Thailand: Solo family tour of Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket without any help of travel agent.

An advertisement of Air Asia to fly round trip from Kolkata (India) to Bangkok (Thailand) with just ₹6,784 ($104) inspired us to visit Gateway of Southeast Asia as a tourist. So within 2 days, we made a solo travel plan to visit Thailand with our 4 (Husband, Wife and 2 adult sons) family members.

First of all, we booked  (on 28 October 2016) our outbound journey flight tickets from Kolkata to Bangkok for 5th February 2017. Then started searching places of attraction in Thailand to plan our tour itinerary. I had a plan to visit Angkor Wat, Cambodia, built between roughly A.D. 1113 and 1150, and encompassing an area of about 500 acres (200 hectares), Angkor Wat is one of the largest Hindu religious monuments ever constructed. The plan was not successful due to time constraints; total tour requires minimum 20 days. If you have sufficient time then It is always better to do a round trip from Thailand  to Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. Cruise Ha Long Bay, explore incredible Angkor Wat, interact with local families, and taste some of the world’s best street food at the night markets of Chiang Mai. Soak up the richness of this corner of the globe so steeped in tradition.

Some useful information about Thailand:

Currency: Thai Baht (THB) (current exchange rate). 

Electricity: 220V/50Hz (North American plug and two-prong round)

Primary Airports: Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), Bangkok Don Mueang (DMK) International Airport (for Low Cost Carriers), Chiang Mai (CNX), Phuket (HKT).

Both Bangkok airports have mandatory 50฿ Airport tax/surcharge for Taxi. It will be added to the metered fare at the end of the journey. In addition, if taking the toll way, passengers are required to pay the toll way fee. Don Mueang airport expressway toll charges are 110฿ and Suvarnabhumi expressway 75฿.

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Suvarnabhumi, Bangkok's main airport has an underground train station at the basement level for Airport Rail Link (ARL) line. The ARL City Line makes eight stops (Suvarnabhumi to Phaya Thai) and takes 26 minutes. The City Line departs every 10 (peak) to 15 (off-peak) minutes. The last train departs the airport at 00:02. At Phraya Thai, you can easily transfer to the BTS Sky-train via the short pedestrian link

Water: Not safe. But the water served at restaurants in jugs is always filtered. Especially in rural areas, use a SteriPen or LifeStraw if you can’t drink bottled water.
 

Internet Situation: Thai internet is pretty reliable. It’s not the fastest in the world but it works, and most cities can promise good up time too. If your hotel internet doesn’t work, then you can find a dozen or more cafes in the city with good speeds.

Visas: Generally, the U.S., UK, and EU passports are given a free 30-days as a tourist if you enter by air, and 15 days if you enter overland. Check your visa requirements here.
 

Festivals of Note: Loy Krathong in Chiang Mai in the late fall is remarkable. Bo Sang Umbrella Festival, Chiang Mai (January). The Chiang Mai Flower Festival (February). Songkran Water Festival (April), Hua Hin Jazz Festival (June), Vegetarian Festival, Phuket & Bangkok (September/October).

 
Safety: Southeast Asia on the whole is a pretty safe region of the world. It’s actually one of the first places I recommend for solo and new travelers. Thailand has the most developed tourism network in the region and is usually the hub for backpacking trips in SEA. Opportunistic crimes like theft and pick-pocketing will surely happen if you’re not cautious, but violent crime against tourists is pretty rare. There are also scams (see the “possible issues” section). Traffic accidents are the biggest threat here, not crime. Anything can happen on the road.
 

Food Considerations: Thailand has amazing food options for travelers of every ilk. You can find vegetarian food pretty easily with just a few words under your belt. If you’re a meat-eater, Mark’s site is about the best guide possible for eating in Thailand. Also, you should absolutely plan on eating street food options, so follow these food safety principles. The individual city guides have additional restaurant recs for vegetarian travelers.
 

Local SIM: Getting service for your phone is a cinch, and it’s cheap to boot. Read this SIM card guide for tips on how to get one, how to top up, and what that whole process will look like.
 

Accommodation: While the links in city guides below go to a hotel booking site. When you’re in Southeast Asia, Booking.com or Agoda is pretty much the best booking site. While they offer accommodation around the world, their coverage and reviews are best in SEA. Backpackers can also use Hostelworld, although consider that accommodation is often cheap enough that you can swing for a budget guesthouse and private room. 

Transportation: Thailand has a well-developed transportation infrastructure. If you want to get there, there’s a way to do it on public transport. There is a network of trains (these are the slowest transport option, but cheap), and an extensive network of long-distances buses that rocket out into every corner of the country. Here is a MAP showing the airport rail link (ARL) together with the MRT (underground) and BTS Skytrain. Within the cities, you can take buses, taxi, songthaew (shared public truck-taxis), and tuk-tuks. Remember Bangkok Taxi meters ALWAYS start at 35฿. That being said, traffic accidents are a major problem and have a high fatality rate. Be careful, particularly if you are renting a motorbike and are not familiar with the road customs.

 

Budget: Once you are on the ground (so excluding flights), backpackers seem to universally average about USD $30 a day, this is both as solo and couple travellers. Each day fluctuates a bit. It’s cheaper in the north compared to the Thai islands, but overall the bare basic budget if you plan to travel around is about $30. That’s if you’re truly going backpacker style. You can get a lot of bang for your buck on about $40-50 per day average. This means some nicer digs (perhaps with A/C), and definitely if you plan to eat more than street food every day. If you’re looking to make Thailand a base, here’s a detailed look at the cost of living.
 

Possible Issues: Be very aware of the scams in Bangkok, there are many and the scams primarily center on the tourist areas of town. Please, please read up on these: here, here, and here. Even experienced travellers have fallen victim to these scams.

According to tour itinerary, we booked hotels via Booking.com website using VISA or Master card number. This card is required only for authentication. You have to pay to the hotel only after you report to the hotel. All bookings are with free cancellation charges up to a certain date. 

Our Thailand VISA:

The Royal Thai consulate general has announced that Tourist Visa (Single Entry) fee exemption (Zero visa fee) and the decrease of Visa on arrival fee from 2000 THB to 1000 THB. It was effective from 01  December 2016 to 28 February 2017 and it was extended up t0 31 August 2017. So collected our visa before journey from authorized VISA agency (fee paid only Rs.300 each)  of the Royal Thai consulate.

We purchased Fifty thousand Thai Baht (THB) before our departure for 4 persons for food and lodging. Also, we carried VISA international card with microchip enabled for any unexpected expenses. 

Bangkok DMK Airport to Pattaya travel option by road: 

There is no direct bus from Don Muang (DM) Airport to Pattaya. You can go by Taxi @1500 to 2000 B.

(i) Bus service from Ekkami to Pattaya:
Take the BTS Skytrain to Ekkamai station. Leave the station from Exit No. 2 and you will be at the Ekkamai Bus Terminal. There are buses to Pattaya every 30-60 minutes from 5 am to 11 pm. Just go to the ticket booth and buy your ticket. There is no need to pre-book your bus, even during weekends and holidays, because there are so many services frequently leaving for Pattaya, and also minibuses are available as an alternative.
 
 (ii) Minibus to Pattaya: Earlier Minibuses used to leave from Victory Monument, but due to lot of traffic problems they have stopped plying now. The minibuses from Bangkok to Pattaya leave from the Ekkamai Bus Terminal, the same place where the big buses leave as well. No matter which minibus you take, it will cost no more than 130 Baht which is quite a good deal considering that’s like a taxi ride. The trip takes around two hours. The vans are air-conditioned and have comfortable seats but not much space for heavy luggage. If you carry more than a small backpack, then you may have to pay for a second seat. According to travellers “it is a mess to travel from Ekkami to Pattaya” for DM passengers.
 
(iii) Bus from Mo Chit Bus Terminal to Pattaya
Alternatively, one can take taxi or bus no. A1 from Don Muang to Mo Chit Bus Terminal  and take an A.C nonstop shuttle bus to Pattaya. This Pattaya bus service is available from 4.20 AM to 10 PM and costs 117 or 133 THB per person depending on the route the bus takes. Heavy luggage will not be a problem there. Go to the ticket counter of “Mo Chit 2” bus terminal and collect ticket (117B) of bus number 48 for Pattaya North Bus Station (160Km, 2h 30m). Sometimes, an agent or a tout at Mochit Bus Terminal may try to lead you to a mini van service to Pattaya. Just keep in mind that this is a fraud sort of mini van service. They charge 140 THB but drop you in Pattaya at some unknown place from where tuk-tuk or motor bike taxi drivers will try to charge too much to take you to your hotel. You will have to pay what they want because you will not know where you are in Pattaya. So just be sure, if you are going to Mo Chit Bus Terminal, just take a bus to Pattaya. 

From Gate No. 6 of DM Airport, Shuttle Buses are available for Mo Chit Bus terminus every 5 minutes. Ticket fare is 30THB per adult. Heavy luggage will be a problem in these Buses.

Our Thailand tour itinerary:

5 February 2017:

6:40 AM - Arrived at Don Mueang Airport in Bangkok. There is an option of VISA on Arrival which takes more time and money. So, already we had collected our VISA from Kolkata.

 

8:00 AM – We cleared our immigration process and made our  VISA stamped. We were thirsty but no drinking water facility was available on Arrival terminal of Airport, so we bought a 60ml water bottle for 25THB. At the airport, SIM card from AIS or DTAC or TRUEMOVE is available which works all over Thailand. Cost of AIS traveller SIM with free unlimited internet and 100 Baht Credit (local call charge 1 Baht/minute)- a) 299THB for 8 days (max speed up to 2.5GB) and b) 599THB for 15 days (max speed up to 6GB). All top up packages of AIS of 49THB for 7 days, free super-WiFi and free 15 Baht Credit with 30 days validity. Already we had a SIM of AIS, collected from my friend who completed his guided tour of Thailand one month ago. So we bought a top-up package for 7 days. Already we had booked our hotels using Booking.com with free WiFi facilities.

Booking.com    


8:30 AM -  We had a plan to go to Pattaya by non-stop A/c Bus from Mo Chit Bus Terminus of Bangkok. So we moved to gate no. 6 of the airport to get the A1 bus for Chatuchak Park MRT Station (to visit weekly whole-sell market), just one stop before the Mo Chit bus terminus. Our hotel at Pattaya was booked from 1 PM.

9:00 AM – Went ahead and visited Chatuchak Weekly whole-sell Market and took our breakfast there. Then went to Pattaya Bus Terminus by A.C. nonstop Bus (ticket price 124 TBH per head). Heavy luggage was not a problem there.
Chatuchak Weekend Market is very popular shopping center for Thais and has become a popular place to tourists and foreigners who stay in Bangkok, has over 200,000 visitors each day(SAT-SUN) 30% is foreign. There are almost everything can be found here at a bargaining local price (not a tourist price), and most vendors actually come from local factories, like antique wood carving, clay handicrafts, local souvenirs from every parts of Thailand, Buddhist amulets, wooden furniture, handmade decorated flowers, plant, ceramic wares, dolls, Thai Benjarong, Chinese wares, garden decorated plants, stones, trendy fashions, silk, hill-tribe outfits, fluffy dogs and more miscellaneous, etc. This is one of the world's largest weekend markets covers an area of 70 rai (27 Acres) altogether divided into 27 Sections, contains more than 15,000 booths selling goods from every part of Thailand. We bought various dry fruits. We also choose some materials which will be bought at next Saturday for our family and friends like fruit scented and shaped local soaps, wooden cookware, dresses etc.

BANGKOK to PATTAYA TOUR
11:00 AM: Moved to Mo Chit BST by taxi (50 THB) and purchased bus ticket of Pattaya. We started at 11:30 AM from counter number 48.

1:30 PM: Moved to our already booked family room of President Apartment Hotel at South Pattaya from North Pattaya Bus terminus by Song-Taew share Jeep (Bathbus, 10B/head, 5Km, 8m) and took our lunch at 2 PM. We went to the Pattaya beach in the evening. Then we visited Alcazar Cabaret show. The show is approximately for 70 minutes.
 

An evening in Pattaya, Thailand

At 7 PM we moved towards Walking Street (red-light area) which is probably the most exciting street in the world if you like to have fun. Here you will find all kinds of entertainment, from bars, discos, gogo-bars, cabaret shows and much much more. Walking Street is effectively a part of Pattaya Beach Road, a full kilometer one-way road from its high-tech gateway at the Beach Road end to the Bali Hai Pier, and the famous Pattaya City sign. There were lots of police monitoring the street right at the entrance and vehicles are not allowed from 18:00 to 02:00.
This type of fun is made for singles and couples but not for family, so we walked, tastes some street foods and came back to the hotel at 10 PM when the street actually woke up for fun lovers.

6 February 2017:

In the morning at 7 am we went to the Bali Hai Pier by Tuk-Tuk to visit Twain Beach on Koh Larn (coral) Island by ferry boat (7.5km). Since the island is not so far away, visitors can easily go there in the morning, stay for several hours and enjoy parasailing and speedboat riding, jet skiing, banana boat riding and, of course, swimming. One can hire a sit under the umbrella by 100THB on the beach to take rest and enjoy the beauty.  We purchased snorkeling kit by 175BHT and enjoyed bathed with snorkeling, scenic beauty at the beach and returned to Pattaya via Naban Port of the Island. 

Naban Port of Kho Larn (Coral Island) via Pattaya, Thailand

After taking lunch we checked out from the hotel, took a taxi and went to North Pattaya Bus Terminus to go to Mo-Chit BST. Then moved to Don Mueang Airport to travel Phuket at night 7:55 PM. Better and cheaper option is to take a flight at Don Mueang (DM) airport from Pattaya (if time is no concern): Take a bus from Jomtien (South Pattaya) to Suvarnabhumi airport and from there avail free shuttle bus to DM airport. You will have to show your departure flight ticket from DM to avail that bus.
  

BANGKOK to PHUKET TOUR

We had a plan of full-day Phi-Phi island tour next day but we didn't have any previous booking. Arrived Phuket at 9:15 PM and enquired about Phi-Phi full day tour in a tourist counter at Arrival Zone of Phuket Airport, but no booking was available for the next day trip. Unlike in Bangkok, ordinary metered taxis are surprisingly difficult to find in Phuket. So we booked a taxi in advance (price as per meter record plus surcharge 100THB) through an online portal to travel from airport to our already booked hotel through website beside Phuket city Bus Terminus. It was one hour journey by taxi, at that time driver asked about our next day tour program. He told us that he will take us to Pier for Phi-Phi next day trip and we may call him any time to travel to Phuket. We checked in our Ban Nai Inn Guesthouse and paid our advance booking charge by cash and enter into our 4 bedded family room 11 PM.

 

 7 February 2017:

Full day trip to Phi-Phi Island by luxury boat conducted by several Tour operators.

About Phi-Phi Tour: Phi Phi Don
The largest of the two main islands, Phi Phi Don is like two islands separated by a thin stretch of beach land, quite stunning! Originally a backpacker's paradise, the space between the two bays are now filled with small restaurants, shops, and travel agencies. Immerse in tropical serenity or take a 15-minute walk, 186 meters up to the viewpoint to witness a view of the whole island and sunset never to forget!

Phi Phi Leh
Uninhabited by man, Phi Phi Leh is a treasured national park with bays and pristine waters that make a wonderful snorkeling environment. Visit Phaya Naak Cave, decorated with prehistoric sketches. Or Maya Bay, surely the most beautiful beach of the Phi Phi collection. Here you can find a cliff with a perfect jump spot - you can climb and dive into the sea from 20 meters high
Maya Bay on the island of Phi Phi Leh was the setting for the acclaimed movie "The Beach", starring Leonardo Di Caprio in 2000, based on a novel. Maya Bay is simple, a couple of authentic wood huts serving small snacks and drinks is all you'll find. Shielded by 100 meter cliffs on three sides and washed by crystal clear waters, this is snorkeling paradise! 

Phuket - Phi Phi daily Ferry Schedule (2 hours journey):
     Departure from Phuket -  08:30, 11:00, 13:30 and 15:00
     Departure from Phi-Phi Don - 09:00, 14:00 and 14:30

Our Tour - We took our complimentary coffee and snacks from the hotel and waited for the taxi driver to go to Rassada Pier (3.5 km). He came at 7:30 PM, took 100THB (fixed) as taxi fare and handed us a tout of travel agent at Pier. There were several touts moving around and  our tout took us at a booking counter and we paid 900THB per traveler round trip without pick-up and drop and without free buffet lunch. Ferry boat staff issued destination/tour sticker that we need to wear for the entirety of our boat trip. After that we realized, if we had directly contacted any tour operator/agent the previous day then with the same price they could provide free hotel pick-up, drop and Lunch. Ferry travel is especially popular between Phi Phi Island and Phuket Island. It is the coolest experience of Phi Phi's natural beauty as 300-400 passengers ferry boat which approaches in the deep blue waters. Journey started at 8:50 AM, fruits, tea-coffee, soft drinks and beer selling counter was there inside. We Reached Ao Tonsai Pier of Koh Phi-Phi at 10:50 AM and went to Loh Dalum beach (opposite side) by 5 minutes walking. Several speedboats were available there to visit different beaches in Phi-Phi and local sightseeing. We bathed and enjoyed snorkeling there. After lunch in a restaurent near Tonsai pier we visited local shops and boarded our cruise to return to Phuket. Back to the city at 5 PM and enjoyed the evening city tour. Next day we had a plan to Visit several beaches at Phuket. 

In the evening at 7PM one of us was walking in the main road of Phuket Bus terminus and suddenly noticed a travel agency house and enquired about different full day tours. They supplied some booklets with some discounts for next day. As per the pictures and tour itinerary we choosed "4 on 1 Canoe in Phang-Nga", the i) James Bond Island, ii) Koh Hong, iii) Koh Panak and iii) Swim & Relax. Cost per head 3900TBH as per the printed booklet. After bargaining and few telephonic conversations with tour operator, they offered 1350TBH per head that was unexpected for us. Then and then we booked 4 tickets for next day (8 February 2017) tour. The guided package tour included 1) Pickup and Drop to Hotel, 2) Roundtrip Ao Por Pier transfer, 3) Life jacket, 4) Canoe equipment with professional canoe paddler, 5) Seasonal fruits, soft-drink, Coffee and tea, 6) Buffet lunch on board, 7) Attentive guide, 8) Life insurance. Tour operator was Phuket Patri Tour Co., Ltd. 10/326 Jomthong Thanee, Vichit Muang Phuket 83000, Tel 076-263558.

 

8 February 2017: 

We planned to Visit several beaches at Phuket but it does not happened like that.
We were so fortunate that we had spend our most exciting full-day tour of Phuket Canoeing Tour of Phang Nga Bay and James Bond Island.
 
Tentative itinerary of the full-day Phang Nga Bay Tour:
07:30 Hrs : Pick up from your hotel by air conditioned vehicle to transfer to Ao Po pier; enjoy complimentary tea/coffee/desert services. Ao Po (20 Km from Phuket city) is on the east side of Phuket in Phang Nga Bay.
 
09:45 Hrs: Depart to Phang Nga Bay National Park by luxury boat and admire Thailand’s stunning scenery.

11:30 Visit James Bond Island to discover the famous movie location “The man with the Golden Gun” was filmed. Here enjoy a leisurely time walking and take nice photos.

12:40 Hrs : Enjoy a delicious Lunch on-board.

13:40 Hrs : VisitedHong Island (Phang Nga) and enjoyed kayaking.

14:10 Hrs : Departed from Hong Island and arrived Panak Island (Phang Nga) to enjoy Bat Cave or Mangrove Cave.  

15:00 Hrs : On the way back stop for swimming or floating by yourself from the boat at Lawa island.

16:00 Hrs : Arrive at Ao Por Pier to return back for Phuket.

We  had left Phuket at 10:10 PM at night. Arrived Bangkok at 23:30 and went to the hotel near the airport.

Our exciting experience:  

A 10 seater AC car picked up from our hotel at 7:30 AM and picked other 3 couples from different hotels. We arrived Ao Po Pier at 9:30 AM and took complementary buffet i.e. snacks with coffee, boarded to luxury boat and departed from Pier at 9:45 AM. On the way first crossed Ao Po Grand Marina, number one pick of all the marinas in Thailand. Now a 300 berth marina with 10m wide walkways on the north and east docks. Dockside has shore power to a max of 400 amps, clean water due to a high-tech reverse osmosis system and, nearby a deep water, high capacity fuel dock for managed boat owners. Then crossed several islands including Panak Island, Hong Island and arrived James Bond island. On the way cold bottled water and soft drink was served and two guides continuously described about our journey and history of  Phuket with few island (Total more than 2000 islands are there in Thailand) through microphone.  
There was no pier (jetty) for big boats in James Bond island, so our boat was anchored in deep-sea beside the island. We were transferred to island via small boat for 50 minutes tour. We moved from the multiple rows of identical souvenir shops who surprisingly don't sell much in the way of James Bond merchandise or keepsakes. At first we went to see a beautiful limestone cave on the extreme left of the dock. The caves were like a hanging gallery to watch beautiful environment of sea. The island cluster that tourists actually visit and walk around on is named as "Koh Khao Ping Kan" in the Thai language which roughly translates as "Island with Hills Leaning Together".

James Bond Island - Exciting Phuket tour.

Then we moved down and around to the beach area next to the bay where "James Bond Island Rock" is located. The tall vertical rock that stands out in the middle of the bay of Koh Khao Ping Kan is known as "Koh Tapu" which means Nail Island or Spike Island in Thai due to the unique stature of the rock island which Scaramanga had turned into a laser based weapon of mass destruction in the Bond movie "The Man with the Golden Gun". The bottom part of the rock was nail shaped. 

We departed from the James Bond Island by small boat and were transferred to our big boat. Enjoyed great Thai Lunch (buffet) on the boat including sea food cooked on board while travelling towards the "Hong Island". Our boat stopped and we further hopped onto kayaks with guide which took us closer to the island. It was one of the most beautiful experiences you can imagine. An untouched world, created by nature through millions of years. We kayaked through the first Hong and around the lagoon. That was a limestone island, completely surrounded by cliff walls. One Island was also there like James Bond Island, but the bottom part was not so narrow. Our guides paddled to explore hidden caves & lagoons and transferred to big boat to move towards Koh Panak with all kayaks and paddlers (guides).
We were transferred again via kayaking to Koh Panak was a wonderful scenery island, the cliffs and strange beautiful limestone stalactites where few monkeys were playing. Our guide escorted us into a long tunnel cave filled with knee depth sea water called Mangrove Cave. We crossed the tunnel cave by feet without any daylight, a torch light mounted on the head of each kayak paddlers (guide) and reached an open area with mangroves and rocks. That was very exiting and thrilling experience. If sufficient water remains in the tunnel then you may enjoy canoeing. Our guide took a mangrove leaf and cut the middle of the leaf as heart shaped. Then he took few snaps of us through the heart shaped hole of the leaf and also impressed us. After visiting this nice cave island we transferred our big boat via kayak and told our kayak guides 'Bye Bye" with tips. Then we moved towards Lawa Island. This island comes at the end and the swim is a rather relaxing break with soft-drinks or bear (not complementary). We two enjoyed swimming with life saving jacket and lifesaving ring with rope. After that we took a fresh water bath in the boat.

   

Swimming relax at Lawa Island

   

Phuket City  to Airport bus ticket

The crew on board is so personable and charismatic - you can tell they are passionate about beautiful Phang Nga Bay. The staff on the trip were fantastic with nothing too much trouble, and plenty of time was spent at each of the 4 locations. It was really good experience for us. The tour operator dropped us by car via Ao Po Pier and we finished our Phuket tour. We had completed our checkout process from our hotel room in the morning and deposited our baggage in reception counter.
Our hotel was beside Phuket city bus terminus, so we collected our baggage and move to terminus for Phuket Airport bus. One bus came and we collected our tickets by 100฿ for each in booking counter and take our seats. Before starting the bus many tourists came and travelled 1.5 hours journey without seats.  Our AirAsia flight started in time at 10:10PM and landed bangkok at 11:30PM. We watched beautiful Bangkok city night lights through windows. Our online pre-reserved guesthouse The Nine Backpacker was near Don Mueang airport and was informed that we want late check-In. So we received phone call from hotel receptionist with walking direction. She was also waiting for us and she came forward. She received us on the road and transferred us to hotel, because she was hurried to return her home.

BANGKOK CITY TOUR
Bangkok is the capital and most populous city of the Kingdom of Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon. The Chao Phraya river has been the heart, soul and gut of the City of Angels (Krung Thep), Bangkok.

9 February 2017:

After breakfast we took a taxi at 9AM that was dropped us near ferry service station.  We wanted to visit several temples, Grand Palace beside the Chao Phraya river by the Chao Phraya Express ferries that was available all day, crammed with commuters, school kids, monks and visitors. The driver of the taxi dropped us on Wat Soi Thong Temple.
The Soi Thong temple is on the banks of the Chao Phraya River in northern Bangkok along the regular route of the Chao Phraya river boats all the way to Nonthaburi province. We passed the beautiful temple pier to take a river cruise. This temple built in 1851 in the reign of King Rama IV, this temple which means "golden necklace" was built by the descendants of a Thai nobleman, Chao Phraya Sri Phipat. We were purchased our tickets from the ferry counter to go to Tha Chang Pier number 9 to visit Grand Palace. After a few minutes a ferry boat arrived on the pier which was not full of passengers and we got seats. The river journey was beautiful. On the way we visited few temples beside river like Wat Kaew Fah Chulamanee, Wat Thepakorn, Wat Rachathiwat, Wat Brown Mongkhon etc. We finished the beautiful boat ride crossing many important Temples, Buildings, Bridge etc. and we came down from the boat at Tha Chang Pier. This is very busy pier, about a 10 minute walk from the entry gate of Grand Palace. After crossing many souvenir and food shops and street hawkers we found the surrounding road on the boundary of Grand Palace. Bangkok is always hot so we wearied light colour clothing. There is a dress code in grand palace, below the knee and 3/4 sleeves for female. Main entrance was in other side of river and we walked with coconut ice-cream and purchased one local print Pajama.  Umbrella or cap helped us in walking from one structure to the next one.


The Grand Palace is a complex of buildings at the heart of Bangkok, Thailand. The palace has been the official residence of the Kings of Siam since 1782.
Inside the palace there is a beautiful temple called Wat Phra Kaew or “Temple of the Emerald Buddha” is one of Thailand’s most sacred places. The small Buddha image is believed to be more than 2000 years old and was created in India.

 Wat Pho (the temple of reclining Buddha) in between river and Grand Palace is the must see place for 1st time visitor.

Entry ticket 100 THB

 Night view from river is fantastic. 

10 February 2017:

Visited Safari World (full day trip) or SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World (half day Marine aquarium tour), then move to Don Mueang airport at nigh.
You may buy entry tickets online in advance to save 10% off admission to SEA LIFE Bangkok Ocean World which is not available on the spot.

11 February 2017:

 Departed at 12:05 AM night from Bangkok and arrived Kolkata.

Believe me. Visit Singapore, Java and Bali of Indonesia via Johor-Bahru of Malaysia together at the cost of Domestic Tour and without any Travel Agent

Travel Plan of Singapore, Java and Bali of Indonesia via Johor-Bahru of Malaysia together at the cost of domestic flight using low cost Airline like AirAsia. Just need Self-confidence to arrange everything as solo travelers.

We are sure that after reading this article you will be confident enough to travel anywhere in Asia without any Guided Tour, Conducted Tour or travel agent.

Mount Bromo, one of the best active volcanoes in Java

This post is about traveling to Singapore, Java & Bali in Indonesia via Johar Bahru in Malaysia with a detailed plan.

I was first inspired to travel on my own, by a colleague of mine, when he told me that he had a solo tour to Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket with another family. His advice and experience helped me in going forward to plan my first trip to Malaysia with my family of four.

Our first solo travel was to Malaysia, on April 2013, from Kolkata to Kuala-Lumpur and back by cheap International flight - Air Asia. Our next solo International tour was also by AirAsia to Bangkok, Pattaya and Phuket in Thailand using information gathered from the net and without any help of travel agents. We want to share these experiences and the tour details later in our follow-up posts as we have now started to plan for a visit to Indonesia and Singapore via Malaysia again in March 2018. Here I want to share with you about how I proceeded in planning our trip to Singapore, Java & Bali in Indonesia via Johar Bahru of Malaysia.

AirAsia, the best low-cost airline introduced its Johor Bahru hub (2^nd biggest city in Malaysia) to its first route to Kolkata, India on 22 August 2017. The new Johor Bahru-Kolkata route is set to commence operations on 28 November 2017.  I saw an advertisement on 23 August 2017 that AirAsia is offering all-in-fares from Rs.3000 (RM199) one way on airasia.com from now to 28 August 2017 for the travel period between 28 November 2017 and 28 August 2018. This promotional fare Rs.2200 is also available for the return journey to travel to Johor Bahru from Kolkata. I had to go for it, as this was a very lucrative offer but with a risk of no cancellation of the flight tickets.

Ad.

Thunderstorm without cloud falling suddenly on the head.
At the end of January 2018, I received an e-mail from AirAsia that my recent booking now stands cancelled by AirAsia on grounds that they will be suspending all flights from Kolkata (CCU) to Johor Bahru (JHB) with effect from 3rd February 2018. Another non-refundable booking of mine from JHB to Surabaya (SUB) dated 18/03/2018 still stands confirmed. To add to this I have also booked other connecting flights and hotels to apply for tourist visa.

Then I wanted to reroute my travel plan via Kuala Lumpur (KUL) to JBH and regretted by customer support team because of that e-mail stated that, “Reroute via KUL within 14 calendar days from the original departure date without additional cost and subject to seat availability”, subject: “URGENT: AirAsia Flight Cancellation Notice”. Just think, they may provide ticket only before 14 days of original departure and if the seat is available means no guaranty to travel. I had a live chat with AirAsia customer executive Aliff Didii, Bin Abidin and Taruna requested them to reroute my flight via Kuala Lumpur (KUL), with the onward journey dated 17/03/2018 and return on 27/03/2018 and try to convince them that I have no fault in this case. A request was started with case number 01618601, but it stood closed without informing me about the proceedings or without any solution.

Then we all are feeling hopeless and try to search the remedy about that problem and post our problem in social media "Twitter" with @AirAsiaSupport.
I Found a notice on website of AirAsia that as per the policy of Air Asia policy if a flight is cancelled-
"We are fully aware that reschedules / cancellations not only disrupt our guests' travel plans, it affects our on-time performance too. However, just like any other airline, sometimes flights are cancelled for various reasons. In the event cancellation is unavoidable, guests can either:
1.    Travel on the next available flight without additional charges;” etc.

So I requested them again mentioning all these points through the online support of AirAsia want to confirm our rerouted journey as soon as possible otherwise it would make a very bad impression about AirAsia service and to add to it I would face a huge monitory loss.

Then only support team are turning to us to resolve our case positively to save their reputation and ask our reroute travel plan on 4th February 2018. Finally, we got rerouted travel itinerary on 9th Feb 2018 after sending several emails. So always be careful about that and if you have not any fault use the power of social media.
 
Our reroute journey tickt

Flight	Depart		Arrive
AK 62 Low Fare	CCU Kolkata Sat 17 Mar 2018 01:05AM		KUL Kuala Lumpur Sat 17 Mar 2018 07:35AM
AK 6051 Low Fare	KUL Kuala Lumpur Sat 17 Mar 2018 09:50AM		JHB Johor Bahru Sat 17 Mar 2018 10:45AM
AK 6052 Low Fare	JHB Johor Bahru Tue 27 Mar 2018 08:35AM		KUL Kuala Lumpur Tue 27 Mar 2018 09:25AM
AK 63 Low Fare	KUL Kuala Lumpur Tue 27 Mar 2018 10:35PM		CCU Kolkata Tue 27 Mar 2018 11:59PM

Our Travel plan briefing:

Preliminarily we select few dates in March 2018 to travel from Kolkata to Johor Bahru(arrive next day morning) and 10 days gap for our return journey in March 2018.  We plan to take a connecting Air Asia international flight from Johor Bahru to Surabaya in Java, Indonesia on the same day of arrival and move from Surabaya to Mount Bromo which is one of the best active volcanoes in Indonesia via Probolinggo City in East Java. Next day from Bromo, move to Bali in Indonesia by Road and Boat. We then plan to fly to Singapore from Bali on 5th day of our tour by Scoot Air of Indonesia.
We communicated with our friends and relatives to join us on our trip, but they were not in a position to take quick decision to purchase air ticket so early or it was hard for them to believe about the genuineness of the promotion as ticket prices were damn cheap.

So we spent two days to communicate with each other and found that promotional offers are not available all the days. Finally we selected to depart from Kolkata  and back to Kolkata for 11 nights and our round trip from Johor Bahru, Malayasia to same Airport will be total 10 days.  We booked our round trip (both way) tickets on 24 August 2017 night, only with Rs.21996 = USD 341 for all 4 adults including all taxes and charges with Add-one checked baggage for Rs.1200. Cabin baggage 7kg per ticket is free of cost.

Yes, we know that this is non-refundable but who will bother when a normal single round trip ticket for a direct flight is Rs.25000 approx. (total one lakh for four) and one stop flight is Rs.17500 from Kolkata to Singapore.

Our next task was to purchase an air ticket for Indonesia and back, after finalizing our travel schedule and found that promotional offer of MYR 159 was not available and it is now available at 209MYR (Myanmar Ringgit) from Johar Bahru to Surabaya. From Bali to Singapore flight cost was 600,000 IDR (Indonesian Rupiah)=Rs.2878(INR) also increased to 1,100,000 IDR on the 30 August Night. After searching we found an alternative Indonesian airline Scoot Air to offer air ticket from Bali to Singapore at 7199,900 IDR per head. So we purchased flight ticket from AirAsia for Surabaya of Java on 9 September 2017 by 868MYR = Rs.13326(INR) and from Scoot Air for Bali to Singapore at Rs.15,732 = 3,099,600IDR for all 4 adults inclusive of all.

Simultaneously we booked our hotels using Booking.com or Agoda.com to pay hotel charges at the hotel at the time of stay, without any previous booking cost. They need only your International Debit or Credit card no. to deduct money if you do not avail it without prior cancellation. There is no risk or loss involved in booking hotels beforehand as all booking are “Cancellation Free” till 7days before the date of your stay.

Booking.com    

We spent 15 further days to finalize our detailed travel itinerary for four adult members.

After searching through various websites I found many “must see places”. I tried to accommodate as much as possible within our short time-frame and have finalized our tour itinerary as follows:

1. Day 1: Start from N.S.C.Bose International Airport, Kolkata last night at 11:40 PM to Senai International Airport, Johor Bahru on 6:25AM.
   
2. Day 1 & 2: Stay in hotel near Johor Bahru City Center (just beside the border river of Singapore) and explore Johor Bahru.
3. Day 3: Checkout from hotel at 7:30AM & Travel from Senai International Airport, Johor Bahru to Juanda International Airport (T2), Surabaya, 10:20 AM to 12:00 (noon). Then move to Cemoro Lawang town of East Java near Mount Bromo which is one of the best active volcanoes in Indonesia via Probolinggo City in East Java at evening and stay at the hotel.
4. Day 4: Move to Sunrise point or King Kong Hill through jeep probably at 4 AM and back to the hotel via Mount Bromo probably at 8 AM. Then move towards Bali through bus after taking breakfast. We have to cross the river from Java to Bali through Boat in between our journey. Booked to Stay 3 nights near airport of Bali.
5. Day 5: 7:30AM morning go to scuba diving to explore underwater world for full day tour. Explore city and local food in the evening.
   
6.  Day 6: Beach City tour of Bali.
7. Day 7: Checkout from the hotel after breakfast and travel from Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar Bali to Changi Airport (T2) of Singapore at 10:40AM to 01:20 PM. Then move to a hotel at Dunlop Street, Little India, 209356 Singapore. In the evening Walk to Bugis and move to Singapore Night Safari sightseeing.
8.  Day 8:  Visit the Botanical Gardens in the morning before heading out to Sentosa Island and Marina Bay. Then move to Universal Studios Singapore, certainly a must-see in Singapore.
9. Day 9: Visit the S.E.A. Aquarium (South East Asia Aquarium) was the world's largest aquarium until overtaken by Chimelong Ocean Kingdom in Hengqin, China by total water volume. The centrepiece of the Aquarium is the Open Ocean tank with 50,000 animals, which is intended to give visitors the feeling of being on the ocean floor. 
10. Day 10: Visit Singapore Chinatown follow the Indian Chamber of Commerce Building, Telok Ayer St., passing by Nagore Durgha Shrine (Muslim), Thian Hong Keng Temple (Taoist), Al Abrar Mosque, took a left turn and entered the covered pathways of Ang Siang Hill. From the other end of Ang Siang Hill, we want follow Club St. and made our way to the Chinatown Complex, where we will take our lunch (at the 2nd level food court). We will take the MRT, back to Bugis. Checkout from Hotel and move towards Woodlands to clear Singapore Immigration. Ride bus again to get across the causeway bridge to Johor Bahru , Malaysia. Walk up to immigrations counters; get a card to fill up and Clear Malaysian Immigration. Ride bus to Senai Airport, Malaysia.

Visa Application Procedure

This tour involves three countries to visit. So we need multiple entree Visa for Malaysia and other two countries need single entry VISA. Our purpose of visit is tour, so the type is Tourist VISA.

To get the Malaysian VISA

Malaysia Electronic Visa Facilitation & Services (eVISA) is an online application platform that enables foreign nationals to apply for an electronic visa to enter Malaysia at the comfort of your convenience. 
Starting from 1st August 2017 onward, Indian Nationality around the world would be allowed to apply for Multiple Entry eVISA (MEV) outside Malaysia. Indian Nationals who are interested to utilize the Visa Waiver Program through eVISA system for Single Entry, effective from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2018, must register themselves with eNTRI System.  Authorize agent for Indian Nationals: Click here.

Below are the documents that need to be scanned and uploaded with your online application. 

• Recent passport sized studio photo, as per Guidelines
• Passport front page, as per Sample
• Confirmed Return flight booking
• Birth certificate for minor applicants

No need Indonesian VISA for Tourist. Please click here to find the information on Indonesian Visa Exemption for 169 foreign nationals including Indian.

For Singapore Visa, Submission of Application for Visa Electronically (SAVE): Click here for details.
The Singapore Visa Fees for each application is approximately $30 and is non refundable. For the payment you have to choose the online mode as Master/ Visa, both credit and debit card are accepted. The authorized service agents charge extra fees of Rs 300 for every visa application.

Currency Conversion:
We need Malaysian Ringgit, Indonesian Rupiah and Singapore Dollar for three countries. We may use Master, Visa or American Express Card to withdraw local currency from ATM but it involves high exchange rate and service charges. So we may collect those three types of currency from our local Government authorized foreign money changer using our Passport and Visa. It is always better to change our local currency to US Dollar (USD) and carry it because we don't know the exact amount needed in each country and USD is convertible in any City or Airport.

The promotional offer was available only for some selected dates in each month and only a few numbers of seats per flight was available in this offer. As per internet search reports February to April was the peak season to visit these places. Before that, it will be a rainy season with flash floods common in Indonesia and after that date, it will mostly be hot and humid.  So, searching for promotional flight tickets and online hotel booking with free cancellation at these countries we found that March is good for us.

Currency conversion rate on 24/8/2017 & 22/09/2017:
1 Malaysian Ringgit                 = 14.97 & 15.45 Indian Rupee
1000 Indonesian Rupiah        = 4.8 & 4.87 Indian Rupee
1 Singapore Dollar                  = 47.03 & 48.26 Indian Rupee

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Do's AND Don'ts IN MALAYSIA

Malaysia is a free country you can do whatever you want here. However, we do have our own customs and visitors should try to observe these practices when they arrive.

1. Handshake is acceptable for both men and women but it is better for a man to smile to a Muslim woman rather than handshake. A handshake should be initiated by ladies.
2. It is polite to call before visiting a home.
3. Shoes must always be removed when entering a Malaysian home.
4. Drinks are generally offered to guest. It is polite to accept.
5. The right hand is always used when eating with one's hand or giving and receiving objects.
6. The right forefinger is not used to point a places, objects or persons. Instead, the thumb of the right hand with four fingers folded under is preferred usage.
7. Shoes must be removed when entering places of worship such as mosque and temple.
8. Some mosques provide robes and scarves for female visitors. Taking photograph is usually permitted but always asks permission first.
9. Do not wear revealing cloth when entering places of worship and rural areas.
10. Public displays of affection are not encouraged.

Johor Bahru Travel plan details:
Johor Bahru (JB): Formerly known as Tanjung Puteri or Iskandar Puteri, is the capital of the state of Johor, Malaysia. It is also the southernmost city in Peninsular Malaysia. After the formation of Malaysia in 1963, JB was granted city status in 1994. A central business district was developed in the city centre during the 1990s. More development funds were channeled to the city after the introduction of Iskandar Malaysia (IM Project) in 2006.

Main Attractions at JB City:
City Square and Komtar JBCC Mall: 29km from airport near woodlands (Singapore). We have a plan to stay here in hotel.
Senai Airport Bus Shuttle Service (AA1) provide reliable, fast and comfortable ride to and from Senai International Airport, Johor. It offers daily non-stop traveling between Airport and JB Sentral (KTM).  Besides the bus, taxis are also available, taking about 30 min. Taxis leaving from the airport operate on a voucher system - buy your voucher from the taxi desk inside the terminal (next to the car rental desks). A trip to the city center is up to 4 passengers.

Angry Bird Theme Park (indoor) is located in Komtar JBCC Shopping Mall on the 3rd floor. The park will pro­vide games, ac­tiv­i­ties and en­ter­tain­ment re­lated to An­gry Birds like Lazer Bird Shoot, Red Bird Goal, Piggy Shoot­ing Gallery and Captain Black Bird Ship.

Arulmigu Sri Rajakaliamman Glass Temple (1.3km from JB Sentral ) is the centerpiece of Hinduism, serving as the first Hindu glass temple in the world. Wholly decorated with glass in both exterior and interior, the building looks extremely stunning especially when it shines gracefully under the sunlight.
The temple, located in 22 Lorong 1, Jalan Tebrau, Johor Baru, is accessible through Jalan Tun Abdul Razak and the lane that borders Gim Shew Building. Car and coach parking is available and there's also a shoe storage service.
It is open for devotees from 7am to 10pm daily, while visiting hours for tourists are between 1pm and 5pm.

Legoland Malaysia, JB (20km from JB Sentral) is the first theme park in Asia and sixth in the world upon its establishment. It is full packed of family fun with more than 40 rides, shows and attractions.

Puteri Harbour (6 km from Legoland and 23km from JB Sentral) is home to the southernmost marina on the mainland of continent Asia, making it a must visit destination on the world sailing map. Located at the narrow-most point between Singapore and Johor; known as the Puteri Narrows, Malaysia – lies the breathtaking Marinas at Puteri Harbour.
The Public Marina, Private Marina & Mega Yacht Marina can accommodate yachts with LOA up to 90 meters.
Other outdoor activities Puteri Harbour offers are as follows: 

• River cruise and firefly trips from Puteri Harbour to Sungai Perapat or Sungai Pendas, Pulau Merambung, Kukup, RAMSAR Sungai Pulai and Danga Bay.
• Fishing and diving trips at Pulau Pisang or any customer preferred areas.
• Watersports – canoe, kayak, paddle boats, water polo etc.
• Joy ride
• Banana boat and wakeboard
• Bicycle rental
• Boating and sailing courses

Danga Bay (7.7km from JB Sentral) is the largest recreation park in Johor Bahru. It falls in the Iskandar Development Region A (IDR). It will be usually packed with people every weekend in the evenings. You can try out the Danga river cruise.

Pasar Malam (Night Market 5-10pm) on Every Monday, Jalan Seladang, Taman Abad (4.4km from JB Sentral) is very popular with locals and tourists because there is so much to see, eat and buy at reasonable prices, all in the cool, breezy nights of Johor Bahru.  Its just next to the KSL mall and spilled over to adjacent streets, is known locally as ‘Pasar Karat’. Really Worth a visit. But do watch out for pickpocket.

Those who want to visit Singapore just cross the Border from JB Sentral to Woodlands. A new KTM Shuttle Train from Johor Bahru to Singapore (5m) has started operating from JB Sentral Station to Woodlands Station (Shuttle Tebrau) from the 1st July 2015. You may avail new shuttle train or by regular buses that cross over the Causeway into Singapore.

From the June 2017, there are 14 trains a day that will travel over to Singapore. The first train from JB Sentral to Woodlands leaves at 05.30am in the morning and the last train is at 10.15pm. Immigration procedures are carried out at JB Sentral for stamping out of Malaysia and at Woodlands Station where you get your passport stamped in to Singapore.

• There are many touts in JB Sentral and more at Larkin Bus Terminal (6.2km from JB Sentral) that will direct you to more expensive and less reliable mode of transportation. Be aware of pickpockets especially in Larkin Terminal.

Indonesia (East Java & Bali) Travel Plan:

Mount Bromo is an active volcano (last eruption 2016):

Flights are available from Senai International Airport, Johor Bahru to Juanda International Airport (T2) Surabaya, Indonesia by AirAsia at 10:20 AM to 12:00 Noon. To get to Probolinggo from Surabaya, take a Damri shuttle bus from the Juanda International Airport to Bungurasih Purabaya bus terminal (14km) in the city. Then take an express Patas air-conditioned bus for the 2 to 3 hr journey from Purabaya to Bayuangga bus terminal a few kilometers out of the city Probolinggo (130 km).To travel From Probolinggo to Cemoro Lawang (Entrance to Mt. Bromo) book a PRIVATE car (38Km) or wait for the Green Mini-Buses (10 seats) that are located right outside the Bayuangga terminal: Rp 400,000 per passenger. The minibuses will only depart when it is full (no timetable) or when someone pays the full price. It is always good to start early from Surabaya as buses from Cemoro Lawang are very hard to find during the late afternoon. The ride uphill takes approximately 90 minutes.

Click here to know details about "Travel Mt. Bromo without guided or conducted tour"

Do and Don't Do's in Mount Bromo tour.

1. Beware of touts and travel agents.
2. Cemoro Lawang is a costly place.
3. Arrange for a good hotel with hot water as it is very cold at Bromo.
4. it is better to take a nose mask and wet it with water to protect from sulfur fumes.
5. Don't breath through your mouth, it will cause irritation inside your throat.
6. Volcano visiting time: 7am to 5pm. Temperature 20° - 0°C, it can rain any time.
7. Buses to Probolinggo have a tendency to drop you in front of shops with signboards that read 'Bus Terminal'. The actual terminal is 1km down the road. Inspect the area before getting down.

Traveling to Denpassar, Bali:
Checkout from hotel after an early morning trip of Mount Bromo and come to Probolinggo. It will take 10 to 12 hours journey from Probolinggo, East Java to Denpassar, via Banyuwangi, Ketapang ferry terminal. One Ferries sail from Ketapang to Gilimanuk every 15 minutes, 24 hours a day, the crossing takes about 45 minutes. The fare is 6,500 rupiah for an adult passenger.
There are two options to travel from Probolinggo to Ketapang by Train or by Bus. the scenery is much better when traveling to Banyuwangi by train. However, this way you get to Bali quite late, missing the scenery on that side. If that's an issue, consider spending the night in Banyuwangi, and move on to Bali unhurriedly the next morning. You may also like to visit the mount Ijen volcano complex, a group of composite volcanoes in the Banyuwangi Regency of East Java.
Gilimanuk Bus Terminal is right outside the ferry terminal, just walk out of the ferry terminal exit onto the road and turn right. Local buses link the ferry terminal at Gilimanuk with Denpasar's Ubung bus terminal, distance 125 km or 78 miles, journey time 3 hours. Buses run frequently so there are no timetables, but try to get there before dark. You'll need to change at Denpasar Ubung bus terminal for local buses or taxi to places like Ubud, Bali's cultural and tourist capital - there are no direct buses from Gilimanuk. Once in Denpasar, finding a taxi to hotel should be no problem, even at night.

South Bali:

The international airport of Bali, Ngurah Rai is located close to Denpasar and is the main entrance port of Bali. The most interesting places to visit in South Bali are the town of Denpasar, Kuta, Legian and Seminyak, Sanur, Tanah Lot, Jimbaran, the Ulu Watu temple, Nusa Dua, Mengwi, Tabanan.

Uluwatu Temple, a truly must visit in Bali, is also known as Pura Luhur . The temple is itself a majestic structure, constructed and expanded many times since in the 11th Century. It is perched at the steep cliff of 70 meters above the Indian ocean. If you go on even higher grounds nearby, you will be rewarded with a breathtaking view of either side and sunset over Uluwatu temple itself.

Main attraction at Bali

Indonesia’s diving is among the best in the world. SCUBA Diving in Bali is an easy and inexpensive way to see the best of Indonesia. The island of Nusa Penida is known world-wide for her Manta rays and Molamola (Sunfish).

The Atlantis speedboats I and II leave Sanur beach(South Bali) each day around 8:30am, almost always making their way to the appropriately named dive site, Manta Point, where Reef Mantas rays (Manta Alfredi) come and go to a resident “cleaning station.”

On the other side of the island, we find the not-to-be-missed dive site, Crystal Bay. From July through October you have the best chance to encounter the incredible Sunfish (Molamola), an impressive fish measuring up to 3 meters in height.

BEGINNER DIVING FOR NON DIVER

DIVE SITES	DURATION	DISTANCE FROM SANUR	PRICE/PERSON (JAN-MAY)	PRICE/PERSON (JUN-DEC)
TULAMBEN (East- Black sand bottom)	2 DIVES	2.5 HOURS BY CAR	IDR 1.450.000 (Rs.7023)	IDR 1.650.000
PADANGBAI (South-East)	2 DIVES	1 HOUR BY CAR + 15 MIN. BY BOAT	IDR 1.450.000	IDR 1.650.000

• For Beginner Diving Trips we need min. 2 persons in a group, please ask for availability.

Discounts:

• Discount 5% for 2 or more persons booked in a group for same activity.
• Discount 10% for minimum 2 persons doing 2 days diving.

The Beginner Diving prices include:

• Free pickup & return in Denpasar, Sanur, Kuta, Legian, Seminyak & Nusa Dua area (west).
• Land & sea transport to the dive site.
• Diving with 1 PADI Instructor for max. 2 divers include Tanks and Weights.
• All diving equipment.
• Lunch, refreshment & mineral water.
• Using towel.
• PADI Insurance.
• VAT 10%.

Additional:

• Underwater Camera is available for rent at IDR 300.000/day.
• Extra dive is IDR 300.000/person/dive (minimum 2 divers).
• Personal Instructor is available IDR 250.000/day.
• Private trip for minimum 2 persons with 1 Instructor, additional price is IDR 500.000/day on published prices without discount.

** Please note that due to the Agung volcano activity, There are no SCUBA diving in Tulamben and Amed dive sites (East Bali) anymore. We will keep you updated about any further developments.

Other Activities:

Wide range of activities are available in Ubud, from Mask Carving, to Batik Painting, to Silver Jewelry Making… the options are countless. You can even book a Half Day Ubud Shopping Spree tailored to suit your interests and requirements within the numerous workshops and galleries of the cultural town. And while you’re in the Bukit Peninsula, you can also attend the Devdan Show at Nusa Dua Theatre and witness the prowess of the acrobatic dancers in a performance inspired by the cultures of Indonesia, from Sumatra to Papua. 

• 10 Secret / Hidden and Lesser Explored Beaches of Bali.
• Kura Kura Bus presents its online ticket booths called “E-Booth”, best shuttle bus service in Bali.
• Commuter minibuses called BEMO are the main form of public transport in Bali .

Solo Traveler's Guide to Indonesia

Singapore Travel Plan:
Singapore is very safe country to travel but  "low crime doesn't mean no crime". It is really a place more for shopping and great food rather than sightseeing although there are places to visit and see.
 
Main attractions at Singapore

Gardens by the Bay
Type: Nature park. Modern public gardens on reclaimed land Gardens by the Bay is a nature park spanning 101 hectares (250 acres) of reclaimed land in central Singapore, adjacent to the Marina Reservoir. The park consists of three waterfront gardens: Bay South Garden, Bay East Garden and Bay Central Garden.
Address: 18 Marina Gardens Dr, Singapore 018953
Hours: Open today · 5AM–2AM
Phone: +65 6420 6848 Completion date: 2012
Public transit access: Bayfront MRT Station, Gardens by the Bay MRT Station

Universal Studios Singapore
Type: Movie & TV-themed amusement park
Movie amusement park with sets & rides on themes from Hollywood to sci-fi, plus live entertainment.

Sentosa
Palawan Beach & Tiger Sky Tower
Sentosa is an island resort off Singapore’s southern coast, connected to the city by road, cable car, pedestrian boardwalk and monorail. By Sentosa Station, Tiger Sky Tower has panoramic views

Night Safari, Singapore
Zoo for nocturnal animals opened in 1994

Night zoo with tram rides and walking trails through rain-forest past elephants, tigers & leopards at the world's first nocturnal zoo at Night Safari. See moonlit animals as you cross 7 geographical zones of the world, from Indo-Malayan jungles to equatorial Africa.

Singapore Zoo
64-acre zoo in a rain-forest setting.

Rain-forest zoo with tram rides, trails & viewing platforms to see wildlife habitats & exhibits. Watch terrific shows like Splash Safari, Animal Friends and Elephants at Work and Play while you meet other diverse and beautiful creatures, from local primates to imported marsupials.

Jurong Bird Park:

Visit Asia's largest bird park and marvel at the sight of Jurong Falls, the world's tallest man-made waterfalls. Plus, get a chance to feed lovable parrots, see gorgeous swans and flamingos, as well as hike in an incredible walk-in aviary. 

Singapore Botanic Gardens
Botanical gardens founded in 1859
183-acre botanical gardens with sculptures, a swan lake & significant collection of tropical trees.

River Safari
Zoo & freshwater aquarium with boats

See amazing re-creations of 6 famous rivers – Mississippi, Congo, Nile, Ganges, Mekong and Yangtze – at River Safari and spot an intriguing pufferfish, an enormous salamander and a giant panda.

Singapore Flyer
165m-tall public observation wheel
Huge observation wheel opened in 2008 for views of the city plus high tea & butler-serviced flights.

 

Singapore skyline at sunset viewed from Gardens by the Bay East

Online Advance Booking of Singapore:

City Discovery: Best Price Guaranteed.

Singapore Pass: Singapore Passes start from $97, there is a choice of 4 passes to pick from, and each designed to suit your needs and preferences.

2-in-1 Saver Combo Package: Universal Studios Singapore and S.E.A Aquarium with Hotel Pick-Up @SGD 105.00 per adult.

3-In-1 Combo Package: Universal Studios Singapore® + S.E.A. Aquarium™ + Adventure Cove Waterpark E-Tickets @SGD 147.00 per adult.

2-DAY FUN Pass: See It All! Enjoy both Universal Studios Singapore™ and Sentosa Day Fun Pass PLAY MAX (Play up to 20 attractions on Sentosa Island) @SGD 175.00 per adult.

Wildlife Reserves 4-in-1 Park Hopper Admission: See the best of Mother Nature with 4-in-1 park hopper admission to Wildlife Reserves Singapore. See the tallest man-made waterfalls on earth, re-creations of world-famous rivers, amazing animal shows and nocturnal critters with this admission ticket @SGD 69.00 per adult.

Jurong Bird Park, River Safari, Singapore Zoo, Night Safari

Please write your query in the comment box bellow and follow this post as we want to upgrade it with all details about tourists spots, Hotels, Must see places and  Do’s and Don't Do’s.

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