An Idea Came With The Storm

An idea came during the crazy storm just now. Since my blog has many travel and lifestyle content, why didn’t I place a hotel search box on it as well?

Storm was so heavy I had to shut down the PC and I am not so well versed with the Drupal CMS. Needed to research on Google. Could not do it when lightning strikes were getting very rowdy.

Anyway, it is all calm now and the search box is up on the top of the right hand sidebar on every page on the blog. Just search when you read about a place or city you like. The search results open in a new tab, or page or window depending on how your browser is configured.

Of course; one cannot place the search box on any website. Fortunately, my blog is an approved affiliate partner site with its own unique CID or tracking ID.

You can now search and book a hotel from here http://www.tvsmith.my/ or here http://www.mycen.my/

Announcing A New Feature At MyCen Hotels

Agoda introduced a new search box to its affiliate partners via a webinar recently. Was the first time I sat through a webinar and found it very effective and informative. The video was clear and smooth, the audio very good. Amazing how much difference a good broadband connection makes. Another significant positive fact was that the manager answered all my questions later via e-mail. See screenshot of the new search box attached.

The new search box is claimed to provide better conversion, better precision with auto suggest, is mobile friendly and has better functionality, among other things. I am averse to making changes as the previous search panel worked. Like most web things, technical support will end eventually for the old. Tech companies call it “deprecated”.
I spent much time helping users find a specific hotel which some couldn’t because of sloppy spelling while searching. People are used to spell correction on Google Search. I don’t mind. PM or e-mail me anytime. Hopefully, the new search boxes can help alleviate this with auto suggestions. If you spelled “Xiaman”, it should suggest “Xiamen, China”

Most of my time is spent creating specific destinations to make it easier to find hotels in that area or city. I am placing the new search box on the sidebar of every page. It means a user can easily search to find over 1.4 million properties in any part of the world, many with discounted rates. Be it Sacramento, Kuala Krai, Vladivostok, Bagan or Asunción, for example.

Try it on the site. MyCen Hotels – http://www.mycen.my/

On the search results page. the rates are shown in your local currency as determined via your browser. You can change it and the language at the top of the results page. You can also change the check in / check out dates.

It takes a lot of work but it is the nature of running a business. I need to get it to work as I have no revenue for now after my hospitalization. Irony is, I have more time to work on it since I have no work. There are more challenges in the business model which I will explain later.

To the many who booked through me; thank you for your support. Please share this with a friend or friends who travel.

Update: You can now access the search box on the right hand side bar on every page of this blog. It is right on top on right.

Get A Room – Mycen Hotels – http://www.mycen.my/

#agoda #affiliate #mycenhotels #travel #newsearch #hotelbooking #hotels

Exodus Via Kukup

Exodus Via Kukup.

I saw an article in the NST today that Kukup Ferry Terminal was gridlocked as 12,000 Indonesians head home for holidays. I knew I have a pic of the Immigration and ferry terminal archived somewhere. Am happy I found the folder effortlessly. It was taken on 19th June 2010 with my Olympus EPL-1. Remember this place, Emily Lowe?

The great thing about finding a digital file, unlike negatives or slides is that the digital medium remains pristine. There are no fungus, dust. scratches or hair to worry about, In fact the tools of 2017 ‘s Photoshop made it even better.

The Immigration building is quiet and peaceful on a normal day unlike today or yesterday. NST showed a pic of long queues inside the terminal. Kukup is a small fishing village in the Pontian District, Johor. It is famous for its open-air seafood restaurants built on stilts over the water. Regularly scheduled ferries connect Kukup with Tanjung Balai in Indonesia.

I remember many of the houses on stilts were converted into family homestay and hotels. All with air cond and karaoke rooms.

For hotels see nearby Pontian Kecil: http://www.mycen.my/pontian-kecil-hotel-deals-finder/

#kukup #johor #ferryterminal #indonesia #fishingvillage #pontian #travel #roadtrip #coastal