Weekend Treat

I had dinner in Tropicana Golf & Country Resort on Saturday with him.. It was almost full when we arrived around 7pm, and he had already made a reservation by the pond overlooking the golf course.. It was a nice view.. but the food is good and it's not as pricey as one may have thought despite it being in a golf club..

We had salmon sashimi to start - served on crushed ice.. I haven't had sashimi that's served on ice for a long time so this is indeed really refreshing, and fresh..

We also ordered, soft shell crab karaage, hotate, salmon teriyaki, and a huge plate of vegetables to go with..

It was my first dinner with him, after meal we went for a drink in Oasis Ara Damansara by the pond.. I am surprised to know this place and how busy the center is.. with the pond and water features - it makes a very comfortable place to relax and chill...

That night I slept over at his place...

Do similarity or opposites attracts?

What do you think, similar or opposites personalities/like attract?

Example - two guys who share the same interests, the same thoughts, the same preferences in the sense that they do things together, go places together, enjoy the same interests together

... or two guys who likes what the other doesn't, who thinks very differently from the other in the sense that they think they complement each other in areas that one lacked thereof..

In your opinion, how do things actually work?

Are you and your boyfriend the similar or the opposites type?

One year countdown

Counting down 1 year to my next mega-adventure!

I live by the motto of "go to a new place once every year".. Last year I explored solo the eastern half of Australia and then Osaka.. this year, I went to Jakarta, still count as new.. I'll probably do another ASEAN destination later this year with him, discounting the solo part..

And next year.. a year from now, I am planning to go to Prague.. My plans are quite simple, fly from KL to Frankfurt, spend 2 nights in Frankfurt, and then take the night sleeper train to Dresden or Munich, spend 2 nights in Dresden or Munich (I haven't decided if I want to stopover in which city), and take the bus to Prague where I will spend about 5 days, before flying to London and spend about 5 days touring the UK before coming back..

With this plan, I am prepared to spend about RM10k excluding the main flights (KUL-FRA, LHR-KUL) which will cost me another RM2.5k..

Although no plans are yet casted in stone, I already know how I want to travel and what I want to see/do.. it all comes down to which date is cheaper to travel and plan the timings.. I don't have an itinerary so will just leave it to play by ear..

Top of my list would of course see the local architectures, sights and sound, food and culture and the gay scenes: the bars, saunas etc..

I've only begun reading up on Dresden, because I'll spend the least amount of time here so it's easier to digest all the information and download whatever I need..

52 weeks will go by very quickly.. and before we know it, a third of the year is already gone..

I just have this to say: make the most out of your lives, don't worry about finding money for trips, it will come.. go out and enjoy the richness of travel!


[UPDATE 14 APR: Instead of going to London, I will detour to Vienna and Salzburg before backtracking to Frankfurt. I will also probably spend a night or two in Hrensko enroute to Prague.]

GST and the travel industry .. in a nutshell

I hope by sharing the below, it can shed some light on what is taxable and what is not in the travel and leisure industry.. 

This is in a very nutshell as it will affect all of us in a way or another.. 

Items that are bought, paid, finalised, completed pre-GST (aka today) that have GST = are deemed to be GST-inclusive.. Hence the operators, carriers, providers CANNOT ask for more money from you..

Tomorrow onwards, the below will take effect.. This applies to all human beings as the tax regime does not recognise your nationality, as long as the item is consumed in the country and is taxable, it is taxable.. 

'nuff said..

Disclaimer: this is as far as the industry and I know, I stand corrected if there is any error but this is not conclusive, but safe to say, final. 


1. GROUND ONLY PACKAGES
a) domestic (except Langkawi, Labuan and Tioman) = 6%
b) domestic* Langkawi, Labuan and Tioman = no GST
c) overseas = no GST

* includes car rental, excursion, hotel, restaurants, shopping etc CONSUMED WITHIN the boundaries of the duty-free islands BUT excluding ferry/flight into or out of the island. 
Items bought in these islands are already duty-free, hence it is TAX-FREE = NO GST! You can still bring these items out back home etc for personal consumption without duty or GST being taxed on you at the departing ports.. 


2) AIR TICKETS
a) domestic = 6% on everything (fare, airport tax, levy, taxes, fuel).
b) international = no GST for ALL airlines EXCEPT Malaysia airport tax = 6%.
c) domestic connecting to international = no GST on the condition the international flight is within 24 hours from the arrival of domestic flight into international hub EXCEPT Malaysia airport tax = 6%.
d) baggage/meal etc = to be treated the same as above in according to domestic, international or domestic-international connecting.

- Any flights originating from an international point into Malaysia = no GST. 
- International point to international point but ticket bought in Malaysia = no GST (except maybe the handling fee by agent, credit card fee eg airline website if the airline is GST registered, will have GST, else no).

3) VISA FEES
a) Actual visa fee charged by embassy = no GST
b) Handling fee charged by agent(s) = 6%

4) HANDLING/TRANSACTION FEES
Any type by any words which imply a service fee = 6%

5) TRAVEL INSURANCE
6%

6) ENTERTAINMENT/SPORTING TICKETS
a) within Malaysia = 6%
b) overseas = no GST

As the sun sets

Your work is done now. Rest in peace Mr Lee Kuan Yew.