Step back

After funny night in Kalibo "airport", we came to Manila. That is much better, everything beautiful and clean. We ate in Burger king, I booked the room, it seemed like life is getting better. It was about 2km to the hotel, we decided to walk. Across the airport were beautiful houses, but as more we walked as everything was getting worse. Mud, garbage and beggars, every taxi stopped and asked: "where are you going?". I hate it, because I can't answer everyone, I have to ignore people, that's unpleasant. Seems typhoon was not only in Boracay, many broken trees, even one electric post on the ground. And half of city without electricity. Our hotel too. Without light that place looks like scary movie's basement. We didn't have a plan B, so the best choice was get back to airport with free wifi and decide what to do next. Google maps showed the shortest path and we went there. After one hour we came to terminal 2, I suppose it's for local flights, no waiting hall, no wifi. And surprise, you can't get terminal 3 from terminal 2, it's just 100 meters, but you must go around through the city, about 5-6 km, nice, I love guy, who built it. When we finally came to airport we sucked to live-giving internet) We decided to give this country one last chance - I found town near Manila, Batangas. Description in wikitravel was nice, we decided to go there. I took taxi to bus station, I asked him to enable taxi-meter, he said: no, 300 php is fine. After I'd opened door, he agreed ride with taxi-meter. In the end I paid 110 php, in my experience - taxi drives are the worst people in the world, all of they try to fuck you. Ok, we are on bus station, that looks like market, no cashiers, you just come to bus and ask where is it going and price. We paid 167 peso each. Until we left Manila in the bus came people, who buy water, nuts and other things, some guys just asked money, it's pretty annoying. 2 hours and we in Batangas.
When we got out, I felt like I'm in a zoo. A lot of people shouted: taxi, tricycle, town. It looked not like a bus station, but like a battlefield. We found our guesthouse in some village, about 20 minutes from main road, no cafes, no shops, you can buy only snacks. And as Manila, no electricity and internet. But place was good, very quiet, no people, even with pool, but water was too muddy to swim there. We had a small bungalow with no closing door and just bamboo mat on the floor instead bed for 400 php. It's the cheapest shelter in the Philippines, what we have found. I don't know what we did without mosquito net, it helps us all the time. In the morning, we walked to the town through the village, people looked us like they've never seen while guys. Actually, I felt it everywhere in Philippines, even in McDonalds in Manila. I don't know why, almost everyone looked us with big interest. After walking in the town we decided to leave this country as soon as possible. Of course, maybe in another parts of country everything is different, but I didn't like what I saw. And I saw that - this country could be fine if you are rich, but it's really bad for backpackers. Bus to Manila had free wifi, that's service, like in Europe) I found tickets to Phuket in 7 hours, not cheap, but we spent $200 for 4 days, staying in Philippines is too expensive.
In the night we were in Thailand again. I didn't want to go back so soon, but we bought ticket home in august from Bangkok and 30 days in Thailand is enough to have perfect time before back to cold climate. We spent 2:20 hours in the queue for border officer. I had never wait the stamp so long before. Anyway we had to wait morning bus the whole night. Sleeping on the chairs already is good for us, I thing now I can sleep anywhere) By buses and boat we got to Koh yai noi and walked to the Fon's house. I feel there like at home, finally we could just lie to hammock and not have to plan anything, just relax.
We spent 3 days there, had great dinner with Fon's family, made fish and prawns BBQ, that's tasty) In 3 days Fon was going to Tonsai to meet her friend, we went with her. Now sea is not quiet, big waves, boats can't go from the beach as in winter, they start from some small bay. Out boat got the high sea and gear was stalled. Boatman dropped ankor and sat wait something. We were lucky that Fon was with us, she called to another boatman, who should be pick us. Meanwhile we sat in the high sea with big waves far away from coast. We changed the boat, Fon already was afraid and didn't want to go to Tonsai, but she had no choice. The path to Tonsai was a little scary, not for our lives, but for my laptops, waves were really big, boat swung, splashes in the face, very funny. Somehow Fon didn't like it, she looked like she said goodbye to life) We got the beach and after 2 minutes began storm with strong rain. We hid in Viking bar, wind turned chairs and tables in bar. It was a big luck that we landed, in the high sea it could be not too nice. Fortunately, it was about 20 minutes. We rented bungalow in Jungle hut resort for 100 baht, I love low season, in February it costs 500 baht. When we got back to the beach, in half hour, Fon already was gone, before storm began again. Thanks for conducting us)

Tonsai is my favorite place in the world. But low season means not only low prices and free climbing routes, it means bad weather too. We spent there 8 days and half of they was raining, 2 days rain was without stopping. I didn't know before, but when rain at the night it very cold, our bungalow has leak and half of bed was wet. So I slept outside in the hammock, in the warm clothes, but was extremely cold, like in mountains. It's in tropics in the summer, sweet) I hadn't tried bouldering in the Tonsai before, this time we tried, because we had no rope. So bouldering there is cool, much funnier that in gym, but pretty scary, mates are very old and I'm not sure that's safety to fall on they from >3 meters. Ones we tried to find walking way from Tonsai to Ao nang though the jungle, but after 2 hours of straying in the jungle without any tracks, we got back.

Today we went to Krabi, we came waiting boat in 7 am, in 30 minutes came gay with crutches. Yesterday he fall during climbing and now has problem with leg. Boatmen offered us to pay 160 instead 100 and go immediately, we decided to wait. When gathering 8 people to Ao nang they asked 150 baht for each. We didn't agree to pay more than 100 baht, but other guys agreed. Even guy with broken leg, but boatmen refused him. They said: "you didn't want to pay 160 and now you wait." Everybody, who came after us, went to the boat. We could go to Railey, because it's easier to find boat there, but that guy couldn't. Boatmen said: "now it's big waves, it's not safety with 8 passengers, only 5 and it costs 150". We had no choice and agreed. Anyway in the boat were 8 person, 5 thai and we. Do you remember what I said about taxi drivers?) I don't care if they want to have more money from us, because we could go to Railey, even go walking through the jungle, but don't pick up guy, who needs medical aid, fucking assholes.
Now we are in Krabi, with internet, hot water and 7eleven, nice to come back to civilisation.

Road to south

Last time we were in Krabi and decided to go to Ko Lanta for few days. Took van for 300 baht for each to the island, include 2 ferries. You event don’t have to leave van, sit there in Krabi and get out in Ko Lanta. We didn’t book hostel and when we come, we went going to find some place to stay. Usual price for bungalow is 400-500 baht. We spent about half hour and turned to the some track and we met tall skinny thai man-muslim with name Hat yee boat, who shouted us to come and sit. He offered coffee and food, we ask only hot water, because tea is always with us) Bungalow for 300 baht and 200 for motobike. Sea is in the few meters, far of the road, very quite and sleepy place, as I love) First day we were riding along the island, swimming in the sea, walking in the jungle. And 2 days were relaxing, we were just laying and doing nothing, was cool) Ko Lanta is real calm and beauty island, if you want to relax of noise and have few amazing days in the tropical paradise, you should go there.

View from Batu caves

Next stations was Malaysia, we bought 2 tickets to Hatyai for 500 baht each. Van picked up us from bangalow and we left it near train station. Unfortunately, the tickets to Kuala were over and we could buy it only for next day. We could have a bus to Kuala, but it costs 800 against 450 of train. Night we spent in the backpacker hostel (I think each town has the hostel with this name). In Ko Lanta my love broke my mobile phone and finally I could buy new) In Robinson mall we found shop with very cheap Galaxy S5, just 21k, when in shops around it costs more expensive to 2-3k baht. And we get free mobile charger 4400MA and umbrella, very helpful things when you’re travelling)

It was my first time when I across abroad on railway. It’s much faster than by bus, because our train had only 2 cars. Who crossed abroad near Dannok, will understand me. Night in the train was unbelivable frosty, 17.4C, we had warm cloths, but anyway I thought I’ll die before we come. I’m from Siberia, but it’s too cold for me, I don’t understand how it can be fine for malay guys. In 6:30 we came to Kuala, we didn’t have ringits, only dollars. All exchangers were closed, but I have visa and decided to take money from ATM. I tried 3 ATM, but all transactions were rejected. Thanks my bank. I found free wifi, I had about $9 in Skype and I began to call to my bank. I had to spend 1.5 hours and make 3 calls to the support to they disable idiotic security system and I can take money. If you have no internet to call to bank and no money, I don’t know what to do. You can have a million on the card, but you cannot get cash, ridiculous, I need to change bank.

In Kuala Lumpur we went to the backpacker guest house. Usually, it’s the cheapest guest, but not in Kuala. Private room costs 70r, but owner gave us discount to 49r. But it was very small room, about 2x2 meters with 2-floor bed, without windows, shower and toilet are shared and always occupied, internet like a dialup. For next day we found better  guest house not far away. It costs 40r for fan room with one big bed and everything there was better than in Backpackers guest. If you want to stay in some nice place with friendly environment, I can recommend you Bird nest guest house. But anyway prices in Malaysia are bigger than in Thailand. We wanted to go to Mersing on the east coast, but I found cheap fly tickets to Philippines and we decided to go there. In the morning came to the airport, if you have Airasia ticket, you must go to KLIA2, not KLIA, it’s important, don’t confuse) Girl on the check-n took our baggage and printed tickets, she barely gave it us, but asked about return tickets. I never buy tickets back, because I can’t be sure when I’ll want to go back. Once I was flying from KL to Phuket and Airasia staff didn’t want to give me ticket without return ticket, but I convinced they, because I had about 5 thai stamps in the passport. This time no, they returned us our passports and backpack and said that we can’t fly to Philippines before we book return tickets. And if we give this tickets back, we have to pay fine, although we came to fly, but company reject to do own job, great. I fast buy the cheapest tickets to KL from Manila and we checked in without problem. Of course, on the Philippines border no one asked us about return tickets. I think I will never fly with Airasia anymore, all time problems with it. If you use this company, be ready to the same situations.

Kalibo airport waiting hall

We came to Kalibo, took van to Boracay island, it cost 200 php each

, about $4, include boat ticket. But on the pear we had to pay more 175 php for environment fee. I thought that island was like some national park, without crowd and cars, but no, a lot of people, cars and bikes, more crowded that on Patong beach) I read on wikitravel that Philippines is cheaper that Thailand, but the cheapest room we found is 600 php, about 500 baht. Same room in Thailand never costs more than 200 baht. Prices as in the Malaysia and service and quality as in Cambodia. We came in the evening, was late to swim and in the night began strong tayfun, rain very big waves, awful weather, you can just seat in the room or in cafe and drink or smoke, too boring to stay. I found cheap tickets to Manila, only $35 each and in next day we went to the Kalibo airport. Again 200 php for boat and minivan, and about 15:00 we were near the airport. But we have one problem - departure in 5:00. I had many night in the airports, but I wasn't ready for that. You can come inside airport building only for 2-3 hours before fly, because the airport accommodates about 100 persons. Waiting hall belongs outside and looks like bus stop - metal chairs and small roof. The night was really cold for tropics, it was rain and wind the whole night. I've seen more than 20 airports, but Kalibo has unique, I'm not sure what's worse  - this one or bus terminals in Laos.

"Know-how" from Philippines - terminal fees. We paid it in boat stations, we had to pay it in airport - 150 php for domestic fly and 500 php for international. More than $11 for waiting fly outside on the metal chairs, smart)

Begin

Hi there. This is English version of my old blog about travels. I write there more than 3 years in Russian, but the most of people I met speaks in Eglish. So I've decided to make clone.
About me. My name is Ivan (spells ee-van, not ai-van), I'm from Syberia, Russia. Yes, there is very cold, sometimes over -40C. No, we don't have white bears on the streets) I'm a programmer and have had remote jobs for last 2 years. That's why I can travel as many as I want. Now I'm in Thailand with my girlfriend Lena and we're going to south to Malaysia.
So, here I will write about my trips, people and exciting things I meet. Maybe it should be helpful for someone. Anyway I will have something to read when I get old)
Welcome and have fun)

P.S. my English isn't perfect. If you see mistake write me, I'll be thankful