吉胆岛假日游客多应接不暇‧旅店收费廉宜
海狮酒店。 （图：星洲日报）
吉胆岛假日游客多，尤其是农历新年期间，岛上的旅店更是应接不暇。
吉胆岛目前有两间比较具规模的旅店，一间是位于码头附近的海狮酒店，另一间是靠近大街的吉胆酒店。
可透过酒店安排行程
这里的酒店收费廉宜，而且大多数客房都有冷气设备。以海狮酒店为例，客房一晚的收费从28至98令吉不等。
除了住宿以外，游客还可以透过酒店安排行程，如骑脚踏车环岛、游船河和吃海鲜。
游客如果不想住旅店，还可选择入住民宿。
（星洲日报／大都会）
http://mykampung.sinchew.com.my/node/150510?tid=6
Unwind in Cyberjaya
CHILLING in a chic yet rustic lounge overlooking a beautiful lawn is the main attraction of Karma Bar & Lounge at the Cyberview Resort & Spa in Cyberjaya.
Opened in January, Karma is replacing Atap that had served the hotel guests for the past 12 years.
It is also equipped with air-conditioners and has been expanded to serve up to 160 people in its indoor and alfresco areas.
The high dark wood ceiling coupled with glass panels lent an airy grandeur to the place.
Besides an extensive selection of alcoholic beverage including house specials with names like Karma Tera Bytes and Good Broadband, the menu also features light snacks.
House music is played while a garden party featuring an international deejay will be held once a month.
For reservation, call 03-8312 7000 or visit www.karma-lounge.my
~Info courtesy of The Star~
Air quality dips further in some areas
PETALING JAYA: Visibility along highways in the Klang Valley and the North South Expressway towards the north has been reduced due to the haze.
A spokesman from the PLUS Traffic Monitoring Centre said motorists should be extra careful when driving along the Federal Highway due to the hazy conditions.
Along the New Klang Valley Expressway (NKVE), stretches with reduced visibility are recorded between Damansara and Subang.
The spokesman said visibility on the northern routes of the NSE, especially heading towards Gurun, Kedah has been reduced.
"If it gets worse, we will alert motorists through Twitter or the electronic message board along highways,” the spokesman said.
The air worsened Tuesday morning with over 82% of areas categorised as having moderate air quality as at 7am.
One of the affected areas is Bukit Rambai in Malacca which has an Air Pollutant Index (API) reading of 93 (83 on Monday).
(The API reading of 51 to 100 is considered moderate and 101 to 200 unhealthy.)
Most areas which were hazy on Monday had higher APIs Tuesday.
Some of the areas with API reading of between 51 and 100 (moderate air quality) are:
Malacca town 77, Nilai 77, Port Dickson 82, Seremban 66, Balok Baru (Kuantan) 63, Jerantut 67, Seri Manjung 75, Tanjung Malim 83, Banting 81, Kuala Selangor 82, Port Klang 79, Petaling Jaya 76, Shah Alam 78, Cheras 69, Putrajaya 65 and Batu Muda 78.
According to the Department of Environment 42 areas are in the moderate air quality range (82%) while nine in the good range (17%).
~News courtesy of The Star~
车程照常‧人潮恢复‧富都车站长巴“回笼”
巴士乘客在星期日上午陆续回到富都车站，以搭乘巴士前往目的地。 （图：星洲日报）
709大集会后，富都车站所有长途巴士再度“回笼”，乘客不再受车站关闭之苦。
巴士公司售票员表示，星期日的人潮已逐渐恢复，而且车程都照常运作，预算人潮会在下午时段，随着游子回返都市而增加。
部份受访民众说，原定周六回乡计划因大集会而延期，无形中增加开销，加重经济负担。
此外，有人指出，因提前知道车站关闭一事，所以没“扑空”。
邓先生，德士司机：少开工一天损失大
“我和同行日前被通知富都车站会在709关闭，所以昨天趁机在家休息。
我们的行业属'手停口停'，少开工一天，对我们来说损失不小。 ”
陈先生，退休人士：车站关闭延迟回怡
“我周五到富都车站询问，才知道车站关闭一天。我原打算在周六回怡保，但因车站关闭，被迫在吉隆坡逗留多一天。
因为大集会，我在酒店住多一天，除了面对金钱损失，也浪费时间。 ”
刘小姐，工程师：没出门免受困车龙
“因吉隆坡市区在709封路和关闭车站，我没有出门，以免受困车龙。
庆幸的是车站在隔天就如常开放，我得以如期出发去游玩。 ”
李晓婷，记者：被迫多留院一天
“我从关丹到吉隆坡就医，原定在709出院，但因主要道路和富都车站关闭，所以被迫留院一天，无形中也增加住院费用。”
（星洲日报／大都会）
http://mykampung.sinchew.com.my/node/148285?tid=6
Temperature rising at mall
THE latest shopping spot in Bukit Bintang — fahrenheit88 — joins in the hype and excitement for the 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival (1MMSC) from now till Aug 31.
Great duty-free offers, discounts, promotions and contest are on throughout the sale carnival. With free vouchers, gifts and contest prizes worth up to RM100,000 to be given away, be sure to free yourself for the 1Malaysia Mega Sale Carnival 2011 at fahrenheit88.
Stand a chance to win amazing duty-free prizes worth up to RM20,000. Every RM100 charged to your MasterCard or RM150 spent in a single receipt mall-wide entitles you to one form. Maximum of 10 forms redeemable at Concierge Counter, Ground Floor. jewellery sets, designer fragrance hampers, stylish accessories and so much more to be won.
You can also get a free RM10 shopping voucher when you charge RM100 to your MasterCard or RM100 in a single receipt mall-wide.
For Mastercard holders, get a free gift when you charge RM200 in a single receipt to your card.
The first 200 shoppers get free coffee or ice-cream treats when you charge RM200 in a single receipt to your MasterCard.
Shopping is now made easy at fahrenheit88 with free two-hour parking when you spend RM100 in a single receipt at any specialty stores or RM300 at Uniqlo. Redemption at Concierge Counter, Ground Floor.
Enjoy great discounts, offers and promotions at participating shops.
·Get up to 70% off at Geb, Icon Fashion and Material.
·Get up to 50% off at A8, Bare Face, Da Louis, Donald and Claire, Focus Point, My Diamond, Poxzl and Summit.
·Get up to 30% off at Leather Avenue, My Diamond and Porgie & Co.
·Get up to 20% off at A8, Crocs, G-Factory, Leather Avenue and Material.
·Get up to 10% off at California Pizza Kitchen, Crocs, Folli Follie and Material.
·Receive free gift with purchase at A8, Donald and Claire, Mircoz, Pacific Coffee Company, R20, The Perfume Shop and Thai Odyssey.
·Enjoy special deals at Catch Up, Discreet, Diva, Larrie, Love G and Thai Odyssey.
~News courtesy of The Star~
New-look Perdana Botanical Gardens has facilities for the disabled too
SINCE its humble beginnings, the Lake Gardens (Taman Tasik Perdana) which has now been renamed Perdana Botanical Gardens (Taman Botani Perdana) by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is set to be a prime tourist spot in Malaysia’s capital city.
Located right in the heart of the city, the 122-year-old garden underwent the first phase of upgrading in March 2010 featuring a complete makeover of a park that beckons with luxurious greenery, new features and facilities that even cater to the less fortunate people — like the blind and handicapped.
The programme forms part of the city’s greening initiative under the Greening Kuala Lumpur and River of Life projects.
A total of RM18mil — out of which RM6mil from Kuala Lumpur City Hall — has been spent over the last six months to improve the facilities at the 101ha garden.
The first phase included cleaning of the area, planting trees — including the unique types like sausage tree, cannonball, elephant tree and bottle tree as well as Laman Heliconia. In total 1,275 plants and trees were planted.
Huge attraction: The overall landscape has been upgraded, allowing the park to function as a tourist destination.
A Laman Perdana has also been set up for dignitaries and officials from other countries visiting Malaysia to plant a tree in the area.
Infrastructure wise, a waterfall at Jalan Tembusu, fish pond and boardwalk using railways sleepers have been built.
The garden has a retaining wall and bio grip installed to prevent landslides especially at sloppy areas along Jalan Tembusu.
The overall new-look garden with its enhanced beauty provides a picture perfect view for casual walks, picnic or even an outing with family and friends.
Najib, who was accompanied by his wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor took a tour of the garden and its new features.
During the launch, Najib commended the participation from the private sector in helping with the upgrading programme.
“Tourists often like to visit parks and the botanical garden will also be promoted as an attraction.
“We also want to give a better quality of life to people that are part of Greater KL, who are able to smell fresh air, have clean environment and lead a sustainable life.
“We hope to promote greater environmental consciousness by changing our attitude and initiate efforts to allow us to achieve a higher level quality of life and environment,” he said,
Najib said as the end user, he appreciated such things like gardens, parks and greenery in life.
Meanwhile, Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Minister Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said the commitment from the government to make the city green was strong.
He said under the economic stimulus package, the government has allocated RM25mil for DBKL to plant trees.
“So far DBKL has planted over 37,000 trees and the government has also established the Special Lab to oversee matters pertaining to Greater KL green areas.
“The lab has suggested that the total number of green area per citizen be increased to 1.48sq m by 2020 in the Greater KL area. Thus there will be 30,000 shady trees planted by 2012.
“On the botanic garden, it is a great initiative to make it a world class park, which has seen good response from the people,” said Nong Chik.
Speaking more about the park, Kuala Lumpur mayor Tan Sri Ahmad Fuad Ismail said the second phase would take at least about two years to complete.
The second phase will commence immediately. It will have a visitors centre, cafe, boat house, souvenir shop, art sculptures, multi-level parking and even a herbarium for the collection of plants. It will also have a children’s park themed as Lat’s Kampung Boy, Garden for the Blind as well as upgraded facilities for the disabled.
As for the third phase, DBKL will add more collection of plants and trees, guided tour as well as outreach programmes with non-governmental organisation, schools and associations. All works are expected to be completed by 2015.
“For phase two, the Cabinet has approved RM35mil but we have to see the plan from the consultant and the amount needed for it.
“The prime minister liked the venue of the launch with a pavilion for hosting events, which will we look into making a permanent type of structure.
“As for the herbarium, we will be using the existing structure. We will build a gantry and we are also contemplating a wetland concept too for the kids,” he said.
Fuad added that they wanted to make the garden, a favourite spot for everyone.
The Perdana Botanical Garden was built by A. R. Venning in 1888, the state treasurer of Selangor at the time.
Lake Garden’s name was changed to Taman Tasik Perdana by Najib’s father, Malaysia’s second prime minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein in 1975.
Within its vicinity stands the National Monument, the National Museum, Planetarium, Carcosa Seri Negara and other historical buildings. Also present at the launch was Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Douglas Unggah Embas, Deputy Federal Territories and Wellbeing Minister Datuk M. Saravanan and the ministry secretary-general Datuk Ahmad Phesal Talib.
~News courtesy of The Star~
