Traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok by Bus and vice versa

I had just finished an interesting and exciting 4 days 3 nights trip in Bangkok from 12 April - 15 April; however, I did not reach my office in Kuala Lumpur until April 16, 2110 hours. I had decided to take a bus ride all the way from Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur on the return trip. If you are traveling on a shoestring budget as I did, I hope this post may be of some help to you.

My initial plan was to take a bus ride from Kuala Lumpur Pudu Sentral all the way to Hat Yai and then from Hat Yai to Bangkok. As much as I have planned to do that, it was well planned.

Before going on, please note that there are two main bus stations, Bandar Tasik Seletan (for all buses going South Bound to Melaka, Johor Bahru, Singapore etc), and Pudu Sentral (for buses doing North Bound to Ipoh, Penang and even to Thailand Hat Yai).

I have planned to travel to Bangkok by Bus from Kuala Lumpur, Pudu Sentral Bus Station, on 11 April to Hat Yai and then to transfer to another bus from Hat Yai to Bangkok. However, when I reached Pudu Sentral station on 11 April, I was informed that most buses going to Hat Yai leaving 2200 hours or 2230 hours was fully booked; there were only 1-2 bus companies left with trip to Hat Yai on that day.

Yes, it was crazy ... many are traveling to Hat Yai for the Thailand's Songkran festival for a very good reason. If you like to be a child again to indulge in some decent wet fun, the Songkran festival is definitely not to be missed.

Traveling from Kuala Lumpur to Hat Yai to Bangkok on Bus

As I have booked my hotel from 12 April - 15 April, so I was hopping to reach in time to check in. However, it was only a day before departed that it dawned upon me that the trip alone to Hat Yai from Kuala Lumpur would already take about 7 hours and onward to Bangkok would need another 12-14 hours; there is no way I can reach in time, without late checking-in to the hotel. Earliest I could reach Bangkok in the hotel was around at least 2000 hours in the evening on 12 April. That was provided that I traveled non-stop, meaning once I reach Hat Yai, the bus was ready to take me to Bangkok immediately. That was of cos not the case.

After realising that I couldn't possibly make it in time, I booked an air ticket with Airasia instead and flew in on 12 April first flight at 0645 hours. It was a mistake I made and a few points to note if you want to travel from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok:

1. Take note of the time duration, Kuala Lumpur to Hat Yai (~ 7 hours) and Hat Yai  to Bangkok (~ 12-14 hours). Do give yourself some traveling time as you may not end up in the exact bus station in Hat Yai that is also providing buses to Bangkok. Make sure you check with the counter staff in Pudu Sentral bus station before buying the bus ticket. If you want need to reach bangkok on a specific date, you may have to give yourself an allowance of 36-48 hours of travel; taking into the commuting time between transfer as well as point 2.

2. Check the bus schedules for the trip to Hat Yai from Pudu Sentral bus station first. Apparently, they do not have regular trip. On the day I reached Pudu Sentral at around 1200+ hours and I had missed the morning bus at 0930 hours which I saw in one of the bus companies. Thus, the only option left was 2200 hours or 2230 hours in most of the bus companies.

3. If possible, check the bus schedule from Hat Yai to Bangkok so that you can better plan your trip. Unless you are not traveling on tight timing or that you do not mind spending some time in Hat Yai before catching your bus to Bangkok. Of cos the latter would be better and you can have a little time to move around Hat Yai.

The cost of the ticket from Kuala Lumpur Pudu Sentral varies from Malaysia Ringgits 55 (offered to my friend from another bus company just about a week ago) to 80 (offered to me by one of the bus companies on 11 April) 

Traveling from Bangkok to Hat Yai to Kuala Lumpur Pudu Sentral on Bus

I was pretty lucky to get myself a hotel which has a direct bus service to Sai Tai Mai, the Southern Bus Terminal for south bound bus to Hat Yai. I boarded the bus number 511 on Sukhumvit Road which is just below the Thong Lo BTS. Please make sure you boarded the bus in the right direction towards Sai Tai Mai. The bus stop is just in front of 7-11 store. Just double confirm the direction with the bus driver or the ticket seller in the bus.

The ride took about an hour plus and which would only cost you 21 Baht compare to taking the cab which may set you back by as much as 180 Baht. But of cos you save time traveling on cab, provided there are no traffic.

I have checked the timing for buses to Hat Yai at earliest 1700 hours on 1st Class VIP and latest 1930 hours on 2nd Class. What's the difference between the two? Besides the cost, of cos is the legs space; you would appreciate the more leg space with 1st class. Even for first class, there are two types, one cost around 1200 Baht (24 seats) and the one I bought was 724 Baht (if my memory did not fail me and may be 32 seats).

I reached Sai Tai Mai bus stations around 1340+ and scouted around for bus ticket first. As soon as I bought my ticket for 1930 hours I walked around. There are quite of number of eateries where you can choose from; from the familiar KFC, to Chester's Grill (fast food concept, tried once from recommendation by a friend and I must say that I was pretty impressed by the cheap but aroy food).

I ended up with a hot chocolate at Black Canyon at 50 Baht and occupied my time reading alibaba, the book on Jack Ma. This lasted me till around 1700 hours. With another two hours to go, I decided to have a walk again to look for a place to charge my phone. It was then I realised there was another floor and decided to take a look.

Basically, the is nothing much on the second floor except a small food court with more local food as well as some small store and arcade game centre. There was nothing that attracted me and decided to just find a place to sit down. After resting my leg, I decided to take a pee and guessed what I found (on the left)? Alright, I'm not a frequent traveler. I thought it is a brilliant idea.

After my interesting found, I headed to the first floor again to find a place to charge my phone which was totally flat by then and managed to find a baggage services which also provided phone charging. Thus, I settled down to get my phone charge for an hour before heading down to the platform to board the bus.

One thing I found very impressive was that the bus left on the dot - yes, exactly at 1930 hours. Thus, my journey from Bangkok to Hat Yai started. Along the way, while I was still awake, I observed that the bus picked up more passengers, probably at its agents' office until the bus was filled.

And the real journey towards Hat Yai started. I was switching between dozed off mode and half awoken mode and the bus stopped once around 0000 hours for food before it went on again.

By the time it reached Hat Yai, Phatthalung the next morning, it was already almost 0900 hours on 16 April. I went straight to the information counter and asked for where I could take bus to Kuala Lumpur and was guided by one agent towards an office just outside the station. Bought a bus ticket (~ 750 baht) for 0930 hours and waited for the bus. Shortly at 0930 hours, I was picked up by a bike which brought me to an agent office and that was where I boarded the bus at 1000 hours. The same thing happened, the bus picked up more passengers at a few location before it headed off to the Thailand-Malaysia border.

And at the border, more passengers were picked up. The bus made several stop for lunch and for toilet breaks before it reached Kuala Lumpur at around 2000 hours. I had lost track of the time as my phone was totally flat again.

Overall, it was still a pretty pleasant trip and I would add on safe too.
____________________________
Book Now and Save at hotels.com

Stumble It!

Extreme Bungee Jumping Adventures

I had a hell of an experience last year when I tried bungee jumping for the first time in my life in Phuket, Thailand. I had always wanted to try out bungee jumping, at least once in my life, before that. When I was in Phuket last year, I happened to come across World Bungy at Patong Beach, Phuket, Thailand and without thinking twice, I went for it! The rest is history! I must say it is truly an eye-opening (or were my eyes closed) experience. Everything happened in a flash and so fast that before I knew it, I was already bouncing up and down like a Yo-yo.

The owner explained to me the procedure, process and charges for the whole bungee jump. I remembered signing up some declaration forms stating that I was in the sane mind and physically fit to take up the jump. After making the payment, the owner told me that I can take a look at a jump first before deciding that I will surely go for it.

My friend and I proceeded to a clearing where we could see someone preparing for the jump. The crane took the person up to the 60m height and we saw the man standing at the edge of the platform. He was looking down at his friends who were shouting to him in a language that we did not understand. The shouting went to and fro for about 5-10 minutes and I guessed the man was thinking too long that he did not jump in the end. As we watched, the owner said to us, "He should not have looked down and should not have waited too long to take the leap. The longer you wait, the harder it will be for you to make the jump. So when you are up there later, don't think too much and just jump."

After witnessing the failed jump, the owner asked me, "Are you still going for it?" "Yes!" I affirmed. Looking at the pond below the jump, I asked the owner, "Will the jump takes me into the water or it'll be out of the water?" The owner replied smiling, "Do you want to be in the water or out?" Looking at the dirty pond, I laughingly replied, "I want to be dry!"

The preparation for the jump took about a short 10 minutes or less. First, my weight was taken and then written on my palm. The staff then carefully tied up my ankles with sort of a protection before they asked me to kangaroo-hop to the crane that will bring me up to the height of 60m for the jump. I would say I was a pretty good and obedient student; I followed their instruction almost perfectly. The owner of the establishment told me again, "When you are up there, don't think too much and don't look down." That weren't too much information to remember too.

I still remembered on my way up to the jumping height, I was talking to the staff that was going up with me and he was giving me the last set of instruction. "When you are up there, you will move to the edge of the platform. When I say 'ready,' you will echo back 'ready.' Then I will count 3, 2, 1 and you will jump out of the platform with your arms opening wide like a cross." He said. I went through the instruction that he had given me in my head and I pictured myself doing the jump. It is too late now to give up the idea of jumping as I remember a few words the owner told me, "No jump, no refund!"

It took the crane about 5 minutes to reach to the height of 60m and I did a kangaroo-hop to the edge of the platform.Standing at the edge of the platform and holding on tightly to whatever I can hold on to. I was waiting for the staff and I took a quick look downward (so I wasn't exactly obedient but I wanted to see how high I was and how it looked downward at this height). Somehow, my friend and all the people below looked smaller and I can barely hear what my friend was shouting. I brought my head back to the horizontal level and took a glance at the scenery in front of me. The staff shouted, "Ready?" I echoed back, "Ready!" He then counted down, "3 ... 2 ... 1 ... jump!" And I hurled myself forward and out of the jumping platform. That split seconds of falling and for once the clock stopped ticking and I could only hear myself screaming, "Woooooooooohhhhhhhh!" I was already reaching the ground. What followed was the dangling action like a yo-yo for about a few minutes before coming to a stop.

I was 'fish' to back to the ground with a bamboo pole and I gladly grabbed the pole. The staff pulled me in to a platform besides and pond and untied me from the support. What an exhilarating experience! Yes! I had finally done my bungee jump! What's next? Skydiving? Maybe.

When I was back at home and some of my friends gotten to know of my jump, they were saying I must be crazy ... who in the world with a sane mind would do such a thing. Maybe they are right ... but I know that bungy jump, although it seem like a dangerous activity, is safer than driving to a large extent.

Stumble It!

Thailand Scuba Diving Vacation

Thailand is sandwiched between The Gulf of Thailand on its eastern coastline and the vast expanse of the Andaman Sea on its western coast. It is in these body of waters that scuba divers can explore the marine life of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean without having to cross continents.

The waters in Thailand have one of the richest and diverse marine life in the world because conditions here for coral growth is almost perfect with an average temperature of 28 Degree Celsius all year round and fantastic underwater visibility.

Because of these almost ideal scuba diving conditions and attractions, the scuba diving industry in Thailand is thriving robustly with the proliferation of first class scuba diving facilities, services and diving schools.

When you throw in what the tourist industry has to offer in Thailand such as fantastic entertainment, a spread of accommodations, hotels and resorts for every budget and Thailand's renowned delightful cuisines, you can be assured of an enjoyable scuba diving vacation.

The Gulf of Thailand has hundreds of islands on its 1,840km (1,143 miles) long coast. The gulf is a shallow bowl shaped body of water separated from the South China Sea by a pair of underwater ridges that extend from Vietnam on one side and Malaysia to the other.

The sea bed bottom here is mostly mud mixed with sand and shells. Corals are usually found around the fringes of the gulf islands. There are several rivers in the north bringing enough sediment and freshwater to inhibit coral growth until to the south or the eastern side of the Gulf of Thailand.

The underwater scenery in the gulf is perhaps not as visually appealing as those of the Andaman Sea as it has slightly less variety of marine life. Marine parks such as the Ang Thong Marine Park include spectacularly formed limestone islands with lush rainforest covering them and many of these islands are actually uninhabited.

World famous resorts of Pattaya, Phuket and Koh Samui offer excellent scuba diving facilities as well as other reacreations and entertaiment.

The Andaman Sea was already thriving thousands of years ago with Chinese, European, Thai and Indian trading vessels plying its waters. Today, the Andaman Sea is more of a playground for dive boats and sailing yachts rather than for trading vessels.

One of the better known playgrounds for divers in the Andaman and is often rated amongst the top scuba diving destinations in the world are the Similan Islands. Divers can explore Similan, the Surin Islands and the Mergui Archipelago in liveaboard diving cruises.

Thailand's Andaman Sea stretches 870km (541 miles) from Tarutao National Park on the border of Malaysia to the Surin Islands on the border of Myanmar (formerly known as Burma). It is part of the Indian Ocean and is separated from the Bay of Bengal by the Andaman-Nicobar Ridge. Quaint formations of granite outcrops can be senn in the Surin and Similan Islands.

Other island groups such as Koh Phi Phi are shaped by massive limestone and calcium carbonates since prehistoric time.

The only problem when you travel to Thailand for scuba diving is where to start your diving vacation since there are so many excellent dive spots to choose from and you will be spoilt for choice.

Caribbean: 3-night cruises from $229! Free upgrades and more - Expires 2/8/08

About the Author: Chris Chew runs a travel information website at http://www.asiatravelbest.com/

Stumble It!

Phuket Here I Come

We only decided to go for a trip in Phuket, Thailand in March and since we were not planning to join any tour, I felt a little stress; how am I going to plan for this trip. I had never done anything like this; planning for an free and easy trip.

The thing to settle was to decide the exact date which we would be taking the trip. It was a little challenging since I am in Singapore and she is in Bangkok and we had to match our schedule. However, it was not difficult to decide on the date.

After we decided on the date of travel, I booked her a round trip domestic flight from Bangkok to Phuket and gotten my own air ticket to Phuket. Booking the tickets was not such a difficult task; the difficulty was booking the hotel room. How was I going to book the hotel. I had no idea where to start. Luckily I have a friend who is a pretty experience free and easy traveler. She guided me to a few website to search for hotel. One of them is http://www.hoteltravel.com/.

From her guidance, it was not too long that I become quite an expert searching for hotel online. All I needed to do was to search for 'hotel in Phuket' in the Yahoo! Search Engine. Through my research for hotel online, I found that the rate given by Hotel Travel is the best. Not only that, it gives a map of the beach where I will be going to and the exact location of the hotel. Thus even before I went to Phuket. I already had an idea where the hotel will be and how long it would take to travel from the airport to the hotel. Hotel Travel also provides reviews for the different hotels by their customers. I found these reviews pretty useful as it helped me to decide on what to expect from each hotel. For anyone who is booking your hotel online, you can start by doing a search in the search engine in the location where you will be heading to.

The dates that we were traveling to Phuket, April 8 to April 12 were considered high season for some hotels because of the Thailand's Songkran Festival and most of the hotels which I wanted to book were fully booked. Did not know what to do except to put ourselves on the waiting list. The worst scenario was to change the date of travel. I did not really want to change the date of travel as I really looked forward to meeting her in person.

We were very fortunately that after a day or so, we got a confirmation from Hotel Travel for our hotel. I could not be more excited; finally everything was going on as planned.

Phuket here I come!!!

Stumble It!