A step to Angkor Wat (Indochina 2013)

Day 3... we woke up at 6 in the morning taking a cool bath. The water heater is not functioning. The water was cold.. like ice water. As we heading down to the reception to check out our tuk-tuk driver is already down there. Waiting for us as early as 6 as we told him we will depart at that time last nite.

Straight down to the Triple 5 Restaurant... we stop to reload the mobile phone. Cheap. US2 for every 1GB data. It was very cold. A bit warm is very much appreciated

The we headed to the restaurant. Well after the tuk-tuk driver drop us he continues his journey....

Look like one right...

In a cold morning... a hot teh tarik, Malaysian style is the best... only the condense milk from Cambodia. The key ingredient is imported from Malaysia

It tool a while for the nasi lemak to ready. Teh tarik and nasi lemak - truly Malaysian breakfast

Seems that a plate of nasi lemak is not enough. Another true Malaysian dish - roti canai

Wow... we are now a python. Lazy to move BUT we need to go to the Angkor Wat. After paying the US22 breakfast meal we hop the tuk-tuk

Stop a while to set up my Note II for internet accss. The SMART service was marvellous. The beautiful front desk assistant mmmmmm so handy at work.

Can you see the road sign? We are close...

More photos are available at my facebook. Become my friend to view

Read More »

A night in Siem Riep (Indochina 2013)

Still tired from a 5 hour bus ride from Poipet... we took a bath and then hurried down. The tuk-tuk driver is waiting for us. First thing to do... is to find a halal food. Almost starving. We go round and round and finally

As it is late there is only one restaurant for us. No choice. Menu

Master Tajudin is a Malaysian from Kulim. No worry then. My favorite drink - ice lemon tea

When you have your stomach full then we started to wonder - Siem Riep at night. Nothing much unless your prefer the nite-life. Instead of night-life we go to night-market. Well at 11 many shops closed.

Tuk-tuk ride - it is Christmas - snowman in a tropic country

Stop at a food stall along the road for a 'tagalog'

It is a ice-blended mix of fruits customize to Cambodian style

Nothing much to share. It is cold and we are having a t-shirt. Could not stand the cold temperature (may be less than 16C) so we get back to hotel and having a good nite sleep for tomorrow - the Angkor Wat

If you want to see more photos of my trip be my friend. Add me FB omaothman

Read More »

Bangkok - Aranyapathet - Poipet - Siem Riep (Indochina 2013)

Our plan for the day is to travel from Bangkok to Arayanpathet and then crossing the border to Poipet, then continue to our destination Siem Riep. The route covers two nation.

Prior to departing to Chatuchak Bus Terminal, we consulted the information center again for confirmation. For information, there are two bus terminal in Bangkok. One is for traveling to Southern Thailand while the other is the Chatuchak. The information counter officer directed us to take a subway to Kampheng Phet station and then ride a motor taxi to the station

The subway cost us 40 baht each while the motor taxi another 40 baht. Then we arrive at the Chatuchak Bus Terminal

We were very lucky. Upon purchasing the bus ticket that cost us 284 baht we were directed to the platform as the bus is waiting for a departure. Remember do not forget the word VIP every time you purchase a ticket. Don't believe me well try for yourself

The VIP deserve a VIP treatment right.... Well meal are serve prior to departure from the station. Not sure what is inside the box. Looking for 'HALAL' word but it is not there. We choose not to eat.

The bus departed at 9.30am.

The first stop was about an hour journey. Filling up the gas tank - the NGV. Can you see our bus there. Only one bus there. That is for a VIP like us LOL.

After about 20 mins stop, the bus continue its journey. It is a slow and steady moving bus. Stop at each bus station - a big one like photo in a Tha Chang town... big right with a smiley face

Have you ever seen a traffic box ? Well we managed to capture one.

We arrived Arayanpathet at about 2.30pm. That is 5 hour journey. Do not surprise along the way and army officer / policeman board and ask for your traveling document. It is norm. So watch for your document. Else you will be asked to board-off the bus and you will be left wherever you were stop.

The bus stop about 400 meter from the border. So need to walk. There are plenty of tuk-tuk and motor taxi offering their service BUT we are Malaysian. Malaysian likes to walk under a hot sun. Ha ha ha.

Immigration process is very smooth on a Thai side. No Custom check at all.

Approaching the Cambodia side mmmmmmmmm there it starts. Anyway every problem got it solution.

There were about 200 people waiting at the Cambodia Immigration counter. It is not moving after about 30 mins. More people queuing. While waiting, a tour agent approach us for a bus to Siem Riep. 350 baht each and we were given a sticker. Never take out the sticker or loosing it. That is the identification. Losing it mean you loose your 350 baht.

However we advise fellow traveler DO NOT purchase the ticket there. Buy at the bus station. It cost you US5 for a bus and US9 for a taxi van

Get back to the long que. Well we seek for help. The above photo shows the officer we seek for help and the key word is very simple. "Express ?" and show our passport. 200 baht quote the officer. 200 baht each and we handed our passport. "Follow follow". We bypass the long line and ask to wait at the back door of the Immigration office. 5 mins later the officer came out and handed our passport. Worth right.

Upon clearing the immigration process we board a shuttle bus to Poipet bus station. FREE lor. Remember we ask for express lane? Well not everything works fine. We were ask to wait for more than 2 hours for bus getting full. We met fellow traveler who is queuing behind us at the immigration office. Ha Ha Ha

At about 7pm the bus roll its wheel to Poipet. We stop for a meal in the middle of the rod to Siem Riem. Again.... nothing we can eat. Only a US50 cent cup of coffee as a dinner

Arrived at bus station at about 10.30pm. We were lucky to arrange for a hotel from the border. Someone waiting for us and we have a tuk-tuk ride to our 700 baht hotel

The article continues..


If you want to see more photos of my trip be my friend. Add me FB omaothman

Read More »

Indochina 2013 trip - Day 1 (Part 3)

At 4.30pm, our special express train, no 42, started moving from Hat Yai Junction towards Bangkok. What a relief. Not sure what happened BUT both of us were so busy. Busy doing nothing and did not take any photo until the train move.

About 10 mins a beautiful thai-stewardess started distributing food. At 5 we were served dinner!!!!

Our dinner consist of a simple meal. A rice, an egg and type of 'sambal'. Muslims traveller no worry. All food are Halal. Got halal chop meh

Just after meal... we fall asleep. Perhaps too tired. Don't forget we started our journey at 6.30am. Sometimes at 10pm we were serve a light meal.

Nothing much happened after the last meal and nothing to see too as it was already dark. The train stopped at a few stations and more passengers pop in.

At 5am we already in Bangkok. Perhaps the schedule is too busy we were keep waiting until about 7am. Then we noticed... there were a group of people waving Thailand flag marching towards the city. We were informed these are part of a big crowd of protestors - politic matter

I could not remember clearly BUT it was about 8am we arrived to Hua Lam Phong Railway Station. Our final destination on a railway track. It was 3 hours behind schedule, so we have to cancel our short trip to the famous Bangkok Floating Market

Since we forgot to take a photo of the special express train in Hat Yai, we make sure we did in Bangkok. It is a 4 cars train. No wonder it is so fast

We took showers for a 20 baht, a breakfast that cost 40 baht each. There is a store of muslim food in the station so we have no problem in having breakfast except that there is only 1 menu ready. Well better have something rather than none.

We have only two photos of the station for a record and we share with you

The articles continue...

If you want to see more photos of my trip be my friend. Add me FB omaothman

Read More »

Langkawi 2013 - A 'belangkas' trip

In my recent visit to Langkawi, we paid a trip to a 'sangkar ikan'. Well it worth a visit as we met Pak Su - a 30 years experience fisherman. Pak Su is a nice man willing to share his experience and knowledge

Pak Su 'sangkar-ikan'

My kids never seen any 'belangkas' or king crab before and they were very exciting. A belangkas is one of sea-life normally living in a sandy area. The male is smaller than female. So you can predict if the following is male of female right.

Pak Su started explaning about 'belangkas' to my kids

The bottom-side of the 'belangkas'. If it is a female then there are eggs attach to the body

Pak Su is explaning the different between male and female 'belangkas' in great detail.

Well it worth paying for the boat rental in return for the information we gained. Thanks Pak Su and time to move to other place

For those who plan to visit Pak Su, please make the arrangement either in the morning or early afternoon especially when the sun still there. Sea-creatures became in-active at sunset.

Read More »