Thailand: Krabi Town - Pak-Up Hostel Review

I suppose to write the island hopping tour in Phuket but i decided to skip that. We just got the tour in hotel and pack ourselves into a van to pier, pier on speedboat, and being dumped into few snorkeling points like everyone did, i didn't see shark nor whale, so no point posting. 

Ok, i just malas to choose photo blerrrrrrrrrrrrrrk!

I decided to post on my Krabi trip, aka my birthday solo trip.

Like i mentioned in my previous post, i visited thailand for 3 times in 3 months, the last trip among the 3 was Krabi town -> Koh Lanta -> Ao Nang, and this is the gift for myself in my 25 year old birthday.

I traveled  Krabi town, Ao Nang and Koh Lanta

Ao Nang is near from Krabi Airport, so i choose Krabi town to be my first stop and Ao Nang to be my last, i went to Koh Lanta for 3d2n, thought that is a quiet island like Koh Lipe but i was wrong, will post the detail later.

There are bus and van transfer with cheap price from Krabi Airport to Krabi town or Ao Nang, just get the bus ticket in the counter located in the lobby of the airport (you cant miss it, the airport is small). 

Argg, can i post that in the next post? I wanna make this as hostel review post. 

I choose Pak-Up hostel in Krabi town after research, there are a lot of cheap hostel around the town and Pak-Up is one of the most developed, i choose it just because of the located. 5 to 10 minutes walking distance from the bus station, restaurant and hawker stall just down the street. 

I booked 10 beds mix dorm with the price of rm20+-, come with towel (with deposit), shampoo, body shampoo provided, which i never expected.  

Pak-Up Hostel. Walk out from the bus station, turn left and walk for 5 to 10 minutes then you will see this. Or ask anyone, this is one of the land mark.

I got 2nd floor, nice street view.

the living room, rental desktop for internet and drinks are available.

They named the room weird, i stayed in Thai room.

big bright room with air-con.

And they named the bed with places of Thailand, you can choose the place / bed you like.



Big locker that fit a backpack for every beds are avaible, just bring your own lock.

I choose Hua Hin which near to the window.

View from my bed.

Clean bed sheet, thick blacket and towel offer free, what you ask for more with this price?

Every bed with own power point and lamp.

My bed view. LOL

I spend haf day laying on bed and looking at the street, this is vocation and i wanted.

If my memory serve me right, there are private room ensuit available in this hostel. I used to love staying in warm cozy family run hostel, because that more feel like in home, but stay in big organized hostels are good to meet more people, especially for short stay.

I remembered when i was in London, i was the only asian girl stay in 16 beds mix dorm, and that experience freak me out, and since that i avoid to stay in big backpacker hostels.

Then i traveled to NZ and change my place to sleep almost every week, rare to meet girl who willing to stay in mix dorm, and i'm the exception, because of money, haha.

But staying in big dorm mean you got the chance to meet more people. Surprisingly i met 4 girls staying in the same room with me in Pak-up and we had very nice chat and travel experience sharing, this cheer me the most.

Ok back to Pak-Up. There is a roof top in Pak Up, the host organize party on and off, you can go up and catch some view of the city anytime. A laundry and restaurant cum pub just right behide the hostel, running by the host but i never dine there, i guess that is western food for western traveller.

Every flood come with clean and big share bathrooms and toilets, with shampoo and body shampoo provided. But this doesn't really impress me, all i remember is the door sign.

Gent



Lady

Cute right?! Hehehe.

I like this backpacker for handy (the main street and restaurant within walking distance) and clean, but the staff not really helpful. 

I booked the bed by Hostelworld.com and paid 10% deposit, but the hostel claim that they didn't got the 10%, i forced make full payment. I don't really mind the 10%, which is cost like rm2, but the hostel should have better communicate with the website. 

Anyway, if you just stay for 2 or 3 nights with limited budget, this is good choice.

Lastly, i start this blog like 4 years ago, and i don't remember why i start writing with English instead of Chinese, probably i wanted to practise more because i know my English is sucks. 

I know i might not improve much but hey, at least i keep trying all these year. If my English hurt your eye you can actually leave it. Afterall, this is my place, i told you in the headline, isn't it? 

I proud with myself that i NEVER insult some Chinese that cannot speak or read Chinese well, i understand that might beyond their control in choosing their first language. 

My English is sucks, but i'm proud that at least i'm keep learning.

My English is sucks, but i still travelling like no bordering.  

And you? 

=)   

Oh, and thanks for whoever that sick with my English, but still following my blog like my die-hard fans.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
20120127, 0154pm
Rach in proud to blog in working hour time :P mood.

New Zealand: NZ South island travel plan & route.

I got an email from my friend's friend (which i never meet him before), that he done reading all my NZ posts and later he realize that we share a common friend, then he ask our friend if could give him my contact, in helping him to plan his NZ trip.

Planning trip is the most difficult part, especially you have never been to the country, you've zero idea on every single things.

Yea of course you could search from the internet, but most of the time you gonna read alot just to get a rough picture of the place.

I understand this very well, as what i'm going through to do my Jeju & Korea plan.

Of course you can get lot of info on must-go / must-eat, but you have no idea where the hell is those place, how to get there, is that far from where you stay, how much its cost, what is the other attraction around.

And when you done figure out the attractions you want to go, but you have no idea how to fit in your schedule, so you won't waste your time and transportation fees.

What i mean is, route is important, especially when you travelling in few days. You won't want to spend extra transport money. Money might not the matter, but time is.

Alright back to this friend, lets call him Alex.

So Alex is travelling the south of NZ in this coming March, he will stay for 6 days and he done some research, he knows rent a car is the best way to travel NZ, especially South.

Frankly, 6 days is never enough for the whole south, know that i spend 4 months living in south, and one whole month full time travelling in South, still i missed out some place like Stewert Island.

But if you have only 6 days, you just have to give up some attractions.

His flight reach in late noon, and back in night like 9pm.

This is pretty much like what i planned for John when he travelled to South in last August.

I talk to Alex for a while, he will give up top south, which is Picton, Nelson, National Park and so, and he don't feel like spending whole day in Franz Josef, so he keen on down south.

Which is what i plan for John. So without saying much, i find out the plan and i send over.

Day 1
Christchurch -> Lake Tekapo

Date            : 18 August

Time           : 5pm – 830pm

Distance     : 223km

Stay                 : Lake Front Lodge http://www.laketekapo-accommodation.co.nz/lake-tekapo-backpackers/

Activity           : Kohan for dinner (close by 9pm)

  Night Stargazing

Day 2

Lake Tekapo -> Mt Cook -> Lake Pukaki -> Lake Tekapo

Date            : 19 August

Time           : 9am - 1030

Distance     : About 80km (one way to Mt. Cook)

Stay                 : Lake Front Lodge http://www.laketekapo-accommodation.co.nz/lake-tekapo-backpackers/

Activity           : Salmon for lunch
  Mt Cook glazier track (half hour / 3 hours / 2 days).

  Milky blue Lake Pukaki

  Good Shepherd Church (closed by 4pm)

                          Kayak

Day 3

Lake Tekapo -> Twizel -> Omarama -> Cromwell -> Queenstown

Date            : 19 August

Time           : 10am – 1pm

Distance     : 256km

Stay                 : Aspen Lodge (Free wifi & muffin)

Activity           : Twizel Salmon Fish farm for breakfast!

                          Stop by Cromwell for cherry

  Queenstown Ferg burger for lunch!

  Leisure and shopping

  Gondola for view and buffet for dinner.

                         

Day 4

Queenstown -> Coronet Peak Ski Area / The Remarkable Ski Area -> Queenstown

Date            : 21 August

Time           : 10am – 4pm

Distance     : 15km / 23 km (one way)

Stay                 : Aspen Lodge (Free wifi & muffin)

Activity           : Ski and fall.

Day 5

Queenstown -> Moeraki -> Oamaru

Date            : 22 August

Time           : 8am – 12pm

Distance     : 300km (HW 85)

Stay                 : Chill A While http://www.chillawhile.co.nz/index.php or Swagger http://www.swaggersbackpackers.co.nz/

Activity           :  Boulder in Moeraki

                           Town in Oamaru

                           Penguin Crossing / Penguin Viewing

Day 6

Oamaru -> Timaru -> Ashburton -> Christchurch / Akaroa -> Christchurch

Date            : 23 August

Time           : 9pm - 12pm

Distance     : 247km

Stay                 :  Pinky House (I couldn’t find the contact!) / Base http://www.stayatbase.com/base-backpackers-christchurch-

hostel/ / Jail! http://www.jail.co.nz/ / Or if you want to have own space to pack your stuff, go for motel (100-120 / night).

Activity           :  Timaru stop for lunch, fuel and restock (big town)

                           Ashburton for souvenir and Alpaca

                           Akaroa for French Village

                           Christchurch leisure and relax.

That is the plan i send to John, but John ended up give up skiiing and join local tour to Milford Sound, he thinks its worth the money and that is half day tour. So another half day he tool Queenstown gondola to see the Queenstown view.

Ski is optional, actually there are lot of local tour, if you want bungy, you can go from Queenstown, like 1 hours driving distance.

But March is Autumn, so i guess Alex won't want to stay Queenstown for extra one day just for ski on the ground and he don't keen on go to Milford Sound and bungy, he want just stop by and see queenstown, save more time to other place. 

So i suggest he can either take Day 4 plan away and continue to Day 5 plan, which is to Moeraki to Oamaru, and continue to Chrischurch. 

The extra one day i would recommend to Kaikuora, somewhere near beach, famous with lobster and black abalone. Click Kaikuora to link the old post.

Kaikuora is 2 - 3 hours driving distance from Christchurch, after Ashburton is Christchurch, after Christchurch is Kaikuora, spend a night in Kaikuora, and back to Christchurch next morning, he can either choose to hang around in the town or drive another 2 hours to Akaroa, (click to old post) back in the evening to catch the flight. 

Which mean, day 4 is
Queenstown -> Moeraki -> Oamaru

So, day 5 could be:
Oamaru -> Timaru -> Ashburton - ->   Christchurch  ->   Kaikuora. 

while day 6 is
Kaikuora  ->   Akaroa / Christchurch. 

About is the route map, red line is the places that my plan will goes through. 

Ok, when you done your route map, the next time is find out what do you want to see in those stop point, accommodation, must-eat. and plan your budget.  

Well i hope this is help, if you have question, drop me comment and i shall see if i could help. 

Oh yea, some readers sometime ask me to email them my answer, i never do, not because of i'm cocky but i think its nice to share, this is what internet mean right? 

So if you happen to ask me question through comment, please come back and check (and click my ads so i can earn my travel money!!!)

Thailand: Phuket - Phuket City

I went to Phuket one month after Haiyat and Koh Lipe, this is a surprise trip for John, which i let all his travelmates keep the secret that i will be following to the trip, and appear in the airport suddenly to surprise him.

The plan goes pretty smooth, but fuck our flight were delayed 6 hours, this is first delay experience that i ever had since i traveled with AirAsia. Shouldn't i say i'm the one who bring this black luck?

 But anyway, we reach Phuket in late night, like 11 something, get hotel free mini van and off to check in.

We stayed in C&N hotel, which is allocated in an alley off to the main road, 5 minute to the famous shopping center (which i cannot recall the name, but i bet phuket city center has only one big giant shopping center), and 2 minute to the club & pub street. Across the club street you will see the beach and sea, it was take you like 10 minute walking.

The hotel is pretty handy, right opposite is a small restaurant named Sabai Sabai, i love the name lot coz it sound like Thai restuarant (ok it is a Thai restaurant, but i mean you will knows it a Thai restaurant just by the name), and i dine there once in the last day i was in Phuket, damn i should eat there earlier, almost the best and cheap meal that i had in the whole trip.

Beside the restaurant, C&H massage center was just right next to Sabai Sabai, which runs under the hotel just right beside the hotel, and there is another massage center opposite of the hotel.

Walk out from the alley you'll see the main street, right left is famous Chinese Restaurant name Mr. Good (we dined there once, and my conclusion is not bad, yet not good either, a bit pricy though).

I heard from driver that there is another C&N hotel in Phuket, but somewhere outskirt and more expensive i think. If you happen to book the room in this hotel, make sure you know which are you make booking.

The double bed room cost us rm100 per night, free buffet breakfast and airport transfer, so this is good deal in such a strategy location.

Big and bright room, with mini fridge, tv, cold air-con, hot shower, free water and balcony so you can go out and look at houses, which i think this is dumb.

The hotel has no website so i couldn't direct the link here, but take a look on hotel booking website, plenty of those.

I would recommend this if you aim for shopping and club more than beach and quiet vocation (but i guess no such thing call quiet in phuket, the club and pub street is happening all night long).

Ok before i forget, the only bad thing in the room was noisy. I'm not sure if the sound proof is poor or every single speakers in phuket was turning on during night time, we heard loud speaker noise in the middle of the night, well probably we're staying just one block away from the club streets and the room just 3 floor height.

View from the room balcony, which i say you walk out and see houses, dumb. 

I remembered to bring my camera, so every colourful scene caught my eyes. 

Doggie cute <3

The main street is quiet in the morning. 

Motor bike rental everywhere.

A white and local couple everywhere.

I always wonder what will happen if electricity on fire in thailand.  

If you think the last photo is shit this is shitter.

the street

Imagine when all the bulb on during night time. 

Off from the main street, still some local residence. 

Tuk tuk charge here is crazy. 200bath per way per tuk tuk, for 15 minutes right. Same distance in Hatyai just 20bath per way per person. 

The stall like this sold not only tea, but cup noodle and snack, weird huh have cup noodle beside the road :P. 

Holy Thai

Its getting happening when the day turning to dark 

walking into alley instead of main street is my favourite when travelling. I seen what other don't.

Like local people pray with famous soft drink in thai. 

Phuket is small, 2 main streets and done walking one round in 3 hours.

Grill corn stall everywhere too.  

Phuket (or i should say Thailand) has lots of gallery and painter. Walk into this gallery and see he is drawing the famous photos. Moom the painter is nice to talk with. 

Like Indonesia, they sold gasoline like isotonic drink here. 

Fuck the cow face was frightening me every time i pass by. 

Phuket is the city that i can find Chinese words the most.

Blessed with the clear sky and good weather. 

They never hide they love their King

First impression: Damn taiwan or what?!

Pink mini van. Heart this. 

The club street turn to flea / food stall during day time. 

If i have to be dog in my next life, i wish i born in Thai. 

Petaling street wtf

I like this the most. Not editing. Not effect. 

3 nights i stay in Phuket, which John was 4 nights (i've to back for work), we spend 2 days wondering around in the city and one day off to islands hopping and snorkeling, that will be in another post, if i remember where did i copy all the photos too.

Nah if i couldn't find it i will ask from John again. Just be a little patient. I know one post per month is shit but i'm so busy in finalize my korea trip in this coming March.

So i have one island post, 1 kradi town, 1 Aonang and 1 Koh Lanta post are coming up. Damn.










Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
20120106, 1107am
Rach in Happy New Year and i sick at home today mood