nomad4ever

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Malaysia is a great country! Unspoiled beaches, excellent diving spots, mountains surrounded by misty fog, exotic fauna and flora and a healthy, vast rain forest are attracting plenty of visitors. Islands like Pulau Langkawi, Tioman, Penang, the Perhentians or locations like Genting Highlands have a legendary reputation with travelers.

The country embraced tourism already many years ago and the slogan “Malaysia - truly Asia” will ring in your ears forever; once you saw the mesmerizing advertising campaigns on CNN, BBC or other global TV stations.

However, Malaysia’s politics were never that idyllic and recent years were no exception:

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written by Chris

Awhile ago we were discussing, if it’s a wise or safe decision to fly a Budget Carrier long-haul. However your opinion is about that subject - luckily time didn’t stop and some of the usual suspects seem to follow through with the idea.

Even if you don’t like the idea to fly long-distance or intercontinental flights with a no-frills airline; it surely would mean more competition and hopefully lower prices for all of us.

So what’s the news?

It seems that there is some movement in the sector, Asian Aviation pioneer Tony Fernandes looks like he’s teaming up with creative aviation individualist Richard Branson, to really make cheaper long-distance flights possible for everyone.

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written by Chris

Things happen for a reason in Indonesia. While I didn’t trust my eyes, when reading about Jusuf Kalla’s recent statements regarding Marihuana in food; the EU’s ban of Indonesian airlines flying into Europe didn’t come as a surprise at all.

After all the recent incidents surrounding Garuda Airlines, Adam Air and others, the EU probably wanted to show a strong hand - even though currently there isn’t a single Indonesian Airlines flying into Europe. Garuda was planning to take up again their Jakarta-Amsterdam route (which they suspended after the Asian Crisis) sometime in 2008, which would be a welcome competition for the current high-price trip serviced only by foreign airlines. Currently - prepare to pay anything above Euro 750 plus taxes, if you are planning to fly return from Europe to Jakarta or Bali for instance. No budget airlines in sight for long-haul.

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written by Chris

Can you imagine the capitols or countries of Asia as women? No? That is what blogger Indcoup did recently. What a funny idea! But it gets better. Why not start with that and add the vitae of more and other visited places? Here is how it goes - read on:

“I think it would help to imagine Jakarta as some sort of a woman. And in that case I reckon that despite being a bit low in the IQ department, painstakingly slow at doing anything and a compulsive chain smoker to boot - you’d still be drawn to her more positive attributes like her deep cleavage, long jet black hair and happy-go-lucky attitude.

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written by Chris

For a couple of years now so-called no-frills Airlines are mushrooming around the planet. Starting with the mother of budget airlines - Southwest - in the US. In Europe there was a tough fight of competition with the likes of RyanAir, Aer Lingus, Easyjet, GO and others for the last few years.

Low-cost, no-frills carriers mushrooming around the globe

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written by Chris

Ever since having read Alex Garlands ‘The Beach’ in a bamboo beach hut on Honduras’ Roatan island in Latin America, I was possessed with the idea that there must be a ‘Perfect Beach’ for everyone of us on this our beautiful planet.

So I began to look out for nice getaways in white sandy bays with crystal clear waters on my travels.

I thought the Caribbean, Egypt, Australia or the West Coast of the US would be great places to settle down one day.

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written by Chris

Do you use your mobile phone when traveling in foreign countries? Yes? No? Apart from the comfort of not having to change your SIM card and just calling and getting called like you’d do everyday; the usually outrageous roaming charges will surely knock you out of your travel budget soon.

But - it doesn’t have to be that way. Just get a local SIM card!

Is it really that easy? Yes and No.

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written by Chris