Ingenira Travels: 2013

Making new Passport or renew Passport near Subang Airport or Plaza Glomac - 2013

Immigration Office in Subang Airport Road

After a quick google check, I found out that the Immigration Office near Terminal 3 has closed and moved to Plaza Glomac which is nearby, beside the Subang Airport Road too.

If you use waze on your smart phone as GPS, search for "Immigration Office Plaza Glomac" or "Passport Kelana Jaya" or "Passport Plaza Glomac " and it will lead you to the right location. The photo below shows the Immigration office. It is actually a corner shop painted in golden yellow colour.

Another quick way to go to this office : drive towards Paradigm Mall, turn left to "Jalan SS7/26" immediately before Paradigm Mall, go straight and take the second left turn to "Jalan SS7/19", and go straight you will see this building below.

Not only the location has been changed, there are a few other changes worth noting. (Note that this post is valid since August, 2013).

1) The passport photo requires white background now, not blue. You can take the photos just beside the Passport office, at very reasonable rate of 6 photos for RM10. It is fast and rather good quality. With no queue, I got my photos in 1 or 2 minutes.

2) Since white background photo requirement is implemented, the automated machine to create or renew passport is no longer in service. So, everyone has to queue up to go to the counter to get the passport done.

How fast is the Passport Renewal process ?

I reached the Immigration Office at about 7.30am on a Wednesday morning. After taking photos and I queued up for numbers. My number was 3058, and my turn came only at about 10am. After that, the process was quick. The officer took my old passport, photos and IC. (Photocopied IC is only required for new passport application, not required for passport renewal.) Then, I wait for the payment counter to called me, and it did, about 15 minutes later. So, by 10.30am, I am good to go and come back 1 hour later to pick up my passport. So, all in all, if I come in at 7.30am, I can get my passport at 11.30am, that's 4 hours of waiting time.

I think the process took longer than 5 years ago. I recalled leaving the immigration office with my passport within 2 hours.

Note that, during week days, only 500 numbers are given, and when the number is all taken up, they don't take in any more application. So if you don't want to make a few trips, go early. The office opens on Saturday and Sunday too, but only 200 numbers, and less number of counters are opened.

Making/Renew Passport in UTC Pudu Sentral

Note : Nowadays you can make your passport UTC Pudu Sentral at Puduraya Bus Station.
Yes, the bus station near Kota Raya mall, or Petaling Street.

And it is open after office hours !!

Open every day except public holidays.
Friday : 8am - 12 noon, 2.30pm to 10pm
Sat to Thu : 8am to 10pm

Check out this link : here

Enrich Voucher CAN NOT be Used in KL Sentral any more - Temptation Boutique 2013

MAS Temptation Boutique in KL Sentral is closed now. Please call 03-8777 5594 for more information. The staff can email you the latest catalogue and inform you on the lastest sale promotions they are having. Now you have to go to 1st floor, Flight Management Building at KLIA to use your voucher if you don't get the chance to use it in your flight.

(updated on Feb 2016)

A Trip to Cijin (Qijin) island, Kaohsiung - Photos and Images

Cijin or Qijin is an island in Kaohsiung. It used to be connected to the mainland of Taiwan at the southern tip, but in year 1967, the government broke the link from the main land, so as to build the second entry point to Port of Kaohsiung.

The island is often flooded with visitors on the weekend. They either take the ferry or underground tunnel to go from mainland to the island. To take the ferry, you can depart from the Gushan Ferry Terminal. The view from this terminal is spectacular !

View from Gushan Ferry Pier

View from Ferry to Qijin Island

It only cost TWD15 per person per trip from Taiwan mainland to Cijin.

The trip takes about 15 to 20 minutes.

Gushan Ferry Pier

Ferry from Qijin Island

The Splendor Hotel, Koahsiung

Kaohsiung City View

Kaohsiung City from Qijin

Kaohsiung Port

Ships at Kaohsiung Port

Cijin Boat Petrol Filling Station

Cijin - Boat Petrol Station

Qijin Town

Ferry terminal at Qijin Island

The black beach in Cijin Island

The beach in Cijin was slowly washed away by waves. So the government built the wave barrier near the beach, and according to the locals, it did help to preserved the beach.

During the Morocco Typhoon in 2009, this beach was flooded with so many woods and tree trunks from unknown source. The community gathered and removed the woods, so that the beach is available to public again.

Qijin Beach

Qijin Town

Qijin town is famous for very fresh seafood. Don't miss going to the seafood restaurant to savour the best seafood in town.

Fresh Seafood restaurant in Cijin

All kinds of seafood in Qijin

Night market, Cijin

Another seafood restaurant in Qijin

The Chinese Temple in Qijin

Tian Hou Gong or Tian Hou Temple in Qijin

Tian Hou Temple in Cijin

Barbeque Squid in Cijin

Night at Cijin port

Kaohsiung Night View

15th of the month (Chinese Calendar)

Kaohsiung City View at Night

Gushan Terminal Night View

Gushan Terminal at Night

View From The Highest Hotel Room Floor of the Splendor Hotel Kaohsiung - Photos and Images

The Splendor Hotel, also called the 85 Sky Tower Hotel, like the name said, is soaring high with 85 floors above Kaohsiung skyline. It used to be the tallest hotel in Taiwan until Taipei 101 tower overtook the place.

The hotel reception is on the 39th floor. Yes, that means the lowest hotel room is above 39th floor. But 40th to 46th floor are used for various function such as restaurants, function rooms etc. The lowest floor for hotel room is 46th floor, and the highest is on the 70th floor. I was lucky enough to stayed on the 70th floor, and the photos below is the awesome view from the hotel room :

During day time :

View from 70th floor of The Splendor Hotel, Kaohsiung

At night :

The Splendor Hotel

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Cherry Blossom Festival in Yeouido, Seoul, South Korea

The annual Yeouido Spring Flower or Cherry Blossom festival is back again ! About 1700 cherry trees erupt into magnificent clouds of pink. This spectacular view stretches 1.7km long on the street behind the National Assembly building.

To get there, get off at Subway line 9, Exit 1, National Assembly Station. When you are out on the street, walk towards the National Assembly Building, and go around it. The stretch of cherry blossom is located just right behind the building.

The National Assembly building is opened to public during this cherry blossom festival. It is a golden opportunity to visit the place, and it is free.

There are many policemen patrolling in this area. So it is very safe.

Couples are seen having their portrait drawn.

The crowd is amazing.

The festival site is flooded with couples, families, friends, and tourists, especially during mid day.

At night, the cherry blossoms are lit up with colourful lightings.

Street performers, evangelists, snack food sellers are lining up at the starting and ending of the trail.

The festival site is flooded with couples, families, friends, and tourists, especially during mid day.