Showing posts with label online. Show all posts
Showing posts with label online. Show all posts

Wednesday, June 22, 2022

(UPDATED) STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO RENEWING YOUR MALAYSIAN PASSPORT ONLINE

 



If you're like me who has no idea how to renew your Malaysian passport online, let's shake hands and say a prayer for what we are about to endure.👐Anyway, I decided to give it a shot and that is the landing page you'd see when you visit the official Malaysian Immigration Department website👆

Once you click on the "Application for the renewal of passport" (as shown in the above pix), the next screen 👇will explain in detail the process, terms and conditions on what is required for the renewal: from the photo stipulations, payment/charges, etc. FYI, don't bother clicking on the English translation as there isn't any. 😅Just click "Setuju" (Agree) to proceed.


The next step is to complete the online form below. Initially I was stumped when it asked for No. Dokumen😓until I realised it was referring to my existing passport number...😝😂

Once you have completed filling the information required, click on "Carian" to continue. The next screen 👇is another reminder about your passport should be in good condition i.e. without water marks, tears or scratches; all information provided must be true and correct; and the photo uploaded must be the latest. Payment is also non-refundable for lost and damaged passport. Again, click "Setuju" to proceed.


The subsequent step is to upload your photo. A detailed screen pops up showing examples of acceptable photos. Just scroll all the way down and click "Setuju" to continue to the photo upload screen as shown.



When you upload your photograph, an oval guideline will appear - you can adjust the size of your face to fit within that oval "frame" to ensure it meets the desired specifications. Also, remember to tick ✔all the boxes in the list below👇before you click "Teruskan".

If everything is in order, you should be at this screen.👇Put a ✔ in the box below your photo to confirm the photo you have uploaded is yours.

The following screen will ask you to check and reconfirm all the details listed. Go through everything to ensure the information is in order and correct.

Once you are confident everything is in order, click on the "Teruskan kepada Bayaran" (Proceed to Payment) button. You can make payment via online bank transfer via FPX, Touch 'n Go or charge to your credit card.

Acknowledgment of receipt for your payment made will bring you to this screen.👇You can print out the receipt and wait for the email informing you on whether your passport renewal if successful.

Sample of the official receipt

Received an email notification today to inform my passport renewal has been approved and is ready for collection. Woot woot!😍
PART 2: COLLECTION DAY

Remember to bring along the following when you go to collect your new passport:
1) MYKAD/I.C.


2) PHYSICAL PRINT-OUT COPY of the OFFICIAL RECEIPT (we had a panicky moment when we forgot this but luckily we managed to get a physical print-out at a shop opposite the immigration department). Should you need to print out a fresh copy, go to this link:

Once you fill in all the required details, you will be able to view the receipt and either download, email or WhatsApp the receipt for printing.

3) your existing/old/expired/current physical PASSPORT book (remember it must be in good condition without any torn pages or water stains)

4) a screenshot of the email notification from Jabatan Imigresen (refer to sample below)

The whole process took me and my family 2.15 minutes to complete. We reached the Kajang Immigration Department office at 7.30 am and there was already a long queue. 

For those who intend to go, the opening hours are as above. Another notice is posted near the door but the wordings are so small, I doubt if anyone reads the information.
Although I was told my online application was approved, I still have to obtain a queue number to wait my turn for the passport collection. 

Photo Reload problem: My husband received an email notification informing him his photo didn't fulfill the required specifications and had to upload his photo again. We tried to upload his photo online several times but gave up as it was too confusing as the message from the Immigration Dept kept informing us his application was already on record. 

Today, after queuing up for his number, the officer scrutinised his photo then informed him it was okay. He was told to wait for his passport to be processed and ready for collection.

Fingerprint record problem: My daughter was notified by email her application was rejected due to some problem with her fingerprint record. After queuing up today, she had her fingerprints taken. 

After that, the officer asked if my daughter's photo was taken recently and whether it was shot at a professional photo studio. We were surprised and confirmed yes to both questions. She said my daughter's photo had to be reshot so it was done on the spot. Luckily I had asked her to bring along a dark jacket and quickly brushed her hair to show both her ears and forehead clearly. Then only she was given a queue number to wait for her new passport to be ready for collection.

We were just relieved everything was settled on the same day and we finally got our new passports in hand.



Thursday, October 21, 2021

3 TIPS ON PLANNING YOUR HOLIDAY


“Travelling allows you to become so many different versions of yourself” 
– Anonymous

Perhaps that’s the reason why we love to travel. Our wanderlust is hard to tamp down and having our freedom restricted is possibly one of the greatest challenges we have to endure during the prolonged MCO period.

Now that Federal Territory and Selangor have transitioned into National Recovery (NRP) Phase 4, most of us are grateful we can once again travel domestically without restraint while practising the new normal SOPs stipulated.

In this aspect, we Malaysians are truly fortunate as we’re spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing the type of holidays we prefer. Whether we plan to head for the beach or up to the hills, opt for a city staycation or escape to the bucolic countryside, the length and breadth of Peninsular Malaysia alone offers limitless possibilities. We have not even touched on the myriad wonders that beckon from East Malaysia.


No savvy traveller these days can afford to leave home without doing some homework aka research. The secret to a great holiday is to plan ahead. Start with these 3 tips in mind:

·       Your Budget

While everyone would love to holiday in the lap of luxury, let’s get real. It’s best to be realistic and set a budget for your holiday. Take into account how much you plan to spend on accommodation, transportation (flights, car rental, train tickets, etc), food & drinks, sightseeing and recreational activities, and personal spending money (gifts and souvenirs). Remember to set aside a small emergency fund.

·       Your Needs

     The needs of a solo traveller differ great greatly from those of a couple, a group of singletons, and those of a family with small children. If you are the holiday planner, then a reliable online portal such as Hotel in Kuala Lumpur is a boon in determining your holiday needs i.e. What kind of accommodation do you need? Would child-friendly accommodation or hotels with a swimming pool be a priority? Traveloka has plenty of useful tips and resources to help make your holiday planning a breeze.

·       Your Itinerary

Plan ahead and determine the type of holiday you want. Would it be a laidback, laze by the pool kind of vacay or would it be an activity-filled one with lots of sightseeing and shopping thrown in?


A holiday is also a chance to pursue your leisure interests or do something different from your daily life. Is it time for you to unleash the spirit of discovery and learn more about mother nature through hiking and nature walks? Perhaps you yearn to fly high and conquer the sky through paragliding or swim with the fishes by learning to snorkel or scuba-dive?


It goes without saying planning for a solo traveller is easier than planning a holiday for a group of friends with different interests or a family with small children or teenagers. 


In such instances, you may want to rely on a fun getaway with a flexible itinerary at a family-friendly resort such as Grand Lexis Port Dickson where the young and old can enjoy the best of both worlds. The whole family can expect a splashing time in the private pool within the privacy of their own suite, or proceed to engage in the myriad outdoor activities offered by the resort.


More adventurous souls may prefer an adrenalin-fuelled itinerary with hiking, paragliding, kayaking, or river-rafting as the highlight. Bear in mind though some of your intended holiday activities may have a set limit on the number of participants and advance booking required so it pays to plan ahead.



Whatever type of you have in mind, just remember online resources abound at your fingertips. Traveloka has plenty to offer: useful tips on travel planning, price comparisons on accommodation, things to do, etc. 
After all, the journey of your holiday planning begins with a single step. Do it now!

Tuesday, February 02, 2021

HOMING IN ON STAYCATIONS IN SINGAPORE

Planning a staycation in Singapore? There's plenty to eat, see and do

With Chinese New Year less than a fortnight away, it seems unlikely my old friend AK will get the chance to welcome the Ox Year with her parents in Malaysia. Since the coronavirus doesn’t look like it’s disappearing anytime soon nor will the Malaysia-Singapore borders be opening in time for CNY, I told AK to forgo her trip home and use the festive break to rediscover Singapore instead. 

“AK, thousands of people fly from around the world to visit Singapore every year. Why don’t you take a step back, pretend you’re a visitor and see Singapore through that perspective? Sometimes we take our own backyard too much for granted-lah!” I rationalized with her.

Savvy travellers will find tons of info in Traveloka

When AK groused about not knowing where to start, I pointed her to Traveloka. The online portal is chockful of useful travel tips and information with links to hotel, restaurants, activities, packages, promotions and everything savvy travellers need to enhance their travel experience.

I believe AK will be able to enjoy her CNY break if she puts her mind to it and does her groundwork using Traveloka. Not only would it save her time and effort with the overall planning, she can’t make any lame excuses about not knowing what kind of staycation she wants. For instance, if she looks under Staycation Singapore in Traveloka, out pops a list of inspiring staycation ideas: from romantic rendezvous for couples to family-friendly escapades and gourmet getaways for friends.

Food paradise...from humble fare to refined restaurants, Singapore has it all

Depending on her budget, AK can take her pick from the mind-boggling range of hotels, be it budget-friendly or budget-busting … oooh, how I wish I’m going on staycation too!

As for the types of activities to fill her time, I daresay AK would be spoiled for choice. I must remind her to take advantage of the Singapore Rediscovers Vouchers in Traveloka. I bet many Singaporeans haven’t been on the interesting tours offered in the Singapore Rediscovers section! I find the activities are varied enough to please sporty go-getters and adventure-seekers, animal and nature lovers, history and modern entertainment buffs — there’s something to suit everyone.

Thinking how Chinese New Year is synonymous with our roots and heritage, AK may like booking a Kampong Buangkok tour. I’m sure the charming village will  stir up nostalgic feelings of her hometown back in Perak.

Few visitors can resist the captivating call of a day trip to Pulau Ubin
 
Hmm…she may want a full-blown tour to Singapore’s last surviving Kampung followed by visits to urban mushroom, wheatgrass and vegetable farms or an exciting day trip to Pulau Ubin. Ah, if it wasn’t for these pandemic times, I’d dearly love to join AK on these interesting excursions.

Of course, no staycation is complete without good food. Since it’s Chinese New Year, I wonder if AK would be game to embark on a Crazy Rich Asians Insta Tour with Cocktail Making Workshop…Hey, it’s not every day one gets a chance to ride in a Vespa sidecar touring some of Singapore’s ritzy locations and... YOLO, so why not?

The much-talked-about "Jewel" in Changi Airport's crown is a sight to behold

Again, I found Singapore Rediscovers Vouchers aplenty for guided walks, immersive tours, and hands-on cooking workshops — such a boon for those who are keen to learn and discover local culinary secrets and gems through experiential sessions.

Should AK prefer more sensible suggestions, then I’d propose she goes for the ‘Singapore: Melting Pot of Tea’ tour where she’ll have a chance to learn about more than 20 tea blends, sample delicious tea from traditional to modern, and even try making her own. Although I’m unsure about her interest in kitchen forays, perhaps a Hainanese or a Hokkien cooking class may strike a chord in view of the festive season or would that remind her too much of what she’s missing back home?

Even though she can’t return to Malaysia this Chinese New Year, I’m willing to bet AK will enjoy her staycation in Singapore thanks to all the tips I’ve shared with her from Traveloka. Now won’t that be an Ox-spicious way to welcome the Lunar New Year?

Monday, June 27, 2016

HEAR YE, HEAR YE...LEND ME YOUR VOTES

 

Hear ye, hear ye! The good folks from Saleduck has nominated me for the inaugural Food Blogger Award. Wow! I'm tickled but heck, it's an opportunity I can't refuse. I guess there's always a first time for everything right?
A screenshot of the voting page in Saleduck

Now, it seems the blogger who gets the most votes wins. I'm up against some really heavyweights (no pun intended) yo! If you've enjoyed reading my blogposts, I'd love your support. Go to the Saleduck webpage where YOU can vote for me...or other food bloggers of your choice. LOL...all's fair in love and online voting!

Thank you in advance for your support! Have a good week ahead.

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