Travel, Holiday and Vacation Reviews and Photos from Bars, Restaurants, Hotels, Resorts and Destinations around the World.
Melaka
About 150 kilo meter south of Kuala Lumpur is Malakka Town. The big city in Peninsular have round about 650.000 habitats and the Centre is dominated of buildings from the English colonists, Dutch Traders and Potuguese seafarers. I have bin in Melaka on my Southeast Asia Travel Tour in 2007. In Melaka are many Houses of God from many religious like the Church of St. Peter, Christ Church, Kampung Kling Mosque, Sri Poyatha Venayagar Moorthi Temple and many more. I spent two days at the Tony’s Guest House on my Travel way from Singapore to KL, the Capital of Malaysia. I Arrived over Johor Baru by Bus from South East Asia‘s city State between Peninsular Malaysia and Indonesia. For Travel Timetables look inside your Lonely Planet Travel Guide. My Highlight in Melaka was the historical Town Square and Bukit ST Paul which are the oldest Dutch buildings in far east. Now are the Historical, Ethnographic and Literature Museums inside.
A Local from Melakka
The locals are friendly and helpful like everywhere in Peninsular. Special thanks to the owners from Tony’s Guest House for good Travel Tips and insider information about Melaka. An other highlight is the huge Mahkota Parade Shopping Complex close to the Sungai Melaka. In the Northeast of Melakka is a colorful Chinese Cemetry on the Bukit China Hill. From this City in Malaysia’s Peninsular are a lot of International Travel options. From the Batu Berendam Airport for example you have many options to come into the Air Asia Net to explore Southeast Asia. If you are on Budget Tour you have the choice of Public Bus or Traveling by Train to many Destinations in Peninsular, Thailand and Singapore. From Melakka Hourbor two different kind of Jetty ferry’s leaving to Indonesia. But for this connection you need a Visa in Advanced. For more information and Travel options ask in the local TAT Travel Agencies or read your Lonely Planet for Southeast Asia or Malaysia.
A historical Ruin
I enjoyed my trip to this historical town in Malaysia. The people are very friendly and Melaka offer a lot sights for Tourists, Backpackers and Travelers. It’s perfect for a Travel stop up to Kuala Lumpur and the Shopping Center offer good possibilities to buy Souvenirs and other stuff like original Watches from high class brands much cheaper than in Europe. At the Center you can be shure that it isn’t a cheap copy how you will find on many places in Southeast Asia.
Penang Georgetown
On my Southeast Asia and Peninsular Travel Tour 2007 I spent some days in Georgetown on Pulau Penang. I was coming from Cameron Highlands by Bus to this big City in Malaysias Peninsular. I don’t saw so much from Pulau Penang Island, actually I spent my time just in Georgetown to explore the City. My Guest House was the Swiss Hotel wich offer simple rooms with a Bed, Fan and shared Bathrooms for 17 Ringit. Two times I come here for a Visa Run from Thailand, than I was Staying at the Malibu Cafe Hostel in the Lebuh Chulia Road in the Heart of Georgetown. The Oasis Hotel, 75 Travllers Lodge and the Cathay Hotel are as well good addresses for Backpackers and Travelers from around the World.
Mosque in Georgetown
Coco Island Travellers Corner is a good address to share some experiences with other Travelers in Malaysia. The main Sights in Georgetown are the Fort Cornwallis, the Penang Museum and the Kapitan Keling Mosque. Georgetown is as well famous for the big Shopping Center direct in the Centre. From here you have many option to Travel, the buses from the Bus Terminal go to many places in Malaysia and from the International Airport a bit out of the Center fly many Air Asia Planes to many Destinations in Southeast Asia. On my Peninsular Backpack Tour I took a Ferry to Pulau Langkawi. For more Info about the Island Penang and Georgetown read the Lonely Planet for Malaysia or South-East Asia.
Kota Baru
On my Peninsular and Southeast Asia Travel Tour 2007 I spent some days in Kota Baru in the Zeck Travelers Inn. Zeck, the owner of this Guest House bring me and to other guests to a Monkey Contest. On this contest many people from everywhere in Malaysia come with them Monkeys to catch Coconuts from palm trees. The winner was the Monkey who took the most Coconuts in one minute. It was a big spectacle in Kota Baru near the Boarder to Thailand. I arrived by Bus from Pulau Perhentian in the South Chinese Sea. In this State Capital you will find many small Restaurants who offer good Indian and other Asia Food. My favorits are Meena Curry House, Restoran Sri Devi and Hayaki.
Monkey Contest
My highlight at Kota Baru in Peninsular (West Malaysia) was the Central Market. Many locals offer in a modern Markt building fresh fruits, vegetables, fish, all kind of meat and clothes. On the way to the market you will pass some supermarkets and other shops where you can watch the all day life of the habitats of Kota Baru. Many people come here to visit the Thai Consulate to get a Visa for Travel Thailand. A lot Traverllers, Tourists and Backpackers arrive at Malaysia’s Kota Baru Airport from Kuala Lumpur to travel Perhentian Islands which is easy to reach from here by Public Bus Taxi or Minivan. Kota Baru have good structures for Backpackers, ATM’s, Guest Houses, Restaurants, Hostels and Hotels are widespread. The Travel options are nearly endless, here are a Airport, Bus Terminal and a Train Station for connections in Peninsular, Thailand and Singapore.
Central Market
From the Railway Station I took a Train to Singapore, I recommend to book the tickets in advanced because it’s happen many times that the Train is fully booked. For more Informations about this Town in Malaysia read your Lonely Planet Travel Book or ask in the Tourist Information Center in the City of Kota Bara in Asia.
Cameron Highlands
I Traveled from Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands by public Bus. It was a nice Trip trew evergreen Rainforest and Mountains who catch the clouds. The Price for this Travel Trip was 17 Malaysian Ringit.At Cameron I was staying at Fathers Guest House in Tanah Rata. The Guest House is a five minutes walk from Tanah Rata Town where you find Restaurants, Supermarkets and ATM’s. A single Room with shared Bathroom and a Fan was 20 Ringit. For more Hotels and Hostels at Tanah Rata look at the Lonely Planet Travel Guide for Malaysia or Southeast Asia. This idyllyc City is surrounded by Mountains, Tea and Strawberry plantages. Because of the low temperatures on the 1536 meter high Bukit Mentigi Mountain are the conditions good for Tea. All over year here at Cameron Highlands are temperatures like in Europe at Summer. Perfect as well for the Strawberry Plants!
Fathers Guest House
I spent here 4 days on my Southeast Asian Travel Tour 2007. My highlight at Cameron Highlands in Peninsular (West Malaysia) are the small Jungle Trails around Tanah Rata. It was a pleasant walk along a Jungle River to some nice Waterfalls like the Robbinson Falls or the Parit Waterfalls. An other sight at this high spot in Peninsular is the Sam Poh Chinese Temple. Here I meet many Backpackers and traveler from around the World. Every Evening we sit together at Fathers Guest House, talked about our last Travel Destinations and ask for Travel tips from the next Cities/Islands.
Jungle at Cameron
From the Cameron Highlands I took a Bus to Ipoh where I had a non stop Bus conection to Georgetown on Pulau Penang in Northwest Malaysia. Tanah Rata was one of my favorite places on this Traveling Trip. The sleepy Village is a good Travel Destination. The landscapes are totally different than at any other Destination in Malaysia where I have bin. But don’t forget a light Jacket because at Nighttime it can be 12-14 degrees Celsius. grrrrrr cold!
Katueng Beach
Koh Mak is a small tropical Island of the Koh Chang Archipelago in the Gulf of Thailand. Maak Island is 16 square kilometer in sice and have about 500 habitats. The locals living from Rubber / Coconut Plantation, Fishing and more and more from the Tourism on this cosy Island in Southeast Asia. Compared to other Islands in Asia and Thailand is Ko Mak really quiet. The less developed streets are widespread, it’s beautiful to drive threw tight Coconut and Rubber trees. I was here in the beginning of March 09. We stayed at the Ao Katueng Beach in the north-west of Koh Maak. Moun and I rent a Motorbike at the Monkey Island Resort to explore “the pearl of Thailand”.
South Koh Mak
First we went to Ao Tokai in the north of Koh Maak. On the way we visit the ruins of the “Love Temple”, the “local Handycraft sculpture” and Ao Suanyai Beach. Near the Pier at Suanyai Bay we drank a fresh Banana Shake at Coffee shop “Orchid” next to Koh Maak Resort. Than we drive to the Northeast and rest on the Lonely Ao Talong Beach. From there we go over Ao Taan to the East end and drank a cold Water at the “Little Moon Resort”. We drove thrue tight Rubber Plantages to the Temple of Koh Mak near Ao Nid Pier. Here we stopped to pray and enjoy the nice view over the warm water of the Gulf of Thailand. Direct on the pier you can visit the Ko Mak History Museum. Our next destination was the “Smile Cooking School” to visit a friend who live before at Klong Prao Beach on Koh Chang Island. On the way we saw a nice white Paragon direct on the sea. Here are the graves of the five brothers who owned before the hole Island.
Buddha at the Temple
We Travel atlong the Laem Chan Beach to “Cafe del Mak” for some refreshments. On this evening we eat some yummies Thai Food at Baan Sabaay Restaurant close to our Resort at Katueng Beach. We enjoyed Koh Mak, it’s a quiet Paradise Island with many flair. The Beaches are lonely and long. The Coconut Palms stop nearly where the warm water start, like in Paradiese! The Pearl of the Gulf of Thailand offer a great location for all who like to chill and relax at holidays. There are some options to go out in the evening, some bars on the beach have Life Music, fire shows or a nice view for the colorful Sunset behind the hills of Koh Mak Island in Thailand.
Sunset at Ko Mak
If you want to go diving there are three Scuba Schools on the tropical Island. Ploy Scuba, Koh Maak Divers and Paradise Divers offer Padi Courses and Fun Dive Day Trips around Ko Maak at the Mu Koh Chang National Park. This protected area are famous for many kind of colorful Marine Life and huge Fish Schools. Paradise Divers offer as well CMAS courses in the warm water of the Gulf.
Cha Guest House Krabi
We travel already six hours in a Minivan when we arrived at the Bus Terminal in Krabi Town. We come from Nakhon Si Thammarat. It was in the afternoon and the first what we did at Krabi was we eat a Pizza at Viva Restaurant. After we took our backpacks and walked up the Th Utarakit Road to the “Cha Guesthouse”. We paid here 200 Thai Baht for a Room with Fan and a bathroom with Toilet. After we took a shower we walked to the center to buy some Souvenirs. In the evening we had dinner on the Nightmarket at Krabi in south Thailand. The Night Market is next to the Mae Nam Krabi River. From the plastic chairs on the Market you have a good view to the Chalk Stone Mountains and the Mangrove Forrests on the other side of the Mae Nam (River).
The Krabi Province is famous for travel activities, wall climbing and of course for Koh Phi Phi Don. On the next morning we woke up early because we had ferry tickets the archipelago of Phi Phi. We took a breakfast at the Kwan Café in Krabi Town. After we walked to Krabi Pier to reach the Ferry to Thailands Islands in the Andaman Sea.
Krabi in Southeast Asia is a nice Travel Destination. The river net and the chalk rocks are uniqe in this Area. The shopping and food possibilities are nearly endless compared with other Travel Destinations in Asia. For more Travel tips, Hotels, Guest Houses and Informations about Krabi look inside your Lonely Planet Thailand.
Buddhist Temple in Sichon
Marius and I was coming from Koh Tao over Surat Thani to Sichon. We took a Public Bus 3th class to the small Village Sichon. Sichon is located between Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat. Here at Sichon are not so much posibilities to stay, we found just the “Sichon Hotel” in the middle of the small Town of Thailand. We paid 200 Thai Baht for a old Hotel Room with Fan and Toilet. Actually we had a shower as well, but ther was no water, just some drops came out of a hole in the wall. The furnitures must be from the 50′s or 60′s. We felt like in a Museum or sth. like this. But at Sichon in south Thailand we don’t had a choice.
Shaddow Puppet Maker
Here at Sichon in Southeast Asia we meet Ratanai the Shadow Puppet builder. This Puppet Theater is really famous here in south Thailand. Mr Ratanai invite us for dinner to his home. His wife cocked Rice and fried Egg. He had some whiskey left, proud he took out a nearly empty Whiskey Bottle and mixed it with water. We had some beers in our back. It was a nice but hard evening. Hard because nobody from this Thai family spoke English and the Communication was very difficult. Here at this small village nearly nobody speak English, the locals call direct the English Teacher from the public school. She come by Motorbike and help us as a interpreter. We was the only Ferangs (European or American Tourists) in Sichon, Nearly everyone was looking to us. Evan at the Asian Food Market, everybody stop to trade and everyone looked to us. I think some people here in Sichon know White people just from the TV.
Locals at Sichon
I mean the people was really friendly and nice here at Sichon but after two days we had enough from being the “Superstar”. Many locals try to speak with us and try to invite us for drinks, fruits, and beers but we can’t relax. After one night at the Sichon Hotel we traveled to Nakhon Si Thammarat by bus to be a bit more anonym. Sichon was one of our highlights on our Thailand Travel Tour 2006. The people are really friendly and try to help where they can. I can recomend this stop for every traveler in Thailand. Be surprised how untouristic Thailand can be in this nice Village names Sichon.
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Nakhon Si Thammarat
In 2006 Marius and I was at Nakhon Si Thammarat in Thailand. We traveled from Sichon to this City in Southeast Asia. We took the public Bus connection witch was about two hours. We was staying at the “Thai Hotel” at the north end of Nakhon. The price for this good managed Hotel was 270 Thai Baht for a double room with TV, Fan, Hot Shower and a Fridge. The first evening we was for dinner at “Rock 99 Bar and Grill”. This tip we found in our Lonely Planet for Thailand. We eat some Farang Food and after we drunk some Chang Beers and Long Island Ice Tea Cocktails till we was drunken. The next morning we don’t was good at all. But we stand up for a breakfast at the Restaurant from the Thai Hotel in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
After we walked a bit threw this Thai City to watch some sights like the “Bethlehem Church”, Wat Maheyong Temple and the Shiva Shrine. Our highlight in Nakhon Si Thammarat in Thailand was the Wat Sema Meuang and the landmark Lak Meuang.
Hills at Nakhon Si Thammarat
From here Marius and I took a Bus to Krabi in Thailand, Southeast Asia. For More Backpacking Information read your Lonely Planet or ask at the Hotel or Guest House desk. We enjoyed the visit at this Thai Province. For sure it don’t was a highlight on our Thailand Travel Tour but Nakhon is a typical City here in this area and have a lot to explore. It’s perfect for Travelers and Backpacker who don’t like Touristic Destinations like Patong or Koh Phi Phi.
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Phetchaburi
In middle 2006 Marius and I was at Phetburi in Thailand. We was coming from Chumpon with the public bus the this city in Southeast Asia. This tip we found in our Lonely Planet for Thailand. Phetchaburi was one of our highlights on our travel trip threw Thailand. The main attraction here is the Khao Wang hill with the Historical Temple Phra Nakhon Khiri. This temple is just one of many in Phetchaburi. We was visiting about ten temples here in Phetburi. The most beautifulest was: Wat Potaram, Wat Phra Suang, Wat Tho, Wat Lat, Wat Chi Phra Keut and the Wat Ko Kaew Sutharam witch is direct on the Mae Nam Phetchaburi River.
Buddhist Temple in Phetburi
We was staying at the Jomklow Hotel which is an Old Hotel direct on the river of Phetburi. Actually we want to stay at the Rabieng Rim Nam Guest House, but it was fully boocked. We come here always for a good breakfast in the morning. The restaurant of the Rabieng Rim Nam traveling Hostel is direct on the river, a nice place. On the Khao Wang Hill are a lot monkeys. You climb the hill by foot or by a small train who bring you direct to the Phra Nakon Khiri Palace witch is since 1988 a National Museum of Thailand in Southeast Asia. From this mountain you have a nice view over the town of Phetchaburi. The Phra Nakhon Khiri was once the Royal Palace of Thailands King Mongkut. Now the monkeys, traveler and tourists dominate the image at this area.
The old Royal Palace on the hill
If you want to travel to Petchaburi you have many options from nearly every city in this area is a bus or minivan connection. This city have as well a train station near the center. For timetables ask at any desk of the Thai Royal Railway or look in your Lonely Planet Guide. We was leaving by Bus over Bangkok to Ayuthaya in central Thailand.
Sunset at Phetburi
Thailand Hotels and Accommodation
Bridge over the River Kwai
On our Thailand traveling tour 2006 we comes from Ayuthaya to Kanchanaburi by bus. The most tourists come here to see the famous Bridge over the Kwai River. The Thai locals call this river Mae Nam Khwae Yai. On the river Kwai are many nice Guest Houses and Hotels direct on the river. We was staying at the Pong Phen Guest House on the riverside. From our balcony we had a good view to the lotus blooms on the Kwai River. During the WW2 the Japanese build a railway connection from Burma to Thailand. Many war prisoners lost the life. The Thailand – Burma Railway Center Museum documentation the building of the railway and the bridge.
Lotus Bloom
Many backpacker and traveler visit the “Tiger Temple” her in the Kanchanaburi province. At this Buddhist Temple the monks take care Tigers and life with them together. Marius and I visited the Allied War Cemetery, the Chung Kai Allied War Cemetery and the Chinese Cemetery. On the Allied War Cemetery you can see the graves of the falled soldiers from the WW2. The Chinese Sanitary looks a bit more colorful and friendlier. The landscapes at this city in Southeast Asia are dominated by hills covert with tight evergreen jungle.
Chinese Cemetery
From here we traveled with our backpacks to Thailands Capital Bangkok by train. All in all the city of the river Kwai is a nice destination for backpackers, tourists and travelers in Thailand. Like nearly every city in the Kingdom have this town a own flair. On the main road are many restaurants, Guest Houses and Souvenir Shops. For more information about this beautiful province read your Lonely Planet or ask at any Booking office in this area.
