Others: International Driving Permit Malaysia

This post is for Malaysians wanting to drive overseas, not foreigners wishing to drive in Malaysia.

I needed to get an International Driving Permit as I will be driving in South Africa in about 1 month's time. I wanted to detail out the application process I used as I found that there are limited resources on the web about getting this Driving Permit. It is applicable to all the major countries around the world, and all the not so major ones as well; US, UK, Australia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Namibia, Botswana....and South Africa.

So what you need to do is prepare 2 passport photographs, and photocopy your driver's license and your IC and go to the nearest AAM branch where you live. I prefer to go to AAM to avoid any bureaucratic issues that might arise if I go to JPJ. It even says that you need to leave your current driving license at JPJ and collect it back after you are done with the IDP because "you cant have 2 driving licenses". Well I refuse, and I prefer to go to AAM.

For a non-member, you need to pay RM 180 in total for a year as at 2012. The whole process only took about 10 minutes, and they will ask you to fill up their own special AAM form and not the JPJ LDL1 form or whatever. You can renew it after 1 year if you like.

Seremban: Royale Bintang Resort & Spa

 

I booked this hotel as I was scheduled to go to the Seremban Half Marathon 2012, and got the Half Marathon Rate. We made the reservation via phone, and was given a reservation number for each of the rooms we booked. We booked a Deluxe Room, but got upgraded to the Executive Room floor, Room 1037, as they did not have enough twin rooms.

The room was very spacious for three, and had enough space to accommodate one more extra bed at RM 80 with breakfast. We also loved the spacious bathroom that came with a seperate bath tub, and shower, along with Crabtree and Evelyn toiletries. Needless to say, we took all the toiletries home, including the 2 hand soaps. They even had a bathroom scale!

 

 

 In the room they provided coffee and tea making facilities, a flat screen TV with sufficient satelite TV channels including Discovery, International News and a movie channel, a large closet with ironing facilities and a bathrobe.

I have to say that we had a very bad experience with the service of the hotel. The check in took about 20 minutes which was actually ok with me in the beginning as we were upgraded. However, our extra bed took about 4.5 hours to arrive, after calling about 5 times to the Front Desk, Guest Services Manager and Housekeeping every hour or so since 8.30pm. We actually got the bed at 11.30pm, way past our bed time. There was a time we went down to see the Front Desk and told them we ordered an extra bed and he did not even ask for our room number and just say "ok our housekeeping is very busy". That's it. 

Breakfast was on the 10th floor in the Executive Lounge, but it was not that appetizing and very little in selection. We had cooked eggs (which was great, and made to order) but the buffet looked really unappetizing and ...limp (noodles, vege, salad, fruits and etc). 

The pool was OK, but it was kind of cold as there was not any sun that day. The gym is open from 7am -9.30pm and its quite basic but it has about 4 types of cardio machines, free weights and some other weight machines. Towels and water were provided in the gym.

All in all it was a good deal as we got upgraded, for 3 people. I suppose if were in Seremban again this would be our only option as a family, but the service and breakfast needs serious attention.

Penang: Georgetown

 

More lovely photos from Georgetown uploaded from my phone.

Beautiful Cheah Kongsi on Armenia St. with Cafe Amelie next to it. Loved the Longan and mint drink I had there. Costly but delicious. They also.serve pasta and lunch but only have about six tables.

A little further down the road and you will see a beautiful wall mural based on a famous photo. 

Love Georgetown and will be back.

Published with Blogger-droid v2.0.6

Penang: Old Penang Guesthouse

I went to Penang during the weekday on the last week of June, with the intention of visiting the Penang National Park and doing a hiking route up Penang Hill. However, I fell sick after a trip to Taman Negara but decided to push on to Penang anyway, as I had already purchased all the tickets and booked my hotel. However, my activity list had to change as I would not be doing any kind of trekking or climbing. :)

I chose Old Penang Guesthouse because I was on a budget and because of the good reviews it had received on Hostelworld. It was located on a quaintly-named Love Lane (apparently it is called Love Lane as it used to be a street where mistresses were kept and lovers had trysts). I took a cab from Queensbay Mall where I was dropped off from Aeroline Bus and it cost me RM 30 ( which I know was slightly overpriced as the return taxi ride was only RM 25).

I was given 2 different rooms on 2 different days as I made my reservations seperately. That was fine - I knew what I had booked. The first room (double room, shared bathroom) downstairs was just ok. It was kind of small and located at the back of the guesthouse. It had a towel hanger, air conditioning, a bed lamp, room lamp and a queen bed. I was provided with a towel and had to pay about RM 15 for the towel and the key, which was returned when I checked out.

 Upstairs alley:

On the second night, I was given an upstairs room and this room was much better. It had a single bed, but much more space and even a rug, together with a bedside table. It also felt much newer as well. The upstairs floors had also a bathrooms to be shared and the toilet was clean and it seemed like it was washed almost every hour I was there !!

Things to Do and Eat:

It had a nice relaxing ambience and after I did my sightseeing I would sit at the tables down stairs to use the internet. There's TV and a computer provided with internet for the guests. If you walk out to the mainroad you will most definitely find eateries to eat at night - from Cendol to Lok Lok, to Wan Tan Mee, to freshly cut fruits, so no worries on that front. I am sure you dont want to eat backpacker westernised crap!! There is also a backpacker's pub 2 doors away for those who favour a drink.

Staying in the UNESCO Core Heritage area means that most attractions are within walking distance of Love Lane. For example, Armenian Street, Muntri Street, Cheong Fatt Tze mansion, Chinatown, Penang Museum, Fort Cornwallis.

Beautiful restored buildings around Love Lane:

 

The area surrounding Love Lane is also quite interesting -  I found an interesting temple and building nearby below on Muntri Lane and Jimmy Choo's first apprenticeship!

All in all this is a good area to be in. I would stay in another location next time but only because I like some variety in where I stay. For additional pictures of Georgetown, click here.

Hotel Details: Old Penang Guesthouse

Hotel Website: oldpenang.com