A SUNNY GOLD COAST FAMILY HOLIDAY

We recently took a family vacation to sunny Gold Coast in early December. I have been to Australia many many times but never to the Gold Coast. So I was actually quite excited. We rented a car for the week and planned to visit the various "must see" places there.

Firstly, the apartment we rented was right smack in Surfers Paradise and next door to Q1 which is the tallest building in Gold Coast. Azzura Surfers Paradise is new, only open for a few months and it has a beautiful view of the ocean and the breeze was fantastic.

Over the course of the week, we went to Steve Irwin's The Australia Zoo, Warner Brothers Movie World and Sea World. I will write about these these three places seperately.

One of our favorite activities was mini golf. My children can never seem to have enough of this. Playing at night was perfect as the weather was cooler especially with the cool sea breeze.

The beach was just a short 100 metres walk from the apartment and it was beautiful. The water was quite cold and with the sun shining, it was perfect. My children loved the beach and sea here.

We had some extra friends, these seagulls can smell food from a mile away.

View of Surfers Paradise from the beach.

Beautiful sun, sea and sand. Perfect combination.

We also took a drive up Mt Tamborine to have a look at some quaint towns. The drive was pleasant and view was fantastic. They also had a cheese factory serving some very nice cheese. The place also had vineyards and on the week ends, there seem to do very good business.

Beautiful colors.

Vineyards.

Beautiful mountain view.

A stud farm

With nice food, superb and fantastically fresh seafood, it was avery nice family holiday. The only setback was the seats on teh Air Asia X plane is not really comfortable. I heard they are going to replace them....not a little too soon.

Until next time, cheers.

HARRY'S PIE IN SYDNEY

I remembered this place from the various food show particularly by Anthony Bourdain. This was supposed to be "the pie" in Sydney.


I was not that hungry as I just had breakfast but had to try the pie. I was greedy and ordered the pie with the signature mashed potato and peas.


For me, it was only OK. I found the ginger and spice a tad too strong for my liking. Well, it would definitely taste much better on an empty stomach.


At least, I have eaten at the famous Harry's Pie.

Until the next time, cheers.

AIR ASIA - AN "EXCEPTION"AL AIRLINE

I fly very often with Air Asia from the beginning and have very high respect for its innovativeness. I also believe very strongly in open competition which they have done very well. The service were very good but of late both the counter and inflight service has been lacking.

Is it because it is growing too fast? During the last Hari Raya Puasa, it was chaos in the airport. Our flight (my family with 3 children) was delayed and they moved us to another flight and then our luggage did not arrive until the next day. It seems Air Asia has a policy of not giving compensation if the luggage is not more than 24 hours delayed. So one has to be in his clothes overnight. Sorry to say, this policy stinks and looks like it is trying to get away from its responsibility.

Anyhow, what is more interesting is what I observe on my flight back to KUL last week. I have never seen so many "issues" on a single flight before and this is what I mean by creeping problems coming into the airline.

1. there was an Air Asia staff with her mother seated in 12E and F (emergency row).
2. flight crew more interested to talk to her than to serve customer.
3. the mother seemed aged by allowed to seat in 12F?
4. the staff was allowed to place her handbag on her seat both for takeoff and landing.
5. a flight attentant accompanied her to seat on 12D both during take off and landing.
6. a man come to seat in 14D, when the attentant was him to move back to his seat, his answer was "I am an Air Asia staff, it's OK" and the attentant allowed him.
7. upon landing the attendant seated in 14D moved to the end of the plane. You know when everyone get's up and stand in the aisle, how difficult it is to move around?
8. then another attentant moved from the back to the front carrying an envelope to pass to somebody in front when the aisle is full of passengers. Imagine the pushing and shoving around.

After experiencing this flight, I just had to write about it. I am going to post this into the facebook and hope someone from Air Asia will read about this and take some action.

I will still fly Air Asia as it is still worth to do it. Recently, I flew Jetstar and MAS. Service is very crisp in Jetstar but very surprising was MAS service. The service was GREAT. One of the reason why I fly so often with Air Asia is that MAS service use to suck and it is such a hassle to purchase their tickets (unlike Air Asia) but they seem to get the service right this time. I have never seen the crew working so hard before (flight from Sydney to KUL). Not only that but sincere and efficient service.

Maybe, that's the right word....Air Asia service is getting "fake" or "forced".

Until next time, cheers.