Been a frequent traveller, I felt really much more comfortable taking a plane to the destination that I want but nevertheless driving long distances to the destination is a whole new world of experiences. Road trip was once my forte, driving my Subaru Impreza to different parts of Malaysia but never had cross over to Thailand, but things has change after I sold off my car and I started backpacking to different parts of the world. Seeing, experiencing and understanding a whole new and different perspectives towards life and culture.
Life is beautiful and every different cultures are unique, appreciation to loved ones and forgiving to those that harms harmlessly and carelessly.
Finally decided to buy a car for myself again last year after 2 years of trying out our company transport and public transport systems. I started planning to drive up north again *grins.
Coincidentally my friends Ken and Edwin had planned to drive to Krabi way before I suggested this idea to them and it happens to fall within the same period. We decided to look over each others back and execute this plan. Jeremey also joins us as navigator and passenger for my car, 2 person a car to keep each other company.
It was a 10 days trip for me, while theirs will be longer, moving on to Penang and Melaka. Due to work and family commitment, I will part with them at Penang and head back home.
9th April 2016 will be our official set off date, as usual a good breakfast is a must before heading out. We target to break for a night in Ipoh which is about 560km from home, Toll fees is about 70.90RM
Top up 300RM for our Touch n Go card so as to pay for the toll charges incurred along the way.
Caves and cliffs opposite our Eastana Hotel in Ipoh
The famous Ipoh Steamed chicken Horfun/rice in Pusat Bandaraya
We stayed in a hotel that was situated in a town, a totally quiet town with no shops open, no cars at carpark and almost no one walking around. It resembles those horror movies that we check in and stay and late night zombies started luring out killing us humans that were in their territory. Anyway this hotel is not comfortable. lousy bed and I woke up with stiff neck and shoulder.
Fortunately we all survived the night, and so the journey continues, took some pictures around this deserted town, had a good breakfast and headed straight for Malaysia-Thailand border; Bukit Kayu Hitam Immigration.
Quiet and car-less town behind us.
Group photo before setting off for breakfast and heading north
Our happy and sumptuous breakfast at 1 of the famous Dim Sum store in Pusat Bandaraya named Foh San
Bukit Kayu Hitam custom is about 280km from our hotel in Ipoh, and we couldn't drive that fast either, so it took us about 3.5hours to arrive.
Before crossing borders, do remember to top up petrol tank to full as Thailand petrol is slightly more expensive (1 litre Ron 95 = ~25baht = ~$1sgd) than in Malaysia but definitely cannot compare to Singapore pricing. We stopped at the very last Caltex petrol kiosk before custom to have our fuel tank topped up, additionally they do provide departure/arrival white card filling up (2RM) as well as compulsory car insurance for driving in Thailand. The compulsory third party insurance cost 15RM for 7days sedan cars (coverage for injury to personnel only), additional to that we bought additional third party coverage 55RM for 7 days for sedan cars (coverage for injury to personnel as well as vehicle). Both insurance that was mentioned above are third party insurance, no claims can be made for damage to personal vehicle (Singapore/Malaysia cars) other then fire and theft.
Malaysia custom at Bukit Kayu Hitam works smoothly and systematic, although looks a bit more run down as compared to Woodlands Custom and Tuas Custom but every processing is the same.
My vehicle commander/navigator smiling happily as a passenger
Ken in his legendary 1.3 ride
On the way to Malaysia-Thailand borders
Arrival at Bukit Kayu Hitam Customs
A few documents are required for foreign vehicles to be driven into Thailand. They doesn't really see driving in as tourism and more like a temporary export of vehicles which are committed to exit Thailand within the declared dates, or fines shall be incurred for every exceeded day.
Firstly, turn left to the big carpark before Thailand custom and park your vehicle there, alight and walk to customs.
Secondly, walking toward Thailand custom, you will see a table (that looks abandoned but many people will be there filling up something), go to the table and it will have a folder cabinet on it; take 2 form (A4 which will say inbound/outbound) and filled accordingly and circled according as well.
Thirdly, with these 2 forms filled, proceed to a few counters that is open (the one with queues of course), have passport stamped and submit the white form that was filled to the officer inside.
(Note: the whole place is in a mess, no systematic arrangements or instructions, open eyes big and never be shy to ask the frequent border crossers there that is queueing up. Meaning, anyone can just freely drive or walk across the custom without getting their passport stamped, but coming back will be a big problem.)
Fourthly, After passport has been stamped, proceed to another counter that is much more nearer to the exit of custom and queue up. Here, Singapore vehicle log card (print from www.onemotoring.com) has to be submitted to the counter where they will key in your vehicles particulars and print out an official documentation (Simplified Customs Declaration Form) that your vehicle will be temporarily exported to Thailand.
Fifthly, just after getting the official document printout, there will be another counter just beside where this document had to be signed and stamped to legalised it.
Thats all you need to do to clear Thailand custom for a wonderful drive with personal Singapore vehicle in Thailand.
Of course, what was mentioned above is the more acceptable and proper steps to clear customs, however as first timers, we drove right through into streets of Sadao, parked our vehicles in some alleys and walk all the way back to customs to get all these documentations done. Temperature at almost 38degsC (really is sweating non stop and puzzling to get things done rightly)
Now all we have to do is to walk suavely back to our cars, start the engine and drive right through the Thailand custom with all these documents done and safe kept. Any cold eye review to re-confirm that we had our documents done while driving through customs? The answer is no, just go straight in to wherever you wanna visit. The thorough check will be done when we exit Thailand.
Thai custom at a glimpse.
We have entered Thailand..!!!
Quiet Street of Hatyai just before Songkran (Thailand new year)
Buy Thai Sim Card also have to become model for their marketing, but no discount.
Little boy posing with the train just outside Hatyai train station
Hatyai is relatively near to Malaysia-Thailand borders, about 60km (meaning my Singapore car insurance still covers until Hatyai)
2 nights stay in Hatyai to visit its attractions and also look around. Hatyai main tourist are Malaysians and Singaporeans, that also gives the reasons why most of them there can speak Hokkien and Malay. We didn't get to see much westerner around.
Definitely, first night will always be some drinks and partying before we retired back to our hotel to rest for next day activities.
Breakfast before setting off.
Group photo at Wat Hat Yai Nai (a big sleeping Buddha behind us)
Next is visit to the famous Hatyai Municipality Park which has a few attractions in the park itself.
Phra Phutthamongkol Maharaj Golden Buddha Hatyai on top of Hatyai Municipality Park
Hatyai behind and below us. Ascend the steep slope up to the cable car station
Very real looking wax figurines.
Lines of bells and chimes.
Golden statue of Baby Buddha
3 headed elephant at another temple downhill.
Just parking my car anywhere.
Entrance to the meditation hall in Guan Yin Shrine
Guan Yin Shrine
Laughing Buddha and Jade Emperor
Very fierce looking golden dragon head at Guan Yin shrine area.
April is really very very hot time to visit Thailand, with temperature as high as 41degsC when we were visiting the attractions. Nevertheless with this hot weather, it is relatively dry and gives beautifully crips images.
2nd night in Hatyai, we have decided to rest early partially due to the long exposure to the sunny weather the whole day.
Having hotpot dinner at MK restaurant
After dinner, we walked and wander around the streets of Hatyai, doesn't feel like drinking, we search for some place to play billiards but to no success. Retired back to hotel and dozed off soundly before 10pm *lols.
12 April 2016. Woke up early feeling fresh and rejuvenated, we packed and checked out of hotel getting ready for our journey to Krabi! Krabi is about 300km from our Hatyai hotel. As the road conditions are quite different in Thailand (much more winding roads going through mountains and valleys and more slippery road surfaces), most of the time we were actually cruising around 70kmh-90kmh. Anyway we are on a road trip and not rushing to somewhere and the scenery is too nice to speed and missed it.
Delicious local breakfast before heading to Krabi
somehow looking lost, while finding my way to Krabi.
Taking a break at Andaman Gateway before continuing to Krabi
Selfie at Andaman Gateway
Many realistic looking elephants
Endless greeneries, too bad I'm driving and miss many nice winding road shots.
Finally we arrived at Aonang Smile hotel, the place where we gonna stay in Krabi Aonang Beach, also the place where we will celebrate Songkran (a festival where everyone water fight and splashes water at anyone on the street, music and beer everywhere right from morning 9am to dusk.
This parking lot is very cramped, literally squeezed in precisely.
Settled down and freshened up, we walk along the beach of Aonang and had our dinner before going for some drinks at a bar. Sadly, Jeremey receive a news back home, and decided to fly back to Singapore instead. A flight ticket was booked and he flew back the very next morning. Now left the 3 of us in this faraway land (it is considered far because we are driving and not flying.*haha). Long way home and I am going to be driving alone, it will be much more tougher.
The next morning he left around 7am local time, I was awaken too and I went downstair 5 minutes after he left, worried that there might not be transport to send him to airport as it is still early and quite last minute, at least I drove and I can send him there. Fortunately the helpful staff managed to arrange a taxi to fetch him to airport.
Went back to hotel, couldn't sleep back anyway, I went to a nearby cafe for breakfast alone as Ken and Edwin is still soundly sleeping. There I met another solo traveller from Singapore, she was there in Krabi for 10days. We chatted for awhile before Ken and Edwin woke up and join us for breakfast together.
Songkran has started, water were splashing everywhere on the streets, and after breakfast we are ready to participate! Ashley, our new friend joined us for the water battle on the street using Jeremey Super Soaker (don't waste the spare gun *haha)
Pails filled with water are set by the side of the road, for refilling and splashing
Water fight from street standers to vehicle rear passengers
Beer and water fight goes hand in hand
Running out of water, directly use water hose to counter fights! Ashley behind taking a break *shack
It was a fun and spontaneous day of water fight, we are all almost burnt by the sun. We had dinner together and were discussing about the activity that we should have tomorrow and decided that we should go for island hopping. After dinner we manage to book some very budget and affordable island tour costing only 450baht per pax (approx $18sgd) by long tail boat
Bar hopping session happens after 8pm, after we freshen up. Chilling out at 1 of the street bars, playing billiard and enjoying a few beer. Maybe I played quite well and won a few games against the staffs, the boss of the bar also came out from his counter to have a friendly match with me. *grins
Edwin went out to buy breakfast back for us before meeting Ashley at our hotel lobby to go for Island tour
Waiting for transport to bring us to jetty for Island tour.
Walking to our Long Tail Boat
Long Tail boat packed with people
Arrival at the first Island name Koh Tup where during low tide reveal a beautiful sandbank that we can waddle our way across to the opposite island.
Alighting from Long Tail boat to Koh Tup beach
Knee deep sandy bank during low tide
Naughty Edwin splashing water at Ashley.
Took some modelling shots for her
A shot at them taking selfie.
Next is to boat around Chicken Island (an island with rock structure that looks like a chicken) before having our lunch on a small island with beautiful beach name Poda Island. As this is a really budgeted trip, our lunch was actually home-cooked and brought over to the island serving by laddle to plates, very authentic Thai local food. I love it
Chicken Island behind our model.
Long Tail boat berthing at shore.
Home cooked food self served
No air con, no cafe, no tables and chairs, just sit around and eat.
The beautiful island that we had our lunch and afternoon break.
Our group photo, new member in replacement of Jeremey. *hahaha
Finally returned back to Aonang Beach and really gotten sunburnt, we just chose to walk our way back to hotel to shower and change up for dinner. Ashley (from fair to reddish) was very tired and chose to skip dinner instead and went back to rest.
We went for dinner at the famous Restaurant in Krabi name Poo Dam (can be search on google map) very delicious and affordable, visited by a lot of locals too.
crowded Poo Dam restaurant in Krabi town
Grilled cockles, though big but still very tender and delicious
Curry flavoured flower crab
Tom Yum hotpot and grilled fish
After dinner is a slow drive back to Aonang beach where I went for Aloe Vera Cold Treatment for sunburnt at 400baht and it is really very effective, hydrates the skin very well, and the next day I didn't felt much pain.
Chill with a beer or 2 at a beach bar before heading straight back to hotel to rest
We are suppose to move off to Songkhla the very next day, but however we did not get to visit the land attractions and so we decided to extend 1 more night in Krabi. Marvellous choice.
Rise and shine, itinerary of the day is to complete the stairways to Wat Thum Suea which is 308meters altitude, 1237steps!
Arrival at Wat Thum Suea (Tiger Cave) the only Singapore car.
Go for it!
Steep stairways
View from the top.
Huge golden Buddha statue on top.
Huge statue...
Descending is fast and not really much of an effort. Hydrates ourselves under this 39 degs C weather and sweating profusely.
We drives off around and sightseeing along the way before heading back to Krabi Town Poo Dam restaurant again for our dinner. Really taste fantastic.
Somehow got myself in a jungle trail with a 2-wheel-drive coupé
Waterfall is closed due to drought, and so no visit.
Was driving around and stumble upon this newly built temple.
My vehicle commander shack and knock out.
After dinner we headed back to Aonang Beach and tonight is party night! Drank and club to our filled before heading back to our room to sleep for the next day of long drive to Songkhla.
Waking up and still feeling drowsy and giddy, we washed up and checked out, headed to a cafe nearby to have our breakfast. Since on our way to Songkhla, we will pass by Emerald pool, we will drop by there for a visit then.
Emerald pool is a natural pool of water that is blue in colour, amazing! It is a very crowded place with many locals visiting, foreigner needs to pay an entrance fee of 200baht. So it was again a 1km trail walk in, under the blazing sun, still feeling a bit drowsy and sleepy, we manage to reach our destination.
The route in and out of the carpark
Whole car is covered in sand
Entrance ticket for foreigner
Emerald pool, I suppose it will be more mystical and beautiful if there is totally no visitor at all.
From Emerald pool to Songkhla is about 322km, really a long drive for someone with some hangover and lack of sleep. We manage to stop halfway for noodles at a roadside store which cost 150baht for 5 bowls! I'm famished and had 2 bowl of braised chicken noodle soup. Damn! Wrong choice to have eaten so much!
As we drove on, the after effect of food is too overwhelming that I have to pull aside the road at some pit stop slip way and actually slept for 30 minutes!
The delicious local roadside noodles that made me so sleepy until I couldn't drive
Long long way...
through the greeneries, cruising with soft music and aircon breezing at my face.
I am totally recharged and fresh after the 30 minutes power nap. We moved on our journey to Songkhla, it is getting late.
Its getting late, but we can still stop for 3 minutes to take a shot at this beautiful sunset on this wide open land.
Finally arrive in Songkhla, and it is almost 9pm at night. Promptly we check in to our hotel and headed out to the night market to have our late dinner and walk around.
Night market in Songkhla
nice business concept to sell sushi
Still going strong..!! to rest well tonight for a long drive home tomorrow!
Woke up around 9am local time (GMT+7) to have our breakfast in hotel before heading straight to Thailand custom and to Malaysia.
Thailand custom for departure is way so much organised and systematic, unlike the entrance where we just drove directly through into Thailand, park our car and walk back to custom to have our documents settled.
For departure, just drive straight towards Thailand custom and filter left and go all the way to the end, where you will see cars queueing up to get clear at counters 7, 8, 9.
Approaching the first counter, driver and passengers to alight to have their departure card returned and passport stamped for exit.
Next in sight will be a Thai officer inspecting every car against the Simplified Customs Declaration Form to counter check the exiting car register plate number agains the inbound registration declaration form.
Every single required documentations had been checked thoroughly, we done our part very well, clearing is smooth.
Running out of petrol, i couldn't wait to get pass custom and go straight to the first petrol kiosk.
running out of petrol, still haven clear Thai custom jam. Up ahead is Malaysia custom jam.
faster clear, not much petrol left.
Finally arrived back in Malaysia, we had our late lunch at Chalung. Setting off to target to farewell at Penang bridge.
Last dinner before we part, for my long solo drive back home.
Reach Penang bridge and found that there is no U-Turn back to NSHW. Enter into Penang, crossing the Penang bridge and make a u-turn inside before heading back to NSHW
The place where we part goodbye
Afterall it is a beautiful long u-turn back to track.
Its getting dark, and there is accident at NSHW towards Ipoh, driving and getting tired.. I decided to book a hotel in KL to stay for a night and I am still about 160km from my booked hotel. Just have to stay cool and drive safely to destination.
Finally arrived in Bukit Bintang KL and check in to Sky Hotel, which is about 13hours of driving inclusive of meals and customs jam. Wrong room was allocated to me, and there is a lady showering in the bathroom when i open the door! (of course I didn't saw anything as she is inside the bathroom with door closed). I went back downstair to reception to get my room change.
After so much ups and downs, I finally had my late dinner along the streets, a beer and back to room to rest..
Close eyes, next moment is received a message from my wife, then realised that its morning 9am already! I thought I just closed my eyes!? Get out of bed, showered and checked out.
Since I doesn't have much appetite, just bought some bread and coffee from a petrol kiosk at the outskirt of Kuala Lumpur, full tank petrol and hit straight back to Johor Bahru (eating my breakfast, enjoying my chilled canned coffee and driving)
Reach JB around 12 plus afternoon, around 2.5hrs of non stop driving. Finally got my car washed after so many days of covered in dirt and sand; I headed straight to my daughter school to fetch her home.
Many times, I have been thinking to do or not to do something, It might sound crazy to drive so far and going through so much mental and emotional ordeal (mainly staying awake and alert). Taking a flight there doesn't cost more than half the total petrol and toll fees incurred.
Always and always at the end of my trips, I will realised that it is always the journey that leave memories and experiences, journey plays a much bigger part as compared to the destinations. Doing something totally different and challenging gives priceless satisfaction and learnings.
Looking forward and preparing for my next solo backpacking trip to Osaka (Kyoto).
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