Post SinDo 2010, 1/18, 1/19, 1/20/2010 Kuching, Sarawak
Do to popular demand, we are going to Kuching post SinDo 2010. Yes I know that it actually is "due".
Baring its sale, the event center will be the Hilton Kuching.
Events: Breakfast at Hilton-Daily
Day 1: Dinner at Top Spot Food Court, my recommendation is Stall 25, halal seafood but the beer guy's booth is next door. If they have them, try the bamboo clams. Chili crabs are either brown (also often called mud crabs) or flower crabs not the larger Sri Lankan found in Singapore.
Day 2: Dinner at My Village Barok review here: http://www.nst.com.my/TravelTimes/ar...20090410212733 Try the jungle ferns with belacan for a different taste sensation. Predominantly Malay cuisine. Probably stop for KeK Lapis.
Please be aware, as many of you know, I am not a tour guide and refuse to act as one. Just as at SinDo, I am sure that people will split up and do things that interest them. I will expedite as best I can in a helpful manner. It is up to you to decide what you want to do and make arrangements.
In that vein A resident of Kuching has kindly offered to provide us with a telephone number for at least one taxi driver. Taxis in Kuching do not have meters and one must negotiate a rate for the trip. Employees of the hotel should be helpful in that regard-keeping us from getting overcharged.
Taxis from the airport are booked at the Taxi booth. Fixed price last January was 26 MYR paid in advance at the booth. Just seek out the booth and pay your money.
I really like this idea. I'll say I'm tentative depending on what my work schedule in SIN will be. I'll either pre-game the DO in DPS and come up for the weekend or post game it, but the end timetable is up to work. Since opushomes is setting this up, I really would like to go on one of his jaunts.
__________________
Kind Flight Safety Expert, can I please have a Bloody Mary to keep me extra safe?
In ascending order of cost for January 18, obviously subject to change as of 8/29/2009.
Air Asia: AK6674 dpt: 2035 arr: 2155 T-1
Jet Star Asia: no flight on the 18th, flight on 17th dpt 1505 arr 1635 T-1
Tiger Airways: see post #17, updated August 19 LCCT (cannot use transit hotel for layover)
Malaysia Air: MH638 dpt: 1325 arr 1450 T-2
Silk Air: MI dpt: 1850 arr 2020 T-2 or 3
These airlines with the exception of Silk Air have frequent fare sales as low as cost of fees. Although Silk Air has two lower fare options they presently are not being offered.
I am going out on MH638. If you choose MH, a two step process may be required. Attempt to book on-line, enter your credit card if you receive an error message call the LA office at 800-552-9264, option 4. My fare is $72. $S105. On my second attempt with an MH agent on the phone my MasterCard was accepted.
This is the most convenient arrival but at roughly double the cost of Air Asia.
My return is on January 21 on AK6673 dpt 1840 arr SIN at 2010. Total cost including 15kg checked bag, insurance and reserved seat 1C totalled 130.50 MYR or $37.50 US. Booked and paid easily on line.
This gives me a full three days in Kuching before leaving on the next leg of my post DO trip. If you decide to fly back to connect to a flight leaving early in the morning both the Jet Star and Air Asia connections allow one to stay in the transit hotel.
Of course if one is a masochist, he/she can make their way to JB and fly from there on Air Asia. The cost is similar as from SIN except one of the two flights has a good arrival time. The bad is that it is a long and fairly expensive schlep to JHB. Otherwise the choices are via KL on either MH or Air Asia with a considerable increase in cost.
PM if you have questions.
See post #52 for update as of October 23
Last edited by opushomes; Oct 24, 09 at 11:57 am.
Reason: Add Tiger into the mix
Programs: United 1K/0.4MM+; SPG Pt; various other programs of no consequence
Posts: 25,838
Quote:
Originally Posted by opushomes
I am going out on MH638.
So we're on the same flight going out, but we'll be coming back a day earlier than you. We're booked at the Hilton.
Quote:
Originally Posted by opushomes
both the Jet Star and Air Asia connections allow one to stay in the transit hotel.
That sounds like a good idea. Our departure is at 06:50, so I'll definitely look into those for the return. Anything special we need to do to get that?
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Last edited by mahasamatman; May 18, 09 at 9:12 pm.
That sounds like a good idea. Our departure is at 06:50, so I'll definitely look into those for the return. Anything special we need to do to get that?
Both JetStar Asia and Air Asia arrive at Terminal 1. Your departure is going to be from either Terminal 2 or 3. Be aware that Air Asia is point to point so you must clear immigration and pick up your luggage at Lost and Found (before customs, far right end of baggage claim). JetStar Asia may or may not check it through, probably "may not" so you have the same issue.
Terminal 1 transit hotel is just before Immigration, up the escalator on the left side (do not go down to immigration).
Be sure to e-mail them to book your room. Sometimes they do not respond so try again. If all else fails, telephone them.
After your stay, you pick up your baggage, clear customs and make your way to the departure terminal to recheck the bags. It has been reported that one can use the transfer desk to request the recheck of bags to your next flight, but I do not know if it works with the two airlines in question. Best way to find out is to procede to the nearest transfer desk after your stay and ask.
Programs: UA 1K MM, Starwood Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,545
I just booked flights for SinDo so will likely hop over to Kuching as well. In fact, I'll probably hang around Borneo for at least a week -- there are quite a few interesting national parks in the area that I would like to visit. Based on my previous visits, there is also some very interesting wildlife though I have certainly had more than my fair share of monkey encounters.
Programs: UA 1K MM, Starwood Platinum, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,545
Quote:
Originally Posted by TowTruckDriver
Just saw this in today's paper and for those considering the above flight.
All-in fare S$28 (a tad over US$20).
Booking period: 24 to 28 June 2009.
Travel period: 1 October 2009 to 30 April 2010.
Book at airasia.com
I just availed myself of this fare and was about to post it but you saved me the trouble.
I will be flying from SIN to KCH on Monday evening, Jan 18 for a total of US$28, including one checked bag and a preassigned exit row seat. The base fare is zero so the base price charged is just taxes.
The downside of the Air Asia flight is that it gets in late whereas MH gets in earlier. However, MH is about US$50 more and does not appear to permit preassigned seating. In any case, I'll hook up with everyone on Tuesday morning.
Ok, I'll probably book the flight to Kuching tomorrow. Now I need to look at earlier returns on that Tuesday because I want to be in Bangkok on Tuesday evening.
__________________
Kind Flight Safety Expert, can I please have a Bloody Mary to keep me extra safe?
Ok, I'll probably book the flight to Kuching tomorrow. Now I need to look at earlier returns on that Tuesday because I want to be in Bangkok on Tuesday evening.
Don't forget that connections thru KL may be more expeditious.
