How Cheap is AirAsia in Emergencies?

Recently there was an emergency at home which required one of us to travel home on the very next day. As usual, I checked in first with Airasia and was about to confirm the booking (credit card number all keyed in) when my smarter half asked me to check the ticket price on Qantas and MAS. Knowing that these two, full fledged airlines couldnt match a budget airlines, I reluctantly checked the price.

Guess what?

To fly from Perth to KL, AisAsia is asking me around AUD790 while Qantas price was AUD900 (also to KL but via Singapore) while MAS was asking for AUD890 to Penang. Yes, an extra AUD100 when compared to AirAsia to go from Perth to Penang. Hmmm....

Then, this made me think about my Christmas trip back home. I checked AirAsia, MAS and Qantas. Air Asia was offering me (for two people, return) a price of AUD2500, MAS AUD3600 and Qantas AUD2870. Hmmm, for an extra AUD370, I get better service, food and a higher luggage allowance (23 kg's). Not bad at all. The only downside to flying with Qantas is changing planes at Changi whereby we fly SIA to Kuala Lumpur.

So when did Air Asia stop becoming a budget airline?

A Trip On Penang's Ferry Serivce

Everyone traveling to and from Penang, Malaysia takes the Penang bridge. It's so congested on the bridge every morning that a second bridge will now be built further south of the island.

But not many visitors know of the ferry service that has served the little island since time immemorial. If you remember, the bridge only came up in the 1980's. Before that, Penang-nites had to rely on the ferry service to commute to mainland Malaysia.

So, my wife and I decided to take the ferry last weekend. The ferry service commutes between the northern part of Penang island and Butterworth, of the main land.

Coming from the mainland to the island will cost you RM7.70 via the ferry while driving via Penang bridge will cost you RM7.00. The ferry takes only a mere 10 minutes to sprint across the waterway. It's a quick, breezy ride.

There's two levels for cars to park themselves on the ferry. While there's seating for people at the top most deck.

There's more than one ferry going across the mainland and the island and the above picture shows the next ferry to us, going the opposite direction.

Here's a picture of the Star Cruises ship, docked at the marina near the island.

The next time you're in Penang, do take a ride in the ferry (while their still there). It's a wonderful, wonderful experience.

Here's some more pictures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Enjoy your adventure on the ferry, its a wonderful experience.

Malaysia's Alcatraz!

Did you know that Malaysia has its own version of Alcatraz?

The picture below shows the main prison building. This is the view from the ferry that takes you from Penang to the resort in the island.


Built in 1969 at Jerejak Island (Pulau Jerejak), it was used to house prisoners after the May 13th, 1969 riots.

Started in 1907 when Sir Francis Light first found the island before moving off to nearby Penang, it was used as a detention area for visitors before being allowed into Penang.

Now, the prison ruins are still there with monkeys making it their home. Prisoners scribblings on the wall can still be seen. And so are the detention camps.

There is now a resort at the island. With nice chalets amid the pristine jungle, it offers you and me a nice, slow placed vacation, away from the hustle and bustle of Penang.

So make your visit there before the prisons become a victim of Mother Nature.

Pristine Vacation Off Penang

If you're vacationing in Penang and are tired of the traffic and the busy beaches, then why not head off to a pristine, untouched jungle resort only 15 minutes by boat ride from Penang.

Known to the locals as Pulau Jerejak (Jerejak Island), the island is the largest of the small islands around Penang and is easily viewable when crossing the Penang bridge.

The island was first founded in 1907 by Sir Francis Light who used it as a disease containment camp before an Alcatraz style prison was set up on the island in the1960's.

Now there's a resort on the island but the prison remains are still visible and so s the detention camp.

My wife and I took a trip there last week, and here's our pictures and stories of the island.

Check out our story of Jerejak Island.