10 Breathtaking Wedding Destinations in Southeast Asia

• By CompareHero.my
• October 7, 2014

Location weddings are becoming a trend these days. Couples are exchanging vows in exotic locations, bringing a wonderful and breathtaking experience for them and their guests to new heights (sometimes literally) and new horizons. (Crystal clear blue waters, anyone?)

Destination weddings might be expensive, but the location is worth the experience. Here in Asia, we are surrounded by beautiful seas, making the continent a prime location for beach weddings! Here’s our list of 11 breathtaking destinations for a beach wedding.

Kota Kinabalu. Image from shangri-la.com

1. Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

This beach wedding destination is one of the most popular locations in Malaysia. Kota Kinabalu is a picturesque beach where you can have a solemn ceremony, and enjoy a romantic walk on the beach afterwards– or during the honeymoon.

2. Ba Kan Tiang Beach, Koh Lanta, Thailand

White sand, blue waters, and a backdrop of a lush rainforest– this 5-star location is a perfect wedding and honeymoon spot for young couples. It’s a dreamy location with sand, surf, and sun!

3. Huvanfen Fushi, Maldives

Maldives is known for its beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters. Blue skies, perfect beaches, and the most serene location for a beach wedding, this beach resort in the Maldives is a wonderful choice for both your wedding and honeymoon.

4. Pansea Beach, Phuket, Thailand

Looking for a quiet beach wedding destination? This secluded and private beach is a hidden gem with white sands, and crystal clear waters. It’s the best location for an exotic beach wedding.

5. Boracay Island, Aklan, Philippines

A famous beach in the Philippines, it is a small island with the perfect beach, crystal clear waters, and blue skies perfect for a wedding. The tropical location makes it a picturesque wedding location—and a great post-wedding party venue.

6. Thong Nai Pan Beach, Koh Phangan, Thailand

Indulge yourself in a romantic and luxurious wedding at this beach located in the gulf of Thailand. Thong Nai Pan on the tropical island of Koh Phangan is private and secluded, and is the perfect mix of beach and tropical forest for that perfect beach wedding.

7. Irufushi, Maldives

It’s more blue waters than beaches, but this luxurious location is a perfect wedding destination. This tropical beach location has everything you need for a romantic wedding, reception, and honeymoon.

8. Phra Nang Beach, Thailand

Voted as one of the top 10 beaches in the world, with white sand, limestone cliffs surrounding the beach, and framed with tropical gardens and coconut groves, this beach is definitely a beautiful wedding location.

Langkawi, Malaysia. Image from thedanna.com

9. Langkawi, Malaysia

There are many resorts to choose from if you want a beach wedding at Langkawi. Langkawi’s beach is sandwiched between a lush rainforest and a breathtakingly blue sea. It’s the perfect beach location for a wedding where the couple and their guests can enjoy a private celebration on white sand by the sea.

10. Laem Tong Beach, Koh Phi Phi, Thailand

If it’s a barefoot beachfront wedding you’re looking for, then Koh Phi Phi is the island paradise you’re looking for. Quiet, secluded and surrounded by white sand, blue seas, and that perfect serene mood for a wedding.

Getting ready for your own wedding? Check out these amazing destinations now. Know anyone who might find this article useful? Email this article or share on your social media networks!

 
[tags]

Look into These Aspects When You Go for Broadband

• By CompareHero.my
• April 18, 2014

If you’re thinking of upgrading to—or getting—the best broadband plan for your use, here are just a few things to help you make a well-informed decision before you find yourself signing up for a contract.

Broadband Type

There are three types of broadband technology available in Malaysia. ADSL, an older broadband technology, is cheaper and more widespread. ADSL can reach download speeds of up to 8Mbps.

Fiber broadband connections are faster than ADSL, with download speeds reaching up to 100Mbps. Due to its technology and broadband speed, Fiber broadband connections are more expensive than ADSL connections, and often limited to certain areas. The third, Wireless broadband, is for you—if you use the Internet on the go. Broadband plans for these are usually offered as mobile data plans. Wireless broadband isn’t as fast as Fiber broadband, but 4G LTE broadband, a type of wireless broadband connection, offers speeds close to Fiber connections.

As of 2013, 67% of Malaysians already had broadband Internet access.

Coverage Area
As you may already have guessed, not every city and region in Malaysia will have all three broadband connections available to them. Check with various broadband providers about which cities or areas they have coverage in, and which type of broadband is available to you. Fiber optic broadband connections, particularly, are limited to major cities like Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya, and Bangsar.

Consumer vs Business Broadband
More often than not, you’ll only need a consumer-level broadband connection. This means your Internet connection is for private or home use only. It doesn’t make sense to avail of a business broadband connection for a household of five, especially since business broadband connections tend to be more expensive. The reverse also applies: you wouldn’t want a consumer connection even if it’s cheaper for your business, as the amount of data a business needs to process is greater than those of a private user.

Data Capacity and Data Limits
Caps and limits determine how fast your broadband connection can get, and how much data you can download for a period of time, usually for a month. These data caps can go from 1GB of data a month to 100GB a month, depending on the plan and type of broadband connection available. Also note that wireless broadband services usually have lower data caps than ADSL or fiber connections. Luckily, the majority of Malaysian telecoms also offer unlimited data capacities in their broadband packages. Determine, though, how much your Internet usage is, and how much data you download every month. It might not be reasonable for you to have an unlimited data plan when you don’t play online games or just use the Internet to browse social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook.

Budget
Compare prices—and other offered features—of different broadband packages available to you. Check how much you can realistically shell out. Always pick value for money, so be mindful of all considerations you have as you compare broadband plans you’re eyeing.

Contract: Prepaid vs Postpaid
If you don’t use the Internet on a daily basis, then consider getting a prepaid broadband connection instead. A postpaid broadband connection is a waste of money if you won’t be using it regularly anyway. A postpaid broadband connection, after all, will give you Internet connectivity all the time, while a prepaid broadband connection will only let you access the Internet whenever you need to. Fiber broadband connections, however, only come as postpaid packages.

Others
Before you get your broadband connection or an upgrade to your existing one, consider other things too like customer service. The quality of customer service provided by your prospective Internet service provider is crucial. Find one that has good reviews on its customer service, or one that offers services 24/7. How a company treats their customers is also telling of how good their service is. Ask your friends or colleagues about what Internet service providers they have as this can help you decide which broadband plan to get, and from which company.

Also consider what freebies are included in your broadband package. Some Internet providers hand out cable or broadband televisions with their packages. Depending on what you need and how much your monthly expenditures are, packages with add-ons like these might be better for you. Once you have everything down, then you’re ready to purchase your new broadband plan and get connected with the rest of the world.

[tags]

Budget 2014: What’s in it for the Malaysian youth?

• By CompareHero.my
• October 29, 2013

Concern over the welfare of young Malaysians have been raised after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib made the Budget 2014 announcement last Friday. Groups pointed out that next year’s budget lacked opportunities to resolve socio-economic problems being faced by the youth, the most glaring of which include lack of better employment opportunities and debt.  The abolition of sugar subsidies, as well as the proposed implementation of a 6% goods and services tax (GST) are only bound to make matters worse for the young labour force.

Underemployment and Debt

Unemployment is not so much a problem for most young Malaysians as is underemployment, which refers to “a mismatch between career aspiration, skills, and expectations of a person to his or her actual job,” according to the International Labour Organisation. As a result, Malaysia is one of those developing countries with a massive case of “brain drain,” which refers to the loss of talent when bright, young workers decide to seek better job opportunities abroad. One in 10 Malaysians with tertiary education migrates to OECD countries to search for a better job.

Steven Sim Chee Keong, MP for Bukit Mertajam, raises the problem of service debts among young Malaysians. According to him, 82.5% of workers below age 30 earns monthly income of less than RM3,000. They are faced with certain socio-economic pressures including having to repay education loans, on top of a rampant culture of consumerism and lenient credit regulations that of course lead to serious indebtedness.

Keong holds the belief that young Malaysians will not be better off in a decade if no “substantial reforms” are made.

Ray of Light to Young Techpreneurs

On the bright side, there is some promising level of support from the Malaysian government for the local tech startup ecosystem and young entrepreneurs. Details are yet to be provided but it was announced that the government will allocate RM50 million for the establishment of the Malaysian Global and Creativity Center (MaGIC), which was first announced by Najib during the Global Entrepreneurship Summit last October 11.

MaGIC will be intended to house an integrated database, as well as incubators, for young entrepreneurs. It will also be assisting them in terms of funding, business matching, filing for patents, and business facilities. Malaysia has previously announced plans to turn the country into an “entrepreneurial nation” and MaGIC is expected to play a key role by providing guidance and training up to 5,000 entrepreneurs every year – all under one roof.

Other Budget 2014 Highlights

Other highlights of Budget 2014 is the announcement of “cooling off” measures to decrease housing loan debt. In the first eight months of 2013, home loan growth had already stood at 8.4% and is projected to reach up to 13% by the end of the year. At the same time, major public investments reaching up to RM106 billion would be set aside for the development of the West Coast Expressway, a double-tracking rail project along the west coast of Malaysia, the various projects under Petronas’ RM300 billion capex program.

The government will also invest RM1.8 billion for the provision of internet facilities to benefit up to 2.8 million households in the country. In Sabah and Sarawak, new underwater cables will be constructed in the next three years to increase internet access to rural areas.

Government support for tech entrepreneurial ventures, coupled with improved internet facilities on a nationwide scale, should provide exciting opportunities for young Malaysians. Entrepreneurial success would also require bright minds and ambition – two things the Malaysian youth definitely do not lack. The tech startup scene in Asia is definitely heating up and we just might see more tech startups from Malaysia making it big in the next few years – if the government delivers its promise and the youth find ways to take advantage of new opportunities.

[tags]

Budget 2014: A Difficult Act for Government

• By CompareHero.my
• October 25, 2013

The 2013 budget for Malaysia was designed to win votes, from BR1M and cellphone rebates to reduced costs on repayment loans for students and many more. So has this been a year to take advantage of and now we need to repay the losses?

With warnings from international analysis about tightening up and making the budget deficit smaller, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak is anticipated to be grounded this time around while making budget decisions.
Middle class families with RM4,000 – RM7,000 a month income have been largely overlooked and are ineligible for the many government funding opportunities since 2012.

Simply because they earn “too much” The middle class largely misses out on medical services, BR1M and PTPTN loans. They also do not qualify for smartphone rebates and other government funding plans.

“I am hoping the government will give us some of the cash back that we have paid through taxes, we as Malaysians need this help,” said Thomas Fu, a local food stall owner said.

Today, the government has acknowledged to assist the middle class but to what extent remains to be seen. After all, what could be seen as assistance from government can be interpreted as extra woes for middle class.

Today’s budget will be a difficult one for the Malaysian government to put together – between supporting the lower income groups, making sure the middle classes are able to make ends meet also putting measures in place for a worsening debt position.
[tags]