Travelog Road Journey to KRABI Part 2

Travelog Kuala Lumpur to Krabi... Part 2

Read Travelog Road Journey to KRABI Part 1

Day-3

Actually, our original plan is to stay around Ao Nang or may be drive around Krabi town or shopping. However after awesome experiences to four islands yesterday, we decided to go to Phi Phi Island, which covers 7 more destinations via speedboat. Last night we surfed around Ao Nang for a better deals… we found Barracudas Tour. 

The cost of Phi Phi Island Tour is 3,600Tbh (900Thb per persons) including lunch. This trip covers Maya Bay (scene of The Beach– film stars Leondardo Dicaprio), Bamboo Island, Viking Cave, Phi Phi Don (lunch), Lohsamah Bay – beautiful lagoon in Phi Phi Ley), Monkey Bay and Yung Island.

We started our journey at 9.00 am at the beach in front of our hotel.  We can see that there were heavy rains in front of us with high wave. The new challenge was the heavy rains and high wave but it is just fora about 30 minutes. The journey took nearly one hour to reached Bamboo Island.

With Barracudas Team

The view at "The Beach"

The view of entering "The Beach"

Snorkeling

So amazing! 

For this trips, we got chance to snorkeling in three different areas, which are Monkey Bay, Yung Island and Bamboo Island.  It was so amazing, fantastic experiences and remarkable.  We really enjoyed feeding the fish while snorkeling in the crystal clear water.  Honestly, we forgot the time we really spent in the water!

In Phi Phi Island with Asmadi 

We went to Phi Phi Don Island for lunch and rest for 1½ hour.  We took opportunity to get along with the local peoples who can speak “Malay or Nara”. One young gentleman name Asmadi from Narathiwat working in the restaurant nearby shared his story about Tsunami hit the islands from two sides 10 years ago.  The Tsunami's wave as high as the coconut tree or may be higher. He added that the only place that does not hit by Tsunami is the As Islah Koh Phi Phi Mosque.

As Islah Koh Phi Phi Mosque

Our boat parked at Phi Phi Island

Phi Phi Don Island really makes feel in love with the nature – no road, no car and in fact, we plan to stay here in our coming trip. Insyallah!

After another round of snorkeling, we heading back to Ao Nang beach. We arrived at the hotel around 4.30 pm.

Dinner at Ao Nang Seafood Restaurant

For dinner, we went to the same Ao Nang Seafood restaurant. This time we ordered 2 fishes with different style of cooking, scramble egg and Thai Curry Mussels. Superb! It cost us 2,300Tbh. 

Day-4

We checked-out around 6.00 am and the road was so clear. The journey took about 13 ½ hours from Ao Nang to Bukit Beruntung.

Plan Route:

Ao Nang – Krabi – Trang – Patthalung – Hat Yai – Danuk – Kayu Hitam – Bukit Beruntung

Lunch in Hat Yai - Danuk 

We only stop at the before the Thrang – Patthalung junction for coffee, meeting my old friend at Hat Yai for lunch, immigration at Kayu Hitam, RR Gurun and RR Semanggol.

Alhamdulillah we safely home by 8.30 pm (Malaysia Time).

In conclusion, the Travelog journey to Krabi is about “It’s love at the first sight”. We really enjoyed our holidays because there’s no schedule, no hustle-and-bustle, and no reason to be in hurry…  it is feel like a storybook experience!

Insyallah we will be back!


Noordin Khalid
Ao Nang, Krabi
Thailand

Travelog Road Journey to KRABI Part 1

Travelog Kuala Lumpur to Krabi... Part 1

For almost a month, we planned the Krabi’s trip via road with estimated 1,600 km from Bukit Beruntung. Based on Google Map, it would take around 10 – 14 hours journey with 833 km via Plus Highway.  

Original Plan Route

Bukit Beruntung – Kayu Hitam – Danuk – Hat Yai – Patthalung – Trang – Krabi – Ao Nang

So excited! This is our first time driving into Thailand with Toyota Estima 2.4 cc engine.

Day-0

We started our journey on 13 Aug 2014 6.00 pm heading to Juru, Butterworth. Actually not really a good start because some of us are not feeling well. After 1 ½ hour drive, we stopped at RTC Simpang Pulai for dinner.  One of my favorite restaurants is Nasi Kandar Padang Kota with famous "Nasi Kandaq". After dinner, we continued our journey to Juru, Butterworth and stayed overnight in my sister house.

Bukit Beruntung – Juru : 4 ½ hrs (including dinner)

Toll rate is RM37.90

Fuel is RM115.00

Day-1

On 14 August 2014 6.30 am after performed Fajr prayer; we started our journey heading to Kayu Hitam Immigration. We reached at Pekan Changlun around 8.30 am. There are shops with sign-mark of “Immigration Form and Insurance” where you can get their service to fill-up the immigration form, car insurance and money exchange.

Buy car insurance and fill-up immigration form

It is also advisable to re-fuel your car before crossing the border. The fuel’s price in Thailand is more expensive compare to Malaysia. Drive through Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration for Malaysia’s immigration clearance and continue drive to Thailand ‘s border. We parked our car at the parking bay on the left hand side and walking to the Thailand’s Immigration for passport clearance and car export documents.

Juru – Kayu Hitam : 2 hours (including breakfast in RR Gurun)

Toll rate is RM13.00 and RM1.40

Fuel is RM110.00

Car Insurance for 1 week is RM17 

Car Export Duty in Thailand is RM 5

Immigration Form fill-in is RM2 per persons

At Thailand’s immigration, don’t forget to put RM1 in your passport for their tips. Trust me, it will make them smile at you! (Based on our research, most Travelog advised the same….). Once you cleared the immigration then proceed to the next counter for Car Duty Export. Make sure you bring the Malaysia Car Registration (original if you are not the owner) and pay RM5 for registration.  Once done, you can pick-up your car and drive through the immigration.

WELCOME TO THAILAND!

SAWADEKAP

Do not forget to adjust our watch one hour behind Malaysia for new time zone.  Now you’re in small town called Danuk.

From 10.00 am to 9.00 am Thailand time….

With Bangkok National TV Crew

We parked our car along the roadside in Danuk. The first thing to do is buy Thai Simcard with full Internet RM35 for 5 days usage. Then we had a nice breakfast of "Nasi Lemak" in the small restaurant. During breakfast we met National TV Station's crew and somehow they wanted to interview us on Asian Community 2015.

Hey, we are on National Television of Thailand talked about our opinion for Asean's Community 2015.  Err feel like international artist... Ha Ha Ha. Coincidentally, we are at right place and the right time though!

At 10.00 am  (Thailand time) we continued our journey as per original plan route.

(Danuk – Hat Yai – Patthalung – Trang – Krabi – Ao Nang)

It is a new experience driving in Thailand. Personally we think driving in Thailand is quite safe and easy.  The most important to have a good map but nowadays with WAZE technology or Google Map, it is really help. Unfortunately, we are so happy looking at the scenery and non-stop talking until we missed the Patthalung – Trang junctions. Actually, we saw the junction but somehow we keep driving on the highway towards North. Ha ha ha serve the purpose!!

Only after an hour, we noticed that we did not follow the planned route. We took a short break, look at Google Map and concentrate.  We used the new route towards further North and cut through West towards Krabi with additional 1.5 hours . 

New Route (unplanned route)

Hat Yai – Patthalung – Namtuk Yong – Thung Yai – Khao Phanom – Krabi – Ao Nang

Alhamdulillah finally we reached Krabi town around 3.30 p.m. and drive slowly looking for Halal’s food. So hungry!  We had our lunch in a small restaurant with very nice Thai’s cuisine of "Nasi Campur".  It is delicious but too spicy!  Most of them cannot speak “Malays” or “Nara” language.

“Nara” means Narathiwat is a place in Southern Thailand near Malaysia and people there speak “Malay” language or "Nara" language in Thailand.

According to the local peoples, 90% of Krabian are Muslim and most of them owned the chalet or boat in Ao Nang. Thus, it is quite easy to get “Halal” food in Krabi and Ao Nang even in Phi Phi Island.

Recharged our energy and time to go to final destination. 

We continue our journey while enjoying the beautiful scenery along the way to Ao Nang. Trust me, it is very beautiful and I lost my words to describe how beautiful it is. It take about 20 minutes driving, we arrived in front of our hotel Ao Nang Beach Resorts.

We booked the Hotel Ao Nang Beach Resort through www.Agoda.com for 2 rooms (4 days 3 nights) is RM530.00. It is a beautiful hotel with nice big rooms facing the beach. About 3 minutes walk to the beach! Actually, we felt very tired but we don’t want to stay in the room. More things to explore! We decided to enjoy the Thai’s massage and its cost about 200Tbh. Wow feels so fresh even after almost 10 hours drive. 

Windows shopping at Ao Nang road 

Indian Restaurant ...err Thai's food?

The last activity of the day was dinner at Noori India Restaurant with Thai's cuisine cost about 1,300Tbh. 

Day-2

We wake-up quite early in the morning and took our breakfast in the hotel.  Actually we can’t wait for sailing trip to four Islands with long tail boat tour. The four islands are Railay Beach at Tup Island, Chicken Island and Koh Poda and Phranang Cave Beach

Full day tour 4 Islands traditional Long Tail boat is cost 2,000Tbh (500Tbh/person) included lunch and mineral water.

What should we bring? 

Just wear your swimming-suit, camera, sunscreen and a towel.

NOTE: Do not expect to stay dry on this trip!

The pick-up bus (not sure if we called bus or van or ???) arrived at 9.15 am and we joined with another groups at the assembly location near the boat jetty. Together with us in the same boat are groups from France, Malaysia, Thailand etc with the total passenger 35 pax. 

Transfer pick-up to jetty 

With the Captain "Leo Nardo"

Long tail boat before someone got dizzy

The first destination was Tuk Island (Railay Beach) which taken about 40 minutes from Ao Nang beach. Masyallah so beautiful where a sandbar on which we can walk when the tide recedes gradually separates the sea.

Walking at the sandbar

Caught Selfie from another camera

Selfie on the sandbar

The second destination was Chicken Island… clearly we can see the chicken head! The island got its name from a bizarre rock formation that resembles the head of a chicken. However, the most interesting part is snorkeling and swimming with colorful fish in the crystal clear waters. Awesome!

Chicken Island

Selfie with the fishes in Chicken Island

We took nice beach-lunch in Koh Poda for 1 ½ hour’s break. Immediately after lunch, we are back in the sea! Swimming, sunbathing and photography are our main activities!

Nice scenery at Poda Island

Poda Island 

Our last destination was a bit challenge due to high wave to Phranang Cave Beach. Due to high wave, the boat park on the side of the island and we got to walk to Phranang Cave Beach.  We stayed here for an hour. We felt we haven’t got enough but yet need to go back to Ao Nang Beach. From here the boat took about 50 min to reach back to Ao Nang jetty (with high wave!)

Phranang Cave Beach

We reached our hotel at 4.30 pm…. and jumped into swimming pool.

After two hours rest, we went to Ao Nang Seafood Restaurant for dinner. We ordered Som Tum (spicy green papaya salad with crab meat), stem fish, omelets with shrimp and sweet & sour squid. The flavors and fragrances are seemingly inexhaustible. Over the dinner, we talked about our sailing today and somehow we decided to sail again tomorrow. Our dinner in Ao Nang Seafood cost 2,000Tbh for 4 pax.

To be continue day-3 and day-4 …. 
Read Travelog Road Journey to Krabi Part 2

Next destination is Phi Phi Island (7 destinations) with speedboat.

Noordin Khalid

Ao Nang, Krabi

Thailand

Recommendation in Linkedln

Salam 


Just feel like to capture some of recommendation received in Linkedln into my own blog.

Thank you for all my friends, colleagues and clients from all over the world who had spent sometime to put your recommendation on me.

Hope you are able to benefits from my program. 

Lately, I am quite tight with the implementation of Service Improvement in one of the local organisation in Malaysia. Change always pain but in order to improve they must change..

Pray for the success of the project ...


Noordin Khalid