NICK CHAN DOT NET

Tag: Travel

Bangkok: Night Street Market Near Baiyoke Hotel & Petchburi

Click here for more posts about my Bangkok Trip.

Bangkok Trip: Night Street Market Near Baiyoke Hotel & Petchburi (Day 1) – After checked-in to our hotel at Pratunam’s Petchburi area, we went for dinner just right out our hotel, which is Thai food (Tom Yum Restaurant) and it’s pretty good.

After dinner, it’s time to start our night hunt for some street night market at this area. We didn’t really know where has got night market, but instinct tells me that there’s one near the famous Baiyoke Sky Hotel. Baiyoke Sky Hotel is also the tallest building in Bangkok and located about 1.5km from our hotel.

Along the way to Baiyoke Sky Hotel, there’s many street food vendors along the road which serve food like Pad Thai, BBQ, fruits, and more. Since I’ve had my dinner, those food didn’t seem attractive to me by then.

After about 15 minutes of walk, crossed a big road with pedestrian bridge and we arrived the Baiyoke Sky Hotel area, happily, we found the typical Thailand night street market. Hueisean and my mom became excited when they saw a row of clothing stalls. I was then busy snapping around. Nothing seems amaze to me though. You can find the standard Thai’s singlet with Singha beer logo, fake Ralph Lauren, cheap pyjamas, t-shirts and more.

It’s quite interesting to see the night market and you can find some good bargain too. Though, I didn’t buy anything but Hueisean bought a few pairs of cheap ear rings at 20baht/pair.

After an hour of shopping and exploring, we went back to the hotel with tuk-tuk at 80Baht as we were lazy to walk back already. Be careful when sitting on tuk-tuks as they can be fast and be sure to bargain with them first as they always offer high price.

We actually went to foot massage later then at 200Baht/hour, which I think is pretty expensive. You can get cheaper one at 150Baht/hour.

Click here for more posts about my Bangkok Trip.

February 10, 2012
Bangkok Travel Tips: Prepaid Sim Pack For Internet Data & Voice Call

Bangkok Trip: Prepaid Sim Pack For Internet Data & Voice Call – Every time I go to a place for travel, I will buy a local simpack for myself, mainly for connecting to the Internet, searching for local travel information, and updating some of my moment to social media and blog.

Besides, it’s also very cost saving for you and your friends to communicate at the destination as you know call rate through roaming is very expensive. You can also use it for emergency.

In Bangkok, I bought the 1-2-Call prepaid SIM pack from AIS (a telco) which costs 99Baht/simpack itself with 50Baht of credit, and top up an addition of 300Baht worth of credit, total 399Baht. I bought the SIM pack from the AIS counter at the airport once I get through the immigration check point.

It does not include data, but you can subscribe to it at 50baht per day unlimited usage. The troublesome part is you have to subscribe it everyday once it timed, so it’s better for you to set a reminder.

There’s also special data plan for iPhone 4, but that’s on hour basis. If you are iPhone 4 user, I recommend you go to mobile phone shop in shopping centre instead for them to cut the normal SIM of 1-2-Call to micro SIM, then you can subscribe to the unlimited 50Baht per day.

Besides, they also include extra bonus talk time so you have no worry that your data subscribtion has used all your credit.

Find more info here and here.

February 9, 2012
Bangkok: Departure From Penang & Ecotel Hotel

Bangkok Trip: Departure From Penang & Ecotel Hotel (Day 1) – One of the flight that fly from Penang to Bangkok is AirAsia which fly everyday in the afternoon at about 5pm. Penang International Airport is currently quite messy at the moment and noisy with the sound of construction going on at there.

With AirAsia, we’ve checked-in early to the flight early via the Web Check-In Service, but then we still have to verify our document and drop our baggage at the counter. There’s quite many people flying to Bangkok with us too.

After 1.5 hours of flight, I have finally reached Bangkok’s Survarnabhumi Airport. It feels the same as 4 years ago and the airport was so busy with travelers. After passing through the immigration, we went to buy some finger food at 7 Eleven. What’s best about 7 Eleven and mini mart in Bangkok, Thailand is that you can find many finger food especially sausage and pork burger.

Then I went to buy a sim pack for my phone which is the One-2-Call by AIS which costs 399Baht with 350baht of credit. After that we went to the taxi stand to hire a cab to bring us straight to our hotel. Taxi is charged by meter and there’s a 50baht surcharge and another 45baht for toll.

The journey takes about 35 minutes from airport to the hotel I was staying – Ecotel Hotel. You can find the best rate at Hotels Combined.

Ecotel Hotel is located on 1091/333-4 New Petchburi Road 35, Makkasan, Rajthevee, Bangkok 10320, Thailand. Its price is pretty affordable, at about RM120/night for standard room with breakfast. It has a English-style look in the lobby area. The room is quite simple, but most importantly, clean. There’s also over 70 channels on the TV, but most of them are in Thai and boring. Haha.

The hotel is very near to main shopping district of Pratunam, Central World, Platinum are like 3km away. Walking towards the mall is pretty far, but then taking tuk-tuk and taxi are very convenient. There’s many street food stalls outside the hotel and some nice Thai restaurant too. One can also walk to the night street market at Baiyoke Sky Hotel which is about 1km away.

Besides, 7-Eleven is just stone throw away from the hotel too! I realised many taxi driver does not aware of this hotel, you can tell the driver about Ramada Hotel which is a more famous hotel located right opposite of Ecotel Hotel only, then you can walk towards Ecotel Hotel.

February 9, 2012
Bangkok Trip: My Tech & Photography Gear

Click here for more posts about my Bangkok Trip.

Bangkok Trip: My Tech & Photography Gear – I am packed, I am ready. Let’s go to Bangkok now with these gear. I wish I have a Micro 4/3 camera instead of DSLR, I hope I have a MacBook Air in addition to the gear above. =D

Click here for more posts about my Bangkok Trip.

February 4, 2012
Pre-Bangkok Trip: Top 5 Website To Read About Bangkok

Pre-Bangkok Trip: Top 5 Website To Read About Bangkok – In 24 hours, I will be flying to Bangkok, Thailand, the land of smile for a 5 days 4 nights short trip. Although I have been there before 4 years ago, but I didn’t really recall much about it and so I am doing a research again. I found out Bangkok is mainly about shopping, eat, shopping, eat, see, and experience the Buddhist temple. More attractions located out of Bangkok city which I don’t think we have time for it.

Anyway, here are my top 5 websites that I am reading and researching about Bangkok travel.

Trip Advisor, my favourite and must-visit website everytime I go travel. I like it because I can read a lot from the reviews and know which attraction is worth to go and not.

CNNGo, more in-depth recommendation of local attractions, lifestyle and food. It’s more on Asia country.

Lowyat.NET Travel & Living, a local Malaysian forum on discussing travel destination world wide. Can learn more about their travel experience and personal guide.

Chinese Cari Travel Forum, another forum but this one is in Chinese.

Lastly, Google! HAHAHA. But then my favourite is still Lowyat.NET and Trip Advisor.

February 3, 2012
Next Travel Destination: Bangkok 5 Days 4 Nights
Bangkok City Centre, 2008.

Next Travel Destination: Bangkok 5 Days 4 Nights – The last time I went to Thailand was last year at Hatyai, but the last time I went to Bangkok, the capital of Kingdom of Thailand was 2008, that was like 4 years back! I am going there this weekend for a 5 days 4 nights travel trip.

Excited and looking forward to the trip.

Here’s my visiting list, please feel free to introduce some nice place for me to visit:
- Grand Palace
- Wat Pho
- Wat Arun
- Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Wat Phra Kaeo)
- MBK
- Platinum Mall
- Central World Mall
- Erawan Shrine
- Siam Paragon
- Thailand’s Chicken Rice
- Pratunam
- Chatuchak Market
- T&K Seafood @ Chinatown
- Night Market (No idea where’s nice, any recommendation?)
- Chao Phraya River?
Come share with me your Bangkok tips. Thanks!
February 3, 2012
Thailand Betong Customs House

Thailand Betong Customs House – 2nd day of Chinese New Year, I went to Pengkalan Hulu again, somewhere very near to Thailand’s Betong border in Perak. Brought along my passport, thought of going over to Thailand’s Betong for a little walk and exploration, but then we turned back.

Because the queue at the custom immigration was very long and it’s a mess, immigration forms hardly to be found and fill. We were afraid of not in time of coming back in the evening for dinner with the family, so we gave up the idea, but hey, at least we went to the border. HAHA.

By the way, I am heading to Bangkok, this Saturday. Haven’t been there for a long time already.

February 2, 2012
Visit To Pulau Aman, A Peaceful Village Island

#1: Arrived at the jetty!

Visit To Pulau Aman, A Peaceful Village Island – The state of Penang does not only consist of Penang Island, but there’s many small islets laying around the main big Penang Island, e.g. Pulau Jerejak, Pulau Aman, Pulau Betong, Pulau Tikus, Pulau Gedung, Pulau Rimau and Pulau Kendi. Some is inhabited with people, some is not.

Pulau Aman, also known as ‘Island of Peace’ is a island off Batu Kawan of the mainland of Penang, I have seen the name from Penang’s Tourism brochure, as well as the road sign while driving on the North-South Highway, but I have no idea what’s Pulau Aman is about until then.

#2: You pay for the ticket once you on board the mini speedboat.

#3: Timetable of the jetty.

#4.

After doing some research on the Internet, Pulau Aman is actually a small Malay fishing village and famous for the Mee Udang (Prawn Noodle, different from the Penang Hokkien Prawn Noodle). There’s is also one historical attraction, the Telaga Emas and a short stretch of sandy beach, as well as chalet for rent. Nothing much else.

#5: No fishing at the jetty.

#6: You can see a lot of jellyfish here, so it’s strictly no swimming here.

#7: It’s Penang Hill at far.

I visited the island with a bunch of friends last week and our main point of the visit was actually to eat the Mee Udang and the Mantis Prawn, which the island famous for too. From Penang Island, I travelled to the mainland Seberang Perai then headed south to Batu Kawan Stadium direction. From there, you will see direction board pointing to ‘Jeti Ke Pulau Aman (Jetty to Pulau Aman)’.

We then reached the Jeti Batu Musang, the jetty on the mainland that ferries people to the island. There’s a new jetty complex which is yet to open to public as it’s still under construction.

Ticket price to and fro the island is priced at RM6/person and there’s various traveling time per day, the earliest boat is 8am. We went on the second boat at 10am. It takes about 15 minutes to arrive at Pulau Aman.

#8: The jetty.

#9: Getting onto the speedboat.

#10: Me and dear, Hueisean.

#11: Traveling across the sea.

#12.

#13.

Upon arriving at the island, a sense of peacefulness and sound of nature approach me as the island and the city is totally two different place. Hustle bustle of city sound cannot be heard at here. It’s sea water, windy sea breeze, chicken, and the laughter of the local inhabitant at the village can be heard.

We were hungry and we went straight to the famous Restaurant Terapung for Mee Udang as our brunch.

#14: A map of attractions.

#15.

#16: Old Malay-style house.

#17.

#18: That’s the new jetty on Pulau Aman, but not open yet.

#19: That’s Bukit Mertajam from far.

#20.

#21.

#22: Instax of us!

Because of time is limited to us on that day, I did not have much time to visit the whole island, I will visit the island again and do some real exploring on it.

January 21, 2012
Singapore Trip: Holland Village & Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao

#1.

Singapore Trip: Holland Village & Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao – One of the place I visited during my Singapore trip few months back was Holland Village, the small town that has many nice restaurants. Brother recommended the supper all-you-can-eat steamboat buffet with unlimited Xiao Long Bao at Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao restaurant which starts at 10pm. We actually made a reservation, it’s better to make a reservation as it gets crowded during this session.

#2: Part of the road is closed at night for pedestrian walking.

#3. Us!

#4.

Crystal Jade La Mian Xiao Long Bao is located in Holland Village, Singapore. We took a cab from NUS main campus and we arrived in just a few minutes. It’s pretty close. We wander around the place while waiting 10pm to arrive. We were there pretty early.

#5: Clean power box. Ours are full with advertisement on loanshark, viagra ads and more.

#6.

When 10pm reached, we went into the restaurant, the restaurant actually made our book wrong and had our book written on the yesterday page, after some discussion, they manage to get us a seat on the upper floor. Steamboat is served with two version of soup that we’ve ordered – pork bone soup and vegetable soup with lots of parsley.

Besides eating steamboat, there’s unlimited order of nice Shanghai Xiao Long Bao and desserts like toufu hau which runs out pretty quickly.

#7.

#8.

#9.

I ate more Xiao Long Bao than steamboat that night and came out with a full stomach. Yum yum.

January 9, 2012
The Hidden Beach – Pasir Panjang Beach, Balik Pulau

#1: Balik Pulau from the mid-hill viewing platform.

The Hidden Beach – Pasir Panjang Beach, Balik Pulau – In Penang, when we discuss about beach, I am sure you will think about the famous Batu Feringhi beach, further on you will find Monkey Beach and Pantai Kerachut hidden in the Penang National Park at Teluk Bahang. Another well-known one is the Pantai Acheh, well-known because of the site being hit by tsunami in year 2006.

However, on the back of the Penang Island, located far south of Balik Pulau, there’s a hidden beach filled with some locals who go there for picnic – the Pasir Panjang Beach.

#2: Yeqing and Yikhung.

#3: The small island is Pulau Betong.

Lastweekend, brother, brother’s girlfriend, me and cousin went for a road trip to the back of the island – Balik Pulau, which reveals a quiet side of Penang. Initially, our plan was to find the Balik Pulau Visitor Centre, rent a bike and go for a bike trail, but we failed to locate the centre and randomly, we followed the sign of towards ‘Pulau Betong’, hoping that we could find a good spot to enjoy the sunset.

#4. Ugly bay.

#5.

#6. Fisherman’s boat.

We did in fact came to a fishing village, the Pulau Betong Fishing Village which has a fish market at there. The fish market is often visited by the locals, in fact, I did came here before a few years back. A further deep into the fishing village, we found ourselves, nearer to the sea. There’s a dirty beach as well as a jetty. Since the beach was dirty and at that location, we couldn’t really see the sunset as it was block by cape. We then decided to drive further down the road, pass the cape to find another spot.

#7.

#8: It says that ‘Beware! This beach is quite dangerous’.

We then came to a dead end, where a Kem Bina Negara Balik Pulau is located at. The camp is use for the government purpose as the name means ‘Building Nation’ Camp. Ignoring the camp, at the side of the camp, there lies the Pasir Panjang Beach.

#9.

#10.

#11.

I am surprise to see there’s a stretch of sandy beach at this side of the island, fill with local Malay family at there, swimming and picnic-ing. The beach is pretty short, yet it’s a good spot, it’s a cleaner beach after all. The wave at here is also bigger than the wave at Batu Ferringhi, which makes it a little bit dangerous. However, the sand at the beach was not soft enough, it’s very rough.

#12.

#13. Wai Leong.

#14.

I see people swimming, picnic and fishing at there. There isn’t any safeguards at there as far as I know. The people who can call for help is the visitor at there or the people who live in the Kem Bina Negara. So, it’s swim at your own risk in the sea.

#15.

#16.

#17. So relaxing.

Despite the sand on the beach is not soft enough, the beach is not very long and wide, yet it has an awesome view of the sunset sinking down the horizon. It’s a good visit that day. I’ve included a Google Map below for your reference. =)

[googlemaps https://maps.google.com.my/maps?q=5.301049,100.184323&num=1&vpsrc=6&ie=UTF8&ll=5.300622,100.186086&spn=0.016858,0.026908&t=m&z=14&iwloc=near&output=embed&w=640&h=480]

January 8, 2012

WP2Social Auto Publish Powered By : XYZScripts.com