Wellington 8-July till 10-July-2007

8-July

9-July

10-July
Today, we got to be nomad again. To change the hostel from Rosemere to Downtown Backpacker. This is because we got to wake up very early to cathch the ship to cross Cook Straits tomorrow, and this is be nearest option. Today's plan is to go to Botanical Garden with Wellington Cable Car and to the Parliament Building. It was winter and sad to say not much flowers survived during this season. Other than cable car, actually there is many other routes to walk to the Botanical Garden. Bought 2 books froma second hand shop.

Wellington is really very windy, and several times we can feel that we are about to be blown away! Weather changed as fast as a woman''s mood. :P Be prepared to get wet anytime.

Downtown Backpackers indeed is very good, with spacious living hall and free pool everyday for 3 hours. All the common area and roooms are well equipped with heater. The only unstisfied would be the klitchen is kinda messy.

Rotorua - 5-July till 7-July 2007

5-July

After saying goodbye to Jacqline and Estee, we went to National Bank in town to get the debit card. Too bad, my card had sent to the wrong address instead of the bank itself. Hence, they make an arrangement to sent the card to Wellington branch next Monday instead.

It took us approximately 3 hours of trip to Rotorua. On the way, we can see cows and sheeps around. BEAUTIFUL! They are so energetic compared to Malaysian's cow as they can climb up the hills.. hehe. The mountain here are very much different from Malaysia as there are only a few trees on the hill, and the hills are mostly with grass only. This should be due to massive deforestration around NZ since many years ago.

We are shocked when we enter Rotorua. area, seeing steam coming out here and there around us. We are at the area closest to the earth crates now. Whuah... Some houses have their own hot spring pools! The sulfur smells at the town brings me back to chemistry class in secondary school.

6-July

Bought an all day pass for NZD15 to travel around 3 tourist spot in Rotorua. Yet, we only managed togo to 2 places, Te Puia and The Agrodome Sheep Show. Te-Puia's entrace fee is quite expensive, Yet it worth for the money. The traditional dance, kiwi viewing, some bried introduction of Maori history, their village and several geyser, mudpools, hotspring pools around make the place really fantastic. Due to cold weather, the stim is everyshere, but the place is not warm though. We had "hangi-meal"in one of the restaurant. Here, we had learnt a Moari word "Kia-Ora"which means welcome or hello. Agrodrome Sheep show is quite lame, yet the first chance for us to touch and even carry a lamb!

Mary had a little lamb...little lamb .. on my hand!... kekeke

7-July

Auckland - 2-July till 4-July 2007

2-July
Landed at about 10.30am, a beautiful morning. Registered for BBH then took a super shuttle to Bamber House, View Road. After settledown, went to town (QueenStreet) to have lunch and open a local bank account. It starts raining when we left the Bamber house. The food are pretty expensive here. Then we took the bus back to View Road, and walked to FoodTown (hypermarket) at Valley Road. Got some items and back to the hostel to cook our dinner. First time sharing the kitchen with the others are kinda wierd. The kitchen is quite well equiped. After a hot shower, it is bed time.. hurray!!... Can't sleep well on the plane.

3-July
A very good morning, and we slept till 1pm, due to some jetlag. Then make our brunch, and head to Mt Eden just about 20 minutes from Bamber House. Again, about a couple minutes after we left Bamber House, it starts raining. However, it stops in about 1/2 an hour. It is quite often Auckland rain in the afternoon. We do not have an umbrella, but no choice and keep walking, as our sweater are water proof. Mt Eden was the highest volcano in Auckland. It gives us quite a nice view of the whole Aukland from the top. Then, we took a trip to QueenSt again, to buy the Flexipass, at SkyCity Tower and make bookings for our next trip which is Rotorua on 5-July. Walking along the Hobson St bring us to Port of Aukland. Ships and birds, Hiltons.. high class area. around that area are many highrise buildings and offices. Tried Mc-D's Fries (m) at NZ$2.10. At night we went to Food Town again with Taiwan friends, Estee and Jacklyn to share some food.

4-July
Changed the room from Double to Twin room. $2 cheaper per person. During the breakfast time, nearly burn the kitchen as the cake I preheat with the microwave was over heat. Good experience. The rest of the days is staying in the hostel to look for job. Online is kinda expensive over here. Estee made taiwanese glutinious rice and "kuih" for us to try. New recipe learnt!

Bangkok Trip (Day 5) - Bye-bye Day

Fifth Day (27-May-2007)

Woke up 3am in the morning, not only by the alarm, also the group of European singing at the street. After packed and check out, we wait for the minibus to airport that we booked at Rambutri street ( next to Kao San road) at 120Baht per person.
At 4am, the night seems not sleeping, still got people walking around, sitting around, some hawkers still making business, and the cleaner starts to clean up the street. The travellers no need to sleep???
At the minibus, met a Motorolan, Teh with his girl friend. It would be much cheaper if we travel together.. Aiks..
T-shirts and jeans from Jatujak.
Do not miss out the chance to snap photos at the airport. We took Burger King at the Airport, costs 199Baht. Fast food is always more expensive in Bangkok than Malaysia. At Kao San Road, I found that the price for Mc Donald is almost doubles what we pay in Malaysia!

Flight at 7.25am bring us back to Penang. Again, sleep sleep sleep.. tire but enjoyable trip!

Bangkok Trip (Day 4) - Shopping day

Forth Day (26-May-2007)

2 main thing we need to do today is to go to the travel agent, and to the largest weekend market, Jatujak.

This day, we plan to complain to the travel agent about the overcharge boat ride. The day before, when we phone him, he asked us to go to his office and said that he will give us compensation. While figuring how to go to the travel agent place, we passed by the massage centre that we went and they can speak English. Luckily we took the name cards everywhere that we go, she can give us a direction of the TAT, and show us how to go by bus, all the way to Jatujak as well.

When we reach the office at 9am, the workers there said that the agent did not come to work on Saturday. I am not sure it is real or not, but this means that there will be no compensation already. :( So, if get the agent closer to where we stay will be easier.
Jatujak is about half an hour from Kao San. Taking taxi and tut-tut surely is very costly. Hence, we take an air-cond bus No.524 with only 12Bath each for the ride. So cheapppppp.


This is a VERY sunny day. The market is filled with stores selling food, clothes, decorations, souvenirs and even animals!! Very crowded and super hot. The price is very cheap, and you no need to bargain much. Once the stall fix the price, not easy to bargain, better look for the other shop that sell the same item with the cheaper price. You can get it! Just that you might now able to walk back where you had been. Once you missed, hard to find the way back as it is too big and many branches. Really a one-stop-shopping place.

Cute puppy for 3000Baht.

Squid with chilli. Taste good!

Lunch.. 3 dishes + 1 rice+ 1 coke for 2 person only cost 170Baht.

At about 4.30pm, we took the bus back. This is not a simple route. No direct bus back to where we are from! The bus conductor do not really understand English give us hard time. Firstly we took bus no. 39, then Bus 44. The bus conductor did not tell us when we reached nearby Kao San as requested and make us all the way back to the terminal, and take bus No.32. Luckily this conductor knows English and tell us when to stop. It was not right at the Kao San Road but somewhere near. he give us the direction and at least we can get the way back. Huih.... one and half hour journey and cost us 32Baht each.

Feeling exhausted and hungry, we grab the Mango Rice (20Baht), Spring Roll (25 Baht) and Omelet Rice with sausage (25 bath) as our dinner.

Initially, we plan to take a rest then go for Thai Massage. But, too tire that we sleep right away.

Bangkok Trip (Day 3) - Excited day

Third Day (25-May-2007)

This day, we follow trip to Kanchanaburi, which is about 2 hours from Bangkok. The 7am-7pm trip with a mini bus cost each of us 2300Baht, inclusive of a lunch, and entrance fee to the Tiger Museum.

The street become very quiet and calm in the morning. Most of the shops still closed.

Firstly, we reached the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery to acknowledge the warriors from World War II from different country.
Next, to the World War II Museum, entrance fees is 40Baht per person. It is located very near to the Death Railway near River Kwai. We then go for a walk across River Kwai on the Death Railway.
When we are on the way back, a train is eventually coming to our direction!! No worries, there is guard at the entrance. Too bad, our package does not include the train ride for Death Railway.

After 1 hour of travel, we reach the floating house by the river to get our lunch. Just rice with local dishes. Nothing to be Huh-Hah about.Another stops is the exciting elephant ride at Somnuk Elephant Camp Wanggrajaa. Very bumpy, nice to try, but be careful of the brunches beside you.

This is a pirated photo. They charge us 100Baht for the picture, the Swedish Guy, Roger bought it as souvenir and we just snap the photo. :P
Then, we took a rakit ride there. The water is cooling and so relax. We are surrounded by the greens! The other travellers from the same minibus with us seems not enjoying as much as us. Probably because most of them in shoes and we are with slippers!
Another stop is at a waterfall. It is not so big, but beautiful. Taking picture like this seems does not worth for coming so far. Hence, we become the starter who hike to the waterfall.

Yey... a much closer picture at the waterfall. Travellers from other trip join us as well. We go to one of the cave there. Our body kinda wet, but fun!

Another about half an hour ride to Tiger Temple. A chance to take picture with Tigers! About 10 tigers are lying at the Canyon for photo shooting. There are many helpers around. Hence it is quite save to take the pictures. Photo shooting with your own camera is free though, and can take as many as you want!

After seeing the Tiger, we can play with the cub in a cage. It has teeth but still save to put our hand into the cage. It is just like a big cat. Very adorable though. The place is like a farm. Animals are walking freely, except for the tigers. The place is undergoing a big renovation. It will be much nicer if go later.

Cows and buffalo always move in their own group.

There are peacocks and chicken around too. Don't know why does the peacock likes to be alone.

The wild bore is so relax, resting under the tree that do not bother to move when we go near.

Doe a deer, a female deer... hmm.. not sure which one is female.

The trip back to Kao San take 2 and half hour. Pretty far. Then, we ordered fried rice, Tom Yam, Morning Glory (Kang Kung) and Bean Curd for dinner. 150Baht for the whole meal.

Bangkok Trip (Day 2) - Luxurious day

Second Day (24-May-2007)

Today, we booked a private car (Toyota vios) with chauffeur to 3 places from 8am till 4pm. It costs us 1800Baht. After 1 hour plus of travel, we reached somewhere near Damoen Saduak Floating Market. The driver dropped us at a place that we need to take motorboat into the Floating Market. That costs each of us 900Baht, for a private motorboat with shelter for a one hour ride. Along the way, we passed by some houses of the local people and can have a view on how they use the river, such as for brushing teeth. :P

The driver did not allow us to stop at market but bring us to a souvenir shop. We can either buy from boats at the floating market or that souvenir shop.

Hmm.. After the boat ride, we insisted our chauffeur to send us directly to the floating market where we can walk around. There, we can at last enjoy some cheap and nice snacks. When we ask for the boat fee there, it was only 40 Baht!!?? Feel so bad for being cheated!! Please be aware..
Soup noodles for only 15Baht.

Fried dumpling (锅贴) -- 4 for 10 Baht.

Crepe -- 2 for 10 Baht.

1 bunch of banana -- 10 Baht.

Next, we went to the Samphran Elephant Ground & Zoo. Entrance fee is 450Baht per person. Here, you can see crocodiles, elephants and a big orkid collection. The main attraction is the 3 performance of the day. From 12.45pm till 2pm.

Show #1 : Crocodile show. These 2 young men demonstrate some dangerous actions with the crocodiles. Not bad. Show #2: Magic show. If you used to watch magic show, this is not that excited.

Show #3: Elephant performance. Here's some performance done by the elephants and football game for elephant. They are so clever! Can dance some more!

After all these performance, we directly go to Rose Garden, which is about 2km away. Entrance fee is 500Baht per person. The main show here is the cultural performance that described about the life and culture of local people. There are Thai Kick-boxing, dances, martial arts, etc.

Then, we take another hour of ride back to Kao San, the traffic is very jam. Once reached, it's time for food again. We went to a shop nearby and order different type of soup noodles. 30Baht each. There are chilly powder provided. If you can eat spicy, you can add until your clear soup become chilli soup. Very spicy though.

As the memory card for the camera is fulled, we went to a photo shop to load our pictures into CD. 100Baht each, pretty expensive but all the shops offer the same price. After shower and rest for awhile, we took a tut tut to China Town, after bargain, we got to pay 80Baht. Many shops already closed at this hour, about 7pm. Come to China Town, surely is to try their Chinese Hawker food. We had decided to keep our trip to eat hawker food that we can barely get in Malaysia.
First stop is Pork rice (猪脚饭）30baht. Tasty.

Next is Fish Float Soup (鱼漂汤）. 30Baht. Good good. But if you don't eat blood, need to remind the boss not to put in.

At China Town, some of the Thais can understand Chinese. There are many other hawker stall that sells Chinese food such as shark fin soup, bird nest, dessert, etc. There are plenty of restaurant and hawker that sells seafood. The trip back is another tut-tut that we manage to get by 60Baht. As the night is still young, we went for a Foot Massage. 1 hour 180Baht per person. Very relaxing and nice to do before go to sleep. Hehe..

Bangkok Trip (Day1) - Golden Day

23-May-2007 till 27-May-2007

First Day (23-May-2007)

This is the first trip I go for oversea trip without a guy. Only Chai Har and I, make our way to Bangkok for 4 days 4 night. Thanks to Man Wai for providing the rough plan and suggestion for the trip.

** In your hand-carry, do not bring liquids/gel/toothpaste of more than 100ml (stated in the package), and less than 10 such units. The almost finish toothpaste in a 250g package is considered as 250g also!!.. Take note. Else, just check-in all liquid item.**

On the first day, we reached Bangkok at about 11.30am, Bangkok is 1 hour before Malaysia time. We took taxi directly to Kao San Road, and cost us 400Bath, inclusive of all the toll fees.

**Remember to ask if the toll fee is included at the counter. Even if the counter say yes, the driver might collect from you again. **

Kao San is a very happening place, with plenty of travellers and backpackers especially from Europe. Hotels cost about 2000Bath a day but Inn/Guest House may only cost 600Bath per day. At last, we decided to stay in "Siam Oriental Inn", which costs 630Bath per day, inclusive of air-cond, hot shower, TV, free breakfast. The promotion of 3 days free 1 days save us much money!

**Do request to check/view the room before make any decision. Since it is cheap, use your basic instinct to choose room. They are very nice, and you can choose the rooms that satisfy you.**

After unload, and keep all the important documents into one bag, we took a short lunch break with the 29baht chicken kebab. Nice.. yum yum.. A tut-tut driver who can speak a little bit of English came and offer us a trip nearby, to 3 places in an hour with 10baht each.

During the tour at town, we can see that many people likes to wear yellow t-shirt! Maybe this is related to their religion? I am not sure.

Firstly is the big outdoor buddha, Phrasiariyammetri "Luang Pho To".

Then, we ask about how can we get tour to floating market. He sent us to a TAT (Tours and Travel) nearby. There, we booked the packages for the next 2 days.

Next stops is at the breath-taking Golden Palace. It looks so luxurious and beauty with many fine craft at all the buildings! Entrance fee is 250Baht, inclusive of a coin museum nearby. Don't missed out that as you had paid for it!

**As the palace only open until 4pm, so, plan your tour ahead. **

About 4pm, we left for Golden Mountain. This is a temple, with gold color architecture that built on a mountain. It is quite windy and can have a nice Bangkok view.

The whole trip is about 4 hours. Since this is out of the plan, he charged us 200Baht. As he is a nice man and the trip is quite pleasant, we just paid him and walk around Kao San road to search for our dinner. Later we discover that there are plenty of TAT at Kao San road.

**It is advisable to check the TAT around the place you stay. You can have better offer and compare the price as well. If you want to complain also easy. **

Fried pork that cost only 25Baht. Cheap cheap.. Taste excellent.

Fruits for 10Baht each. The green color looks like papaya that taste like honeydew, that cannot find in Malaysia.

Fried fish paste with spicy sauce and crunchy vegetable. Big packet for only 20Baht.