velumagan's VirtualTourist Home Page

Hi There! I'm from Malaysia. I love traveling but unfortunately, started very late. Late as per .... after two kids :-). Whatever information that you find from my reviews should be taken with a grain salt. I travel with my wife and three kids..... my priorities and views may differ from other back-packers.

Essentially, I'm a budget traveller. I love the idea of seeing things as they are and not as how they are intended to be seen. If you are someone travelling with lots of cash, please go to some other site. Most of my info is going to be irrelevant to you.

In a nutshell - fun, taxing but rewarding. I started travelling when my second daughter was barely two months old. We started them young. No rockers, no pacifiers. They learnt to sleep just without any pampering.

Nowadays, we barely travel minus the kids. They walk with us, eat what we eat (minus the chillies and spices, of course!) and sleep on the same bed. The sleeping part is not all that pleasant though. But an extra bed (add 25% accomodation cost) usually does the trick.

My kids love their milk feeds and i love them for that. Reason? Quick and nutritious way to avoid an expensive breakfast or supper. I'd normally reward them with snacks or ice-cream when things get rough. Keeps their sprits high.... they are just as frustrated as you sometimes :-)

My most memorable haliday was at Nexus Karambunai Resort, Kota Kinabalu. Sabah. (Yeah, yeah it was a sponsored trip). I live near Kuala Lumpur. Getting there was a breeze. Flew in by Air Asia.

I longed to go back to this 'alma matter' of sorts for a very long time. I finally had the opportunity in September 2005. (Thanks to Air Asia, RM360 return, whole family :-)).

Tawau hasn't changed much since I left the place in 2000. The main mosque is now complete. The old airport is now taken over by Armed Forces ... and thats about that. I did notice many new motels. Very convenient and very affordable. But I'd advice you to book well in advance. The rooms are completely snapped up during weekends - thanks to the many planters who flock the town during weekends!

The Filipino market is not as vibrant as it used to be. The transportation is still the same - bearing close resemblance to what one may find in Indonesia.

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they r using mostly A320s.

My favourite airline

Of course, is Air Asia. I'm not advertising for these guys but listen, 5 years ago, I had to pay RM980 for a return flight from Kuala Lumpur to Tawau. Recently, I decided to go again and I managed to get a return ticket for just RM80 (1USD = RM3.80). Now, why shouldn't I love these guys?