Travel cheap

Sharipah and I are two seniors who cannot stay put at home for long period of time. Usually our itchy feet will make us plan where to go next. Sharipah has 2 grandchildren who stay with their mother and I, not a grandma yet but hope to be one soon. Being single parents we are free to do and go as we please with clear conscience. Sharipah has traveled a lot more and visited most places in the world but the world is so huge that we find we have covered just a little fraction of it. I have a big world map pinned on my room wall with pins stuck indicating where I have been but it was just like a drop in the ocean. Even in Malaysia, there are still so many places we have not been and would like to visit all if possible. How nice to be Ian Wright, Samantha Brown, Asha Gill, Toby Amies and other travel hosts in TV - work and get to see places.

We are retired with a small pension and no fixed income but dream big to see the world before the world leaves us. Friends used to ask me, of all countries I have visited which one I like best. I have no answer to that question because every place and every country has its own uniqueness but some places I have no desire to go again. So in order to travel, we have to choose to travel cheap and wait for offers and discounted air tickets.

I prefer traveling by MAS or Firefly now. I avoid traveling by Air Asia. My last trip by Air Asia was in June for work to Singapore and ticket was bought by the company. I find MAS and Firefly offer better rate. When we went to Kota Kinabalu last July, we paid RM680.00 for two return with meals and 20 kg of luggage, compared to RM704.00 with no meals and 15kg of luggage by Air Asia. On top of that, going to LCT is so inconvenienced even though there is cheap bus there which takes an hour to reach. So you have to leave much early. Whereas by MAS to KLIA, you can check in luggage at Sentral and go by ERL or transit train there for 30 minutes in comfort. Just be aware of hidden cost by Air Asia. Traveling by Firefly is convenience too for me as the terminal is in Subang which is about 20 minutes from my PJ house. I remember my friend, Jin, who was angry for buying offer ticket from Air Asia to London because of the advertisement and later found out MAS offered much lower price. So always check internet for fare comparison, convenience and comfort.

Before MAS and Firefly offer cheap tickets, I had no choice but to travel by Air Asia. I used to hate it. People rushed and pushed to board the plane first and you have to pay for express ticket to be boarded ahead of others - so chaotic. It's a relief that there is competition now. For senior citizens like us, it matters that we get the cheapest tickets, convenience and meals on board. We can't afford to be jostled and pushed by energetic young thoughtless people.

We are going to Lake Toba in October with Firfly Holiday package - so much cheaper. I would like to see whether there is any difference now and 30 years ago when I first went there. We will use masks and hope for the best.