Delayed Flights

“Excuse me, Ladies and gentleman; we have an announcement to make. Flight number ABC 111 will be delayed due to.....”.

Did anyone cringe while reading the above?

All the horror stories we heard about people missing their transit flights to people getting stranded in airports flood our thoughts. That was the thought that came to mind when the broadcast for another hour delay came. With that announcement, the total delay time amounted to 4 hours and people starting yelling and screaming at the operation staff demanding the reason behind the delay and started to explain their situations squeezing information out the airline staff.

It was chaos and havoc and not a happy face was in sight, save the few young children who went about playing a game of chase delighted at the fact they had more time to spend playing with each other.

However, all is not too grim as there were a few things to be grateful for. There are a lot of reasons for a plane delay and most of the time, it is for our safety. Bad weather, technical difficulties, etc. put the passengers at risk and hence the delay is called to ensure a safer journey when we're 39,000 feet off the ground.

Our lives are more important than anything and it is crucial to remember the fact that if we miss a transit flight, it may throw our entire schedules off whack; but force a plane to take off in horrible conditions, we risk the lives of not only ourselves but the rest of the passengers and the crew which no amount of money can ever repay.

There have been countless numbers of lives lost in the recent years due to plane crashes or accidents and even missing planes so let us take a step back and be thankful that even though our flight is delayed we are still safe and sound and on the ground. So the next time we encounter a delay, let's not get too upset and try to think of solutions that would cause less stress for ourselves. At the end of the day, it is most important where we reach our destination safe and sound and everything else is secondary (in our opinion).

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This is just a little rant and depiction of the scene that occurs at least to those who travel at least once a year. Till the next post, safe travels everyone!!

10 interesting facts about Vietnam:

Hey guys, it's been a while and we want to change things up a little so this time we thought we would share with everyone a few interesting facts about Vietnam. So here we go!!

1. The currency is called Dong!

2. Children are called to school not by the ring of the bell but by the Gong (pun intended)!!

3. Nguyen is a common name.

No, not everyone with the surname Nguyen is related. It works the same way as the Chinese surname as where not every single person with the surname Wong are related.

4. The country's name was originally spelled as two words: Viet Nam.

5. Football is the most popular sport in Vietnam.

6. Motorcycles are everywhere in Vietnam.

Motorcycles are the main form of trnsport for those with average lifestyles whereas cars are considered to be reserved as a luxury item for the wealthy. Therefore, motorcycles are often used and not wearing a helmet can lead to a fine.

7. Vietnam is the world's leading export for cashew nuts and black pepper.

8. A Vietnamese specialty of rice wine, Ruou Ran (snake wine) has a pickled snake in the bottle and is allegedly said to be able to cure any sickness.

9. Vietnamese cuisine embodies the five fundamental Asian elements of spicy (metal), salty (water), sweet (earth), sour (wood), and bitter (fire).

10. The country has a literacy level of 94%.

With that, we hope you enjoy this post and we'll try to come with more posts so until then, safe travels everyone!!

5 water parks in ASEAN:

 It is HOT out there and heat stroke death counts are rising. Cool weather sounds wonderful but what if we can't afford to fly far and away to escape the heat waves? Here's a good idea; go to a waterpark and have fun!!

Here are 5 major water theme parks around the ASEAN region that we can visit without burning a hole into our wallets to go overseas for the lovely cooler temperatures.

1. Waterbom Bali, Kuta, Indonesia

Ranked high with good reviews, Waterbom Bali is a great place to splash around, get wet and have fun while we're at it. Fit for all ages with plenty of rides and slides suitable for all ages although some would require supervision. However, worry not; loosen the reins, jump in and enjoy the glistening waters of the park while escaping the heat.

Address: Jl. Kartika, Tuban, Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali, Indonesia

More information on their main website: http://waterbom-bali.com/

2. Black Mountain Water Park, Hua Hin, Thailand

A great place to spend the day with family and enjoy the waters. Family oriented size so e sure to pack a good amount of clothes and towels and schedule hours of fun with the family. Bonding with family and friends has gotten much sweeter when surrounded by water to cool down from the current heat.

Address: 1, หินเหล็กไฟ 2 หินเหล็กไฟ, อำเภอ หัวหิน ประจวบคีรีขันธ์ 77110, Thailand

More information on their main website: http://www.blackmountainwaterpark.com/

3. Sunway Lagoon, Malaysia

Malaysians are no stranger to the name 'Sunway Lagoon' and it is known to be a great place to unwind and relax. The area surrounding the water theme park has malls to shop and feed and all sorts of other attractions that might take days to finish covering. Sunway Lagoon is the water theme park specifically and the countless numbers of rides and a large wave pool lets visitors really feel the sensation as if being at the beach.

Address: 3, Jalan Lagoon Timur (9/1), Bandar Sunway, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

More information on their main website: http://sunwaylagoon.com/attractions/the-waterpark/

4. Adventure Cove, Resort World Sentosa, Singapore

Resort World Sentosa is high on the list for anyone visiting Singapore and plans to have a great time during the trip. Filled with all sorts of attractions for all ages, Adventure cove is something you would not want to miss. There are a good selection of rides from long slides to slow moving streams where you ride on a float watching the world go by. There is also the area where you can interact with marine life although it might have extra charges if you decide to get up close and personal with the adorable creatures of the deep.

Address: 8 Sentosa Gateway, 098269

More information on their main website: http://www.rwsentosa.com/language/en-US/Homepage/Attractions/AdventureCoveWaterpark

5. Flow House, Bangkok

Equipped with a wave machine that lets visitors cool off, have a blast while getting fit, Flow House Bangkok is a great place to learn and play. Safe for beginners and still serve a good time. We don't need to worry about starving ourselves while here as there are restaurants and bars in the general vicinity. Flow House isn't exactly a major water theme park but a wonderful place nonetheless that allows visitors to learn flow boarding and enjoy the sport.

Address: 120/1 โคงการ เอ สแควร์ ถ.สุขุมวิท26 แขวงคลองตัน เขตคลองเตย Bangkok 10110, Thailand

More information on their main website: http://flowhousebangkok.com/

With that, we hope everyone is ready to beat the heat and be sure to pack your sunscreen as we don't want to get burned. Let's make sure the sun rays don't get to us before we've goofed around enough, till the next post, safe travels everyone!!

Eco-tourism spots in Indonesia:

In one of our previous posts, we've explained and shown quite a bit about tourist spots that are available in Indonesia. Some of these spots also happen to be eco-tourism locations for travel.

1. The Komodo island where massive lizards roam free is a sight to behold as the world's largest species of lizard stroll across the streets. They are native to the island only and this is the only place to find them in their habitat aside man-made habitats in the zoos. We're not sure if we are allowed to feed the lizards but chances are it is not possible as the lizards on the island are wild and might attack us if we threaten them. This spot is also one of the 'must-see' spots if one is planning to explore and experience Indonesia at its finest.

2. One other eco-tourism destination is the Sumatra Ecotravel at Bukit Lawang, where you can enjoy a vacation while being surrounded by Mother Nature. There are plenty of options for getting around the place and riding atop elephants is just one of them. Take to the trails and visit Danau Toba Lake or explore the rainforest around Bukit Lawang.

If you prefer to be surrounded by people and not the company of insects and animals, hang around Berastagi and bond with the locals and learn more about their culture and cuisines. It isn't too far away from Bukit Lawang so heading down shouldn't be too much hassle.

3. Aside Sumatra Ecotravel Bukit Lawang, another great eco-tourism spot is Borneo, Kalimantan, Indonesia. Interactions with Orangutans and bonding sessions can be done here and Borneo is also home to some major rainforests. Kalimantan is famous and well-known for the flora and fauna that can be found in the area where different types of mammals and countless birds make their homes amongst the flourishing forests.

Towards the west of the Kalimantan region, the Betung Kerihun National Park is one of the biggest conservation areas in the area. It is a great area to explore and observe the nature that breathes in the region which is a great place for nature lovers. The locals who live there have a strong and unique culture that can't be missed as well.

Here are a few spots that one can consider when planning an eco-tour to Indonesia and till next time, safe travels everyone!!

Crossing the border: Johor Bahru and Singapore

Both Malaysia and Singapore are neighbouring countries which are connected by a bridge spanning across the two different nations.

History fun-fact: Malaysia and Singapore used to be of one nation until Singapore's declaration of independence. However, history transcends time and until today the two countries remain friendly with each other.

Public buses from the Singapore's Woodlands Crossing (Causeway) is the most commonly known spot that takes visitors across the borders. It is accessible for anyone in Singapore to get to Woodlands Crossing thanks to the convenience of Singapore's transportation system. A few hours on the bus and one will arrive in Johor Bahru before we even know it.

One can also grab a taxi and have them drive across the border, but do be sure that crossing the borders include border security checks as it involves two different nations so this would mean having all travel documents at the ready. 

While security features differ from those in the airports of both countries, there are regulations as to what items are allowed and not allowed which will be confiscated from us or we could be fined if our actions or belongings violate the law.

As crosing from Johor Bahru into Singapore, it still requires us to present our passports or passes at the checkpoint and taxis as well as buses are available from different states across Malaysia.

However, as Singapore has specific rules about what products can be brought in it is best to check with the immigration before we make the trip.

For more information on how to catch a bus or cross the border from within Singapore, here's a site where we can check which location that is closer to us and still get us across the border: http://www.taxisingapore.com/singapore-to-johor-bahru/

We at ASEAN Kaleidoscope have yet to make the journey and these are some of the things we've heard so we thought we'd share it. However, if anyone has experience crossing the border do share with us your experience if you don't mind as we would love to hear more and help others with the information received.

With that, we wish everyone to have a great time and till the next post safe travels everyone!!