Journey to Malaysia

Sawasdee Thailand

sathya — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 19:54:00 GMT

Pattaya

Thailand is my 3rd foreign country to visit. I arrived in an early morning flight of Air Asia in Donmueang International Airport, Bangkok which exclusively caters the Budget Airlines. Indian Tourist can enter Thailand by Visa On Arrival. Unlike Malaysia or Singapore where the immigration are fast and straight forward, in Thailand Scam starts from the Immigration itself. On the Visa On Arrival Que even though there are 3 to 4 counters, only 1 was functioning and after seeing our photograph they straight away reject those photos which were taken in India itself telling some reason and asking us to take a live photo from the nearby counter which charges around 150 bhats during the year 2015. But they themselves fill-up the VOR Forms. But they are not making any problems further and not even checked whether we are having sufficient funds or not.

Unlike KL Airport where there were shuttle buses to the City Center almost 24 hours, there was no such kind of buses in Donmueng Airport to City or Pattaya in the early morning. The City Buses starts only around 7.30 am. and we have to rely only the Metered Taxi. We should not catch the Taxi with out a meter as they over charge. There is another Que for the Metered Taxi in the Airport where we have to write the name of the destination in English to the Taxi Counter and the person incharge translate the destination in Thai Language to the Drivers as most of the Thai people doesn't know English.

There was 4 individual person from Chennai including me pooled together and hired a Taxi to Ekkamai Bus Station which is on the eastern side of Bangkok City from where we have to catch the bus to Pattaya. The other 3 also booked some hotels in Pattaya. The taxi fare from Donmueng Airport to Ekkamai Bus station came around 250 bhaat. The bus fare to pattaya was 125 bhaat from Ekkamai.

From Pattaya Bus Station to various places can be accessed by a closed Tri-Cycle which is called Songthaew which charge 50 or more bhaat depending on the distance of hotel from the main bus station.

There are 3 main beaches there the Pattaya Beach, Nakluea and Jomethien Beaches. Pattaya Beach is not that much clean. There are lot of day tours to a nearby island namely Kolarn with lot of activities like Parasailing, Snorkling,etc. and a tour to Nongnoonch botanical garden, and a tour to Srirach Tiger Zoo.

Pattaya is also famous for it's 2 shows Alcazar and Tiffany. There is a famous Walking Street is also in Pattaya with lot of Pubs and Bistros, Restaurants, etc.

Unlike in Malaysia or Singapore Indian Vegetarian food are not easily available and there are very few restaurants only and we have to search for it in Pattaya or overall in Thailand.

Phukket

From Pattaya I catched a bus to Bangkok Southern Terminal namely Saitaimai from where buses to southern Thailand are originating. There are Government operated Company Buses as well as Private buses like Phuket Travels,etc. The buses are classified as Executive Class, 1st AC, 2nd AC & Ordinary buses. Phuket is located around 850 km south west of Bangkok and the average travelling time taken is 11 to 13 hours depending on the buses and traffic. 1st AC is not only comfortable but also affordable. It costs around 475 bhats to phuket including snacks,water & drinks served in the bus and a Overnight Buffet Dinner at one stop point in the middle. The roads are ok but not like Malaysian Expressway.

Phuket has so many beautiful beaches of the world which are Pathong, Karon, Kamla, Katha,etc. I stayed in Korean Hostel in the famous Soi Bangla road in Pathong Beach side. There are so many day tours like Phuket city tour , Phi phi Island Tour, James Bond Island Tour and etc which are worth to visit. Book directly with the tour operators or in the Hotel or Hostel itself.

Bangkok to Phuket- AC 1st class Bus

Pathong Area in Phuket

Pathong Beach

Phi Phi Island

Bangkok

After visiting Phuket i returned back to Bangkok. The first day i went to Half a day City Tour which includes the visit to famous Buddhist Temples like What Pho, What Phra Kaew, Golden Buddha, Reclining Buddha,etc. And the next day evening i went for a Rice Barge Cruise in Chao Phraya River to view the Bangkok skyline from the river. This tour includes a buffet type of fruits, juices, snacks and Vegetarian Thai dishes and even some type of Liquor.

These tours can be booked with the Hotel or Hostels or there are lot of local tour operators and you have to select a reputed one and there is no Hop on Hop Off type of buses like in Kuala Lumpur or Singapore.

Next day in the morning i went to Lumpini Park in the Heart of the city near Pratunam area where i stayed. It is suitable for a Brisk Morning Walk or Jogging. Other than there is two more Major parks in Bangkok namely Dussit and Chatuchak. Bangkok as a whole is of a Concrete Jungle and there is no much greenery like KL.

Bangkok has some of the world renowned and biggest malls like Central World, Phantip Plaza, Platinum Mall, Siam Paragan, MBK,etc. Stuffs like Clothing and Low end Unbranded goods are the cheapest in the world. But at the same i don't think Computers, Mobile Phones, Electronics or LED TV are cheaper. For these items and Branded goods Kuala Lumpur is better and reliable also. In Bangkok beware of Duplicate Counterfeit goods.

There are lot of day tours to enjoy like Safari World, Dolphin Show, Siam Ocean World one of the biggest of the world, Muay Thai Boxing, Siam Niramit Show which shows the Hindu Epic of Ramayana and which is followed by a Buffet Dinner, 1 day tour to Heritage site of Ayuthaya, Night Dinner Cruise in Chao Phray River.

Other than this there are lot of Spas, Thai Authentic Massage Parlors, Rejuvenating Camps, Pubs, Restaurants and Street food Stalls to enjoy.

Bangkok

Lumpini Park- The Lungs of Bangkok

Evening River Cruise in Chao Phraya River by Rice Barge

Where ever you go take at most care of your belongings, Cash and Valuables. Even though Bangkok is comparatively a safer city in South East Asia, there are lot of other scams.

Singapore

sathya — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 19:48:00 GMT

SINGAPURA:

In Tamil and Sanskrit it means the Lion City. It comes under former Sriwijaya Empire in the 1st Century and during the Chola Empire ruled by Rajaraja Cholan. During that period it was a small fishing village girls name Thamasuka (Temasek in Malay).

When i came to Malaysia, i got the Singapore Evisa in India itself. I already booked my KTMB Train ticket from KL to Singapore and back via Online. It's a night journey and booked a 2nd AC birth. It arrived in the early morning to Johor Bahru city the border of Malaysia and got out of the train with other passengers with luggage for Security and Immigration check by Integrated Quarantine Complex. After exit stamp we will go through another way to the same train with out luggage further to Singapore Country just 10 minutes away which is called Woodlands Checkpost. Here everybody has to get down and Foreign Nationals has to fill up the arrival card along with our Visa. After few minutes they will stamp your passport and give a small label with number of days permit for your stay in Singapore. You have to keep it till your exit from the country and again hand over it to the immigration while you exit by train, bus or direct air transport.

It's one of the World Class city, Well Maintained, Organized and very neat. Most of the Country attractions are Man made, Artificial and not of a natural one like in Malaysia. Lot of Theme Parks, Zoo, Safari,etc are there to visit in addition to Sentosa Island, Gardens by Bay, Marina Sands, Singapore Flier,etc. There is a Universal World also.

There is a HOP ON HOP OFF BUS similar to KL but with 3 routes combined with a Hippo River cruise is available in Singapore with a pass of 24 and 48 hours validity. You can see most of the City and Countries attractions by having the pass.

After having a breakfast in Little India near Tekkamal on the Serangoon Road i started my tour in the morning itself till afternoon break at Botanical Garden. After having lunch at Hotel Komalas i continued by journey. It's a quite expensive city equal to Tokyo or Sydney if am sure. It's a safest city in Asia, other than orderly and neatness its a Sterile and Unfriendly city i feel.

Some of the view of the City from Hop on Hop off bus

I don't want to spend much days in Singapore as i was so much disappointed by its sterile approach and Rigid attitude. I returned back to KL via Johor spend my rest of the days and returned back to India. According to me nothing much interesting in Singapore as everybody says. Too expensive for a Budget Traveler.

Penang- The Heritage City

sathya — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 19:09:00 GMT

From KL i took a Private Bus to Penang which can be booked by Web or directly. There are 3 or some Bus Terminals available in KL and the North bound buses including and up to be border of Thailand are available from Puduraya bus station. There are frequent buses are available which are Airconditioned and the bus charges depends on the facility of the buses like Massage Seats, Snacks, Drinks, Luxury ,etc. Penang is 350 km Nort West of KL via Eapo. It took just 3 1/2 to 4 hours depends on the traffic. When you travel during the day time you can have the glimpse of the country side and can enjoy.

Its a UNESCO Heritage City. Now a days there is a HOP ON HOP OFF BUS like KL are there where you can see most of the important attractions of the island including the famous Penang Botanical Garden and the National Park. Most part of the island was built on the British Architecture and it was actually ruled by the the then British Governor Cornwallis.

Due to constraint of time I can't able to see the Botanical Garden, Penang Hill & the National Park as the tour to George Town itself consumed most of my time and planed another trip exclusively for Penang, a tour to Langkawi and the adjacent Pulau Payer. So See you on our next Malaysia Tour. Now i am moving to Singapore.

KL- The Garden city of Lights

sathya — Mon, 23 Oct 2017 18:51:00 GMT

KL- The Garden City of Light

Malaysia is my first Foreign country to visit in my 3rd Passport even though my earlier 2 passports for the past 20 years vanished with out any Immigration Stamp or Visa for that matter.

First of all i should be thankful to Mr Tony Fernandez, founder of Air Asia, the best Low Cost Airline of the World for the dam cheap fare provided to the South East Asian countries.

I took a flight from Tiruchirapalli to Kuala Lumpur on 2014 for a 10 day visit combined with Singapore also. Kuala Lumpur is located approximately 2680 km south east of Trichy if a m sure and the flight journey takes around 3.45 hours. During that year the new KLIA2 was not functional and there was a separate Low Cost Terminal was in force.

I already got a 1 year Multiple Entry Visa for Indians with a maximum stay of 30 days at a stretch. The Visa Fee was Rs 1000 and a service charge of Rs 400. But the very next week during my stay at Malaysia it had been raised to Rs 3300 including service Charges. But during 2016 Sep onward it had seen further raise of Rs 5800 if am sure.

The Immigration process in KL was very simple and straight forwarded which took just few minutes, the Immigration Officer just scan my Passport, verify the my Return Air Ticket and the date of return and ask me to put my hand in the bio-metric scanner,....Finished.

KLIA-LCCT Airport was located 65 km from KL City center. There are various transportation facilities available like a Direct High Speed Rail. a bit costly, Taxi, Shuttle Bus operated by some Private, Aerobus which is very famous and cheap & best cost just RM 10 and Sky Bus operated by Air Asia itself which can be booked while you booking Air Asia Flight Ticket itself and cost RM 15, but when you purchase directly cost RM 12 only. Any bus will took around 1 1/2 hrs to KL Central where the buses terminates.

I booked in one of the best backpackers hostel Grid9 in Maharajaleela area near the Monorail station. It cost just RM 35 per night stay in Pod type Bunk with out any Complimentary Breakfast.

I took a KL HOP ON HOP OFF bus to see almost all the important attractions of the city with a 24 hour pass which can be purchased from the bus itself at any boarding point. There is a 48 hour pass also. It covers China Town, Little India, KL Old Railway station, KL Botanical Garden, KL Bird Park which is one of the biggest parks in the world, Butterfly Park, Istana Negra, Lake Titiwangsa, Twin Tower, KL Tower, Bukit Bintang and the Golden Triangle for shopping,etc.

Malaysia is famous for it's food. As the country happens to be the Melting Pot of different communities and cultures like Malays, Indians and Chinese and made up of some smaller segment of people like Indonesians, Filipinos, etc each and every countries food are available here. You need not worry about Vegetarian food here especially South Indian Vegetarian Food are available in abundant here as the Indian community mainly consists of Tamilians around 95% and balance mixed.

After KL City tour which can be finished in a day I visited Batu Caves Murugan Temple, a Hindu God. Before that in the middle of China Town in KL City you can also go for Sri Maha Mariamman Temple. I went there also in the HOP ON HOP OFF BUS itself.

The next day I went to Genting High Land a famous hill station which is just 2 hour journey from KL City located at a height of 1400 msl. There are frequent buses available from PUDURAYA Bus station. The bus stops at the foot hill and from there you can go by the rope way which is one of the highest rope way in Asia. There are quite number of hotels there in the hill station from Budget to Ultra Luxury. There are lot of gambling centers there which are the only permitted gambling area in Malaysia. There are lot of Indoor and Outdoor games, Theme Parks,etc located there.

Shopping is the main attraction of KL and some of the biggest and best awarded malls of the world are located there. Bukit Bintang is one of the important area for shopping. For Electronics, Computers & Branded goods KL is cheaper than Bangkok. But for Street markets, Unorganized sector or items like clothes,etc some what costlier than Bangkok.

For Best & Cheapest Electronics products the Low Yat Plaza, Imbi near Bukit Bintang is famous. You can buy the branded Laptops, Computers, Mobiles & Cameras and Lenses there.

Other than electronics for budgeted and low end but very reliable products and accessories you can go for Sungeiwang Plaza, or BB Plaza and Berjaya Time Square. There are other famous malls for high end products Lot10, Farnheit, the biggest mall of Pavilion which was continuously awarded for best shopping centers in the world. Other than this SURYA KLCC is located in the Twin Tower of Petronas, the Iconic building of Malaysia. Other than this there is also Malaysian Midvalley, KL Central Plaza, One Utama,etc are also available.

More over for street type of specific goods you can go for Pasar Seni, Lebo Ampang,etc and for specific Indian goods you can try various shops located in Brickfield area otherwise called the Little India near KL Central.

The next day i planned for a Putrajaya tour which can be organized by local tour operators where you can have a glimpse of the Government & Administrative city of Malaysia. There is a river cruise also and totally it will take around 8 hours at the maximum. I didn't took that tour due to a tight schedule to Penang that day afternoon.

You can also go for a tour to Melaka heritage site and try for Port Dikinson to have a glimpse of the sea which is approximately 2 hours journey for KL City.

Other than petty crime like Pickpocket, Robbery during night,etc which are very common in any of the world cities KL is relatively a safe city. Always go with a group, return to the hotel or apartment you are staying in appropriate time that is don't wander outside during late night hours or near Midnight and invite problems. Always exercise common sense while inroads or sitting in eateries or when buying products and be careful with valuables.

iAirport to Kualalumpur City

Sri Mahamariamman Temple

Lebo Ampang

KL View by HOP ON HOP OFF BUS

Petronas Twin Tower, KL Tower and KL City view from KL Tower

Genting Highland

Batu Caves Murugan Temple

On the way to KL to Penang