Revamping Malaysian hospitality
MALAYSIAN hospitality has long been the heart of Malaysia Airlines’ operations. Constantly striving to cater to their customers’ every need, MAS has recently improved some of their services.
With the re-introduction of the Brisbane route in June, MAS now flies to five cities across Australia. For Malaysians intending to visit the Gold Coast, they can now opt for the more convenient option of stopping by Brisbane rather than Sydney as it’s much closer.
Malaysia Airlines now flies 4x weekly to Brisbane.
In June, we were invited to join the inaugural flight to Brisbane onboard Malaysia Airlines, and got a chance to visit the recently refurbished Golden Lounge (Satellite) at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport.
The lounge looks more spacious and luxurious now while paying homage to its Malaysian heritage by incorporating elements of our culture, arts, food and architecture.
The buffet offers a selection of both international and local cuisine with options like Continental breakfast and a serving of nasi lemak for morning meals.
Aside from the buffet, there’s also a Laksa Bar where guests can enjoy a steaming bowl of noodles. There are four laksa varieties available which will be rotated weekly.
There’s a sports bar, too, where guests can enjoy a few drinks before their flight.
There are ample seats for guests – many of which have built-in USB points and universal power sockets. MAS has also added more showers and restroom facilities to accommodate guests’ requests.
Flying Business Class
The Brisbane route is serviced by the A330-300 aircraft by Airbus that comprises 27 Business Class seats and 263 Economy Class seats.
The Business Class seats are a great comfort, especially when you’re on a long-haul flight. There are two simple control panels that you can use to adjust the seat and lighting to your liking. Once you’ve found the perfect position, kick back and relax while using the massage function and enjoy a movie or two on the touch screen in-flight entertainment system.
For travellers who plan to get some work done during the flight, there’s an increased working space, along with extra storage space for your belongings.
If you’re feeling a bit peckish between meals, passengers can request for light refreshments like gourmet pies, fruits, or ice cream up to two hours before landing.
There’s also the Chef-on-Call service where passengers can pre-order their meals at least 24 hours before departure.
Additionally, you can bring water purification tablets to purify water collected from the river or any other natural water source.
5. Before you go If you’re camping with your 4WD, you need to get the vehicle serviced before your trip. Check that the vehicle is in good condition and that everything is working properly. Also, bring basic spares like engine oil, fluids (for brakes and power steering clutch), a fan belt and recovery equipment. If you want to bring more items, ask your mechanic for his recommendations.
Where to go
If you are new to 4WD camping, there are several camp sites you can go to in the Klang Valley like Hulu Langat, Janda Baik, Ulu Selangor, Sepang and Ulu Kelang in Selangor, and Bukit Segar (Cheras) in Kuala Lumpur.
Some campsites are run by private owners. For a fee, you can pitch your tents there and use the shower and toilet facilities. Some even prepare a trail for a short trek around the campsite such as Broga Hill (Semenyih) and Templer Park (Rawang) in Selangor.
You can also visit orang asli villages in places like Raub (Pahang), and Tanjung Malim (Perak) to see how they go about their daily lives. If you decide to visit, pay your respects to the Tok Batin (leader) first to let them know your intentions – don’t just go snooping around the village uninvited!
Foo stresses that how well you prepare for the trip determines how much you will enjoy the experience. “If you fail to plan, your (camping) plan will fail!” he says.
“With jungle camping, urbanites will be transported from a concrete jungle to the real deal. When you sleep in the jungle, you feel fully recharged as it is an oxygen-rich atmosphere. Camping in the wild beats shopping. It gives you joy and also encourages family bonding, too,” he adds.
Foo welcomes questions on camping and 4WD excursions. He can be contacted at: thomfoo@gmail.com.