Feb 2013
From Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia - Hatyai,Thailand
The post-holiday swing mood
I've made a quick gate away from the big city to a small little place call paradise island name PHUKET. My plan was not having a plan at all. I've bought only a one way train ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Hatyai and the train leaves Kuala Lumpur at 8.30pm. I was lazy enough to buy the train ticket by myself that I just booked it through a travel agency. The cost for one ticket (Upper berth) for Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) is MYR90.
This is the website for Malaysian rail http://www.ktmb.com.my/
At first, I was hoping that the train is as good as the train from Straits Railway of Thailand(SRT). As usual, the timing is not always punctual.I get on the train at about 8.40pm. I had the upper sleeping berth near the doorway. I was unlucky this time. The space was small and the seats on the lower berth can't be change to the seating position! How are we supposed to sit when we woke up the next day? On the bed?? The journey took us almost 20 hours of train ride.
Train adventure
In the same train, there were 7 families, with 8 small kids and 3 infants from Malaysia who were heading to Langkawi Island for a holiday. The train stopped at Arau Station. The kids were running around, the moms were chatting loudly on the aisle, the babies were crying while the dads,smoking near the entrance door. And where I am at that time was like in a circus. I couldn't sleep no more as the compartment was too small and the noise that they made. I was wondering what if some of my European friend would feel like as they are way more taller and bigger size then myself. That would be a different stories.
Finally I felt asleep once the hop off the train. It was a total silence. At that time, it was almost 6.30am.
Border Malaysia - Thailand Padang Besar station is no too far away from Arau Station. This is the border station between Malaysia-Thailand,where you have to bring along all your baggage and prepared your passport for the immigration stamped from both Malaysia and Thailand side.
At this point, the train will change it's 'head' from the KTMB's(Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad) to the Straits Thai Railway (SRT). I've spend almost an hour in the border. I had the chance to buy myself a simple Malaysian breakfast that is Nasi Lemak and Teh 'O' Ais. Price wise is a bit expensive then the normal 'warong' or the street stall.
We board the train once they have change the head. The journey continues to Hatyai.
From Padang Besar, the train took almost 4 hours to reach Hatyai Junction. As soon as I arrived in Hatyai, the first thing I did was to have myself clean and fresh. I knew that I'll be having a long day to Phuket via minivan.
Across Hatyai Train station, there's a lot of travel agency that offers minivan service, bus services and also tour services to the islands. Price differ from one place to another. I had booked mine at one of the agency, minivan to Phuket. From my understanding, the journey will take me around 9 hours to reach Phuket. My minivan leaves Hatyai at 2pm.
Journey to paradise
After a 8 agonizing hours in the minivan and a car, finally I reached Phuket town. At this moment, my phone battery went out and I have no access to call my host in Phuket.
Didn't I tell you that I am using Couchsurfing (www,couchsurfing.org) for me to stay in Phuket?
My luck, finally my host found me in the middle of the junction towards KAMALA BEACH.
Yes, that is the place that I stayed for few days in Phuket before I left for Malaysia by flight to Kuala Lumpur. There's a lot of beautiful beaches around Phuket but you need to go there by motorbike as part of Phuket are hilly and curves.
For those who loves to party, I would recommend to stay at Patong Beach area. There's a street call Banglamphu which you can find a stretch of pubs, discotheque and bars that offers you cheap alcohol. Not to mention that this street looks like the 'Red light district'. Prostitutes and 'Lady boy' anywhere and everywhere looking for their customers. Patong beach is not all about them. There's so much more!
If you are up to good Thai food, Indian food and some western food, head up to more quite place such as Kamala Beach. It's 15 minutes motorbike ride from Patong beach.
There's a restaurant at a junction (I forgot the name, but very famous for westerner who lives in Kamala Beach). They serve good 'Pad Thai' and Mushroom Omelette.
Kamala Beach
This place is one of the place affected by the tsunami. It is more quite and lay back small fishing village. Majority of the resident are Muslim. For those who are particular regarding 'HALAL' food in Phuket, need no worries no more. You can come to Kamala Beach and get your yummy Thai food without having worries. Here's the link on all about Kamala beach.
http://www.phuket.com/island/beaches_kamala.htm
This is my adventure in Phuket...which I think it is still so touristic.
Till next time...
From Kuala Lumpur,Malaysia - Hatyai,Thailand
The post-holiday swing mood
I've made a quick gate away from the big city to a small little place call paradise island name PHUKET. My plan was not having a plan at all. I've bought only a one way train ticket from Kuala Lumpur to Hatyai and the train leaves Kuala Lumpur at 8.30pm. I was lazy enough to buy the train ticket by myself that I just booked it through a travel agency. The cost for one ticket (Upper berth) for Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) is MYR90.
This is the website for Malaysian rail http://www.ktmb.com.my/
At first, I was hoping that the train is as good as the train from Straits Railway of Thailand(SRT). As usual, the timing is not always punctual.I get on the train at about 8.40pm. I had the upper sleeping berth near the doorway. I was unlucky this time. The space was small and the seats on the lower berth can't be change to the seating position! How are we supposed to sit when we woke up the next day? On the bed?? The journey took us almost 20 hours of train ride.
Train adventure
In the same train, there were 7 families, with 8 small kids and 3 infants from Malaysia who were heading to Langkawi Island for a holiday. The train stopped at Arau Station. The kids were running around, the moms were chatting loudly on the aisle, the babies were crying while the dads,smoking near the entrance door. And where I am at that time was like in a circus. I couldn't sleep no more as the compartment was too small and the noise that they made. I was wondering what if some of my European friend would feel like as they are way more taller and bigger size then myself. That would be a different stories.
Finally I felt asleep once the hop off the train. It was a total silence. At that time, it was almost 6.30am.
Border Malaysia - Thailand Padang Besar station is no too far away from Arau Station. This is the border station between Malaysia-Thailand,where you have to bring along all your baggage and prepared your passport for the immigration stamped from both Malaysia and Thailand side.
At this point, the train will change it's 'head' from the KTMB's(Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad) to the Straits Thai Railway (SRT). I've spend almost an hour in the border. I had the chance to buy myself a simple Malaysian breakfast that is Nasi Lemak and Teh 'O' Ais. Price wise is a bit expensive then the normal 'warong' or the street stall.
We board the train once they have change the head. The journey continues to Hatyai.
From Padang Besar, the train took almost 4 hours to reach Hatyai Junction. As soon as I arrived in Hatyai, the first thing I did was to have myself clean and fresh. I knew that I'll be having a long day to Phuket via minivan.
Across Hatyai Train station, there's a lot of travel agency that offers minivan service, bus services and also tour services to the islands. Price differ from one place to another. I had booked mine at one of the agency, minivan to Phuket. From my understanding, the journey will take me around 9 hours to reach Phuket. My minivan leaves Hatyai at 2pm.
Journey to paradise
After a 8 agonizing hours in the minivan and a car, finally I reached Phuket town. At this moment, my phone battery went out and I have no access to call my host in Phuket.
Didn't I tell you that I am using Couchsurfing (www,couchsurfing.org) for me to stay in Phuket?
My luck, finally my host found me in the middle of the junction towards KAMALA BEACH.
Yes, that is the place that I stayed for few days in Phuket before I left for Malaysia by flight to Kuala Lumpur. There's a lot of beautiful beaches around Phuket but you need to go there by motorbike as part of Phuket are hilly and curves.
For those who loves to party, I would recommend to stay at Patong Beach area. There's a street call Banglamphu which you can find a stretch of pubs, discotheque and bars that offers you cheap alcohol. Not to mention that this street looks like the 'Red light district'. Prostitutes and 'Lady boy' anywhere and everywhere looking for their customers. Patong beach is not all about them. There's so much more!
If you are up to good Thai food, Indian food and some western food, head up to more quite place such as Kamala Beach. It's 15 minutes motorbike ride from Patong beach.
There's a restaurant at a junction (I forgot the name, but very famous for westerner who lives in Kamala Beach). They serve good 'Pad Thai' and Mushroom Omelette.
Kamala Beach
This place is one of the place affected by the tsunami. It is more quite and lay back small fishing village. Majority of the resident are Muslim. For those who are particular regarding 'HALAL' food in Phuket, need no worries no more. You can come to Kamala Beach and get your yummy Thai food without having worries. Here's the link on all about Kamala beach.
http://www.phuket.com/island/beaches_kamala.htm
Till next time...
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