Rumah Gadang, Padang Panjang, West Sumatera

Rumah Gadang, Padang Panjang, originally uploaded by algenta101.

The most viewed photos in my Flickr's gallery, about 5xxx and still growing. Do not know why people like to stare at this photos but it is indeed a unique house to the people of Minangs.

The largest Minang community apart from the West Sumatera is in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. It is also known as the Land of Adat Perpatih, which means the locals uphold the old customs dearly.

I was also come to a shock to learned hat I am a descendant of the Minangs as I was just been told that the father of my father is a homeboy of Pulau Sebang or local dialect as Pulau Sobang, Negeri Sembilan. Made me a waghih (heir)!

Maybe, and I say maybe, if I go deeply, I could be in the line of the Undangs or the Yamtuan himslef. Dreaming.......

Memorabilia - Fridge Magnet

It is not complete to travel if you do not buy memorabilias depicting the uniqueness of the place of visit. You can buy anything as long as your wallet allow it, but for me, collecting fridge magnet is one of it. It is easy, nice to look and most importantly affordable to almost everyone.

I found a website that sell fridge magnet depicting travel sites all around the world. You can visit it here or simply clicking this address http://fridgemagnetgallery.blogspot.com/

Next time when you just having breakfast, lunch or dinner at your meal table, you can always stare you fridge wall and rekindling the good old memories when travelling around the world.

Happy Shopping and Travelling Guys!

ADV : Second Hand Monster Truck Thunder Tiger for Sale

Dear Visitors,

I have in my possession a second hand RC monster truck to sell. Interested buyers can view the truck here.

Enjoy your visit!

Tarian Piring - Minangkabau Cultural Dance

Tarian Piring, originally uploaded by algenta101.

A traditional Padang dance called "Tarian Piring". The dancers came to the dance floor holding the plate each with candles and the stage was in complete darkness in order to be more dramatic. So lucky to got this shot.

Castle of Dream - Disneyland Paris

Castle of Dream, originally uploaded by algenta101.

This photos was taken during the early spring in year 2008 at Disneyland Paris. The photos was inserted into www.schmap.com, a very good website for travel lovers to do their homework before venturing into travelling at any part of the world. The site provide very useful insights and travelling guidelines including downloading the digimaps into their iPhone and Nokia phones for free, well at least for the time being.

The photos insertion in the Schmap website can be viewed here.

Enjoy the word! The world is awesome!

Be Insured When Travelling

What this Michael Moore's SiCKO got to do with travelling? Well, I am not going to tell the world what is SiCKO is all about as you may find it here www.michaelmoore.com/sicko/checkup.

What I want to share is it is essential for you to have your own healthcare insurance coverage from your own country before you start to travel, especially if you are bound to go the States.

To know more, please look for this documovie from your local store.

500,000 Reasons To Travel!

Airasia Berhad, one of the Malaysia's leading low cost carrier had announced that they to remove the fuel surcharge from today onwards, a move that will cost the about USD63millions yearly. On top of that, they are going to put 500,000 free airlines seats to all AirAsia (excluding AirAsia X) destinations.
The offer will start from today's midnight and it is open to all people.
So folks, still looking for a reason not to travel?

AirAsia removes fuel surcharge, offers free seats

By VIJAY JOSHI, Associated Press Writer

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – Malaysia's AirAsia on Tuesday abolished fuel surcharges on all its flights and said it will give away half a million free tickets next year in an attempt to lure travelers amid the global slowdown.

AirAsia Chief Executive Tony Fernandes said the region's biggest budget carrier will offer 500,000 free seats for travel between June 22 and Oct. 24, 2009, on all its domestic and international destinations.

"It will be completely free. Passengers will only have to pay airport tax," Fernandes told a news conference.

He said the recent steep drop in fuel prices has allowed AirAsia to adopt the bold strategy, adding that the loss of revenue should be offset by higher ticket sales, which will also be bolstered by new marketing strategies.

Fernandes said AirAsia is the first carrier in the world to abolish fuel surcharges, which became a standard industry practice a few years ago as oil prices rose on their way to peaking at nearly $150 a barrel in mid-July. But since then, crude prices have tumbled because expectations that slower global growth will mean less demand.

"We want to do is get rid of these surcharges," Fernandes said. "The best way to do it is aggressive marketing and low fares."
Eliminating the surcharges is expected to cost AirAsia about 940 million ringgit ($63 million) a year.

Fernandes said the move will boost Malaysia's economy as well as domestic and regional tourism by encouraging travel.

When AirAsia started in December 2001, it focused on flying within Malaysia. It has since expanded to Southeast Asia and China, and is scheduled to launch flights to India next month.
Malaysian Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Samad praised the decision.

"Anything that reduces costs to consumers and keeps money in their pocket gets my support," he told reporters after the announcement. "What we need now is optimism instead of grumbling and quarreling."

Fernandes added that he could not guarantee that the removal of fuel surcharges would not hit AirAsia's profits, but said the company does not anticipate that would happen. He refused to say what the possible losses might be.

He noted AirAsia does not hedge its fuel purchases like other airlines do. To protect against the possibility of prices going up, some carriers make advance orders at current prices.

Fernandes said AirAsia will not implement a corresponding increase in base ticket prices with the removal of fuel surcharges, but said he could not guarantee that the surcharge would not be re-imposed if oil prices surge again.

"It would be foolish of me to say that fuel surcharges will not be imposed again but we will resist it for as long as possible," Fernandes said.