Knowledge seekers - Gaya Travel Nusantara.

We're always plowing for good reads so we'll be featuring what we like on the magazine rack and what we will pass, here. So that you spend your 10 bucks wisely or waste it on something else.

Gaya Travel Nusantara is a travel magazine which also has a corresponding website. It's got a frequent collaboration with the tourism ministry, featuring their version of group travels called 'Kembara ZOOM!' (for those of you who don't know, ZOOM! is the promotional name for Malaysia's domestic tourism. Why ZOOM!? Without realizing it, the question mark after the exclamation is really quite apt here. Why!? Hmm. But that's a different debate altogether). Anyway, the magazine features main local tourism spots, interviews with tourism personnel, some information and knowledge on our local culture and heritage, some foreign travel attractions from our neighbours and recommendations of hotels. And this is our take:

Unique content: 6/10 - Features somethings which we never knew about our country. That could be partially due to our ignorance anyway.

Interesting content: 5/10 - Although we self-admit to be an ignorant bunch of doofus who don't know much about the heritage of 'Joget Pahang' but it doesn't mean that we're dying to find out either. But then again, I always think that content is a just another form of message. And every message has got an audience. It's just not what you say, but how you say it.

Content presentation: 4/10 - Horrendous but... Can close one eye... With great difficulty. One of the feature articles was hilarious. The entire two-page article was missing its 'i's. Although t wasn't d ff cult to read w thout the ' 's cause you can pretty much guess what the word s, but st ll, we've never seen such a publ cat on that challenges aud ence n such creat ve manner. Travel photos are key visuals in inspiring people to move, unfortunately, not so for Gaya Travel :/

Price: RM8.90 - Suggest you go buy a travel eye-mask from Watson instead.

We're not bashing. We just want things better.

Know your GTi #1.

I think it's shocking to know that most drivers do not know why it is so crucial to adjust the height of their steering wheel of their vehicle. The example shown below is from the Golf GTi (obviously our market version will be a right-hand drive). There is a lever below the steering wheel which when opened and pushed below will release the steering wheel's lock (refer to red arrow). Of which then, the steering wheel's height can be adjusted freely. Contrary to popular belief, you shouldn't be adjusting the height according to your shoulder's height but should be adjusted to Xcm from your chest. For the Golf GTi, the recommended optimum distance is 25cm from the driver's breast bone. This is to ensure when airbags are inflated in the event of an accident, the driver is fully protected.

Also, when adjusting the steering wheel, ensure that the surface is pointing towards your chest and not face (refer to yellow arrow). This is very important during the inflation of airbags. This is one time, you don't want something to blow up on your face. Literally.

So check with your manufacturer to find out what is the optimum distance between you and your steering wheel so that you know you're well-protected.

Photo from www.kereta.info

We'll have more GTi tips and insider's knowledge from time to time. Follow us to get wired ;)

A new look for City's Weekend Escapades.

Can be found here. We're still looking for new ideas to how best deliver content that is user-centric. Especially with the notorious limitation of Facebook. But of course, the more $$$, the limitations become less obvious.

I think it's getting better and better each time, but still could be better ;)

A whole new dimension of Safety Technology.

While we were busy on crash test and G-force control and minimizing pedestrian injury and what not, look what Mercedes-Benz has been doing? It really tells us something about our times, doesn't it?
I mean bullets, yea, that's the norm. But hand grenades?

Learning to be a (great) planner 101 #2.

Agency myth: There will be monies allocated to do all the research you want about the brand, the product and your target market.

Correction: Yea right. Show me this agency and I'll show you a self-sacrificial government leader.

I've been thrown the same question by a lot of people lately. Why on earth am I doing what I'm doing when it's not supposed to be done by me? Well, going back to the myth above. No. Agencies do not have a bottomless pit for planners to research whether formally or not. Not the money, not the time (time spared is money burnt, some thinks) and definitely not the manpower (or woman). That's why it would be important to use every opportunity for self-initiatives and if possible try something new. Execute something you've never done. Exchange roles with someone who complains a lot about what they do. Do something different other than researching, reading and planning. To a certain extent, executing activations especially on-ground events where there are great opportunities for physical human interaction, these are great grounds for planners to find out more about their target, the product, the brand. For free. In a way. Observe and learn. Multitasking stretches your perspective to a spectrum of possibilities you never thought possible.

I'm doing what I'm doing because it will eventually add on to what I should be doing, that's why.

Socialism x MJ.

Eternal moonwalk - A tribute to Michael Jackson.

Finally finally finally, a tribute that wipes tears away and puts a smile back on people's face. But still very heartwarming ;) Nice job.

Sparks spotted at Urbanscapes!

Look who found us ;)