby when it's cooked, they will bring it along to your table. These are mainly soups with vegetables and seafood or mushrooms. Others you just stood there while they prepare the dishes for you. Unlike many buffets I have seen, they keep replacing the items the minute one dish is empty.



Just take a look at what you can find at Jogoya in the slide show, and you will have a pretty good idea what I mean. The food is excellent bar none and the atmosphere is quite "romantic". It's a shame it's not Valentine's day. Nevertheless, everyday can be Valentine's day at Jogoya.



Calling all seafood fans!
seafood
Join me on myLot! Discuss seafood and make a little money while you're at it.

If one were to travel to Kuala Lumpur, one may not realise that Kuala Lumpur has many areas of local interests besides the KLCC Twin Towers and the Kuala Lumpur Tower. These are the places most frequented by locals either for just a day trip or a weekend picnic with the kids. These are ideal destinations for any travellers to Kuala Lumpur to experience at first hand what Kuala Lumpur is all about. These are also the areas whereby any avid photographer would be very happy to click away his shutters on his cameras to capture the beauty and the diversity of its cultures. From the hustle and bustle of Petaling Street to the tranquil and serene environment of Lake Tittiwangsa, overlooking the gigantic Millennium Wheel.

If one were lucky enough to stay at one of the hotels populating the Chinatown area of Kuala Lumpur, one would be able to savour the multitude of cuisines that Chinatown offers. Malaysians from all walks of life have tried the variety of foods in abundance here. From "Dim Sums" to roast ducks, from potato crisps to butter cookies, you name it,they are everywhere. Here too, one should not miss the opportunity to browse through one or more shops for that little "something" may not be available elsewhere. But more surprises are in store to tourist travelling to this remote side of the orient.

Evenings are meant for casual strolls; but it's a different story in Kuala Lumpur's Chinatown. Every evening this area transforms into a night market which sells anything from watches to Gucci bags. Fancy some Hard Rock cafe T-shirts? Or perhaps a Rolex watch? Yes, you can get it all here. Maybe you prefer to try some authentic chinese food? Or a drink at a pub to quench your thirst? You will not leave Petaling Street, the more popular name for this Chinatown, without buying something, I assure you! It is a delight just to visit Petaling Street.

Joining a friend for high tea at Starbucks in Mid Valley Mega Mall was a casual affair. When I am not travelling or writing about travel and holidays, we normally like to gather for a cup of tea. In this case as it is Starbucks, a cup of cappuccino. I love their cheese cakes but....

I brought along my umpc laptop computer, knowing very well there are wifi at Starbucks. My friend brought along her own laptop, a Sony Vaio. She was already on the web when I arrived but was too busy in her "work", she hardly notice my arrival. I took a little peek from behind her and instantly knew she was involved in some forum discussions. So what forum was she on today? It wasn't a forum, she said. It's MyLot, a social networking site. What's the big deal?. Social networks or forums are more or less the same. You join one, go in to read or post a comment, or maybe ask a question. Isn't that what's all about?

No, I was wrong, that's what she said. This is no ordinary social networking. This, you can start your very own discussion. When you post a topic, within minutes you will see comments coming in. That is because many are online reading and replying to discussions. She just posted one while waiting for me, now she is too busy replying! Can't blame her really, because I can clearly see there are at the very least 20 comments waiting for her reply. She went on to explain what MyLot was all about.

What's great about this social networking site is that you get paid for replying to comments! The more you reply, the more money you get! You can also get paid by joining other member's discussion and reply to those. There are practically tons and tons of topics you can discuss. Topics such as love, relationship, money, pets, work, parenting, business, travel, food... you name it. Some discussions are ridiculous. Why would I join in to a topic such as "You want to know how I cook rice?". And yes, tons of comments. Its not an intelligent topic of discussion, neither are the answers captivating. But so many replies and comments. And every replies earns money! I wouldn't mind joining in if I am getting paid either.

To participate in the MyLot discussions, you have to be a member. Its a free membership, anyone can join. Once in, you will get paid each time you post a reply to a discussion. You can even start your own. There are more money to be earned if you write a review for one of the many available in "task". Each review pays a certain sum and pays good. Why not ask your friends to join in and have fun? They will also be paid separately too. On top of that, you get further earnings for referrals! MyLot pays well and if you need proof of payment, there are lots to verify MyLot is a genuine social networking site.

Find out more here MyLot

You need a Paypal account for your earnings. If you do not have one, you can get a new Paypal account free here.. Paypal




Calling all make extra money fans!
make extra money
Join me on myLot! Discuss make extra money topics and make a little money while you're at it.

When you travel to Kuala Lumpur, you probably would have checked in to one of the hotels along Jalan Sultan Ismail. If so, you are the lucky ones. Hotels along this stretch of the road are 5 star hotels with good dining and excellent cuisine on their menus. On the other hand, if you happen to travel to Kuala Lumpur with just a backpack, you are even luckier! There is nothing like travelling and visiting a place on a shoestring budget and get to shop for stuffs you can hardly find any where else. These are not designer labels but are items you would proudly hang on your walls to display for all to see. Travelling on a shoestring budget means you really have to look around for good and cheap restaurants and accommodation that's affordable.

Jalan Bukit Bintang, the renown "Bintang Walk" is a favourite for both foreign and local travellers. Not because it's surrounded by many new shopping malls, but it is a place saturated with multitude of cultures. Of late, middle eastern restaurants and shops sprouted in every corner of Bintang Walk.

A place worth exploring for travellers is a stretch of road just off and adjacent to Jalan Bintang called Jalan Alor. This used to be a favourite hangout for many locals including me. A place filled with food stalls of every taste and flavour. Now the place of Jalan Alor has in addition to the local dishes, Turkish, Scottish, English, Australian, Italian and French. These new restaurants don't have the price tag of a five star hotel but they are affordable, authentic and the foods are down right delicious! If you don't fancy these, then hop along to the others serving local cuisine.

Here too are several inns, budget hotels, apartments and guest houses where you can get accommodation for a day, a week or even a month. Some even have "bed and breakfast" concept, very popular in the United Kingdom. Do not be alarmed that some of these are operated by English and Germans!

For shoppers? Bintang Walk has much to offer. Well known among locals for their multi media and computer related peripherals is Low Yat Plaza and Imbi Plaza. travellers and shoppers are advised to check out these two malls even if you are only just browsing. These two malls are notorious for the extremely low pricing policies! It is the cheapest place to buy computer and other digital products. Laptops, desktops, LCD TVs, MP3, MP4 players, routers, DVD discs, you name it, they have it. Brands like Toshiba, Dell, Sony, HP, Acer, Apple, Asus and others.

Travellers and shoppers to Kuala Lumpur also have to bear in mind, multimedia and digital products are tax free!

The latest addition to the shoppers in the KLCC area besides the Suria KLCC is the Pavilion. Travellers and local tourist were keen to check out what Pavilion has to offer. If you are into designer labels, then you will like this place. Vast contrast to the other shopping malls and complexes is that you don't find small local shop outlets. Shopping carts and stalls associated with other malls are standard features in most malls. But here I don't see any. Is it a rule they are prohibited or it's too early that cart stall owners have yet to set up shop here?


Burberry



BOSS

Branded labels of big names like Mont Blanc, Burberry, Canali, Club Monaco,Gucci, Boss, Hermes and numerous others have already open their doors.


GUCCI

In this recession period would all these designer labels do well? But travellers and locals seem to browse the merchandise, rather then doing an actual purchase. This new shopping mall have all famous brands you can ever find. Obviously they are targeting a niche market. You can tell locals who are "loaded" with cash when you see one. A quick glance at all the visitors, I cannot pin-point a prospective rich client. I would say they come under a category called "curious visitors", it would more appropriate.

The Foyer.
The overall design and architecture is mesmerising. It's unique, it's different and it's very well decorated and done up. If this mall were to be in say, London or Paris, it would be a big hit. As it is now, the Pavilion may be too "posh" for local taste. I enjoyed myself immensely at the lobby area, not to mention the food court. Might be a bit up market, but I loved it.


Would I be back? Definitely, not to look for designer labels, but to check out new additions to the food courts! Somehow I do not belong to the "upper middle class" anyway. I am more of a "pasar malam" bargain hunter.

I am an avid follower of a local blogger from Penang who has been blogging since 2003. Her latest post I read today should serve as a lesson for other Malaysian bloggers. We know blogging for money can be a lucrative past time, hopefully raking in Rm 2000 or Rm 3000 monthly if one has become "Pro" status. I also knew of some making Rm 10,000 a month. These bloggers usually have been blogging for several years and has acquired the tools of the trade, so to speak. So during my recent visit to her blog, I was caught by a big surprise. Her earnings was Rm 30,000 this month! This sort of salary scale is huge, and even many top Malaysian CEO's don't reach this level of pay. Good job blogger 5xmom ! You made us proud.

So when your friends ask you coyly about your job, do not feel blogging for money is anything to laugh at. If done right and full of professionalism, it may even be your full time money earner to support your whole family. If 5xmom can do it, so can any of you. Getting paid almost $10,000 USD is not a small figure by any standards. Bloggers should take his task seriously if he has the intention of earning money from it. Learn all you can from whoever has made it to the top. The internet is another source of free information. Many long time bloggers are willing to part their expertise to share their experiences with you. They can teach you a thing or two, and who knows?. You might be as successful as them, if not better.

Making money from blogging has never been an overnight opportunity. It takes time, effort, knowledge and driving web traffic to your site or your blog. Your combined earnings from Google Adsense, private advertisements and/or post paid jobs can generate a substantial income if you take your job as a blogger seriously.


Check out my recently published content on AC and ReviewStream
(remember to vote for me! )

Redang Island

Exotic Beauty of Malacca

ReviewStream - My Reviews (Please vote) Proton Persona 1.5L

Fancy a weekend getaway and travel to a remote island with fine sandy beaches and deep blue seas? Pulau Redang may just be the place you need to visit. A budget traveller's choice, Pulau Redang has everything a person needs to relax and bask in the tropical sun, lazing and do nothing else. If studying marine life is your forte, go snorkeling and watch in real life what National Geographic has been showing you all this while.


Pulau Redang slide show.
The best way to get to Pulau Redang is travel by air to Kuala Trengannu. From there they have ferry service to take you to Pulau Redang. At the same time, enjoy the scenic beauty of open sea and the little uninhibited islands as your ferry passes by. Pulau Redang is about 45 km off Kuala Trengannu coast. It is the largest in the archipelago of islands which als includes Pulau Ekor, Pulau Pinang, Pulau Bidond, Pulau Tengah, Pulau Paku Besar and Pulau Lima.
The green turtle and the Hawksbill turtle has their breeding grounds in the sandy beaches of Pulau Redang. There is a protected Marine Park in Pulau Redang where one can snorkel and observe the marine creatures in their natural habitat. There is a in-house photographer on site to take photographs while colourful marine fishes both large and small swam around you with their curious eyes. It is a sight to behold! One of the guides took a huge sea cucumber from the coral reef and showed it to us. It was almost 3 feet long!
The marine life in the park are protected under the law. You can take photos, go snorkeling, or even touch the the corals and the fishes, but you must take any away. There is a hefty fine of $3000 if you remove any marine life including the corals away from their habitat.
It is advisable to bring enough cash for I did not see any atm machines around. Most things are a little more expensive here compare to other areas of Malaysia, maybe because of it's remoteness.
Pulau Redang has one of the finest and unspoilt beaches I have ever come across. The water is crystal clear and you can practically see the fishes swimming away. There are several chalets, inns and budget hotels in Pulau Redang. If you are a budget traveller, these inexpensive inns are just perfect for a tranquil and relaxing weekend getaway. You can even get a package for a 3 days 2 nights accomodation which includes snorkelling at the marine park for only $85.00.

After an exciting day of unpacking our luggage, had a little rest, enjoyed the free buffet and a little swim at the Berjaya Langkawi Beach and Spa Resort, we thought it appropriate to have a little walk around the beach resort to see what activities lies ahead. From our chalets, we could hear the sound of crickets, some bird's calling and strange noises which we couldn't identify. We took along the torch light as it will be getting dark soon, and head on to do our own discovery. We took the path towards the main wing of the hotel resort thinking it couldn't be that far. They have little buggy cars that came along every so often to take guests to the main lobby. One came along, but we turn down the offer. Since it was a cool breezy evening, a light stroll should be refreshing, so we thought. Little did we know that one can get lost, and that's exactly what happened to us. When we returned to our chalet 2 hours later all sweaty and tired, we vowed to take the buggies in future.

Strange noises that emerged from the bushes turn out to be nothing more than cats scavenging for food. The other unidentifiable sounds were just some cheeky monkeys fooling around. With every arrival of a new guest, these playful little devils knows there's food around. So the evening turn out to be rather unexciting.

The day after, we were determined to try out the cable cars. It is only 5 minutes drive from our resort. Its located at the Langkawi Geo Park Info Center. Here you can find souvenirs from the local crafts and duty free items to purchase. We bought lots of chocolates, some drinks, liqueurs and few items clothing made by some locals. The children were having fun feeding Koi carps and geese in the pond.

The Langkawi Geo Park; local Handicrafts on display; the Cable Car ride was closed.

The greatest disappointment was not being able to ride the cable car due to bad hazy weather, primarily caused by forest fires in a neighbouring country.
Not very far from the Langkawi Geo Park was a jungle trekking site called the "Seven Wells". We thought we'll check it out. Apparently, "Seven Well" is actually 7 little ponds or rather 7 water catchments located about 610 meters up a mountain. Since we are checking out the tracking site, we took the challenge of climbing up the stairs to the Seven Wells. Now, that was a very big mistake on my part. The climb up was very steep, not to say the least. It took us 45 minutes to climb, we got caught in a sudden downpour and worst of all, there wasn't much to see! There was a signboard when we reached the Seven Wells saying, the jungle tracking "Starts here". No, we dismissed the whole idea of jungle tracking; period. Instead we went to a lovely waterfall within the vicinity.

Waterfall near Seven Wells.

A mariner just outside Berjaya Langkawi Resort
Langkawi underwater world, popular with kids.
A Giant Catfish at Langkawi Underwater World
All in all, the whole trip was quite satisfying. Travel and tours operators have packages to Langkawi which includes food and lodging at different hotels and resorts. For budget travellers, google around and you find a package to suit your wallet. As Air Asia fares are so cheap, travel to other areas in Malaysia and explore!

Travel to Langkawi Island, an archipelago of 99 islands located in the north-west of Malaysia belonging to the Kedah state. I have heard so much about it but have never been there. I knew there is a legend of a Ledang Princess and the International Maritime Show held annually in Langkawi, that much I know. Travel and shopping in Langkawi is often a common reason for locals to visit this beautiful island. Moreover, it is "tax free" as well. What sort of shopping would one expect out of Langkawi? And how shall we get to travel there?

We decided the best way is to travel is by air. And the airline obviously has to be Air Asia, a new and young "No Frills" airline much like "Ryan Air" of the United Kingdom. In the short span of just a few years, this small airline, salvaged from a local airline gone into liquidation, has emerged to be the most popular of all air travel to local destinations. Pricing is only a fraction of other domestic airlines.



The CEO of Air Asia, Dato' Seri Tony Fernandez (left of pic)

The flight from Sepang International Airport to Langkawi was just over 2 hours. The minute we got on the Air Asia's Airbus A300 plane, we hurriedly occupied the window seats, for it was a free seating arrangement. I was surprised to noticed a young gentleman who looked like the airlines CEO at the far end of the aisle. The air stewardess standing beside me confirmed that it was the "Boss" himself when I pose the question to her. When our "V.I.P" approached nearer, I asked if I could take a photo of him. Not only did he obliged but insisted we have a photo together! So Dato' Seri Tony Fernandez took the camera from me and gave it to the air stewardess. Such a nice and kind gentleman and a definite contribution to his airlines in my eyes for having excellent PR skills towards his passengers.

The sight from the side window of the plane was breathtaking as we approach the landing strip. I could see countless numbers of islands of different shapes and sizes. Which is the main island of Langkawi? I didn't realise until much later that Langkawi was actually made up of 99 islands!

One of the 99 islands of Langkawi

On arrival at the airport, we were greeted by a man from a taxi service outlet located at the main terminal. To travel around and doing some serious sight seeing, you must rent a car to optimise your experience in Langkawi. We chose an MPV which cost us $23.00 a day which was cheap. For a party of 6, it works out to be less than $4.00 each. The petrol in Langkawi is cheap anyway, being a tax free holiday resort.

We had earlier booked 3 Superior/Double beds chalets at Berjaya Langkawi Beach and Spa Resort before our departure from Sepang International Airport. The rates were $120.00 a night for these lovely chalets. Some of these chalets are at the sea front, with a gorgeous view of the open sea. Others like the ones we had are built on stilts resembling much like ancient village homes.



A typical village style chalet in a tropical rain forest setting.

What we discovered in Langkawi is the cleanliness of its beaches. It somehow reminded me of the beaches in California when I was there, minus the Californian holiday makers of course. I still give it the thumbs up for Venice Beach. None the less, the beaches here is clean and the waters are crystal clear. Our kids just could not wait to take a dip in the waters. Its a pleasant surprise not to see a big crowd of holiday makers here, a big contrast to other beaches I have seen else where. One would describe it as peaceful and serene.


Sea front chalets at Berjaya Langkawi Beach and Spa Resort.

In house swimming pool at the Berjaya Langkawi Beach Resort. Many of the kids are seen swimming here rather than the beach. Its like a miniature "theme park" style layout with waterfalls and slide.

A small crowd of tourist tanning under the sun.
The travel to Langkawi was interesting and a learning experience as I have never been here. Dining at the Berjaya Langkawi Beach and Spa Resort was quite good, not the usual I expected of a Beach Resort. We had buffet at the restaurant which served mainly local cuisine. I always enjoy a nice juicy piece of steak or maybe English Lamb Chops, but not at the buffet bar.

Laptops, mini and ultra portable, such as the Asus EeePC 900 seems to be the favourite among students, professionals, writers and computer freaks like me. Go to shopping malls that sells computers, and you will find numerous well known brands joining in the bandwagon to get sales. The mini laptops are fairly cheap usually around $180 has the same specification of its larger cousins. The mini laptops ultra portability and small size is ideal for those who are always on the go.

It is for this reason I drove down to my local multi media shopping mall and purchase a Asus EeePC 900 mini laptop computer or it is sometimes called ultra mobile PC (umpc) for short. This is definitely the most versatile of all laptop computers. With a screen size of only 7 inches this tiny wonder can easily be put inside one's briefcase without the added weight of the normal notebook computer.The price is cheap considering, for I only paid $190 for mine. This comes with a memory of 2Gb in Ram, hard-disc with 170 Gb, built-in wifi, 3 USB ports and a built-in webcam. It also comes with original Windows XP Professional operating system.


My Asus EeePC 900H

I have been using my mini laptop computer for about 4 months now and I have not had a single complaint about my this laptop computer. I do practically everything on this tiny beauty. I do my online work anywhere I want to including train rides, taxis, on holiday; just about anywhere and anytime. The stand-by battery last for 4 hours, this is long enough for me to do my whole day's work on my internet. Now I don't even open my other laptop computer. Why need to? I have got my new Asus EeePC 900H mini laptop computer.

Places where you can get good bargains for mini laptops are Low Yat Plaza in Bukit Bintang, Kuala Lumpur and my favourite place the Multi Media Shopping Mall in Section 14, Petaling Jaya.

When you thought that now the whole world is practically in financial turmoil, and making money wasn't that easy, one would have to watch what they spend on and how they spend their money. But money speaks volumes; it can make or break a business, crumbles a fundamentally solid and strong bank, it can change our lifestyle or it can convey a wrong message to developers of properties that times are still good.

In Kuala Lumpur, the latter seems to be true as new developments such as huge shopping malls are sprouting up almost on a monthly basis, if not daily. Before anyone has a chance to explore what has in store for shoppers, another new shopping complex opens its doors. Many of the new ones have not even enjoyed full occupancy rate as far as anchor tenants are concerned. Why then another new mall starts its maiden launch? It all boils down to the shoppers and their spending power.

My family and I was out taking a casual stroll along the famous Bintang Walk right in the heart of the city and I remarked to my wife about the new mall in front of us that just open it's doors to the public. We looked at it and was taken in by it's glittering array of lights, much resembling that on Christmas Day; and the beautiful swaying palm trees on each side of it's grandiose main entrance. Without hesitation, we hurriedly walk across to the other side of the road and into the mall. There were 5 levels of shopping area with shops, boutiques, hair salons, jewellery shops, pharmacies, stationary, supermarkets, departmental stores, restaurants and countless numbers of others. What strikes me most is that the shops are there, but where is the crowd? Yes there were some, but with such a low traffic, I doubt any of the shops can barely make any profit. This was 3 months ago and I have re-visited the same shopping mall 3 more times. Each time I visited the place, it's still the same old story, there are no visitors!

Shoppers are there but not to this new mall but the other existing ones. Shoppers have the money; they dictates who lives and who dies in the "battle of the malls". Right now it is any body's guess how well this new mall will fare in the months to come. Only time will tell; only the shoppers will decide.....