Crossing Boarders into Thailand from Cambodia :
Entering Thailand:
Crossing boarders from Thailand to Laos:
Leaving the Country:
Entering Thailand:
Crossing boarders from Thailand to Laos:
Leaving the Country:
BUDGET : In 6 days in Bangkok we spent $370AUD between x2 people (Couple). So on Average we spent $30AUD pp a day, including all Accommodation, Meals, Transport, Drinks, Transport, Shopping, & Activities/Tours
Bank Withdrawals: 100AUD from the 70USD, 110, 90 + 70 = $370AUD..
CURRENCY EXCHANGE: $1 AUD = 25Bht , or $1 USD = 35Baht
So from Sydney Airport through Vietnam, Cambodia and Bangkok in 31 days for x2 people we spent $2, 260.00AUD
Bank Withdrawals: 100AUD from the 70USD, 110, 90 + 70 = $370AUD..
CURRENCY EXCHANGE: $1 AUD = 25Bht , or $1 USD = 35Baht
So from Sydney Airport through Vietnam, Cambodia and Bangkok in 31 days for x2 people we spent $2, 260.00AUD
BANGKOK
How to get from Bangkok to Chaing Mai
SLEEPER TRAIN - State Railway of Thailand. 5pm Departure and arrive 06:15am 881 Baht. With Aircon
HOW TO GET HERE FROM SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA
Bangkok
Thanglor
West Bank - Chao Phraya River , Khlong San, Thonburi
East Bank - Chinatown, Wat Pho, Khao San Road
Avani Riverside Hotel infinity pool
Wang Lang Pier and markets
Moo tod- Fried Pork
SLEEPER TRAIN - State Railway of Thailand. 5pm Departure and arrive 06:15am 881 Baht. With Aircon
HOW TO GET HERE FROM SIEM REAP, CAMBODIA
Bangkok
Thanglor
West Bank - Chao Phraya River , Khlong San, Thonburi
East Bank - Chinatown, Wat Pho, Khao San Road
Avani Riverside Hotel infinity pool
Wang Lang Pier and markets
Moo tod- Fried Pork
Tourists strip is along Rumbuttri street and Khao San Road
There is the Chayo Prayer river that cuts through the city
You can get around easily by boats, buses, tuktuk’s and Taxi’s
Bangkok accom is more expensive here then anywhere else up north for privates rooms and dorm beds from $8-16+
Beers are all expensive comparison to Vietnam & Cambodia
The traffic, the markets, the street hawkers, the grime; the food carts, the temples, the madness, the crime…
http://live-less-ordinary.com/bangkok-to-vientiane-by-train-laos/ Getting from Bangkok to Laos (Vientiane)
THANACHART ATM charges $7-8 AUD ontop of the $3.50 fee of the travel money card, paying up to $11 for fees!!!
We took a night train from Bangkok to Nong kai sleeper bed for 688Baht, it left at 8pm and got to Nong Khai at 7am, only 11 hours (check out Laos in Vientiane for more info)
There is the Chayo Prayer river that cuts through the city
You can get around easily by boats, buses, tuktuk’s and Taxi’s
Bangkok accom is more expensive here then anywhere else up north for privates rooms and dorm beds from $8-16+
Beers are all expensive comparison to Vietnam & Cambodia
The traffic, the markets, the street hawkers, the grime; the food carts, the temples, the madness, the crime…
http://live-less-ordinary.com/bangkok-to-vientiane-by-train-laos/ Getting from Bangkok to Laos (Vientiane)
THANACHART ATM charges $7-8 AUD ontop of the $3.50 fee of the travel money card, paying up to $11 for fees!!!
We took a night train from Bangkok to Nong kai sleeper bed for 688Baht, it left at 8pm and got to Nong Khai at 7am, only 11 hours (check out Laos in Vientiane for more info)
Obviously a MUST EXPERIENCE
Lots of STREET FOOD & FRESH JUICES
Good shopping HERE
Lots of STREET FOOD & FRESH JUICES
Good shopping HERE
SLEEP
AIRS Hostel in Rambruttri street. Promotion when we were there for 350BHT private rooms, dorms also for 190BHT with aircon, shared bathrooms, wifi, free water and a chill out area, and can do own laundry for 50BHT ($2AUD). Its level 4 so be prepared to walk up a lot of steps to get to the top. BB House accommodation |
EAT & DRINK
Bangkumpoo Thai Food steet cart , on the Chill out hostel street, close to the corner (round a bout) Juice place met door 30-40 baht juices and mixed fresh fruit with ice (frappe) Magic max cheap food Suksabi bar below Aris Hostel is good food , beers and sports! 7/11 TOASTIES woooo for 27baht, $1.10cAUD. Never thought id eat them but they are too good! Sukhumvit Soi 4, 11 & 3 and Pratunam Market areas is where the Palestine shop for spices & groceries. Thong Lor & RCA Clubs in Sukumit Soi 11 Nana Plaza is the worlds largest adult playground 3 level sex complex Coi cowboy street is bangkoks brightest street must go Bacarra 11pm for ping pong) Pat pong street for the tourist strip of ping pong, be careful of all the scams, theres no way out. Others Spicy club Bombay blues Pad pong market & street Soi Phrasawat Street & Canal area |
ATTRACTIONS
Lebua Hotel rooftop bar it is the world’s highest open-air bar. Khoasan Road where all the clubs get good after 11pm Floating Markets Damnoen , get there early its almost 2hr bus ride away http://www.bangkok.com/magazine/5-floating-markets.htm#promo Chinatown Yaowarat street is bangkoks famous food street! Siam Square, catch bus #15 from chakrabongse street for only 7Bht. Takes about 15-20min, MBK shopping mall. Or tuk tuk/taxi for 100baht (good to split between 4) MBK centre level 5 international foods around the world, up to $15 plates platters of food. Get a card and pay at the end Level 6 food island. Level 4 for all electronics and accessories. Cameras level 5. Cinemas level 7. BTS Sky train its just a tube up high like a tram, we paid 37 baht which is $1.45 for a trip around town. Saphan Taksin station is where you get off to get the ferry for the Arun Wat & Grand Palace ect. Wat Arun, Grand Palace & Wat Prakawew are all in the same place and can be reached by the water taxis along the Chao Phraya River it's only 20baht for a watertaxi, DONT BE FOOLED BY THE TOURIST BOAT. |
TRANSPORT/BUDGETS
Tuk tuk from chakrabongse street, close to Rambuttri and Khaosan road to China Town or Hua lamphong Railway station was 80BHT. From chakrabongse street to Siam Square by Taxi is 80-100BHT. But most taxis will say 200. Dont pay that. Take the bus#15 for 7baht 15-20min, not long at all. If you are close to a nice Hotel, get them to call you a taxi, then it is metered, and its half the price (From siam square to Khaosan road only 70. Cant find a large long neck beer cheaper then $2.40c from the 7/11, and there isnt much draft beer, if there is its more then $2.40! SO enjoy the .20 beers in Vietnam and .50c drafts in Cambodia! Madame Tussauds wax museum has over 90 statues in siams square, bangkok! Costs 40Bhat mixed fruit juice 20baht x3 bananas 40baht coconuts Check out book stores and spend some time in the parks around Bangkok! |
CHIANG RAI
5 nights here
HOW TO GET HERE FROM NORTHERN LAOS
From Nong Khiaw, you get a bus from the station , times usually 8,10,12 and 2pm but usually it's whenever the bus fills up. It's 25,000- 30,000 KIP pp to Pak Mong, about 45minutes away. You can walk from your guesthouse to the bus station , it will take around 10minutes or pay for a tuk tuk 5,000 KIP each.
From Pak Mong there are buses going to the Boarder of Lao and Thailand. There are normal buses, VIP and sleepers. VIP leaves here around 8pm and the Sleeper leaves around 9-9:30pm. They cost 120,000 KIP , trip takes 9hours.
We arrived in Houay Xai at 6:40am from the 9:30pm departure.
Then from the Houay Xai bus station get a took took to Lao immigration departure for 20,000KIP pp (75baht) Lao immigration opens at 6am I'm not sure what time it closes, i think around 5pm. If you arrive between 6-8am you pay $1 for coming early .
Once stamped out of Lao (no fee) pay 25baht or 1USD for the shuttle bus to take you to Thailand Immigration.
15 days free transit visa for the 2nd time was no problem.
We then paid 60baht for shuttle to downtown station (about 5-10min away) Where you get the bus to Chiang Rai for 65baht and takes 2hrs total
There could be an option to get a bud direct from Houay Xai to Chiang Rai at 8am for 140baht.
From Nong Khiaw, you get a bus from the station , times usually 8,10,12 and 2pm but usually it's whenever the bus fills up. It's 25,000- 30,000 KIP pp to Pak Mong, about 45minutes away. You can walk from your guesthouse to the bus station , it will take around 10minutes or pay for a tuk tuk 5,000 KIP each.
From Pak Mong there are buses going to the Boarder of Lao and Thailand. There are normal buses, VIP and sleepers. VIP leaves here around 8pm and the Sleeper leaves around 9-9:30pm. They cost 120,000 KIP , trip takes 9hours.
We arrived in Houay Xai at 6:40am from the 9:30pm departure.
Then from the Houay Xai bus station get a took took to Lao immigration departure for 20,000KIP pp (75baht) Lao immigration opens at 6am I'm not sure what time it closes, i think around 5pm. If you arrive between 6-8am you pay $1 for coming early .
Once stamped out of Lao (no fee) pay 25baht or 1USD for the shuttle bus to take you to Thailand Immigration.
15 days free transit visa for the 2nd time was no problem.
We then paid 60baht for shuttle to downtown station (about 5-10min away) Where you get the bus to Chiang Rai for 65baht and takes 2hrs total
There could be an option to get a bud direct from Houay Xai to Chiang Rai at 8am for 140baht.
This place was only really enjoyable because we knew a local here who showed us around and went to his family home, village
If you go here , YOU MUST, Jungle Treks and 1-3day local trips is a must here with Jungle Monkey
The town itself is a little ugly and seems rundown in the day but looks x100 better at night
There are trendy modern hostels, bars and restaurants in the main tourist part
If you go here , YOU MUST, Jungle Treks and 1-3day local trips is a must here with Jungle Monkey
The town itself is a little ugly and seems rundown in the day but looks x100 better at night
There are trendy modern hostels, bars and restaurants in the main tourist part
Chilled town but can get busy on the weekends AT THE BARS
Hire a scooter and GO EXPLORING
ATMS and Wifi IS NO PROBLEM
A few street stalls around & cheap eats & NIGHT MARKET
And also western eats more EXPENSIVE
Perfect weather hot through the day and COOL AT NIGHT
Some waterfalls and rivers you CAN SWIM IN!
Hire a scooter and GO EXPLORING
ATMS and Wifi IS NO PROBLEM
A few street stalls around & cheap eats & NIGHT MARKET
And also western eats more EXPENSIVE
Perfect weather hot through the day and COOL AT NIGHT
Some waterfalls and rivers you CAN SWIM IN!
SLEEP
Chock Dee Hostel on the main strip, amazing location, with dorm beds (mattresses on the floor) for really cheap with a bar and restaurant down the bottom The Shaman is a new hostel that has privates for 250Baht with bathroom & fan. They have a nice restaurant that lights up at night that looks nice, and a leather shop! Boon Bundan Guesthouse has rooms with double beds, windows, bathroom, fan & wifi with cleaning service every morning for only 200Baht! We stayed here most the time. Mercury Hostel is beautiful and new but have dorms for 400Bht pp $16AUD. |
EAT & DRINK
Peace House is awesome anytime of the day or night with reggae music playing all the time, esp bob marly, and live music on weeknds, and they allow you to smoke green out the back! Coconuts Bar & restaurant has a good vibe on the weekends for drinks and has AMAZING burgers with delicious french fries, AND huge mouth watering samoas! Burger&chips is $6 and x4samosa's are $4! Hungry Wolfs is AMAZING. They are also western prices. They have Burgers & Pizzas, Ribs & Salads! Pizzas are huge with thick crust, and burgers are delicous with pesto herb sauce, pineapple, bacon ect with delicious hot chips just like home. But youll be paying minimum 250baht per meal and up to 600baht for a large pizza! Connect Cafe on the road where you come out from the Bus Station, with a purple sign. They have fresh fruit frappes & smoothies, iced chocolate frappes, sandwiches, pastas, vietnamese iced cafe ect with really fast internet! Oak and awe coffee house is an awesome trendy cafe decorated nice with western and thai food along with beverages!! The Local Restaurant 1023/2 next to the tin fence with graffiti, they sell Chiang Rai's local dish "khoa soy chicken curry noodle soup" for 35baaht, this place is #1023/2 in the same street as Peace house. |
ATTRACTIONS
Hot springs , waterfall and elephants Night Bazzar Clock Tower Walking street markets Muy Thai Cock fighting Fishing Chiang Khong, Black house museum, White temple, Singha Park Choui Fong Tea Plantations Ahka hill tribes 2day trekking in the villages around Chiang Rai with Jungle Monkey Tours! Phu chi fa is 2-3 day trek up to the mountain to see amazing views. Doi Mea Sa Long Mountain & Villages in outskirts of Chiang Rai |
BUDGETS/ OTHER
|
CHIANG MAI
4 nights here
HOW TO GET HERE FROM CHAING RAI
Hop on a bus from Chiang Rai bus terminal in town with the bus company GREENLINE
Buses cost from 170-380 BAHT PER PERSON
Ans leaves every 30 minutes or hour.
Hop on a bus from Chiang Rai bus terminal in town with the bus company GREENLINE
Buses cost from 170-380 BAHT PER PERSON
Ans leaves every 30 minutes or hour.
We LOVED staying in the Old Town Wall area
Loads of street food EVERYWHERE & THE BEST
Small cafes, road side restaurants, even food trucks!
Fresh juices and lots of western food!
Trendy and developed hostels, bars and clubs!
Amazing spas and massage shops
Hire a scooter for the whole time you are here, GO EXPLORING
River runs through the city
Most tourist hostels are very helpful with information and travel companies
Loads of street food EVERYWHERE & THE BEST
Small cafes, road side restaurants, even food trucks!
Fresh juices and lots of western food!
Trendy and developed hostels, bars and clubs!
Amazing spas and massage shops
Hire a scooter for the whole time you are here, GO EXPLORING
River runs through the city
Most tourist hostels are very helpful with information and travel companies
Chiang Mai has a LOT TO OFFER
MUST Visit
Get a MAP
ATMS everywhere
Almost everyone speaks english
MUST Visit
Get a MAP
ATMS everywhere
Almost everyone speaks english
SLEEP
Rose's Guesthouse Diva's Top North Guesthouse Bunchun Art Hostel located in town with cheap dorms Rabeang Pasak Treehouse Resort B&B surrounded by teawook forest and the sounds of running water! |
EAT & DRINK
Saija Massage are amazing!! 100Baht 30min or 200baht 60min, they are flexible with where you want to be massaged! In old town, the same street as Funky Monkey Falafels and Rose's Guesthouse! Funky Monkey Cafe FOOD TRUCKS - Fat bastard food truck Go GO bars along Loi Kroh Road Bars around Zoe's! Taepea gate and Nawarat Bridge for Lantern Festival, street food, cheap massages, river! Or Chiang Mai University to release Lanterns, buy tickets in advanced, $100. Sunday walking market Scooter hire 150baht for 24hrs with insurance ($6)! CHEAP. |
ATTRACTIONS
The Grand Canyon, Hang Dong, in Chiang mai go for the whole day, lie on pontoons in the middle on the canyon Lantern Festival that starts on the 24th till 26th , dozens of lanterns get lit up into the sky. Mae Ping River tubing with the elephant park Elephant Nature Park, rescue rehab org, founder Lek Chaillert, Wat Chedi Luang watch monks weed and sweep the grounds in the middle of Chaing Mai. Warorot Markets and see locals trade int heir daily life Kirin Tribe near northern Chiang Mai Ban Papongpieng Rice Fields in Chiang Mai Doi Suthep temple 300 steps. |
OTHER
Ancient walled city is Chiang Mai The golden Triangle along the Mekong river where Thailand, Laos & Burma meet. Yao & Ahka Hilltribes |
PAI
HOW TO GET HERE FROM CHAING MAI
From Chaing Mai you can organise a shuttle mini van to pick you up from your hotel, hostel guesthouse and all the way to pai.
They have every hour from around 8am -3pm roughly 180 Baht each
Cost is ..
From Chaing Mai you can organise a shuttle mini van to pick you up from your hotel, hostel guesthouse and all the way to pai.
They have every hour from around 8am -3pm roughly 180 Baht each
Cost is ..
The most beautiful place!
Surrounded by mountains, hills, rice fields, country side, with swimming spots, waterfalls to visit
There are bungalows all around the river!
So relaxed, chilled, happy vibes! Night markets, good shopping & amazing food!
Be aware of the very windy road from Chiang am to pai - take motion sickness tablets early
A few bars that open through out the day and get busy and loud at night and some across the river that stay open late!
Walk around pai and/or get scooters to go exploring
Surrounded by mountains, hills, rice fields, country side, with swimming spots, waterfalls to visit
There are bungalows all around the river!
So relaxed, chilled, happy vibes! Night markets, good shopping & amazing food!
Be aware of the very windy road from Chiang am to pai - take motion sickness tablets early
A few bars that open through out the day and get busy and loud at night and some across the river that stay open late!
Walk around pai and/or get scooters to go exploring
One of my FAVOURITE PLACES IN THAILAND
Actually, it is my FAVOURITE PLACE IN THAILAND
I could have stayed here for MONTHS
MUST VISIT
Would go back in a HEART BEAT
Also the BEST STREET FOOD
Everything REALLY CHEAP TOO, ACOOM AND FOOD
And bungalows EVERYWHERE
Very safe here, everyone is RELAXED, CHILLED & FRIENDLY
Weather is perfect HOT IN DAY, COOLS OFF IN NIGHT
Tattoo shops everywhere, bamboo and TRADIONAL
Actually, it is my FAVOURITE PLACE IN THAILAND
I could have stayed here for MONTHS
MUST VISIT
Would go back in a HEART BEAT
Also the BEST STREET FOOD
Everything REALLY CHEAP TOO, ACOOM AND FOOD
And bungalows EVERYWHERE
Very safe here, everyone is RELAXED, CHILLED & FRIENDLY
Weather is perfect HOT IN DAY, COOLS OFF IN NIGHT
Tattoo shops everywhere, bamboo and TRADIONAL
SLEEP
Spicy hostel Pai is located over the river not very far. They are situated with a rice field right in front with a perfect view for the sunset! Dorms and privates, a popular place to stay! Darling view hostel is a little more expensive but worth it. They have an awesome balcony overlooking the mountains! Dorms and privates available! Golden House Bungalows is beautiful, close to the river. They have small bungalows without w/c for 200baht, and larger ones with w/c for 400baht! Beautiful and green, listen to birds chirp in the morning. Huts made from bamboo & leaf! Love it here. Farmer Home Bungalows http://www.agoda.com/farmer-home/hotel/pai-th.html Have Bungalows for 250baht with w/c and they have a beautiful pool!! Bargin, in the country side! Pai Country Huts Common Grounds |
EAT & DRINK
Rotti Nutella strawberry pancake Pai Circus School & Hostel with pool Common Grounds Pai have BBQ's and a good vibe! http://www.commongroundspai.com/#pai They also have a page of things to do and see in Pai. ALMOST FAMOUS why not bar Sunset Bar Spicy Backpckers Purple Monkey Happy House Bamboo bar Dont cry Bar |
ATTRACTIONS
http://cavelodge.com/index.html Pam Bok Waterfall is a lot taller and larger. Take a little trek up a staircase to see the beauty of it and you cross a bamboo bridge Mor Paeng Natural waterslide water fall outside of Pai, very small but something to do and somewhere refreshing to swim. Mae Yen Waterfall doesnt seem like you can swim in it, brown waters at the bottom! Pai Hot springs in the National Park Huam Nam Dang, it is 300baht for forigens and 50baht for locals. Pai Canyon walk is nothing too special. Its a little dry, dusty and very hot up there, but you can walk around the canyon, be cafeful of the large cliffs, and its free! Pirahna Fishing Park is on the way up to Yun Lai Viewpoint so you can easily do this and head up to Yun Lai after. Its a good setting. Rent a rod for 100thb and some Bread bait for 10thb and sit down for a few hours and fish Mae Hong son sleepy villages in the Northern West of Thailand - radting, trekking, forests, waterfalls, caves and traditional mountain villages Visit villages of the Palaung, Ahka and Lisu ethnic minorities. White Buddha Fluid Pool |
OTHER
|
BAMBOO RAFTING IN CHIANG MAI
Elephant feeding and waterfalls in Chiang Mai
Ching Rai - history
Akha people -80% people from China (yunan) Tibet and Myamar ... In northern Thailand .
Pung Tung Village in the middle
City glass ( Wien kow)
Thailand herbs - Chiang Rai
Lemongrass - for mosquito
Ginger
Basil
Garlic
Chilie
Guava - leaf cooked good for stomachs
Pepper
Rice
Corn
Bananas
Pineapples
Thai cooking
Marinate Thai Chile paste, seasoning crumbs salt and sugar, cracked black pepper, oyster sauce. Cook on fire coals
Crush garlic, chilies, coriander, fish sauce, lime , water
Foods
Sauu desert toasties
Thailand
Monks around each town have their own areas, each temple has an area where they collect offerings, money and foods. It's become a business amongst the monks making money from selling the fish at the markets and collecting most money, some monks go into other temples areas to collect and have wats ect.
Same in Bangkok, people from different schools, or if they wear jeans and long hair want to fight each other.
Akha people -80% people from China (yunan) Tibet and Myamar ... In northern Thailand .
Pung Tung Village in the middle
City glass ( Wien kow)
Thailand herbs - Chiang Rai
Lemongrass - for mosquito
Ginger
Basil
Garlic
Chilie
Guava - leaf cooked good for stomachs
Pepper
Rice
Corn
Bananas
Pineapples
Thai cooking
Marinate Thai Chile paste, seasoning crumbs salt and sugar, cracked black pepper, oyster sauce. Cook on fire coals
Crush garlic, chilies, coriander, fish sauce, lime , water
Foods
Sauu desert toasties
Thailand
Monks around each town have their own areas, each temple has an area where they collect offerings, money and foods. It's become a business amongst the monks making money from selling the fish at the markets and collecting most money, some monks go into other temples areas to collect and have wats ect.
Same in Bangkok, people from different schools, or if they wear jeans and long hair want to fight each other.