TH: Krabi Trip Day 1

It has been a while since my last vacation. In 2011, my original plan was to travel on a monthly basis, unfortunately time and money seldom be on my side. I did travel end of 2011 to Bandung, visiting my brother and his family. For 2012, January went by and in February, I managed to get myself the sun (in which I can get plenty on it here :-)) and sea.

Actually, this trip was planned in August 2011 (that when I bought the tickets). Couple of days prior to the trip, I scanned through the itinerary and notice there was a service fee paid for "SKYB" costing RM28.80. Can't remember what I have booked, I attempted to contact AirAsia. However, the number listed on their website is the premium number which they will charge RM1.95 per minute. There is no 1-300 number or even local number. ....

A friend and I took a bus from KL Sentral to LCCT at 10.30am. Reached LCCT an hour later and proceed to departure hall. The departure hall for Krabi is at Y gate which is next to domestic departure, unlike other departures utilizing Gate T. This used to be part of the domestic and there are only two gates, Y1 and Y2. The area is partitioned from domestic side with 2m wall. Very cramped when you are in there and there is no toilet inside. No wonder they won't allow passengers to get into the hall until at least 1hr from departure time.

Departure Hall for Gate Y1 & Y2

Boarding started at 12.50pm. Full load. Our heavy today is 9M-AHP. Few families and those travel in groups were split (in terms of their seating arrangement), unless you have paid extra to secure your group seats. .The flight was uneventful and we were flying at 36000 ft above sea level over Penang, Langkawi and direct into Krabi. Landed at 149pm local time on runaway 14.

A short 1hr flight and we were in a place hotter than Kuala Lumpur.

Landed Krabi

Immigration was smooth although the officer seemed to take a bit more time to admit a Japanese family of four in front of me. My turn, it was fast and within minutes we were at the bus counter. There are choices to get from the airport to the Ao Nang beach, where we will be staying. The cheapest mode is bus transfer. It costs 150 Baht per person one way. A taxi with maximum of three pax cost 600 Baht per taxi. Since we were not in hurry, we opted for the bus.

Krabi Airport

The bus transfer is operated by Pichet Transport Co. Ltd. It is a white bus outside the arrival hall. Since the only arrival at that time was AK flight, all 12 passengers were from the same flight. One Caucasian couple, another one none Malaysian couple and the rest were Malaysians. On the way, the driver dropped the Caucasian couple first and then turn back to stop at this one travel agent. Hmm... pretty fishy...




Then, the travel agency manager came on board and told us to get down since they will arrange another transportation for us - except for this one non-Malaysian couple (the bus driver will drop them at their hotel)... now it smells fishy...

We were asked to wait, and then the travel agency staff trying to sell us the packages.. damn! luckily we did not take any since it was very expensive compare to the hotel excursion packages and those travel agents down at Ao Nang. When I asked why we have to change transport, I was told the bus could not get to the hotel due to its narrow street at Ao Nang.. LIAR..LIAR...LIAR --> the next day, I saw the same driver drove the airport transfer bus right to the street where our hotel is!

After 15mins, we were transported in the Thai-style pick up truck. Reached the hotel at 3.30pm. Check in was a bit slow. Read more about my review on Mercure Deevana Krabi here.

After one hour relaxing, we walked towards the main street of Ao Nang. Just at the junction of the main road, there were hawkers in tri-cycles selling varieties of seafood which are halal! Great! Spent 100 Baht eating the seafood skewers. Not bad. Apparently, a lot of tourists sampling this great cheap Thai fare :-) We walked for couple of hours and had our dinner at Chaba Thai Seafood restaurant. Apparently, it is easy to get halal food here. There are quite a number of Muslims in Krabi and there are few mosques as well. Quite a big mosques like those you see in Malaysia. So, the food is not a thing to worry.

Walked back to the hotel and called off an early night. Tomorrow is Phi Phi Islands day :-)

~ MT @ Mercure Deevana
~~ Krabi, Thailand
~ To Travel Is To Discover Oneself ~

ID: Day 4 BDO

Today is the last day. Actually, final day and our flight is in the morning. Had a simple breakfast and my bro's driver drove us to the airport slightly after 8am. We need to be early since my brother is going to work after that, so drop us first, went back home to pick up my brother.

The counters are not open until about 2 - 2.5 hours before departure. In fact, the morning shift for airport security just began. We have to wait outside for quite some times before being allowed into the terminal.

Checked in at 9am. It was a breeze since we don't have much things to check in. And we were second in the queue.

The flight to bring us back to KUL is PK-AWN, a Boeing 737-200 AirAsia Indonesia. It arrived from KUL at 10.45 am and supposed to depart for KUL at 11.20am.

Our flight number is QZ7597 and this aircraft will be in KUL for 30mins before continue back to CGK.

Boarding was called and it was done according to the section. Every passenger was given a departure card stated either "A" or "B". Don't really mind since all seats are assigned. It was a full board and the pushback was at 11.10am. 10 minutes ahead of ETD.

Landed safely at KLIA-LCCT at 2pm, 25 minutes earlier than scheduled. We were taxied to gate F66 and had a long walk to the international arrival of LCCT --> a new terminal which certain part till under constructions. Since it was a long walk, after clearing immigration, our luggage is already there.

We took a bus to KL Sentral and then LRT to Kelana Jaya. Thought to save cost however, we were doomed. The taxis there refused to use meter and all want to charge RM15 for a short drive to Tropicana area. really pissed off. Reported to the ministry via its website and hope action has been taken (since I didn't receive any acknowledgement from the ministry).

The taxi registration number was HB698o (#908) with "Upt0wn Ace Taxi" printed on the side doors. So folks, beware of this taxi driver. Don't get on unless he agreed to use meter.

Well.. thats the end of my journey to Bandung. It was a nice city and probably will go there again.

~ MT@Malaysia

~~ Damansara, Selangor

~ To Travel Is To Discover Oneself~

ID: A Trip to BDO (KUL - BDO)

Long Chinese New year weekend. I decided to join my family and brother in Bandung, Indonesia. My brother and his family have been staying there for nearly two years and my parents just joined them last week.

So this trip is a shopping trip cum visiting family :-))

Left Damansara around 6.30am to KL Sentral via a taxi.

 Decided to spend less in transportation as possible :-). Took Aerobus to LCCT from KL Sentral at 7.05am. Upon arrival at the LCCT, rushed directly to the check in counter. Luckily the counter was already opened and no one queuing there. Good!

Once checked in, walked to LCCT Food Garden for a breakfast. The price is reasonable.

By 9a.m. walked back to the terminal. Surprisingly, the departure hall was not as crowded as I expected. This is Air Asia Indonesia, hence the seat was assigned. Cool.. no rushing to get the good seat.

The aircraft, B737-200 christened PK-AWC arrived from Jakarta on time. The boarding started soon after and by 9.55am, push-back started. Was assigned seat 19E and Izam at 19F.

Landed at Bandung 11a.m. local time. It was indeed a small airport (I was told about the airport before). In fact, the only international flight into Bandung is from KUL. It shows the high demand from Malaysians to spend money in Bandung :-))

The overall arrival is crowded due to immigration and baggage claim area at the same place. All bags must be scanned by the only X-Ray machine. So, once you have cleared immigration, you sort of have to do a u-turn to put your hand-luggage into the machine.

The bags will be delivered based on the checked-in tag. So better get it ready. Once you spot the bag, just go and take it. If necessary, you need to open your bag for manual inspection. No worries, if you are not carrying anything illegal, no problem with it. 

I have to open my bag since I carried couple bottles of soy sauce :-))

Within 30 minutes, out of the airport to my darling nephew and niece outside the hall :-))

It was an uneventful flight!

~ MT @ Indonesia

~~ Hussein Sastranegara Airport, Bandung

~ To Travel Is To Discover Oneself ~

MY: BKI - KUL

We checked in at Counter 9. Only two counters opened for this flight to KUL. The gate assigned for our flight was Gate 2. ETD for this flight is at 1425, hence to boarding to start only at 2pm. 

Today's bird is 9m-AHG, dubbed as "The 1st. Airbus at Kota Kinabalu". Cool.....

For this flight, it took off on time. At 1425, we were airborne with ETA at 1645 at KUL (LCCT). The flight was full with lots of families going home from vacation. In front of us, we have one family who can never stop talking. Only after an hour into the flight, it became quiet. Probably the talkative ones have dozed off!

We were flying atFL340 and landed into KLIA at 1640hrs. Five minutes ahead. Taxied to gate F81 by 1650hrs. Our baggage claim area was the middle carousel and our arrival was after a flight from Langkawi and followed us was a flight from Kuching.

Took Skybus to KL Sentral at 5.15pm and from KL Sentral, took a taxi home.

It was a wonderful trip!

~ MT @ Malaysia

~~ Ampang, Selangor

~ To Travel Is To Discover Oneself ~

MY: KUL-KBR with AK

I flew back to my hometown today with AK. As much as I wanted to avoid flying AK (especially when the only fare available is the top end range), I have no choice this time.

BH picked me form my house in Ampang around 8am and he supposed to drive me to KL Sentral only. However, since I was a bit grumpy that morning (hehhehe.. don't ask why), he decided to drop me at LCCT directly... Thank you very much BH...

Reached the terminal around 9am plus, and the check in counters for KBR were not yet open. All AK check in counters are based on destination and they are open 2 hours before the departure and closes 1hr 15 mins later. I was a bit lost since this was a second time using the terminal (the first time was when I went to DPS with BH).

Check in as a breeze since I was second in line. Total checked-in luggage was 14kg and my hand luggage was only 6kg. Just nice for the low cost carrier requirements.

Boarding was called 30mins before the ETD. As ususal, the moment AK staff greeted "Ladies and gentlemen..", everybody started to rush in front of the gate/door. Typical. It was a bit of walk to the A320 (apparently, AK is now using Airbus for all its destinations) but now, they have built a covered walk way. Cool....

I boarded via the aft door and took my seat at the last row. Seat 31A. The flight was nearly full. I only noticed one seat vacant. Through out the flight, I kept myself busy with the in flight magazine, Travel 360degree (if I am not mistaken).

The flight was uneventful and the weather is clear. Upon flying over Kelantan air space, I noticed how dirty the Kelantan river is.. it is really really dirty.... too much logging I believe. The state government and the federal government should have done something.

We landed 5 mins earlier than ETA. Picked up my luggage and my brother already waiting for me outside the arrival hall...

Welcome home MT! It has been nearly a year since I last stepped my feet in my kampung :-)

~ MT @ Malaysia
~~ Kota Bharu, Kelantan

~ To Travel Is To Discover Oneself ~

ID: Terbang Tinggi MY ID

First day of vacation. I mean the starting of the trip to B4li. Took a cab from Dsara to KayEl Sentral to catch the SkyBvs to the first ever L C C T in S E A. This was also my first time at L C C T. Never being there. The SkyBvs costs RM9 per head. Not bad considering the buses used are new and the journey took less than an hour.

Reached the terminal around 2pm - what a surprise! I kept on thinking the suitable word to describe what I saw, but the word just didn't come to my mind. It is like a deja vu. I never being there before - but I felt I have been there.... macam mana tu... punye le susah nak think that one word. Hold and behold, while having my lunch at MekD, my friend suddenly uttered the magic word... yes! that was it..... this is "PUDURAYA"... instead of buses emitting the black fume, this PUDURAYA is full with white/red AIRbvses... cleaner I guess... but, this is not my cup of tea, I mean, to start off my vacation in this kind of place is just not right :-)

The flight supposed to be at 1640hrs but it was delayed..oppps (never use the word "delay" with A K)... the flight to D P S was retimed to 1820hrs... due to the technical problem. We were told to disembark and go back to the stuffy terminal. Reached the terminal after the long walk and 10 minutes later, we were called back for the second embarkation. What's the point of asking the passengers to disembark just for 10 minutes plus the loooong walk and called again for another loooong walk? Luckily the captain understood the situation and offer all the passengers the first drink. Yes, the first soya bean drink is on the house. :-)
Finally the AIRbvs took off and we reached B4li around 10pm. Took a (coupon) cab from Band4ra Ngvrah Rai to Kut4 - a bit expensive (arnd Rph45,000), but since the hotel that we are going to stay for the first night does not provide transfer, we have no choice. Moreover, it was already late night and I don't want to risk hailing the taxi outside the terminal.

Checked in at Ind4h Beach H0tel (P0ppies L4ne II). Bak kata pepatah, indah khabar dari rupa - and this is exactly Ind4h Beach H0tel. The word "Indah" is meaningless. Same goes to "Beach". Dah lah tak "Indah" langsung, beach punye le jauh. For a merely RM97 including breakfast and just for one night stand.. ooppss... transit je, I should have not complaint too much.

At night, stroll along infamous Kuta beach and surrounding. Had MekD (again) for supper. Hmm... nice view at MekD too..... [:-P

VERDICT:
1) If you can get other airlines with reasonable fare, go for it. I took A K coz the difference is 50% from our national Wau Kucing airline.
2) Find a better hotel along Jalan Pantai Kuta even if you just need a room for a night. Legian area is also good. By all means, avoid this tak seberapa Indah hotel.

~ M T @ Ind0nesia
~~ Kvta, B4li

~ To Travel Is To Discover Oneself ~