Thailand Road Trip Day06 & 07.

December 29, 2012 | Saturday

I think, I've wrongly arrange our day tour. Supposed setting up the up the unpopular tour during weekends and the popular ones during weekdays. Nah... done this before, but trying to get the most outstanding travel experience for wifey...

Today we took speed boat towards the beautiful island. Most people visit KRABI and PHUKET will do the same. I can say it's the most popular tour at KRABI. See the scenic limestone island, crystal clear water, tropical fish and corals (personally I prefer PULAU PERHENTIAN/PERHENTIAN ISLAND)...

There's lots and lots of people around. But as always I'll find and excuse to do what I do best... observing people. ;) and this time I'm NOT doing it alone. I'm traveling with my wife... I have someone to talk too.

Our rides around PHI PHI ISLANDs

Since, the price of having a normal boat and speed boat NOT that much a different. We took the fastest one... hehe. FAST = MORE ISLAND... maybe. Quarter from our boat passenger are occupied by indonesian graduate student from BANDUNG, Indonesia. It is nice to know that they backpacking all around SEA heading back to KL the next day and fly back to Indonesia. I wish during my early days backpacking I have lots of friends tag along and having the same interest. :P It looks pretty fun...

Bamboo Island

Our first stop is the Bamboo Island. Clear crystal blue water... white sandy beaches and LOTS OF PEOPLE!... hahahaha... it's hard to point your lens trying to portray barren beach with NO people inside. There's always people in every corner. :P nothing much to do here... me and wifey just walk along the beach... observing people. :P

Towards MAYA BEACH

Then we heading to MAYA BEACH. Ever remember the beautiful scenery in LEONARDO DiCAPRIO THE BEACH Movie... yes.. actually this is a man made heaven. They carefully planting all the trees and make route towards the small beach between a limestone carst. Nowadays, there's only sand... :(

I think most Island hew in PHI PHI LEH is under Thailand National park management. 

My previous experience here... there's small beach coming from that hole

The gem of MAYA BAY... the clear water... 

 I know what I need to do here in MAYA BAY... taking lots and lots of pictures. Since, wifey want to rest and hangout at the boat. I run towards the little beach for a snap or two or more... again there's a lots of people around.

The tour at MAYA BAY ended less than an hour. Then we headed for lunch at PHI PHI DON... I believe the biggest Island among all PHI PHI Islands. Then there's a snorkeling activities... jumping from the speed boats. Corals and fishes...

Lunch

We headed back to KRABI burn out and tired. At night we just packed most of our things for a long drive towards MALAYSIA on SUNDAY and sleep early.

Going back to KRABI

December 30, 2012 | Sunday

We started our journey almost afternoon. Heading straight towards HATYAI... the drive was very pleasant. With a little rain and less vehicles. Arrived in HATYAI 6 hours later... having our lunch and decided to drive straight towards BUKTI KAYU HITAM... by the time we reached there it was 7pm.

Going out from THAILAND is straight fowards. We need to declare our the car and return the documents and before we know it... we're in MALAYSIA border. :)

It has been more than 9 hours drive... both of us are worn out. So, I decided to stop at TAIPING R&R hotel and call it a day...

So there you have it... the overall journey of our SOUTHERN THAILAND ROAD TRIP... if you have the time & money try to do the same thing... and share your experience.

Thanks for reading my blog
Happy travel. :)

Thailand Road Trip Day05

December 28, 2012

If you're looking for recent post about RoadTrip Southern Thailand... click here.
Thailand Road Trip Day01
Thailand Road Trip Day02

Actually it's our 3rd DAY in KRABI and 5th day since we left AMPANG, KL... if you guys wan to know.

Both of us love cycling so much, it would NOT be complete if there's NO cycling in KRABI right. So, we found a very good day-tour company that can help us with that. The activity started a little bit outskirts from KRABI. Again we waited for VAN to took us there. Since, we put all of our bicycle gear inside the car (helmet & gloove) we just bring them along. :)

Mr. fish got dried. :P

I wish I bring my bike along... but they provided very decent bike for you to cycle with. :) most of them TREKs. The good thing about this trip is there will be a support vehicle if you don't feel like cycle along the way... or suddenly you got sick or didn't have the stamina to do it... but the downside from that, they will go to any single track or technical terrain that most MTB rider are looking for. Since, all members may NOT an avid rider or have a different level of stamina... support vehicle seems to be right. :) If you dream to have that kind of adventure... I have the guide numbers and he can bring you to see DINOSAURS!... nah riders... pack your bags.. load your bike and drive to KRABI and experience yourselves. :)

I like the tour very much despite we ride mildly towards waterfall... the guide give a talk about the plantation and terrain the history and everything. It's like being in a safari + museum with a friendly narrator. :) if you ever wondering what is it felt like cycling here... it's like cycling in PLENTONG during dry season. Sometimes flat sometimes hilly... and sometimes you need to cycle on a HOT open track.

Kesian isteri saya kayuh panas... tapi dia tak sentuh pun itu support vehicle. Sangat2 proud pada itu orang.

Even though it was a VERY HOT day... riding along southern thai people villages always intrigues me. Not only thai people villages, any villages will always intrigues me... hehehe... everyone on the journey set their mind towards HUAI WATERFALLS out last pit stop... some of us quit cycle and sit in the comfortable support vehicle. But wifey keep on going regardless all the tortured... climb + HOT day. I really2 proud of her... I really2 do.

Aishh... paham aku kan. :P

After a couple of hours cycle we arrived at KHAO PHANOMBENCHA National Park. You're NOT allowed to bring your bike to the waterfall. The national park is properly manage and the entrance was huge... you could find mostly anything you need here. Camp... rangers... but it is quite here. Less tourist.

Most of us went straight towards HUAI waterfall. Taking a plunge would be the ultimate thing to do after cycle for hours under the blazing heat sun.

Huay Waterfall

Taking pictures before heading back to our VAN.
Tired, sunbrun... sore leg... headache... backache... day well spent. hahaha...

Do you know there're 80% ~ 90% muslims in KRABI. HALAL food is NOT an issue. :)

Thailand Road Trip Day04

December 27, 2012

We do everything steady in KRABI. One activity per DAY. :) today me and wifey decided to do KAYAKING... they have plenty KAYAKING activity here in KRABI. One towards RAILAY, AO THALANE and BOR THOR they have great scenic sea KAYAK adventure. Most of our adventure being was arrange by a day-travel agency below our hostel/hotel. :)

A tuk tuk took us from KRABI towards AO THALANE with other guest... less than an hour I guess. :P the journey took us out from KRABI main center... passing by limestone towards AO THALANE.

The jetty

KRABI is famous for its limestone casting out from the sea. If you been to HALONG BAY in VIETNAM the scenery is a little bit similar. At first we paddle out to an open sea towards a mongrove forest. The water have less current to fight with... so, if you're a beginner it should be a problem. And everybody in the team took care of each other. An it was a very HOT day... :P

Itu dia isteri saye

We paddle fast behind the guide before enter the mongrove... hehehe so maybe if we are tired, we can eat/drink while waiting for others. hahaha. The first leg of the tour was paddling through narrow mongrove trees. Once in a while you'll be paddling beside a limestones as high as your eyes can see. The only animal that we accounter was the good old MONKEY. I'm hoping to see crocs, but realizing you're few inches from the water and your wife are with it;s NOT a good idea. :P hahaha

Previously this is a crocodile nest. :P

Before we go out to the open sea, the tour going trough a really high limestone felt like you are paddling down a gorge. It's a surreal feeling. It was really2 beautiful.

It took us around 3~4 hours to complete the course. We're really fight the current while at the open sea... struggling towards the jetty. Funny it became a race towards jetty amongst the guest... hahaha at least I did. Paddling hard to get to the jetty first. Ended up 2nd... duh. :P but we tried our best..

The tuk tuk took us back to KRABI main center... and we walk along the beach towards food stall for LUNCH. It is KRABI street food at its best!... large portion, delicious and most importantly CHEAP... hehe..

We get back  and spend the rest of the sunlight at our hotel. My arms are killing me... :P hehehe
Then at night we caught ourselves looking for a decent REGGAE bar. :) 

Thailand Road Trip Day03

December 26, 2012 | 4:45pm
La Casa Restaurant, Ao Nang Beach, Krabi, THAILAND

La Casa Restaurant

Walk in towards HOSTEL/HOTEL is just as adventurous as the journey... we just need to wait almost 5 hours to check in. Luckily there's room to accommodate us while almost every traveler flooding over AO NANG beach for NEW YEARS CELEBRATION. So, I'm killing the time with writing... :)

We started our journey from HATYAI around 7am... having our breakfast along THANON PHETKASEM road. Again it was a simple muslim restaurant... having a ROTI PRATA in THAILAND is a new thing for me. :P never heard siamese people flipping ROTI before.... for me ROTI will always be a INDIAN cuisine. Surprisingly, the ROTI was very soft and delicious. hehehe... we consume 3 pieces each... and a small coffee'..

Breakfast before heading towards Krabi

Heading towards AO NANG Krabi will fill my curiosity about the road condition... will it be 2 lane highway like we experience since we enter THAILAND from BUKIT KAYU HITAM?

From HATYAI we drove towards PHATTALUNG... not more than 100 clicks... the road condition is marvelous. It was a 2 way highway... passing by small villages. Before reaching PHATTALUNG there's a intersection towards TRANG... turning left towards TRANG is another 60 clicks. The road become much more smaller... however, the road shoulder is still wide for motorcyclist or cyclist. So, again... cyclist tourer... your call.. trees will accompany you along the way. Whenever the weather is too challenging... the ride should be very pleasant.

Driving towards Phattalung then Trang

Just after TRANG wildlife sanctuary... the road shrink to a single-two-way road. Crossing mountains... winding roads NOT more than 20 clicks before it became flat again. Right before reaching TRANG the road became 2 way highway back until reach KRABI...

crossing the mountains from Phattalung (East) to Trang (West)

Make a quick stop at KRABI for lunch and a short visit at WAT KAEW TEMPLE... and ask for direction towards AO NANG. LONELY PLANET have few information about driving towards AO NANG from KRABI... our maps doesn't have AO NANG in it. :P hehehe...

Lunch at KRABI

Wat Kaew Temple

We drove towards PHANG-NGA... right after exiting KRABI there's junction towards PHANG-NGA, PHUKET and SURAT THANI... turn back towards KRABI... check out junction on the right few kilometer ahead for AO NANG...

........ check in. :)

Thailand Road Trip Day02

December 25, 2012 | 9:00pm
V.L. HATYAI HOTEL, HatYai, Songkhla, THAILAND

The Hotel

AIN is NOT feeling well today. So, I decided to stay in HATYAI another day. Need to make sure she feeling well before continue the journey. Ao Nang Mueang is 4 hours drive from HATYAI (taken from the google maps) we'll need the energy to pursue the journey. 

I consecutively going to 7ELEVEN for smoke and buying food during her rest. Luckily she recover afternoon... having shrimps tomyam noodle cup... rest and go walking around the streets. Again having our late lunch at on of the muslim restaurant... simple with tasty food. 

Wondering around the markets and ended up buying 9 palazzo pants for RM120. :) awesome.. then a tie dye shirt and mc hammer pants :P. hehehe... then we return to our hotel.

RM120 for 9... :P

Later when it's was dark... we went out again buying some street stall food and went back again. 

That's all for the day... :)
Tomorrow Ao Nang Mueang... hehehe

Thailand Road Trip Day01

December 24, 2012 | 9:00pm
V.L. HATYAI HOTEL, HatYai, Songkhla, THAILAND


Greetings friends.
It has been a while. :P lazy lazy lazy editor...

It was my dream to drive all the way to from south MALAYSIA crossing THAILAND border... maybe hang around at HAT YAI... or visit KRABI again. Or maybe extend the road-trip towards PHUKET or BANGKOK... or even maybe towards CHIANG MAI... there's a lots of possibilities when you have the power of transportation. There's NO time limit... racing towards bus station to catch bus to the next destination. Bringing your own transportation really gives you the freedom to explore.. giving the extra time that you need to be in places.

One thing about crossing THAILAND border that intimidates me is the hassle of getting the CAR insurances and CARNET of free tax import/export for your CAR. However, I'm NOT going to know how far is the hassle if I'm NOT going to experience it myself right? so, finding the answer really intrigues me.

Next thing you know... I'm at HATYAI, writing this to you guys while my lovely wife happily snoozing. :P awesome!

We start our journey as early as 7am... while KLANG VALLEY inhabitants starting to pack the roads for morning rush. Slowly having our breakfast... relax and entering DUKE towards IPOH. It was a bliss to experience that road cramping are NOT even started yet. :P

The eye opener... :P

Approaching SG PERAK

Taking turns drive along the northern PLUS highway... passing slightly congested SEBERANG PRAI around 1130am.. having our LUNCH at GURUN an hour later. It stated that BUKIT KAYU HITAM is another 70 clicks plus..

We realize after JITRA TOLL booths... the highway became a little bit different. Still manages by PLUS but it looks like a urban main road. The more you go further towards CHANGLUN... the sights changes from small city towards rubber plantation. Along the way you'll find quite a few rest area... with lots of buses towards HatYai. As the THE CAR GUYS explained "and industrial like building with restaurant, money changer and CAR insurance service".. we too stop at CTC. Get, our CAR insurance RM17 (they filled up our embarkation card... ).. and change BATHs.

Look for this on your left.

I never experience anything like this before. I've cross many borders... and drive towards SINGAPORE countless times. But, drive towards THAILAND... is something else.

Insurance Office/Money Changer on the left.

After getting the CAR insurance... we drove towards MALAYSIA immigration. The concept is similar to MALAYSIA immigration towards WOODLANDS or TUAS in SINGAPORE... but it's far more smaller than that... a little bit congested... however we got our passport scan not more than 30 minutes.

Then... the THAILAND border.
Based on recommendations and suggestions from friends and fellow bloggers... we park our car before entering the main gate. Walk towards the immigration... get our passport stamp (they asked for RM1... bizarre :P). Then, proceed to custom booth No. 9... bringing our car registration paper (GRANT) with latest road tax update with the recently purchase THAI car insurance. The owner of the car need to present this with his/her passport... then they will release the CARNET. Get the CARNET cop & sign at the same booth (different window).. then off you go!
note: you can use photocopy of your GRANT... not necessarily the ORIGINAL.

Approaching MALAYSIA immigration/custom

We park our car before the immigration/custom office

We walk back towards our car... and drive it towards the customs. I think the whole process doesn't take more than 30 minutes. It looks difficult... but, it WAS not that bad. Then... slowly try to adapt the THAILAND road habits and carefully drove towards SADAO... it was 90 clicks towards Hat Yai from Thailand immigration office.

Sadao

CYCLIST!... I've touring southern THAILAND back in 2008. Thailand roads have quite amount of road shoulder reserve for cycling enthusiast... it still really does. So, if you felt like doing it... GO FOR IT!..

We arrived in HAT YAI around 4pm... I don't have any GPS. :P hehehe.. but more likely preferred to use a MAP.. try to figure out the location. Finding landmarks... an hour later we stop at V.L. HATYAI HOTEL... 980bath/night. With CAR park...

We walk around shops nearby in the evening.. having dinner.. absorbing the customs.. and night life. They're lots of MALAYSIAN cars passing through... we just another MALAYSIAN tourist in HATYAI enjoying their daily life. :)

HatYai

Tomorrow... AO NANG MUEANG.