7 useful websites to help you plan your trip to Gold Coast and Sydney

Our 8-day trip to the land Down Under took over 6 months in planning. We bought our tickets at the Matta Fair way back in March for the trip in October. At RM2200/pax for return tickets, that's a pretty good deal if you're travelling with Malaysian Airlines. However, many would consider that quite steep since a return ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Brisbane/Sydney/Melbourne can go as low as RM259 per person with AirAsia! But to each his own.

Frankly, both Mie and I did not regret one bit for splurging on our plane tickets as we truly enjoyed their 'Malaysian Hospitality' with generous luggage allowance (20kg per person), included meals (meals+snacks served 4-5 times, unlimited drinks), ample legroom and their great selection of in-flight movies on our personal screens (at the back of the headrest) made the 8 hours flew by fast.

For this post, I would highlight seven websites I relied on heavily to plan our itinerary for Brisbane/Gold Coast and Sydney. I love that Australia is so accessible online, be it their attractions or public transport schedules. I can't stress enough though how important it is to be patient to score a good deal. That's why it's always good to plan early. The websites, in no particular order of importance:

1. Groupon Australia
I've been subscribing to Groupon Malaysia for more than a year now and have scored a couple of good deals in the past. The way Groupon Australia works is the same as the one in Malaysia, you just need a credit or a debit card to make the payment. No address in Australia is needed. Through this website, I managed to snag a great deal on Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary (CWS). The regular entry price to the sanctuary is AUD$49 per adult but I got 2 tickets for a total of only AUD$45! That's right, AUD$45 for TWO adults! That's a saving of more than 50%. They have many different deals for CWS on and off and the one I bought included Green Challenge Adventure Parc. The deal came on some time in August but I'm pretty sure CWS deals come up pretty regularly as it receives outstanding responses. Do be wary of shady looking deals as Groupon does have its fair share of complaints from customers who never got their goods/deals.

2. TripAdvisor
Questions about/reviews of hotels? Are the places of interest listed in the travel magazines really a must visit? Need help with your itinerary? Is the Moonshadow Cruise in Nelson Bay better than Imagine Cruises? Are there free tours for those on very limited budget (and yes, I found out from here there is one in Sydney actually)? If I had to choose only one website to plan my travels, this would be IT.

The ever friendly and helpful forum members of TripAdvisor would help you. This website saved me from a lot of possible grievances as one of the things I like about it is, it shows 'Traveller Photos' apart from the 'Professional Photos' of hotel rooms. Feeling frustrated that the BigMac your ordered doesn't turn out like in the menu? Same idea. Except you can choose beforehand to cancel your booking at that seemingly too good to be true new hotel based on the as is photos and member reviews. Do use common sense when reading the reviews though, a few negative reviews out of many good ones could just simply mean those people are simply impossible to please!

3. Journey Planner | Translink
This awesome journey planner is available for the whole of Queensland. To be able to use this effectively, you should have some idea of the name of the places you're going to. Not only does it give you the bus or train stations nearest to the places you would like to go to, it also provides the journey time, the schedule (very punctual!) and the cost for each of the journey. Apart from that, it includes the station changes you need to do (if any), and how much walking would be involved. Several options are provided for each journey with difference in schedule, time and distance. For ease of traveling and changing between the different mode of public transports (train to bus or vice versa), you should try to get a GoCard. GoCards give you tickets at discounted prices and can be bought at many places. I bought mine at the International Train Station ticket counter, just 100m in front of Brisbane International Airport. You would just need to swipe the card every time you get on and get off the bus/train. No more rummaging through your purse to look for small change while eyeing every local suspiciously, just in case they attempt to snatch your bag.

In Sydney, you need prepaid tickets for ALL public transportation so don't do as we did: ran after the bus with our heavy backpacks after walking all the way from William St to Oxford St, clambered on the bus breathlessly only to be told to get a ticket first. Individual prepaid tickets can be purchased at any news agent or you could get MyMulti passes for the whole week.

4. Google Maps
Sometimes distance and space look a whole lot different on maps than real roads or buildings. Thus, I used Google Maps concurrently with some of the websites I mentioned in this post to find out the distance and time taken to get from one place to another and most importantly, the landmarks I can see on the way from point A to point B. And how do you know how these landmarks look like? Just use their 'Street View' feature. To use it, just drag the little yellow man you can see on the left side of the map ('b' in image below), below the panning button, to any road you would like to 'see'. In 'Street View', you can 'walk' on most streets, go back and forth, turn left or right or even look around, all thanks to the awesome people of Google Maps. While we didn't get lost much, not that I was hoping to, having used the 'Street View' saved us from entering the wrong street one time in Brisbane in the middle of the night because I recognised a building. One time wasn't much but hey, it could have been a life saver, you'd never know! It was kind of freaky but cool as I felt it was a feeling of deja vu as I was walking around, like I've walked the streets before even though I've never been to Australia in my life. In big cities such as Sydney, Google Maps even lists out the types of public transportation you can use to get from one place to another while also showing the route on the map. Apart from the walking and public transit mode, you can also choose the car and bicycling routes ('a' in image below).

Choose different types of transportation modes and drag the 'yellow man' onto a road for the street view

The buttons are available for any maps you search for but like I've mentioned before, public transits are only shown on maps of bigger cities. Otherwise it just says 'Public transportation coverage may not be available in this area.' On a side note, I think their camera looks a lot like the sphere-shaped light saber practice thingy. Compare this...

Google Maps camera

With this...

Luke and his... orb-for-lightsaber-practice thingy

Image sources:
http://dvice.com/archives/2007/05/dodeca-2360-camera-on-top-of-a.php
http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News-Comments.asp?NewsNum=3318
http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/Science-Fiction-News.asp?NewsNum=3391

5. Skyscanner
Although we got our tickets via a travel agency, we still needed to get tickets to go from Gold Coast to Sydney. We were a bit apprehensive about buying them on our own and ask the awesome promoters of CIT Travel if they could book them there and then for us during the MATTA Fair. They said that if they were to do it for us, it would cost us at the exorbitant rate of RM800 per pax and suggested that we do it on our own as the tickets can be as cheap as AUD$80 (approx. RM250) per pax. Hesitantly we agreed. Thanks to Skyscanner, which pools ticket prices from many airlines and listed according to their rates (or times), my job was made extremely easy. I checked Skyscanner obsessively daily regularly for cheap tickets and finally in September, just a month before we were to fly to Brisbane, Jetstar was having promotions for flights between Gold Coast and Sydney at the mind blowing price of AUD$49 (approx. RM160) per pax. I bought it right away! Calculate the savings yourself *proud of myself*

6. Booking.com/ Wotif/ Agoda
These websites at no. 6, like what Skyscanner does for flights, do the same for hotels. There are many similar websites like these two but I most prefer Booking.com for its easy to use layout. However, using any of the websites on its own does have its cons as it doesn't list out ALL the options of hotels available which could mean you might be losing out on unlisted cheaper hotels. For example, I was looking for the cheapest hotel I could find with a private bathroom and within walking distance to Roma Street Station in Brisbane as we would reach the CBD at 10.30pm from the airport. I found Hotel George Williams in Brisbane (AUD$99 per night, with ensuite bathroom and breakfast provided) via Wotif, not Booking.com. At that time, the cheapest hotel (with private bathroom) in Brisbane according to Booking.com was AUD$100++ (without breakfast) so go figure. You know what they say, "A penny save is a penny earned" or in this case a dollar and breakfast! ^_^ So the best thing to do would be to look at different websites to get the best deal that works for you.

7. Blogs
I don't have specific blogs to recommend as I read many but I particularly liked Kaki Berangan's (Malaysian) blog who wrote a very detailed travelogue and even the expenses incurred. Totally awesome for those on a limited budget like me. His posts on his travels to Gold Coast and Sydney gave me a lot of ideas of where to go and where not to go. The same goes for RedMummy (also Malaysian) although I had to admit that I didn't believe her when she said the Harbour Town Outlet in Gold Coast was expensive, even for her standards. But it really was (expensive)!




Happy planning!

*Disclaimer: Do use the websites/book tickets or rooms at your own risk, I will not be responsible for any untoward incidents (which I hope would NEVER happen to you) from deals done over these websites above.

Snorkeling at Pulau Tenggol

It took me almost 2 years of living in Dungun before I got to set foot on the island that I can see every day from the shore of Dungun while on my way to work. Ask any locals and I bet 95% of them haven't been to Tenggol, which is only 45 minutes away from Kuala Dungun jetty. The reason most likely being "But it is SO close! I can go there anytime", which they probably wouldn't. I guess it happens to most of us, I mean, when was the last time you visited somewhere really popular in your hometown? Don't worry, you're not alone. :)

This being my first trip to an island after such a long time, the last one was Langkawi in 2004, I was very excited. I went there with my friends who are here as English Teaching Assistants to a school in Dungun and of course, Mie, who wanted to try diving for as long as I could remember. Kate (one of the ETAs) hooked us up with Zul, a guy who works for Tenggol Island Discovery Divers. Click *here* to go to their Facebook page.

Our first impression of Tenggol; Paradise!

Before going there and rates:
Call Encik Zul at +6019 327 4093 to book and pay the deposit for your return boat transfer and snorkeling/diving package. The rates for the service provided by Tenggol Island Discovery Divers are as follows:
Snorkeling: RM50 - if you would like to rent their snorkeling gear + life jacket
Scuba Diving: RM150 - Discovery package, all diving equipment provided + coolest instructor ever + certificate of completion
Return boat transfer: RM100/pax
Lunch at resort: RM30/pax - recommended (good spread of local homemade style dishes)

The Discovery Divers office. Collect your snorkeling and diving gears here.

Getting there:
By Bus
There are regular and daily bus services from most of the major cities and towns within Peninsular Malaysia. The nearest destination is Dungun town. Journey normally takes 5-6 hours from Kuala Lumpur. There are boat operators and travel agents at Kuala Dungun jetty that provides boat and tour packages to Pulau Tenggol.

By Air
There are daily and regular flights to the nearest destination of Kuala Terengganu. Malaysian Airlines, Air Asia and Firefly ply direct routes either from Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. There are taxi and car rental services at the Kuala Terengganu Airport. Journey takes an hour to Kuala Dungun Jetty.

By car
The drive from Kuala Lumpur to Dungun takes about 5-6 hours. Take the Karak Highway to get to Kuantan. From there, follow the sign board to Dungun town. Dungun town is 79 km before Kuala Terengganu. Departing early in the morning should be convenient as one reaches Dungun around noon. The boat services starts as early as 8.00 am and last boat usually by 5.00 pm but it depends upon the weather condition. It is advisable to catch the early morning boat. There are few hotels and resorts around Dungun town should one wish to spend a night or two in Dungun or should one prefer to arrange a day trip to the island.

Source: http://tourism.terengganu.gov.my/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&catid=59%3Aislands&id=111%3Akapas-island&Itemid=299&lang=en

Mie and his instructor getting ready to dive in deeper waters.

Where to stay:
The Terengganu Tourism website listed two resorts which are Tenggol Island Resort and Tenggol Island Beach Resort & Spa. A simple Google search would show you the rates. We didn't stay there as the next day we were working. Actually everyone we met on the boat had made it a day trip, preferring to stay in Dungun where there are a good selection of reasonably priced hotels and places to eat. Everyone (me, the boat skipper and Google) agreed that the accommodations are very basic, not the kind of rooms where you would want to hangout all day with your loved ones. There is a third resort but Tanjung Jara Resort uses it exclusively to drop off their passengers for the day and shuttle them back again.

Other things you should know: 
There are very limited amenities on the island as it is pretty much a scuba-diving and snorkeling enthusiasts heaven. There is nothing much to do there as the attractions are not so much on land but UNDERwater. The beach itself is a thin strip of sand with the other parts of the island being enveloped by rocks, a natural fortress against the harsh waves of the South China Sea. All the resorts share the same strip of beach. The island has the clearest water I've ever seen and the whitest, powdery soft sand! I've to admit though that I've been to a grand total of two, TWO, islands in my entire life. Har-har.

My experience as non-swimmer snorkeler. 

Phew. I'm a bit tired with all the typing I just did so can I just plagiarise my own article on my snorkeling experience I wrote for our department's bulletin? 

Recently I was pushed out of my comfort zone and surprisingly, it was not as bad as I thought it would be. You see, I’m not a swimmer and the deepest I would go in the water is where I can still stand on my two feet comfortably with my chest up being safely above water. My ‘swimming’ memories mostly involved having a gigantic inflatable tyre tube around me as I bobbed around the shallow parts of the sea at Santubong beach many, many years ago.

In early October, my husband and I decided to go to Tenggol Island before the 6-month monsoon hits Dungun. We went with a couple of friends who were both excited to see the beautiful island and snorkel. I quickly agreed to take up the snorkeling package too, only to question my decision upon reaching the white sandy beach. It’s a gorgeous place no doubt,  water’s so clear you can see somber-coloured sea cucumbers dotting the coral landscape.

I decided I would just stick around the shallow parts, walking unstably in the water while taking photos of schools of pale coloured fishes that almost blended in with the sand, as I thought it really couldn't get any better than this. However, my friend, K, kept on telling me how beautiful the fishes and corals were at the deeper end. She told me to get my life jacket on and she would ‘pull’ me in the water. Dragging my feet towards the beach to get the lifejacket, I was trying to decide whether the plan was totally ingenious or ridiculously stupid. I went with it anyway.

K decided to give me her lifejacket too to support myself so I could lean forward while I also had my own on. I would not forget the moment I felt my feet left the reassuring sand as we moved into deeper waters. I inhaled sharply through my mouth via the snorkeling gear and held tightly to my two lifejackets while my legs flailed rather  awkwardly and uselessly. K told me to kick higher and I obeyed. I could hear and feel the water splashing behind me and rather surprisingly, I propelled forward!

The distant beach while we were floating amidst colourful fishes.

Within just a few meters beyond the barren shallow seabed, I could start seeing corals of different red and purple hues, which grew in numbers till they covered the whole ocean floor as we went deeper. Vibrant coloured fishes darted below the corals as we glided above them. It certainly felt like I was watching National Geographic on HD TV except that, it was live. My initial ardent fear of drowning melted as soon as I realized that it was actually quite impossible while I still had my life jacket on. We spent quite a while just watching the fascinating underwater life. Every now and then I would look up and watch the distant beach, feeling a shiver of delicious adrenaline running down my spine before I immersed myself in the underwater world again. I returned to the beach a changed person.

Hmm, that was easy and oh, carpe diem!
All photos taken with Olympus Tough TG-1. 

7 things you need for a (Muslimah) snorkeling trip

Non-swimmers can't snorkel right?

WRONG.

Wearing a hijab/scarf would hinder you from snorkelling right?

WRONG.

Let's start from the beginning how this non-swimmer and hijab wearing female got to go snorkelling...

First things first, I can't swim. Just can't. No history of almost drowning or being dunked into the pool or anything. Nothing. But the fear of the water is there. Because I can't swim.

Secondly, I agreed to go snorkeling as I trust my friends and hubs and was confident of their swimming ability. You know, just in case an emergency arises.

And finally, I've never gone snorkeling before so why not do it just to see how it feels like. Further research on the Internet also proved that even those who can't swim can snorkel.

So muslimah bloggers or blogwalkers who intend to go snorkeling for the first time, you've come to the right place! I would do my best to describe everything I wore, important, since I don't swim and thus I have no appropriate swimwear. I would like to clarify something, even if you're not going to ask, I've been playing in the water a lot both in the swimming pool and beach but I've only started to wear the hijab pretty recently so finding a suitable attire that covers my aurat took some research. I didn't want to purchase a burkini as I don't play in the water much so I wanted to wear whatever that I already own. AND because some burkinis look just plain ugly for the price you have to pay (average RM100 and above for the nicer ones) and I can't find any shops that sell burkinis in Dungun. There I said it.

List of things needed for a non-swimmer and hijab wearing female to go snorkelling:

1. Tudung Syria - don't go for the awning type, you won't be able to put on the snorkeling mask without letting water in the mask as the awning would create a teeny weeny gap. Can't breath = not good!

The clearest photo I have of myself wearing the mask with tudung syria.

2. Waterproof long sleeved top -I finally gave in and bought one also after trying on Mie's top that he bought from a sports store. It costs RM59.90, pretty pricey but I thought I could also use it for my netball games. I'm sure you can get one at any other sports store e.g. Al-Ikhsan. If the sales people don't know what you're talking about, ask for a cyclist top. That should give them some ideas. Nike has a few too but all those cost more than RM60. An alternative would be your inner long sleeved tops that muslimahs normally wear underneath their tees. I wanted to do that but since I fell in love with the the waterproof top would be lighter and dry faster.

Gambar sekadar hiasan. But this is the waterproof top I'm talking about. Source: here.

Note: This waterproof top type would normally be skin-tight. Too loose and you'll have curious fishes swimming up your armpits and you don't want that. So the solution to the skin-tight top problem is...

3. A loose shirt to wear on top of the waterproof top - Or any loose tops that you think would make wading in the water easier. I used my husband's old football jersey because of the quick drying material.

4. Tights - I wore my Simply Vera by Vera Wang zipped tights. Classy, I know. You can choose to wear other dark-coloured tights. The reason to wear tights (in my opinion) is again, you don't want no curious fishies swimming up to your you-know-what and it has to be dark-coloured so it won't be transparent after you come out of the water. See, I think of everything!

5. Track pants -I just wore my loose fitting light weight track pants over the tights. I did take them off before I went in the water though. This is totally up to you :)

6. Snorkeling gear - life jacket, goggles and that mouth piece for you to breath in. These are normally provided by the diving company you go with or the resort you stay at. I tried using the mouth piece a few days prior to our snorkeling trip (Mie bought two sets when we just moved to Dungun nearly 2 years ago) under the shower, just to get a feel of what it's like to breathe through your mouth. Automatically I stopped breathing (normal apparently) and gasped for air after that. Hahaha! It took a few practice, even after we were in the water on the island but you'll get used to it after a while. And oh, I didn't use my own snorkeling stuff in the end because the mask was cracked. :(

7. Guts - let's face it, being out of one's comfort zone is scary, no matter whether you're 8, 18 or 80. Being out in the water where my feet didn't touch the sand was definitely not something I was looking forward to but having a friend who can swim and life vests helped alleviate my nervousness A LOT. Plus, when I was already on the deep end, I realised it was actually quite impossible to drown with the life vest on.


Upcoming post on where we snorkeled + tons of underwater photos soon!