Posted on 24 February 2005 @ 21:36 in Ramblings
This year, more people will get to travel thanks to the cheap airfares made available by Malaysia Airlines at its Travel Fair last weekend.
This was the second year MAS organised such a fair. I was at the one last year, part of the huge crowd that queued and waited for the doors to open. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to use my ticket as mother fractured her right wrist and I had to cancel my trip to help care for her.
That’s the thing about cheap airfares offered at such travel fairs. Money-wise, the fares are cheap. But there is a price to pay for such cheap fares. For one thing, you have to travel within a certain period of time. For another, you forfeit quite a bit if you have to cancel. Something like 50% of the airfare, plus an admin charge imposed by the travel agent that did the ticketing for you.
I was fortunate, tho. I knew someone who knew someone who knew a senior MAS official. I got back almost 80% of my airfare. No strings were pulled, it was all legit cuz I had the doctor’s letter to prove that I had to cancel due to medical reasons (not my own, but mother’s).
This year, I wasn’t going to be in the crowd for cheap fares again. But at the last minute, I remembered I really should be looking at travel arrangements to see Hua Mei and her twins later this year. So I went to the travel agent a floor below my office to ask. As it turned out, MAS had extended the fare promotions by two days (not sure if that’s a good sign cuz it could also mean they didn’t meet their sales target over the weekend and had to extend).
I wasn’t interested in just the airfare, but well, not exactly a tour package either. I found what I wanted – a semi-package comprising travel, room and board, and freedom to go around without being part of a tour group. After giving me the necessary info, the rep added that within certain travel periods, there would be a discount of RM90/-. Wow, what a deal, huh?
But wait, there’s a catch. The minute a booking is made, a non-refundable RM500/- deposit is required, followed by full payment when ticket is issued. What’s the catch? No refund at all if cancellation within 14 days before the trip.
The way things are going for me, I cannot book anything and be sure I can go ahead with the trip. For a RM90/- discount, I risk losing RM500/- or even more. Is it worth the risk?
And that’s the other thing about such fare promotions as those offered by MAS at its recently concluded Travel Fair. More people get to travel due to the cheap fares, but at a price dictated by the airline. Is it worth it?
If one can afford to travel, why look for cheap fares and be bound by rules and regulations?
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Posted on 29 January 2005 @ 21:48 in Ramblings
End of the month already?
This being the last Saturday of the month meant heading over to the A&W Drive-in for the monthly kvpug beamfest.
kvpug stands for Klang Valley Palm Users’ Group, and beamfest is short for beam festival, the beam referring to what PDA users do when they meet up – beam stuff between their PDAs.
It was a good turn-out, 24 according to the official attendee list, and the final attendance was around that figure, probably slightly more, since I left at 4:00 p.m. and don’t know who turned up after I left.
Seeing as how there was no beamfest last month and this was the first beamfest of the year probably accounted for the good turn-out.
Before going to the beamfest, I’d gone with dad for his check-up. The doctor was pleased with the progress he’s making. No more rumblings in the lungs, now all he has to take is Ensure and an iron supplement. Next check-up is in two months’ time.
After the check-up, I went by One Utama to pass a couple of things to Joyce to take back to Kuching for Marita and Aria (new feet for the former, and additional fingers for the latter).
Then, it was on to spend some time with mother at GT Heritage. She’s looking good.
After the beamfest, I’d gone to see Darren to show him the heat warp Phoebe’s suffering from. I also wanted to get my car washed (he runs an auto detailing shop that also offers car washes), but what do you know? It started to rain, so no point washing the car, the rain was doing it for me.
Darren’s shop is located on the premises of Glad Tidings church, and since there was a service at 5:00 p.m., that’s where I found myself after a break in his wifi’d shop. Left the service early cuz of dinner waiting at my sister’s. Didn’t want to keep them waiting.
And that was my day on the last Saturday of the first month of 2005.
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Posted on 21 January 2005 @ 23:58 in Ramblings
Today has felt more like New Year’s Day than 1 January 2005 did. Maybe this is the actual start of the new year for me. If it is, then I’ll be running 21 days behind everyone else from now on. So, don’t scold me if I’m late for anything, yah?
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Posted on 24 November 2004 @ 08:26 in Ramblings
Queen Latifah ROCKS.
Death – it comes to all of us eventually.
Friendships.
The ones lost cuz tried too hard.
The one I didn’t even know was there but apparently has been simmering in the background for the past 10 over years.
Someone who remembers plans to go to Planet Hollywood on mainland Hong Kong (we were on the island) in 1994 were dashed by a typhoon warning #3. We ended up having dinner at a nearby Yunnan restaurant instead. I didn’t think anyone would remember, but apparently someone did. And sent chocolates recently.
Did I mention Queen Latifah ROCKS? Especially her latest album, Dana Owens Album.
Yes.
Queen Latifah ROCKS.
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Posted on 14 November 2004 @ 23:13 in Ramblings
Can’t seem to let go. Yet if I don’t, I only fool myself into believing there’s a future, when there probably isn’t.
To completely cut off, or to remain in touch. Yet, if we remain in touch, I’d be tempted to believe there is a next time, only to hurt myself when there isn’t. Or it isn’t how I want it to be.
Is this what’s known as denial?
On a brighter note, my NaNovel is moving again after the Deepavali break. It’s another two days’ break (Hari Raya) so more time for me to write and get further ahead in my word count.
Oh yes, it’s more about word count this year.
*groan*
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