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)