Travel Memories - Malaysia (in 1981)

Destinations: Malaysia (1981) | Lifestyle, Travel | GroundReport.com – Latest World News & Opinions

Memorable article by Proloy Bagchi, an author/journalist at GroundReport.com on his time at Malaysia back in 1981. Read the full article here: Destinations - Malaysia - 1981, by Proly Bagchi

Weekend Treats

The ZON All Suites Residences on the park website

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Salam Ramadhan 2013

Report: Halal Foods is Most Important Factor for Travelling Muslims

According to Women Tribe website, by 2020, 14 percent of all international trips will be undertaken by Muslims who will outpace the global average when it comes to travel growth.

And given that 67 percent of respondents in a survey that polled close to 1,000 Muslims said that the availability of halal foods was the most important consideration when booking their holiday, tour operators and tourism offices may do well to ramp up Muslim-friendly services, suggest the authors of the report.

According to DinarStandard, which specializes in emerging Muslim markets, the travel industry would do well to respond to Muslim travel needs given that by 2020, growth will have reached nearly five percent compared to the global figure of 3.8 percent. 

Half of the respondents polled were from Asia, 22 percent from the Middle East and Asia, and 15 percent from the Americas. After halal food and cooking, the second most important factor for Muslim travelers was price, followed by a ‘Muslim-friendly’ atmosphere.

That could mean everything from prayer rooms to special services for the holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr. The survey also showed that the preferred destinations among Muslim travelers are Malaysia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.

The results mirror those released earlier this year by Singapore-based Muslim travel consultancy group Crescentrating, which listed Malaysia, Egypt, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia as the world’s top Muslim-friendly holiday destinations.


Source: [http://womantribe.net/]

7 Travel Trends You Need to Know Now

7 Travel Trends You Need to Know Now

MasterCard Global Destination Cities Index 2013: A Dominance of the Asia-Pacific Region.

Bangkok is this year’s number one city for travel, according to MasterCard’s third annual Global Destination Cities Index.

The study looked at the highest international visitor numbers in 2013, with London, Paris, Singapore, and New York rounding out the top five. London took first place in 2012, however, this year it was edged out of the top spot by just one percent or 25,000 visitors.

A noticeable trend in this year’s report was the dominance of the Asia/Pacific region. Of the 132 cities ranked, 42 are Asian countries. Bangkok is followed by Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai, Tokyo; four of the top ten in 2013 are in the Greater China region.

“With the rise of the Asia/Pacific region, this year’s index reflects the rebalance that the globe is undergoing in large part because of the rise of emerging markets,” said Ann Cairns, President of International Markets, MasterCard Worldwide.

“This shift is further underscored by electronic payments, which are enabling more people from more places to participate in the global economy than ever before.”

“Bangkok brought with it great momentum from last year. Its ascent to number one is not only a first for Asia, it’s emblematic of the rise of the Global South which encompasses much of Africa and Asia as well as South America,” concluded Dr. Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, Global Economic Advisor for MasterCard and author of the report.

London maintains its number one position in Europe in international visitor arrivals, followed by Paris, Istanbul, Barcelona, and Milan. Istanbul’s growth rates were such that it could well surpass Paris in 2016. The fastest growing city in Western Europe in air travel connectivity is Berlin, which ranks 17.

The line-up of the top ten destination cities in Latin America remains unchanged with Mexico City leading the group.  However, Lima, Peru is the fastest-growing city, followed by Sao Paulo, Brazil. If this growth trend continues, Sao Paulo could surpass Mexico City and Buenos Aires in 2017, and Lima could overtake Buenos Aires in 2018.

In the Middle East and Africa Dubai retains its number one rank in the region by a large margin.
New York retains its top ranked destination city in North America, followed by Los Angeles and Miami. Toronto takes fourth position and is trending upwards as the fastest-growing in air travel connectivity in North America.

MasterCard’s Global Top 20 Top Destination Cities by International Overnight Visitors
(“Arrivals” in each of the destination cities is defined as international arrivals that actually stayed in the destination city for at least one night.)

1. Bangkok: 15.98m
2. London: 15.96m
3. Paris: 13.93m
4. Singapore: 11.75m
5. New York: 11.52m
6. Istanbul: 10.37m
7. Dubai: 9.89m
8. Kuala Lumpur: 9.20m
9. Hong Kong: 8.72m
10. Barcelona: 8.41m

7 Simple Ways to Boost Your Confidence

Confidence is an exceptional attribute which can draw the line between successful and unsuccessful people. Confidence is a powerful emotion which has significant impacts on your mental and physical well-being. This article is a compilation of some simple ways to boost your self-esteem without spending hours and hundreds of dollars on seminars, conferences and self-help books that preach divine ways of attaining confidence overnight. Happy reading.

1. Love yourself – The first and foremost step you should take on the road to becoming a confident person is to love yourself. Eradicate all the negative thoughts and fill your mind with positive outlooks on your abilities and life. Listen to negative self-talk or negative musings and focus on suffusing your mind with optimistic views and thoughts. Next time you notice yourself engaging in any negative self-talk or criticism, stop and turn the course of the musings towards a positive path.

2. Build up confidence slowly – Confidence does not come overnight. It takes time and you have to persevere and be patient. Every day you will have to build the foundation for a strong establishment of confidence within your mind.

3. Every day is a new day – Every day you gaze at the mirror to brush your teeth, put on make-up or just to check your outfit, utter some affirmative words. Choose your mantra and repeat them in your mind or loudly in front of the mirror. You can choose words like: "I am confident, beautiful and intelligent" or "My confidence is growing everyday" etc. Select words that are not too grandiloquent and are easy to repeat.

4. Write a confidence journal – Make it a second nature to yourself to maintain a confidence journal or diary. Every morning or every night spend a few minutes making some entries into this diary. Your entries can be as fantastic as "I delivered a fabulous presentation at work today" or as simple as "I cleaned my microwave today". The idea is to identify things you accomplish on a daily basis which goes a long way in boosting your confidence.

5. Delete negative thoughts – Write a letter to yourself listing all your negative thoughts. This should be a comprehensive list of things you feel you are not good at or things you feel you are not proud of for having said or done them. Once, you have compiled your list, burn it or bury it.

6. Surround yourself with positive people – This may be easier said than done. But try to surround yourself with confident and happy people. Their cheerful presence will imbue you with a high level of positive energy. A great man once said, "Confidence is contagious".

7. Pause and reflect – Everyday at every available opportunity, take a moment to mull over your abilities, qualities, achievements and talents. Spend some time pondering over all the things you like and appreciate about yourself. You can also let your mind wander onto memories of kind words or compliments paid by an individual. Going back to my first point, learn to love yourself and learn to appreciate yourself.

Remember confidence is an attitude that can be developed by maintaining a positive belief in one's abilities.

Source & Credit to: Joya D via www.weekendnotes.com

Medical Tourism Booming in Malaysia

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Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/wpmdwn/booming_medical) has announced the addition of the “Booming Medical Tourism in Malaysia” report to their offering.

The Malaysian medical tourism industry is going through a phenomenal growth phase, offering immense opportunities for players involved in the business. Despite the global economic downturn, the market is growing exceptionally in each and every field of medical treatment.

Healthcare expense in developed countries together with the issue of time is making people seek affordable healthcare services in developing countries such as Malaysia.

In their latest research study, Booming Medical Tourism in Malaysia, RNCOS’ analysts identified and deciphered the market dynamics in important segments to clearly highlight the areas offering promising possibilities for the companies to boost their growth. The market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 13% during 2013-2017. The robust growth in revenue along with medical tourists is being driven by factors such as cost-effective treatments, skilled medical professionals, and government support.

In the report, the Malaysian medical tourism market is studied thoroughly on various grounds. Comprehensive study of the current market scenario along with the existing medical infrastructure covering hospitals, healthcare human resources and technological developments has been done. Moreover, different drivers and characteristics of the market have been discussed along with forecasts to provide an understanding of the market dynamics. This section intends to aid companies in designing their business strategies and provide them with key insights that can help them boost their profits. Also, the research has included an in-depth analysis of costs, comprising comparison of cost saving in various countries and treatment wise cost comparison of Malaysia with other countries.

Further, the report covers analysis of market, broken down into eight major market segments. This has helped our analysts to clearly identify and highlight the market segments offering maximum opportunity for growth. For instance, our study reveals that alternative medicines are becoming very much popular in Malaysia. Tourists are being fascinated by the alternative medical practices as these practices not only cure the illness but also increase the resilience of the human body devoid of any side effects.

The study further delves into the detailed description of the major players in the industry, covering description of their businesses and their recent developments. This will help the reader to gain a deeper insight into each key market player. In a nutshell, the research provides all the prerequisite information for intending clients looking out to venture into these markets, and facilitates them to devise strategies while going for an investment/partnership in Malaysian medical tourism industry.

Credit: www.breakingtravelnews.com

Source: Medical tourism booming in Malaysia | News | Breaking Travel News

Regional Turmoil Prompts Saudis To Change Their Vacation Plans

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Local tourism experts predict that the political uprisings in Syria, Lebanon, Egypt and other Arab countries has had an impact on Saudis’ vacation choices. 

Europe and south-east Asia remain the destination of choice for many Saudi tourists in light of developments in the Middle East. 

According to local travel agencies, 20 percent of Saudi tourists prefer to spend the summer vacation in the Kingdom, as the month of Ramadan will begin tentatively Jul. 9, coinciding with the beginning of the school holidays. On the other hand, 30 percent of the Saudis who intend to travel this summer have chosen to visit Turkey. 

“This summer, we anticipate that Europe will witness a 20-percent increase in the number of Saudi tourists, while Arab countries will witness a sharp decline,” Mohammad Abdul Aziz, a manager at the Gulf for Travel and Tourism Agency, told Arab News.

“Malaysia and Singapore will also be attractive destinations for many Saudi tourists. Meanwhile, Turkey is expected to receive more than 30 percent of Saudi holidaymakers this year,” he added.

Nasser Al-Tayar, chairman of Al-Tayar for Travel and Tourism, affirmed that 5 million Saudis traveled outside the Kingdom during the summers of 2011 and 2012. 

“Since Ramadan happens to fall during the beginning of the summer season this year, almost 3 million Saudis will opt to remain in the Kingdom,” said Abdul Khaleq Radwan, an employee at a local travel agency. 

“During the summer of 2010, Egypt alone received more then 500,000 Saudis. This season is different, as initial surveys indicate a 60-percent drop in Saudi tourists traveling to Egypt due to fears about the political situation,” he added. 

Meanwhile, Sultan Abdullah, a marketing executive at a private company, said he had planned to spend his summer vacation in Egypt, but after the latest violence the country witnessed, he is no longer sure.

“I am hesitant; I love Egypt and used to frequently visit, but the recent events have left me wary. I am currently searching for alternative vacation spots. London is an option, as I have many friends living there,” he added. 

Alternatively, Mohammad Saeed views the present state of affairs in some Middle Eastern countries as a chance to travel somewhere new.

“I think this is a good chance to explore new countries. We have been accustomed to traveling to Egypt every summer. This year, I will opt perhaps for Malaysia instead.”

Credits
Writer: IBRAHIM NAFFEE
Source: www.arabnews.com

Burj Khalifa, Dubai -- Travel 365 -- National Geographic

Burj Khalifa, Dubai -- Travel 365 -- National Geographic

Pelancongan Kini - Malaysia (Malaysia - Tourism Now): Celebrating 15 Years of Formula 1 in Malaysia with...

Pelancongan Kini - Malaysia (Malaysia - Tourism Now): Celebrating 15 Years of Formula 1 in Malaysia with...: Celebrating its 15th edition this year, the 2013 Formula 1TM PETRONAS Malaysia Grand Prix is a not-to-be missed event for motor racing...

Driving Distance from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Penang

Driving Distance from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Penang
The above calculation using the Travel Math.

Travel Math is an online trip calculator that helps you find answers quickly. If you're planning a trip, you can measure things like travel distance and travel time. To keep your travel budget under control, use the travel cost tools.

You can also browse information on flights including the distance and flight time. Or use the section on driving to compare the distance by car, or the length of your road trip.

Try it here http://www.travelmath.com/

7 Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure Without Medication

7 Ways to Lower Your Blood Pressure Without Medication:
These tips will help prevent becoming a statistic.

Happy Federal Territory Day

2013 theme: Perpaduan Teras Kejayaan, 1Wilayah Persekutuan 

Flag of Kuala Lumpur

Flag of Labuan

Flag of Putrajaya

Federal Territory Day or Hari Wilayah Persekutuan is a state holiday for Federal Territory in Malaysia.  

It is celebrated on 1st February every year in Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya. The date marks the anniversary of formation of the Kuala Lumpur Federal Territory in 1974, ceded by the state of Selangor to the federal government of Malaysia.

History

The Federal Territory Day was introduced on 1st February 1974, four days after the Federal Territory Agreement was signed on 28 January 1974 by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Tuanku Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah of Kedah and the Sultan of Selangor, Almarhum Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah. On 17 May 1984 Labuan became the second federal territory, and Putrajaya became the third federal territory on 1st February 2001.

The celebration, the ninth edition for the three Federal Territories namely Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan carries the theme 'Solidarity is the Thrust for Prosperity for the Federal Territory'. This year's Federal Territory Day celebration will be launched at the Kuala Lumpur Football Stadium (KLFA Stadium) at Bandar Tun Razak on 2 February 2013.

 

Various events had been drawn up for the celebration;

• On February 2 - National Level Pesta Ponggal at the Dataran Merdeka 
• February 17 - "Kenduri 1Wilayah' held simultaneously for the first time at all 11 parliamentary constituencies in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan 
• March 1 - Royal Concert featuring top artistes such as Siti Nurhaliza, Dayang Nurfaizah and Jamal Abdillah will be staged at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre

Federal Territory residents will enjoy numerous offers and discounts (goodies);

• Traffic compounds issued by DBKL at the rate of RM30 from February 1 to February 28 
• Free use of DBKL sports facilities 
• RM1 charge for the 'Hop on Hop Off' bus ride on February 1

Members of the public who attend the event (Launching Ceremony) will have the opportunity to participate in a lucky draw and win a Myvi special edition car, Honda motorcycle, smartphones and many more.

Events details:

1. FT Day 2013 Launching Ceremony on 2nd Feb, from 7.30am until 10.30am at KL Football Stadium, Bandar Tun Razak, Kuala Lumpur 
2. Opening Ceremony National Ponggal Festival 2013 on 2nd February 2013 from 7.30am until 10.30pm at Merdeka Square, Kuala Lumpur.  
3. "1 Federal Territories Feast" on 17th February 2013 from 7.00am until 2.00pm at all Federal Territories Parliament.  
4. Wow! Putrajaya Carnival 2013 from 28th February until 3rd March 2013 from 10.00am until 10.00pm at 1 Malaysia Square, Precint 2, Putrajaya
5. Closing Ceremony of FT Day 2013 on 23rd February 2013 from 7.30am until 10.00pm at Labuan Square, Labuan. 

click image

click image

source: www.dbkl.gov.my

GONG XI FA CAI

Wishing all of you happiness and prosperity in the year of the snake.

Malaysia Public Holiday 2013

Malaysia has countless cultural festivals and public holidays all year round. Make new adventures with our public holidays in 2013! Make use these public holiday dates for your next awesome trips, explore the lands or the city of Asia’s amazing. 

Holidays falling on the weekend, including on Sunday, are observed the following Monday.  

Note; Fridays and Saturdays are weekend in Kedah, Kelantan, and Terengganu states. If a public holiday in these states falls on Saturday, it’s observed on the following Sunday. 

Below is the calendar for Malaysia Public Holiday 2013. 

JANUARY 1 January Tuesday New Year All states except Johor, Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis, Terengganu. 14 January Monday Yang Di-Pertuan Besar Negeri Sembilan. 15 January Tuesday Sultan of Kedah's Birthday Kedah. 24 January Thursday Prophet Muhammad's Birthday National 27 January Sunday Thaipusam Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Johor, Negeri Sembilan, Perak, Penang, & Selangor. FEBRUARY 1 February Friday Federal Territory Day Kuala Lumpur, Labuan & Putrajaya. 10 February Sunday Chinese New Year National 11 February Monday Chinese New Year 2nd Day National 12 February Tuesday Chinese New Year Replacement Holiday All states except Kelantan and Terengganu. MARCH 4 March Monday Anniversary of Installation of Sultan of Terengganu. Terengganu. 29 March Friday Easter - Good Friday Sabah & Sarawak. APRIL 15 April Monday Declaration of Melaka as a Historical City Melaka. 19 April Friday Sultan of Perak's Birthday Perak. MAY 1 May Wednesday Labour Day National 7 May Tuesday Hari Hol Pahang Pahang. 17 May Friday Raja Perlis' Birthday Perlis. 24 May Friday Wesak Day National. 30 May Thursday Harvest Festival Sabah & Labuan. 31 May Friday Harvest Festival 2nd Day Sabah & Labuan. JUNE 1 June Saturday Agong's Birthday National 1 June Saturday Hari Gawai Sarawak. 2 June Sunday Hari Gawai 2nd Day Sarawak. 5 June Wednesday Israk & Mikraj Kedah, Negeri Sembilan & Perlis. JULY 7 July Sunday Georgetown World Heritage City Day Penang. 9 July Tuesday Awal Ramadan Johor, Kedah & Melaka. 14 July Sunday Penang Governor's Birthday Penang. 20 July Saturday Sultan of Terengganu's Birthday Terengganu. 26 July Friday Nuzul Al-Quran Kelantan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Selangor, Terengganu. AUGUST 8 August Thursday Hari Raya Puasa National 9 August Friday Hari Raya Puasa National 31 August Saturday National Day National SEPTEMBER 8 September Sunday Sarawak Governor's Birthday Sarawak. 16 September Monday Malaysia Day National OCTOBER 5 October Saturday Sabah Governor's Birthday Sabah. 13 October Sunday Melaka Governor's Birthday Melaka. 15 October Tuesday Hari Raya Haji National 16 October Wednesday Hari Raya Haji, 2nd Day Kedah, Kelantan, Perlis & Terengganu only 24 October Thursday Sultan of Pahang's Birthday Pahang. NOVEMBER 3 November Sunday Deepavali National except Sarawak. 4 November Monday Deepavali Replacement Holiday National except Sarawak. 5 November Tuesday Awal Muharram National 12 November Tuesday Sultan of Kelantan's Birthday Kelantan. 22 November Friday Sultan of Johor's Birthday Johor. DECEMBER 11 December Wednesday Sultan of Selangor's Birthday Selangor. 20 December Friday Hari Hol Almarhum Sultan Johor Johor 25 December Wednesday Christmas National