Chiang Mai RoadTrip

Latest excursion. I'll be writing about this road-trip plans in a couple of days including itinerary, cost, length and time. So far the itinerary of the journey will cover...

A) Johor Bahru, Johor
B) Changlun, Kedah
C) Chumphon, Thailand
D) Phra Nakhon, Thailand
E) Chiang Mai, Thailand
F) Bangkok, Thailand
G) Chumphon, Thailand
H) Hatyai, Thailand
I) Penang
J) Johor Bahru, Johor

Estimated the journey will took approximate 13 days with appropriate rest day in Chiang Mai and Bangkok... :)

*****

Ethiopia everybody??

Hi patches. Starting from today I'll try to dig anything about you... your past, present and maybe future. I have only 9 days including flight from KUALA LUMPUR to ADDIS ABABA to experience anything you can offer. Hopefully I'm able to cross any neighboring countries and return back to MALAYSIA from there.

Based on my brief web crawling forum and such. 9 days is NOT enough to rummaged through you. I need to carefully arranged time and itinerary to ensure 9 days is sufficient to understand most of you. 

LALIBELA and AXUM at the north is a MUST since religion, history and extraordinary landscape is something that I always look for abroad. However, down south SHASHEMENE always intrigue me... if the RASTA community is still happening. So, a mix of north and south then...

THE PLAN

A - AXUM (axum to mek'ele is 191km)

B - MEK'ELE (mek'ele to lalibela is 290km)

C - LALIBELA (lalibela to addis ababa is 690km)

D - ADDIS ABABA (addis ababa to shashemene is 248km)

E - SHASHEMENE

note: kilometers length taken from Google Maps. The journey from one place to another may took a lot of hours since it going through a lot of mountains and possibly bad road conditions.

• DAY 00 - Fly from KUALA LUMPUR towards (D) ADDIS ABABA via BANGKOK. Cost per person for Economy around MYR4K. The trip would be around 7 hours.
• DAY 01 - Hangout at (D) ADDIS ABABA for a day... prepare to fly towards (A) AXUM for the next day.
• DAY 02 - Flight from (D) ADDIS ABABA to (A) AXUM. Cost about MYR1K per person. The journey is around 1 hour. Arrived at (A) AXUM check-in and plan tour for the next day.
• DAY 03 - (A) AXUM
• DAY 04 - Land travel from (A) AXUM to (B) MEK'ELE... 191km. took about 7 hours land. Possible journey starts morning after breakfast. Arrived.. check-in and discover (B) MEK'ELE. Plan for next day trip to (C) LALIBELA. note: travel journey hours are NOT confirm yet.
• DAY 05 - Land travel from (B) MEK'ELE to (D) LALIBELA. 290km 10 hours drive... note: travel journey hours are NOT confirm yet.
• DAY 06 - (D) LALIBELA
• DAY 07 - Land from (D) LALIBELA to (D) ADDIS ABABA... 674km... it took around 2 days via KOMBOLCHA.
• DAY 08 - KOMBOLCHA to (D) ADDIS ABABA...
• DAY 09 - (D) ADDIS ABABA return back to KUALA LUMPUR. MYR4K for 7 hours.

yikes... I missed SHASHEMENE. Need to read and study more about the terrain and travel time. Till then... 

ETHIOPIA awaits.

Phuket By CAR. :)

It has been a while. :P sorry... so the next adventure would be... driving towards PHUKET via Ao Nang. There's a lot of Malaysian and Singaporean have done it. My friends have done it... so, it's time for me to do it. The itinerary should be like this.

A - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

B - Bukit Kayu Hitam, Malaysia

C - Sadao, Thailand

D - Hatyai, Songkhla, Thailand

E - Krabi, Thailand

F - Ao Nang Meuang, Krabi, Thailand

G - Phuket, Thailand

In 2008, I've cycle Padang Besar, Malaysia towards Sadao straight towards KRABI... then cycle east towards Surat Thani... and return back to Padang Besar via Train. (KRABI ke SURAT THANI) it was pure fun. Even though by cycling you'll get in touch with the locals more... it requires lots of time. Driving may have different travel experience then cycling, sure it going to be a new fun for me.

Current reference

1. The Car Guys

2. RajRidVan

3. ThaiVisa.com

more to come... :)

if you guys have any tips... please do NOT hesitate to share it with me. 

Spend your 10 days annual leaves in Indo-China

Budget.
- Flight ticket from Ho Chi Minh City to Kuala Lumpur ($$ varies)
- Change RM500 to Thai Bath
- USD300

Itinerary
A - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
B - Butterworth, Penang, Malaysia
C - Bangkok, Thailand
D - Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo, Thailand
E - Siem Riep, Cambodia
F - Phnom Penh, Cambodia
G - Ho Chi Minh, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Note: Fellow Malaysian... in ASEAN country. You'll get 14 days max free entry VISA. So, don't need to prepared your VISA in advance. For JOHOREAN... it's like entering SINGAPORE. ok :)

Butterworth Train Station

DAY 1 - Try to reach BUTTERWORTH before 11am... because you'll need to purchase train ticket towards BANGKOK, departure 2:30pm. Cost around RM120/berth (excluded from our budget above).

Train Sleeper/Berth

Hualompong Train Station, Bangkok, Thailand

DAY 2 - You'll arrived at Hualamphong Train station, BANGKOK around 10:00am... get transport to KAO SAN ROAD. If you're alone... try share your transportation cost with other traveler. Check-in any hostel or room. Make sure you booked you bus towards SIEM RIEP, CAMBODIA on DAY 4. It will cost you maximum Bath600 (RM60). Then, hangout with other traveler, explore KAO SAN and the CITY.
Note: Previously I travel from Siem Riep towards Kao San Road... it took around 12 hours. A lot of traveler complaining scam relatively about NO connecting transport after the border. However, in my case... I have a smooth travel even after border. A huge bus awaits after the immigration points. Do check various travel/transportation agencies before you purchase your tickets.

Grand Palace, Bangkok, Thailand

DAY 3 - Explore Floating Market, Grand Palace (WAT PHRA KAEO) and in the afternoon go towards CHATUCHAK WEEKEND MARKET.

DAY 4 - Your day 4 eventually will be spent on the road. It took 12 hours (3 hours from KAO SAN towards ARANYANPRAHET) and remaining hours from the border towards SIEM RIEP. The journey, immigration, and road towards SIEM RIEP is unvarying interesting as your destination. Arrived at SIEM RIEP early evening... There's a lot of good accommodation around SIEM RIEP, head downtown or around national road 6 for cheap accommodation below RM50. Try to get bus towards PHNOM PENH on DAY 7. Or booked it tomorrow.

Angkot Wat, Siem Riep, Cambodia

Angkor Thom, Siem Riep, Cambodia

DAY 5 & 6 - Your task to is venture around ANGKOR RUINS, BENG MEALEA, BANTAEY SREI, PHNOM KULEN, TONLE SAP...

DAY 7 - Most buses depart from CHONG KOV SOU BUS STATION near PHSAR LOU 2km from town center. The bus will take National Road No.6 towards PHNOM PENH... it took around 6 hours. Then look for MEKONG EXPRESS for your trip towards HO CHI MINH CITY... cost about 60,000Riel the journey another 6 hours. Most likely you'll arrived at HCMC around mid evening. Try to booked your hostel in advance before arrival. Otherwise it's kinda hectic to find a place to rest from a long journey.

Bantaey Srei, Siem Riep, Cambodia

Baphuon, Siem Riep, Cambodia

Ta Phrom, Siem Riep, Cambodia

DAY 8 & 9 - There's a lot of Museums, Religious site and Parks that worth to visits. Try Binh Quoi at southern VIETNAM if you like nature and old culture. (I should elaborate more eh... albert if you reading this help me... hehehe)

DAY 10 - Heading back to KUALA LUMPUR by AIR. ;)

The budget given will cover your basic necessities (food, place to stay and most important your transportation). If you need to do a lot of shopping... please add extra money. ;)

Another option is to fly towards HO CHI MINH CITY, starts there and return back to MALAYSIA via CAMBODIA and THAILAND using land transportation. Try to avoid monsoon season, last year (2011) the train between BUTTERWORTH and BANGKOK is non function because of FLOOD. It will ruin the whole plan since the train is part of the journey.

Give it a try... you'll get 3 VISA stamp from THAILAND, CAMBODIA and VIETNAM in one trip. You can add another country stamp VISA if you flew from HCMC towards SINGAPORE... hehehehe. If you're SINGAPOREAN... definitely 4 stamps. :P

Go travel. Learn other culture, religion and history... the more you travel, the more you'll treat people equally.

Safe travel yo!.
p/s if you feel that my information is NOT complete or wrong... please don't hesitate to contact me back. :) My intentions is very clear, to encourage you to travel and LEARN.

DEMON

Purchase something online sometimes stressful. Most of the item on the amazon wont ship to malaysia... due for counterfeiting or credit card fault. Have been looking for BlackDiamond DEMON for quite sometimes. Well this is one of the advantages living near the border. You can just drive in Singapore and look for something and consider it a day/hour trip... and can do it again as you please. :P hehehe.

Well my previous post about travel is to scale down my pack. My concern is... most of us (working class malaysian) can take leave max 9 days. Consider weekend off day... then take 5 annual leaves from monday to friday. Then you'll get 2 saturdays and sundays for the whole trip.

I'm fortunate enough to be able take months paid leave to endure my traveling needs. However, that days soon to be over. But venturing out to other countries outback are still my ideal way of spending my leaves. So, I've decided to shorten my adventure... and make full of it. :)

BlackDiamond DEMON 36L

Likewise on my previous post. I need to change my pack, reduce it from 60l towards at least 40l. My search go down towards The North Face Prophet 40 of BlackDiamond DEMON.

Why reduce? I don't need to carry load of stuff for 9 ~ 14 days trip. Light packs makes it easy to explore more... it doesn't need a large space. Sometimes people pack more because they didn't plan their trips well, and some people just want to look cool carrying huge packs while they just spend max 5 days abroad... hehehehe. It's a personal choice. For me... my journey is the essence of my travel. So preparing for the journey is essential to me. Packs is part of that. :)

Why CRAG style packs? crag packs doesn't have lots of pockets. Since I used lots of separators, a single tube is sufficient. It is more secure then normal traveling packs/hiking packs. Less pockets equal to less possibility you bag prone to theft. nice uh?

Why DEMON? simple and light... prophet 40 is very unpopular around south east asia region. You'll find prophet 65 most of the time and buying online is a pain in the ass.

So again I took pictures just to share my thoughts about traveling packs and it is fun to be minimalist rather than carrying something you don't want or NOT that important. So, this might be a product review for DEMON too.

DEMON is a cragging specific pack. Most cragging packs doesn't have lot of pockets. For DEMON... it only have pockets on it top load. For pockets lovers... this might NOT be suitable for you. DEMON is a top load packs... like my previous The North Face Cresstone... DEMON top load is ZIP style NOT string pull to compress...

ZIP style top load (BlackDiamond DEMON 36l)

Typical pull string to compress top load. (The North Face Cresstone 60)

The advantages of ZIP top load is... easy access. Compare to string type top load where you need to tight it up and re-tight back again if you need to grab something on your main pack. However, disadvantages of having easy access is prone to theft. But, I found it way better for easy access if I decided to have smaller pack... and you can lock the ZIP. ;)

Packing comparison between 60l on my CRESSTONE and 36l on the new DEMON.

Packing on CRESSTONE (minus the yellow bag)

Surprisingly, most of the item above can fit in the new DEMON. However, books need to be reduce to one and I can't find a way to put my sleeping bag. Books problem solve since I'm NOT going to travel alone near future... if we decided to cross border... these books can be divide into another DEMON. ;) and I don't think at current age I will be spending outdoors again... hehehe I need to ensure my significant other safety and comfort. So, I ditch the sleeping bag... and hostel here we go!.

Packing on DEMON (toileteries bag NOT in the picture)

As you can see... most of the item on CRESSTONE is being reduce. I think this packing arrangement is sufficient for max 14 days in COLD WEATHER CONDITION. :) if warm weather places... the packing list should be reduces.

Black Diamond DEMON (I can hang my camera tripod at the DEMON)

So, that's about it. I'm very satisfied with my DEMON... although I haven't put into test yet. I know crag style packs is SUPER DURABLE. I just need to purchase rain cover for the packs incase of bad weather.

My opinions is very personal and based on my travel experience. If you found a better way... please do share.

And for the Working Class travelers... plan your leaves and read more before you travel. Envied at people who have the ability and capacity to travel longer period. However, It doesn't mean you can't experience what they experience. It just the matter of good planning and good information.

Don't stress yourselves on the itinerary. It the journey where you found the WOW factor. That's is the EPITOME OF DISTANCE.

Happy travel friends.
note: please mind my bad grammar... hehehehe sucks.

Packs

Hi... today I'm going to talk about packs. It seems that it is time for me to change my packs... I felt that my current CRESTONE 60 is to big for 14 days travels. I want to scale down towards 35 or 40 max. The daily job and future commitment won't allow me to travel months of even more. So, it's time for me slow down and concentrate on my responsibility. However, yearly travel will be a great escape from bustling workloads and daily life routine. I found remedy in travel.

Scaling down my packs towards 40 ltr max will be and ideal and practical way of spending 7 ~ 14 days backpacking. 

The North Face Prophet 40

BlackDiamond Demon

Travel packs... there're basic rules of choosing the right travel packs. As for me. :) based on my travels, most of the time I need to move fast. Transition between two transport need to be done quickly. Sometimes I need to hike and walk long hours. So, my packs need to be light, weather proof, and strong. So, that's the reason why you'll notice that my CRESTONE and future to be packs DEMON or PROPHET is a hiking packs.

So the difference between the new and the current is just... Crestone have lower compartment than the new model that I planned to changed. I need to sacrifice the compartment that usually I used to store flip flops and extra shoes or sleeping bags. Usually I'll try to fill up a lot of things for travel because there's an extra space but at the end having a bulky and heavy packs. So, next travel I'm determine to be minimalist. Lighter pack with only important things. 

For the past travels I've been implementing separator like these.

So packing going to be easy. :)

Last but NOT least. The important of hip belt/strap... I'm going to make sure the new packs have sturdy hip belt/strap because I will put most of my weight on my hip like this... 

Picture courtesy of DEUTER. :)

If weight being accumulated on your shoulder... it will definitely giving strain on your back for long hours walk. 

that's all for now. :) tata

Journey To The West (PacSafe)

Aku rasa... one of the reason orang tknak travel pakai backpack ni sbb safety.. aku pun pernah kena jgk barang hilang kalau check in backpack masa naik flight... notice tak banyak kocek2 kat atas bag dgn depan bag kan... prone to theft. 

So, bila aku beli bag northface ni bertahun yg dulu... aku jumpa salution dia.. dan tk ada lagi masalah serupa sehingga kini. hehehe.. pakai PacSafe... PacSafe backpack protector... 

Backpack...

Backpack + raincover

Backpack + raincover

Backpack + raincover + PacSafe backpack protector

Backpack + raincover + PacSafe backpack protector

ada orang suka balut jer PacSafe backpack protector tu tkde rain cover... tapi aku suka balut dgn rain cover dulu.. sebelum balut dgn PacSafe backpack protector tuh... sbb kocek2 yg ber'zip smue tertutup dgn rain cover... orang tk bleh ler seluk.. menyeluk... hehe

lock

lock

Backpack + raincover + PacSafe backpack protector

jadik mcm tu ler aku meng'security kan bag travel tika nak check in flight.. hand carry tk payah ler... :)

harap dapat membantu...

terima kasih kerana membaca...

Journey To The West.. Packing version II

Rasa2 nak tau barang2 apa yg biasa aku bawak bila travel... aku akan explain secara panjang lebar. Like I said before, each an everyone of you have personal preferences... jadi, mana yg rasa nak ikut... dipersilakan. Ini adalah barang2 yang aku bawak bila travel jauh2... especially ke tempat2 yg sejuk.

Ini ler barang2 nyer.

dari kiri bawah: gadget2 (charger, HDD, etc), buff, boxer, winter socks, glove, base layer, toiletries, sleeping bag, kasut/slipar.

dari kiri atas: camera bag, tri-climate jacket, clothing, buku2 travel, main bag.

Kebiasaan barang2 yg aku bawak ni berbeza antara satu travel dgn travel yg lain... tapi aku akan pastikan aku bawak 2 bag. Satu besar... yg merah tu.. satu kecik utk day trip. Since, dah ada camera ala2 poyo hi-tech nih... beg kecik tu merangkap beg camera jgk lah...

so, secara kasar'nya daripada gambar diatas ye... bermula dari kanan/bawah..

Marell, Goretex The North Face, slipar jepang

antara bende2 wajib utk aku... selipar mesti kena ada.. pastu kasut tengah tu aku punyer main travel shoe... merangkap hiking boots, during journey shoe... perjalanan antara satu bandar/pekan ke bandar/pekan yg lain... yg belah kiri tu... standby... akan dipakai kat tempat2 yg kurang sejuk... pasal tu tk payah pakai stokin.. senang nak bukak bila visit tempat2 yg nak kena bukak kasut.. mcm mesjid, temples...

Sleeping Bags

Pastu sleeping bag... sleeping bag ni aku bawak g memana.. Driving/road trip pun bawak just in case. Tapi utk trip ni sebenarnya sleeping bag ni tak sesuai.. kalau korang perasan temprature comfort zone dia +18c... ikut kan aku kena pakai yg -15c sbb rata2 tempat aku pegi paling panas pun +15... paling sejuk -20c... hehe.. tapi budget tkde... terpaksa redha.. lagi pun aku tkde plan nak camping pun... jgn jadi macam kat Gunung Hua tahun lepas... sejuk giler terlajak nak mampus.. tido atas gunung dgn sleeping bag ni... hehe... kalau korang ada budget beli yg proper punyer.. ni aku terpaksa gamble katak..

Toiletries

Dalam banyak2 barang travel... bag toiletries ni yg paling lama sekalik. Pada aku.. mende paling praktikal dalam hidup2 berkelana aku nih... bende2 berair nih di satukan dalam satu bag.. pastu dia boleh gantung.. nak mandi senang.. berus gigi senang.. senang ler dalam toilet tuh.. hehe.. :D sangat recommend.

Winter clothing

hah.. barang2 ni nak kena ada bila pegi tempat bawah takat beku... bawah 10c pun rasa2 relevant. Utk trip ni aku bawak 2 stokin, 2 base layer kaki... dgn satu glove... pastu letak dalam beg separator merah macam kat gambar bawah..

yg hitam tu boxer, stokin nipis... dgn buff.. merah tu kira barang2 winter tu ler... senang nak capai. Tapi aku mcm nak jadi kan satu beg.. nak kurangkan barang... tgk lah.

Gadget2 kecik

nil er gadget2 kecik yg aku bawak... mungkin ada yg kena transfer kat beg kuning.. dan ada yg kena stay bag merah... antara barang2 itu adalah..

Sunblock, lips + face cream

tempat2 sejuk ni... awan kurang... jadi UV terus ke kulit... atas antara barang paling penting.. tempat sejuk yg nak pegi ni sejuk dan kering... aku pernah kat Xi'an, Shaanxi CHINA... hujung2 jari pecah2 sebab terlampau sejuk + kering... walaupun pakai glove... pastu time jalan2 jgn nampak kan muka pucat sangat... kasik hansome sikit... :) kekeke krim elak kulit kering... banana boat tak jalan sangat... :P yg ni terbaeeekk..

Solat.

apa2 pun aku buat kerana DIA.

Hard disk... 

aku kalau boleh tkmo bawak notebook... jadi HDD ni tempat aku simpan gamba dgn video masa perjalanan nanti.. rata2 journal aku lagi selesa tulis kat buku... tapi kalau aku bawak notebook pun aku bawak mende ni jgk... :)

Ampaian.

bende ni... ampaian.. utk gantung baju... seluar.. kat katil hostel.. dalam bilik ke yg tkde tempat sangkut baju... senang.. :) sapa2 pernah jalan2 dgn aku/road trip pernah nampak bende ni... kemana2 aku bawak...

Charger Ipod dng Iphone

mana tau terasa nak dengar TRAGEDY kat gunung HIMALAYA tuh...

Head lamp...

bag berbondong2... pastu nak kena pegang torchlight tika waktu memerlukan cahaya... sungguh tak sesuai.. jadi sangkut kat kepala sudeh... pastu kalau nak pegi toilet yg tkde lampu... nak kencing lagik.. nak pegang torchlight lagik.. sangat tak sesuaii...

powerbalance

tak tau sejauh mana kebenarannya.. dah lama ada... cuma jarang pakai.. jadi.. bawak just incase dalat membantu...

jadi semua gadget2 tu.. aku masuk kan kat beg separator quarter dibawah... yg kaler hitam tu polarized spectacles..

gadget bag.

yg ni plak... bag smpan barang2 camera.. charger.. lens cleaner... dgn usb cable.

pastu barang2 camera... dan gadget2 tu aku masuk kan dalam bag kuning nih...

Lowpro Sport 200 AW

sebelum ni aku pakai ClikElite Sport... bila lens dah tertambah ni.. terpaksa carik yg besar sikit.. beg yg ni lagi senang nak sangkut tripod. Bag kuning ni akan jadi day trip bag... bende2 penting jer aku bawak dalam ni... :)

tri-climate jacket

jacket ni sangat2 penting utk trip ni... mengelakkan badan dari menjadi beku... hehe.. tr-climate sbb dalam hard shell jacket ni ada fleece... fleece tu boleh bukak utk pakai kat tempat yg tak berapa sejuk... kalau al-terlampau giler babi sejuk.. pakai ler dua2... pastu dia waterproof.. :)

Baju, tuala... 

berapa banyak baju nak bawak eh?? hah.. aku bawak baju 3 helai jer (semua lengan panjang).. dgn seluar 4 helai.. 2 panjang... 1 3/4... satu short.. kesemua baju dgn seluar ni senang kering... pastu tuala tek towel pun senang kering.. dan odorless.. kadang2 tak sempat tunggu kering dah kena packing kan... jadi.. mmg towel travel pun... pastu atas buku2 rujukan.. :D

Separator bag utk baju/seluar

jadi semua baju2 dan seluar tu aku masuk kan dalam separator bag sebelum masuk dalam main travel bag...

Main travel bag

last sekali... main travel bag.. ini ler travel bag kebanggaan aku.. :) aku mmg suka pakai hiking bag sbb dia mmg design utk bagi keselesaan kat pemakai bila kena jalan kaki jauh... bawak berat2 pun still ok.. tapi disadvantages dia.. kecik ler.. yg ni 60ltr. make sure travel bag tu ada rain cover... cuaca kite tk tau kan... pastu dawai melingkar kat atas beg tu.. pac safe utk ikat dan secure kan travel bag kite bila kite check in flight nanti... jadi dorg tk ler ngada2 ambik barang kat dalam bag... itu aku akan explain kat post lagi satu ok...

secara panjang lebarnya.. itu ler barang2 yg aku bawak... ada orang suka bawak barang banyak2... ada suka sikit.. aku mcm ni ler... so, sapa yg pernah travel buat bende lain.. share lah... okeh...

terima kasih kerana sudi membaca.. :)

tata.