: : : Thailand Pavilion : The World Exposition Shanghai China 2010 ...
World Expo 2010 Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, The Kingdom of Thailand.
www.thailandexpo2010.com/th/index.php
Home : Thai Trade Fair 2010
The Department of Export Promotion (DEP) has joined force with public and private groups to organise the Thailand International Education Expo 2010 (TIEE ...
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Tour Thailand Pavilion online_latest news_Shanghai World Expo
21 Jan 2010 ... Online visitors will meet "Tai" - a cute, friendly and cheerful child-giant who is Thailand's Expo 2010 pavilion mascot and mythical giant ...
en.expo2010.cn/a/20100121/000011.htm
Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Thailand. Show all posts
Escapism: Sunset/Sunrise Edition
Sunset with Val from a jetty at Perhentian Kecil Island, Malaysia.
Jia Ling's jump while waiting for the sunset, at Tanjung Aru Beach, Sabah, Malaysia
Sunset at Ayutthaya, Thailand with Asa from our beautiful guesthouse
Spectacular sunrise at Pondicherry, India with Asa.
Boston skyline at sunset while walking on some bridge, Boston, USA
Sunset from the Green Tortoise bus, leaving San Francisco, USA
Sunrise from Gooseneck National Park, USA, with a storm in the distance, in a sleeping bag, with Kasia sleeping beside me.
Sunrise at the Grand Canyon, USA. Chasers of the sun: Micah, Michel, Vanessa, Kasia and I.I am incredibly privileged. No more whining.
Top 9 Moments in Thailand
I'm in a rather good mood today so I shall backtrack onto one of the Thailand posts that I promised! With loads of pictures like what is preferred! =D
Thailand - The Land of Smiles
Have I mentioned before that I love Asa? (Asasasasaasasasasa) Because without Asa I wouldn't have enjoyed my Thailand trip that much. We always end up doing the most random of things, not seeing the "important" sights dutifully as we should, just because we can't be bothered wahaha! We're not very good tourists as you can see.
So firstly, here's a copy-paste of the itinerary that I made before going to Thailand.
#1. Running under heavy rain at the Erawan National Park, Kanchanaburi.
One of the tiers of the Erawan Falls.
So what happened was we went to this beautiful national park, hiked 1.5kms up to see all seven tiers of the famed Erawan Falls, abstaining from soaking ourselves in the turquoise waters because we did not bring a change of clothes - towards the end of the hike, when we were almost at the base, it started to rain. Furiously.
We wanted to catch a bus at 2:20pm, and it was already 2pm. And what's a little tropical rain? So we decided to run for it! We ended up drenched from head to toe, legs covered in mud, stared at by Europeans who undoubtedly thought that we were mad. The last time that I had run under such heavy rain was probably when I was in Form 2, with XiaoCi (XC - you remember?). Rain is such tremendous fun!
When we reached the visitor centre, the kind lady at the counter told us that there was no 2:20pm bus, contrary to what was printed on the schedule. The bus would come at 4pm. =_=
Sopping wet, waiting for the 4pm bus while enjoying a Thai coconut.
#2: Asking how much it would cost to make a fake ID.
I was so fascinated by the dodginess of the fake ID stalls at Khao San Road that I stopped to ask how much they cost, after failing to take a picture of the signs they put up. (The sign was speedily whipped away before I could take a shot.) Apparently for 300Baht (RM30) you can get a fake student ID/fake press card/fake identity card/fake etc. customized for you.
I did play with the idea of making one, just for the hell of it, but then "just for the hell of it" would probably not impress the cops if I got caught. So I decided not to. Which was just as well, 'coz Elli a German girl whom I met at Mr. Yee's place, who had resided in Thailand for 2 years, said that she could get a fake ID at only 50Baht. Whoa almost got ripped off, by a dodgy fake ID seller! Who would've guessed!
Dodgy Khao San Road
#3. Waking up and realizing that we were on top of River Kwai
We put a night at Kanchanaburi at Sam's River Guesthouse. The second morning when we woke up, I realized that we were on a floating rafthouse, sprang up, threw the door open and there it was, a huge as river right below us =D For some reason I was extremely happy about that. And it feels very good waking up extremely happy.
Right outside our room.
#4. Finding the perfect little dress and buying two more =D
The first day we went to Chatuchak market, I bought this really cute dress (220Baht). Tried it on when we got back to the guesthouse, found that it fit perfectly, and ended up going to Chatuchak the following day and buying two more!
According to Wikipedia there are more than 15,000 stalls in Chatuchak. And we managed to locate the 1/15,000, all thanks to Asa's biological GPS!
I didn't take a picture of my dresses, so here's a picture of random door knobs to compensate:
Picture of Random Door Knobs to Compensate
#5. Taking a nap at Chatuchak Park.
After shopping and having hawker food for lunch at Chatuchak, we found ourselves at Chatuchak Park, right beside the Chatuchak Park Skytrain Station, where many locals were chilling despite the hot weather. We took a shady spot beside the lake.
Lake at Chatuchak Park
Can you see the huge picture of the Thai King on one of the buildings? We have dubbed him "Andy Lau" because of his overwhelming popularity and his hawk-like nose. The resemblance is uncanny.
So then we lay on the grass.
Us lying on the grass.
And slept. For about an hour. I was told by Asa that I was snoring (but in an adorable way). None of the locals looked alarmed (just rather curious) when I awoke so I don't think I disrupted public order.
#6. Watching Rak Sam Sao in Paragon Cineplex.
Of all the debauchery we could have indulged in, at the heart of Bangkok, we chose to go watch a movie. Yeah we missed the Thai massages, gay bars, strip clubs, bizarre sex shows.
Go Bangkok cannot have good, clean fun ah?
The movie we watched. Rak Sam Sao.
The movie was in Thai but there were English subs so we were fine. Rak Sam Sao means "The Last Moment". Yay an addition to my limited Thai vocab! The tickets cost 150Baht each, but the popcorn combo cost 190Baht! So instead of getting the expensive popcorn we got the following snacks instead.
Dodgy popcorn. 9Baht. Indecipherable Lays snack. 14Baht.
World's best mango ice-blended. Bloody good. 25Baht for this small bottle.
When we were going into the cinema there was a bag check. Expecting to surrender all my snacks and my world's best mango ice-blended, I was pleasantly surprised that they asked us to proceed. Apparently they were only looking for video cameras.
Did you know that tucked between the trailers and ads, is a propaganda short film of the King, and everybody is expected to stand for the duration of the film? I didn't. Now I do. And I feel a newfound and profound respect for the monarch of Thailand. In fact I think I should hang a calendar with his picture on my wall. Give the big guy a salute every time I check the date.
#7. Shower at Bann Kun Pra, Ayutthaya
After a whole day of covering Ayutthaya by foot, walking under the scorching sun, we returned to the guesthouse. I was covered with an inch-thick film of grime (exaggerated but heart-felt), and the shower felt. so. good. Best shower I had in Thailand, gushing cold water in a spacious bathroom, hell yeah!
No pictures for this one.
#8. A pseudo-explosion at the night market at Ayutthaya.
Before going to Thailand, my mum kept reminding me not to have hawker food in case I'd get diarrhea, which I responded with half-hearted ehm, ehm, ehms with my fingers crossed behind my back. Thai hawker food is sublime, okay. What is diarrhea to gastronomic heavens for the cheapest prices ever?
Yum.
Yum.
So there we were, enjoying hawker food in explicit disobedience to my mum's orders, when there was a loud "POP" from the stall right across where we were seated. Hawkers beside the stall gasped and ducked. The stall owner bounded to the gas canister and turned it off. All looked visibly relieved.
Probably that was The Supreme Being's way of telling me that hawker food could kill me - and it needn't be by food poisoning. But being the daredevils we were, we just continued eating happily and even went back to the night market later for dinner.
#9. Asking for directions at Chulalongkorn University
On our last day in Bangkok, we decided to muck around nearby the Hualampong Train Station till it was time for us to leave. On the free map we got from the airport, there was the Museum of National History within walking distance (which, for us may mean a radius of up to 3kms), so we decided to go there and have a look.
The Museum of National History appeared to be situated within the campus of Chulalongkorn University. Within the university grounds, we stopped to ask a bunch of students the directions. The bunch of students were rather shy at first, but soon they began jabbing the map enthusiastically, speaking in gibberish. Two friends passing by were waylaid and invited into the extensive discourse over the geography of Chulalongkorn University.
(Digression: I think the two friends were a couple. One was a cute guy and the other was a cute girl - till the cute girl started to speak. Then I realized that she was a ladyboy, the first that I've ever got to observe up close. Sadly, as with all ladyboy stories, she was way cuter than me and Asa. How could we ever compete??)
The discussion wore long and thick, arms were flailed and fingers were pointed at all directions. This was the longest time that we've ever taken to ask directions and it may have took up to 15 minutes of pure gibberish, with a brief intermission of Cute Guy's polite "Just a moment, we are discussing."
Turns out that there was a typo in the map, there was another Museum of National History in the city, the museum on the map may have been Museum of Natural History instead. And then there was Chulalongkorn University's own little museum. Having no particular agenda, we decided to choose the nearest and easiest one, the Chulalongkorn University Memorial Centre.
Chulalongkorn University Memorial Center with my reflection
Everything was in Thai, so we just amused ourselves looking at pictures and trophies. Can you believe that the following medal was for winning the Inter-Varsity Tom Yam Goong Eating Competition, 1987? We couldn't believe it either!
Inter-Varsity Tom Yam Goong Eating Competition, 1987
OK I was lying. It could've been anything and a tomyam eating contest just sounds like fun.
Then we walked around the campus and ate within the campus canteen. Cheap and tasty. University students in Thailand wear uniforms, like our secondary/primary school students.
Uniform-clad mannequins and humans
OK so they weren't all moments (some lasted for more than 2 hours). But I enjoyed them the most out of this trip, and you would have noticed that they did not include our visits to Wat Pho, Bridge over River Kwai, ruins at Ayutthaya etc. though they too were quite pleasant. And who dictates that sights must be the centre of delight in travelling? Doing the most commonplace things in a foreign land is much more fun!
Ei funny lah. Today I'm really hyper happy and I don't even know why. Oh well, a long as post for you anyway!
Thailand - The Land of SmilesHave I mentioned before that I love Asa? (Asasasasaasasasasa) Because without Asa I wouldn't have enjoyed my Thailand trip that much. We always end up doing the most random of things, not seeing the "important" sights dutifully as we should, just because we can't be bothered wahaha! We're not very good tourists as you can see.
So firstly, here's a copy-paste of the itinerary that I made before going to Thailand.
- 18/6/2008 - Reach Bangkok in the evening.
- 19/6/2008 - Take a train to Kanchanaburi for the Death Railway and surrounding museums, spend the night at Kanchanaburi
- 20/6/2008 - Go to the Erawan National Park for its beautiful waterfalls. Take a bus back to BKK.
- 21/6/2008 - Bangkok shopping
- 22/6/2008 - Bangkok shopping =D
- 23/6/2008 - Take a train to Ayutthaya, potter around for the day, stay for the night.
- 24/6/2008 - Leave Ayutthaya by train, be in time for the train back to Butterworth. Night in train.
- 25/6/2008 - Reach Butterworth, go to Penang, stuff face.
- 26/6/2008 - Leave Penang back to KL.
#1. Running under heavy rain at the Erawan National Park, Kanchanaburi.
One of the tiers of the Erawan Falls.So what happened was we went to this beautiful national park, hiked 1.5kms up to see all seven tiers of the famed Erawan Falls, abstaining from soaking ourselves in the turquoise waters because we did not bring a change of clothes - towards the end of the hike, when we were almost at the base, it started to rain. Furiously.
We wanted to catch a bus at 2:20pm, and it was already 2pm. And what's a little tropical rain? So we decided to run for it! We ended up drenched from head to toe, legs covered in mud, stared at by Europeans who undoubtedly thought that we were mad. The last time that I had run under such heavy rain was probably when I was in Form 2, with XiaoCi (XC - you remember?). Rain is such tremendous fun!
When we reached the visitor centre, the kind lady at the counter told us that there was no 2:20pm bus, contrary to what was printed on the schedule. The bus would come at 4pm. =_=
Sopping wet, waiting for the 4pm bus while enjoying a Thai coconut.#2: Asking how much it would cost to make a fake ID.
I was so fascinated by the dodginess of the fake ID stalls at Khao San Road that I stopped to ask how much they cost, after failing to take a picture of the signs they put up. (The sign was speedily whipped away before I could take a shot.) Apparently for 300Baht (RM30) you can get a fake student ID/fake press card/fake identity card/fake etc. customized for you.
I did play with the idea of making one, just for the hell of it, but then "just for the hell of it" would probably not impress the cops if I got caught. So I decided not to. Which was just as well, 'coz Elli a German girl whom I met at Mr. Yee's place, who had resided in Thailand for 2 years, said that she could get a fake ID at only 50Baht. Whoa almost got ripped off, by a dodgy fake ID seller! Who would've guessed!
Dodgy Khao San Road#3. Waking up and realizing that we were on top of River Kwai
We put a night at Kanchanaburi at Sam's River Guesthouse. The second morning when we woke up, I realized that we were on a floating rafthouse, sprang up, threw the door open and there it was, a huge as river right below us =D For some reason I was extremely happy about that. And it feels very good waking up extremely happy.
Right outside our room.#4. Finding the perfect little dress and buying two more =D
The first day we went to Chatuchak market, I bought this really cute dress (220Baht). Tried it on when we got back to the guesthouse, found that it fit perfectly, and ended up going to Chatuchak the following day and buying two more!
According to Wikipedia there are more than 15,000 stalls in Chatuchak. And we managed to locate the 1/15,000, all thanks to Asa's biological GPS!
I didn't take a picture of my dresses, so here's a picture of random door knobs to compensate:
Picture of Random Door Knobs to Compensate#5. Taking a nap at Chatuchak Park.
After shopping and having hawker food for lunch at Chatuchak, we found ourselves at Chatuchak Park, right beside the Chatuchak Park Skytrain Station, where many locals were chilling despite the hot weather. We took a shady spot beside the lake.
Lake at Chatuchak ParkCan you see the huge picture of the Thai King on one of the buildings? We have dubbed him "Andy Lau" because of his overwhelming popularity and his hawk-like nose. The resemblance is uncanny.
So then we lay on the grass.
Us lying on the grass.And slept. For about an hour. I was told by Asa that I was snoring (but in an adorable way). None of the locals looked alarmed (just rather curious) when I awoke so I don't think I disrupted public order.
#6. Watching Rak Sam Sao in Paragon Cineplex.
Of all the debauchery we could have indulged in, at the heart of Bangkok, we chose to go watch a movie. Yeah we missed the Thai massages, gay bars, strip clubs, bizarre sex shows.
Go Bangkok cannot have good, clean fun ah?
The movie we watched. Rak Sam Sao.The movie was in Thai but there were English subs so we were fine. Rak Sam Sao means "The Last Moment". Yay an addition to my limited Thai vocab! The tickets cost 150Baht each, but the popcorn combo cost 190Baht! So instead of getting the expensive popcorn we got the following snacks instead.
Dodgy popcorn. 9Baht. Indecipherable Lays snack. 14Baht. 
World's best mango ice-blended. Bloody good. 25Baht for this small bottle. When we were going into the cinema there was a bag check. Expecting to surrender all my snacks and my world's best mango ice-blended, I was pleasantly surprised that they asked us to proceed. Apparently they were only looking for video cameras.
Did you know that tucked between the trailers and ads, is a propaganda short film of the King, and everybody is expected to stand for the duration of the film? I didn't. Now I do. And I feel a newfound and profound respect for the monarch of Thailand. In fact I think I should hang a calendar with his picture on my wall. Give the big guy a salute every time I check the date.
#7. Shower at Bann Kun Pra, Ayutthaya
After a whole day of covering Ayutthaya by foot, walking under the scorching sun, we returned to the guesthouse. I was covered with an inch-thick film of grime (exaggerated but heart-felt), and the shower felt. so. good. Best shower I had in Thailand, gushing cold water in a spacious bathroom, hell yeah!
No pictures for this one.
#8. A pseudo-explosion at the night market at Ayutthaya.
Before going to Thailand, my mum kept reminding me not to have hawker food in case I'd get diarrhea, which I responded with half-hearted ehm, ehm, ehms with my fingers crossed behind my back. Thai hawker food is sublime, okay. What is diarrhea to gastronomic heavens for the cheapest prices ever?
Yum.
Yum. So there we were, enjoying hawker food in explicit disobedience to my mum's orders, when there was a loud "POP" from the stall right across where we were seated. Hawkers beside the stall gasped and ducked. The stall owner bounded to the gas canister and turned it off. All looked visibly relieved.
Probably that was The Supreme Being's way of telling me that hawker food could kill me - and it needn't be by food poisoning. But being the daredevils we were, we just continued eating happily and even went back to the night market later for dinner.
#9. Asking for directions at Chulalongkorn University
On our last day in Bangkok, we decided to muck around nearby the Hualampong Train Station till it was time for us to leave. On the free map we got from the airport, there was the Museum of National History within walking distance (which, for us may mean a radius of up to 3kms), so we decided to go there and have a look.
The Museum of National History appeared to be situated within the campus of Chulalongkorn University. Within the university grounds, we stopped to ask a bunch of students the directions. The bunch of students were rather shy at first, but soon they began jabbing the map enthusiastically, speaking in gibberish. Two friends passing by were waylaid and invited into the extensive discourse over the geography of Chulalongkorn University.
(Digression: I think the two friends were a couple. One was a cute guy and the other was a cute girl - till the cute girl started to speak. Then I realized that she was a ladyboy, the first that I've ever got to observe up close. Sadly, as with all ladyboy stories, she was way cuter than me and Asa. How could we ever compete??)
The discussion wore long and thick, arms were flailed and fingers were pointed at all directions. This was the longest time that we've ever taken to ask directions and it may have took up to 15 minutes of pure gibberish, with a brief intermission of Cute Guy's polite "Just a moment, we are discussing."
Turns out that there was a typo in the map, there was another Museum of National History in the city, the museum on the map may have been Museum of Natural History instead. And then there was Chulalongkorn University's own little museum. Having no particular agenda, we decided to choose the nearest and easiest one, the Chulalongkorn University Memorial Centre.
Chulalongkorn University Memorial Center with my reflectionEverything was in Thai, so we just amused ourselves looking at pictures and trophies. Can you believe that the following medal was for winning the Inter-Varsity Tom Yam Goong Eating Competition, 1987? We couldn't believe it either!
Inter-Varsity Tom Yam Goong Eating Competition, 1987OK I was lying. It could've been anything and a tomyam eating contest just sounds like fun.
Then we walked around the campus and ate within the campus canteen. Cheap and tasty. University students in Thailand wear uniforms, like our secondary/primary school students.
Uniform-clad mannequins and humansOK so they weren't all moments (some lasted for more than 2 hours). But I enjoyed them the most out of this trip, and you would have noticed that they did not include our visits to Wat Pho, Bridge over River Kwai, ruins at Ayutthaya etc. though they too were quite pleasant. And who dictates that sights must be the centre of delight in travelling? Doing the most commonplace things in a foreign land is much more fun!
Ei funny lah. Today I'm really hyper happy and I don't even know why. Oh well, a long as post for you anyway!
Hail Penang!
I'm back in Malaysia, right now staying in Banana New Guesthouse in Penang =D Gonna stuff my face before dutifully returning to KL. Sunburnt, recovered from what is medically known as "busted knees", covered with bug bites, lugging a huge luggage of loot from Chatuchak!
Most random purchase: I bought a string of bobble lights, wahahaha! It's supposed to bring me light when I'm deep in dark depression in The Land of Fines.
It's been a glorious week. So many good things have happened, good moments, funny moments, and most of all, transportation moments! I've actually taken more than 10 different types of public transport in the past week =D Shall blog about them, shall put up pictures, shall not silently forget and move on to my next phase of travelling....
Which would be next Monday! Lalalala happy =D I have this really sticky Thai song stuck in my head. It's been there since my third day, in Kanchanaburi, and it's still here. I guess it's better than having the Homer Beer Song though. Or "Ring ring ring ring ring ring ring Banana Phone". Ah shit, by typing that I've installed it into my brain, probably in a loop for the next 24 hours. Damn.
And you know what other thing took 24 hours? The train from Bangkok to Butterworth! Can't believe we were stuck on a train for so long. But it was cool. Ended up sharing secrets with Asa across the aisle from the upper berths, thinking that we were secure with all the Thai speaking people around, but then this morning the guy sleeping below Asa's berth talked to us in Mandarin. =_= kena.
Oh well I need to go, Melissa Sim's gonna reach soon! Good Penang foooooooood.
Most random purchase: I bought a string of bobble lights, wahahaha! It's supposed to bring me light when I'm deep in dark depression in The Land of Fines.
It's been a glorious week. So many good things have happened, good moments, funny moments, and most of all, transportation moments! I've actually taken more than 10 different types of public transport in the past week =D Shall blog about them, shall put up pictures, shall not silently forget and move on to my next phase of travelling....
Which would be next Monday! Lalalala happy =D I have this really sticky Thai song stuck in my head. It's been there since my third day, in Kanchanaburi, and it's still here. I guess it's better than having the Homer Beer Song though. Or "Ring ring ring ring ring ring ring Banana Phone". Ah shit, by typing that I've installed it into my brain, probably in a loop for the next 24 hours. Damn.
And you know what other thing took 24 hours? The train from Bangkok to Butterworth! Can't believe we were stuck on a train for so long. But it was cool. Ended up sharing secrets with Asa across the aisle from the upper berths, thinking that we were secure with all the Thai speaking people around, but then this morning the guy sleeping below Asa's berth talked to us in Mandarin. =_= kena.
Oh well I need to go, Melissa Sim's gonna reach soon! Good Penang foooooooood.
Yo!
Is an example of how not to greet someone in Thailand. I can't remember what it is now. I've only got one word in my Thai vocabulary and that is "baht".
Asa and I are now in Kanchanaburi, a two-hour bus ride from Bangkok, and we're sitting in an Internet cafe half-drenched with sweat and rain, happily getting drunk on the Internet which costs 20Baht (RM2) per hour. Cheap =D Can blog.
We reached Kanchanaburi at about 1pm today, after going around this morning looking for a pair of sandals because the pair I borrowed from my dad (yes we share the same shoe size. shut up.), in a strenuous and death-defying activity of climbing the stairs, snapped. I'm getting used to apparel and shoes dying on me now. Bought a new pair of sandals (300Baht) and all was well again.
This afternoon we spent walking around Kanchanaburi, graciously declining numerous offers of "tuk"ing to our destinations although it is rather cheap to cruise around in a tuktuk. The weather is cloudy and intermittently rainy. We walked from the bus station to our accommodation (cool rafthouse on the river) and then to the famous Bridge over the River Kwai. Made numerous detours and poked our noses in other people's backyards for a good view of the bridge from afar.
It is wonderful travelling with Asa. She's got a GPS biologically wired into her, seriously, I don't ever need to worry about directions when I'm with her. And we're so compatible, in decision-making, travel style, level of impulsiveness etc. that we've pondered over the possibility of getting married. The sperm bank can come into the picture then. Hail Girl Power!
We shall go to the Erawan National Park tomorrow for its famed Erawan Falls. Then we will be heading back to Bangkok in the evening for a weekend of debauchery and spending. Till the next cheap Internet cafe, ciao!
Asa and I are now in Kanchanaburi, a two-hour bus ride from Bangkok, and we're sitting in an Internet cafe half-drenched with sweat and rain, happily getting drunk on the Internet which costs 20Baht (RM2) per hour. Cheap =D Can blog.
We reached Kanchanaburi at about 1pm today, after going around this morning looking for a pair of sandals because the pair I borrowed from my dad (yes we share the same shoe size. shut up.), in a strenuous and death-defying activity of climbing the stairs, snapped. I'm getting used to apparel and shoes dying on me now. Bought a new pair of sandals (300Baht) and all was well again.
This afternoon we spent walking around Kanchanaburi, graciously declining numerous offers of "tuk"ing to our destinations although it is rather cheap to cruise around in a tuktuk. The weather is cloudy and intermittently rainy. We walked from the bus station to our accommodation (cool rafthouse on the river) and then to the famous Bridge over the River Kwai. Made numerous detours and poked our noses in other people's backyards for a good view of the bridge from afar.
It is wonderful travelling with Asa. She's got a GPS biologically wired into her, seriously, I don't ever need to worry about directions when I'm with her. And we're so compatible, in decision-making, travel style, level of impulsiveness etc. that we've pondered over the possibility of getting married. The sperm bank can come into the picture then. Hail Girl Power!
We shall go to the Erawan National Park tomorrow for its famed Erawan Falls. Then we will be heading back to Bangkok in the evening for a weekend of debauchery and spending. Till the next cheap Internet cafe, ciao!
Intense Travelling 18/6/2008 - 15/7/2008
Subtitled: Or, why I am butt poor.
I can only handle so much decision-making in a morning.
I emailed all the guesthouses that me and Asa will stay in in Thailand, i.e.
1. Suk11 Hostel, Sukhumvit, Bangkok - 650Baht for a twin room, airconditioned
2. Sam's River Rafthouse, Kanchanaburi - 400 Baht for a twin room, airconditioned
3. Bann Kun-Pra Guesthouse, Ayutthaya - 600 Baht for a double room/two queensized bed room, no aircondition I think.
Waiting for them to get back to us. All in all I expect to spend like 1800baht (per pax) for 6 nights of accommodation, which isn't too bad I suppose. RM30 for one night. I do hope that the bookings will go through though.
Our tentative plan is
Then, 27/6/2008 - 30/6/2008 is reserved for LL who's gonna be back from Brisbane for a short vacation.
Val reaches on 1/7/2008.
The package that I'm taking to Taman Negara and Perhentian, if anyone's interested, is from NKS Travel.
The cost, per pax is:
RM370 - Taman Negara full board + activities package (ex-KL)
RM25 - Transfer to Kuala Besut jetty
RM440 - Perhentian package, staying in Flora Bay Resort
RM60 - One night extra accommodation in Perhentian
RM6 - Local bus transfer to Kota Bharu
RM76 - Flight from Kota Bharu back to KLIA
RM35 - one-way KLIA Express from KLIA back KL Sentral
And the total cost, for 5 nights' accommodation, food and transport is, *dang dang dang dang*
RM1007.
Aiyak. Just past RM1k.
The only thing that I could do to lower the cost is to set up the Perhentian itinerary on my own, which, according to some educated guesstimation would be like the following:
Fastboat - RM60 return
Accom - RM50 per night since it's high season, i.e. RM150(estimated)
Food - RM30 per day, i.e. RM90
Snorkelling trips with equipment - RM30 per trip for two trips: RM60
Perhentian trip cost: RM360, instead of RM500 like taking the package. But the accommodation would probably be more basic and I would have to go through all the hassle of booking and figuring stuff out. A source with some ideas of DIY Perhentian: *click*
The budget of the entire trip with Val I hope to keep it below RM1500, with Cameron and Malacca factored in.
The crazy back-to-backness of my plans is exhilarating yet faintly disturbing because it does look quite packed on paper. Aiya don't care lah. Calling NKS to book the crazy package now, and then have to install my scanner to scan some form that IRD NZ needs to refund my tax.
Guess how much they're giving me back? NZD83!!! For all that money they'd got from me, I get a dodgy NZD83 back! Sai hei.
I can only handle so much decision-making in a morning.
I emailed all the guesthouses that me and Asa will stay in in Thailand, i.e.
1. Suk11 Hostel, Sukhumvit, Bangkok - 650Baht for a twin room, airconditioned
2. Sam's River Rafthouse, Kanchanaburi - 400 Baht for a twin room, airconditioned
3. Bann Kun-Pra Guesthouse, Ayutthaya - 600 Baht for a double room/two queensized bed room, no aircondition I think.
Waiting for them to get back to us. All in all I expect to spend like 1800baht (per pax) for 6 nights of accommodation, which isn't too bad I suppose. RM30 for one night. I do hope that the bookings will go through though.
Our tentative plan is
- 18/6/2008 - Reach Bangkok in the evening.
- 19/6/2008 - Take a train to Kanchanaburi for the Death Railway and surrounding museums, spend the night at Kanchanaburi
- 20/6/2008 - Go to the Erawan National Park for its beautiful waterfalls. Take a bus back to BKK.
- 21/6/2008 - Bangkok shopping
- 22/6/2008 - Bangkok shopping =D
- 23/6/2008 - Take a train to Ayutthaya, potter around for the day, stay for the night.
- 24/6/2008 - Leave Ayutthaya by train, be in time for the train back to Butterworth. Night in train.
- 25/6/2008 - Reach Butterworth, go to Penang, stuff face.
- 26/6/2008 - Leave Penang back to KL.
Then, 27/6/2008 - 30/6/2008 is reserved for LL who's gonna be back from Brisbane for a short vacation.
Val reaches on 1/7/2008.
- 1/7/2008 - Arrival, meander about, maybe watch a movie or something.
- 2/7/2008 - Take a bus to Cameron Highlands.
- 3/7/2008 - Maybe do a tour or some trails in Cameron
- 4/7/2008 - Back to KL, can use my mum's car 'coz it's weekend already, drive to Malacca, maybe without using the highway. We'll see what time we set off.
- 5/7/2008 - Malacca walk around, Jonker Street at night
- 6/7/2008 - Make way back to KL, passing through Putrajaya, Semenyih dam etc.
- 7/7/2008 - Crazy Package starts! - Leave KL in the morning to Taman Negara, pass by Jerantut and Kuala Tembeling, take boat at 2pm from Kuala Tembeling, reach Taman Negara by 5pm, do some jungle walks at night.
- 8/7/2008 - Trek up Bukit Teresek, go for canopy walkway, shoot rapids, meet orang asli, all in a day's work - optional night safari.
- 9/7/2008 - Leave Taman Negara at 8am, reach Jerantut at 10, take a bus and reach Kuala Besut at 5pm. Speedboat to Perhentian Islands. All transport connections arranged by tour agent.
- 10/7/2008 - Start Perhentian Islands package. Do island stuff, snorkelling, lazing by the beach, etc.
- 11/7/2008 - Island stuff.
- 12/7/2008 - Reach Kota Bharu by 2-3pm to check in for flight at 4 something. Reach KL in the evening.
- 13/7/2008 - Drive around somewhere. Weekend again woot!!
- 14/7/2008 - KL City Centre Public Transport Day Tour.
- 15/7/2008 - Val departs at noon.
The package that I'm taking to Taman Negara and Perhentian, if anyone's interested, is from NKS Travel.
The cost, per pax is:
RM370 - Taman Negara full board + activities package (ex-KL)
RM25 - Transfer to Kuala Besut jetty
RM440 - Perhentian package, staying in Flora Bay Resort
RM60 - One night extra accommodation in Perhentian
RM6 - Local bus transfer to Kota Bharu
RM76 - Flight from Kota Bharu back to KLIA
RM35 - one-way KLIA Express from KLIA back KL Sentral
And the total cost, for 5 nights' accommodation, food and transport is, *dang dang dang dang*
RM1007.
Aiyak. Just past RM1k.
The only thing that I could do to lower the cost is to set up the Perhentian itinerary on my own, which, according to some educated guesstimation would be like the following:
Fastboat - RM60 return
Accom - RM50 per night since it's high season, i.e. RM150(estimated)
Food - RM30 per day, i.e. RM90
Snorkelling trips with equipment - RM30 per trip for two trips: RM60
Perhentian trip cost: RM360, instead of RM500 like taking the package. But the accommodation would probably be more basic and I would have to go through all the hassle of booking and figuring stuff out. A source with some ideas of DIY Perhentian: *click*
The budget of the entire trip with Val I hope to keep it below RM1500, with Cameron and Malacca factored in.
The crazy back-to-backness of my plans is exhilarating yet faintly disturbing because it does look quite packed on paper. Aiya don't care lah. Calling NKS to book the crazy package now, and then have to install my scanner to scan some form that IRD NZ needs to refund my tax.
Guess how much they're giving me back? NZD83!!! For all that money they'd got from me, I get a dodgy NZD83 back! Sai hei.
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