Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Koh Lipe Speedboat Scam Case by Andaman Cruise.. beware!!!
We shall go to Koh Lipe via speedboat at Awana Porto Malai Pier Langkawi, which I
purchased the ticket online via http://tigerlinetravel.com.The price is 20% discount for round trip. Price with baht, 2 pax return
at 4480 baht, well although with promotion, if I know I had this journey
tragedy, I rather buy ticket and depart at Telaga harbour. I will
explain why...
Wait and wait, according to our ticket, immigration officer shall reach and stamp our passport for departure at 8.30am, but there is no one till 8.45am. Our boat suppose depart at 9am, but no one there except both of us!!! sweat! Then 5 min later, a few local guys was here and ask us whether we are going to Koh Lipe, phew, I felt relief, since they preparing stuff for boat, then we thought we are safe but when I looked at my watch, it already 9am, then one of the guy came to us ask us to show the boat ticket, he told us Tigerline no service to Koh lipe as our trip on 26 Apr, it is almost the end of the season, there is not much people visit Koh lipe, the company cancel their service.
I am so freak and scared. I call the contact person printed on my ticket. Mr. Adam. He said the same, there is no service by Tigerline to Koh lipe. What I suppose to do? Mr. Adam said Tigerlines office located in Koh Lipe Island, so if I want to get my refund, must get from them. RM 450 fly away? Felt so lost, so he suggest us to buy a new ticket which they do operate speedboat to Koh Lipe, which by Andaman Cruise service, price will be at normal price without discount. RM 120 one way, 2pax round trip at RM 480. We have no choice but to adhere their suggestion.
They drove us to immigration centre to stamp our passport then drove us back to pier, when we reach to pier, we saw around 8 of other tourists waiting, felt more safe now and we pay them for new ticket, here we depart.... Upon arrive, we were welcome by few Thai Guys, help collect our passport for arrival immigration stamping purpose. Here I explain to him that I need to look for Tigerline office. He brought me to him Mr Singsha.
I explain my situation and showed my ticket to tigerline personnel Mr Singsha, then he said, I was board with the tigerline speedboat just now, I was shocked and felt cheated, I told him that I bought another ticket, then he requested me to show him my new ticket which I purchased this morning.
He explained to me that both Tigerline and Andaman Cruise were travel agent who authorised by Forra speedboat for boat ticket service. He show me that both my ticket was printed with Mr Adam name and contact number which I did not realize. Both ticket really with same person contact!!!
The real situation, I was conned by Mr. Adam and gang, according to Tigerline office, we are third cases!!! If we purchase our ticket from Tigerline, the profit will be goes to Thai agent Tigerline. If we purchase from Andaman Cruise, profit will goes to Adam and gang.
OMG, what should I say?? Conned by own Malaysian! and I need Thai guy to refund me. Mr Singsha said he willing to refund my depart ticket fees since I had used new ticket, so I get back RM 240 and he want me to use the Tigerline ticket to board the speedboat upon return and get my return ticket refund from Andaman Cruise. I told him I need to discuss with my friend
. Then later when I go to him again,
he said he spoken to his boss, who agreed to refund fully to me. So
nice of him and now I know the whole issue. Therefore I decide to blog
it here, hope no other tourist caught by Mr. Adam.
Wait and wait, according to our ticket, immigration officer shall reach and stamp our passport for departure at 8.30am, but there is no one till 8.45am. Our boat suppose depart at 9am, but no one there except both of us!!! sweat! Then 5 min later, a few local guys was here and ask us whether we are going to Koh Lipe, phew, I felt relief, since they preparing stuff for boat, then we thought we are safe but when I looked at my watch, it already 9am, then one of the guy came to us ask us to show the boat ticket, he told us Tigerline no service to Koh lipe as our trip on 26 Apr, it is almost the end of the season, there is not much people visit Koh lipe, the company cancel their service.
I am so freak and scared. I call the contact person printed on my ticket. Mr. Adam. He said the same, there is no service by Tigerline to Koh lipe. What I suppose to do? Mr. Adam said Tigerlines office located in Koh Lipe Island, so if I want to get my refund, must get from them. RM 450 fly away? Felt so lost, so he suggest us to buy a new ticket which they do operate speedboat to Koh Lipe, which by Andaman Cruise service, price will be at normal price without discount. RM 120 one way, 2pax round trip at RM 480. We have no choice but to adhere their suggestion.
They drove us to immigration centre to stamp our passport then drove us back to pier, when we reach to pier, we saw around 8 of other tourists waiting, felt more safe now and we pay them for new ticket, here we depart.... Upon arrive, we were welcome by few Thai Guys, help collect our passport for arrival immigration stamping purpose. Here I explain to him that I need to look for Tigerline office. He brought me to him Mr Singsha.
I explain my situation and showed my ticket to tigerline personnel Mr Singsha, then he said, I was board with the tigerline speedboat just now, I was shocked and felt cheated, I told him that I bought another ticket, then he requested me to show him my new ticket which I purchased this morning.
He explained to me that both Tigerline and Andaman Cruise were travel agent who authorised by Forra speedboat for boat ticket service. He show me that both my ticket was printed with Mr Adam name and contact number which I did not realize. Both ticket really with same person contact!!!
The real situation, I was conned by Mr. Adam and gang, according to Tigerline office, we are third cases!!! If we purchase our ticket from Tigerline, the profit will be goes to Thai agent Tigerline. If we purchase from Andaman Cruise, profit will goes to Adam and gang.
OMG, what should I say?? Conned by own Malaysian! and I need Thai guy to refund me. Mr Singsha said he willing to refund my depart ticket fees since I had used new ticket, so I get back RM 240 and he want me to use the Tigerline ticket to board the speedboat upon return and get my return ticket refund from Andaman Cruise. I told him I need to discuss with my friend
Monday, May 13, 2013
Koh Li Pe Thailand
Koh Li Pe is an island located at most lowest island at Thailand border right above Malaysia Langkawi Island. The island is reachable by boat only. Sharing my experience of short trip to Koh Lipe 3 days 2 nights.This Island only open at November - Apr. Most resorts and shops closed during May - Oct. Plan your trip if you want to visit.
Our flight ticket price just RM 60 return ticket Lcct - Langkawi .... ahahhaa thanks to Airasia zero fare promotion.
Day 1, trip from KL capital, Me and SP start our journey from Bandar Tasik Selatan (BTS) to LCCT airport via KLIA Transit, ticket is available at the counter. It is RM 10.80 one way/pax. Transit stop at Salak Tinggi station, transfer by bus to LCCT airport. Overall it is about 30 min Train transit and 15min Bus journey.
Since we arrive early, we had our lunch at McD. Our travel from LCCT airport to Langkawi Island.
We decide not to rent car, therefore we took Cab from Langkawi Airport to our hotel @ Pantai Tengah Desa Terrace Hotel. The room is nice, quiet and comfortable, price? most budget, RM 80/ night for double room via agoda. You will need to spare RM 50 as deposit for room key, refundable upon check out.
Since we did not have any transport, just rest at hotel and order Artisan Pizza Delivery locate at Chenang beach.Their delivery is so efficient, 20 mins later, order arrived. Their food is excellent, worth a try. We ordered Hawaiian Pizza, Chicken Cheese Burger, Chicken Wings, Garlic Bread and 2 cans of coke. Price @ RM 47
Thats goes our day 1. On our day 2 journey, It is an adventurous which scared me to the max, we suppose to ride our speedboat at 9am, upon 6am, I was awakened by heavy storm and rain. Omg, I was hoping the rain to stop as fast possible, hope it doesn't affect my trip.
Well, while waiting to check out and collect our deposit, we saw rainbow, wow shall be a good start of the day...
We requested for a cab to send us to pier @ Awana Porto Malai 7.30am which the journey just 5 min away, Our driver was so punctual, wait for us at 7.15am. RM 15 for the trip as it was early in the morning therefore RM 5 extra charge, usual at RM 10.
Okay when we arrive at pier, it doesn't look like usual, very quiet, and not open yet! The Awana Porto Malai resort seems empty and no one around. Well so early and just after rain, everyone should have hide in their blanket... We shall go to Koh Lipe via speedboat, which I purchased the ticket online via http://tigerlinetravel.com/
The price is 20% discount for round trip. Price with baht, 2 pax return at 4450 baht, well although with promotion, if I know I had this journey tragedy, I rather buy ticket and depart at Telaga harbour. I will explain why... Since we are early, we just wait patiently and again we saw another rainbow! What a day with two rainbow at different place... We thought of having our breakfast while waiting at the pier, unfortunately there is nothing can spare us as the hotel breakfast is buffet and so expensive at RM 42++... We just share our leftover garlic bread from last night but still yummy.
Wait and wait, according to our ticket, immigration officer shall reach and stamp our passport for departure, but there is no one till 8.45am. Our boat suppose depart at 9am, but no one there except both of us!!! sweat! Then 5 min later, a few local guys was here and ask us whether we are going to Koh Lipe, phew, I felt relief, since they preparing stuff for boat, then we thought we are safe but when I looked at my watch, it already 9am, then one of the guy came to us ask us to show the boat ticket, he told us Tigerline no service to Koh lipe as our trip on 26 Apr, it is almost the end of the season, there is not much people visit Koh lipe, the company cancel their service.
I am so freak and scared. I call the contact person printed on my ticket. Mr. Adam. He said the same, there is no service by Tigerline to Koh lipe. What I suppose to do? Mr. Adam said Tigerlines office located in Koh Lipe Island, so if I want to get my refund, must get from them. RM 450 fly away? Felt so lost, so he suggest us to buy a new ticket which they do operate speedboat to Koh Lipe, which by Andaman Cruise service, price will be at normal price without discount. RM 120 one way, 2pax round trip at RM 480. We have no choice but to adhere their suggestion.
They drove us to immigration centre to stamp our passport then drove us back to pier, when we reach to pier, we saw around 8 of other tourists waiting, felt more safe now and we pay them for new ticket, here we depart.... phew, finally we board the speedboat. The journey about 1 hour. Finally we arrive, we were stopped on a floating pier as speedboat unable to unload us, there is no pier on Koh Lipe Island. We transferred to long tail boat with fee of 50baht per pax for transfer us to the island.
Due to heavy rain the night before, we were stopped at Tarutao Cabana at Sunrise beach instead of Pattaya beach due to high tight. Upon arrive, we were welcome by few Thai Guys, help collect our passport for arrival immigration stamping purpose. Here I explain to him that I need to look for Tigerline office. He brought me to him.
I explain my situation and showed my ticket to tigerline personnel, then he said, I was board with the tigerline speedboat just now, I was shocked and felt cheated, I told him that I bought another ticket, then he requested me to show him my new ticket which I purchased this morning.
He explained to me that both Tigerline and Andaman Cruise were travel agent who authorised by Forra speedboat for boat ticket service. He show me that both my ticket was printed with Mr Adam name and contact number which I did not realize. Both ticket really with same person contact!!!
The real situation, I was conned by Mr. Adam and gang, according to Tigerline office, we are third cases!!! If we purchase our ticket from Tigerline, the profit will be goes to Thai agent Tigerline. If we purchase from Andaman Cruise, profit will goes to Adam and gang.
OMG, what should I say?? Conned by own Malaysian! and I need Thai guy to refund me. He (sorry I forgot his name) said he willing to refund my depart ticket fees since I had used new ticket, so I get back RM 240 and he want me to use the Tigerline ticket to board the speedboat upon return and get my return ticket refund from Andaman Cruise. I told him I need to discuss with my friend, as I was blanked and lost, cant think anything after whole screwed morning. Then later when I go to him again, he said he spoken to his boss, who agreed to refund fully to me. So nice of him and now I know the whole issue. Therefore I decide to blog it here, hope no other tourist caught by Mr. Adam.
Okay, all done, it is about 11.30pm so we shall move on, got our free map from Cabana, then we look for our resort, so we decide to walk over since it is near the beach side about 400m away, so we carry our luggage and walk but after 100 m, we find that we have trouble as high tight. End up we walk thru one of the resort area to the street area, guess what, those local people look at us at a kind..haha sure, some strangers walk into their places under the hot sun.
Since we not familiar the area, upon reach the street area outside the resort we just passed by, we walk to ask some locals about our resort Zanom Sunrise Beach Resort....ops, the little boy do not understand English... a kind tour agent asked us to go near him, he helped us to call our hotel personnel, then we wait there. It is really really hot. 10 min later someone by the bike arrived.
Mike, the perfect Resort manager who with us throughout our trip in Koh Lipe, he fetch both of us with our luggage to our resort. Wow, although just 500m, but quite far if walk under the sun. Upon our arrival, we just don't care anymore, sit at perfect beach side for our lunch. That's really a nice view, blue sky, greenish sea and white sands. Our lunch was great, we ordered Green Curry Noodles, Pad Thai and Mango Sticky rice... then the fun part upon we ask for our bill, Mike said, don't worry about the bill, just take some rest at our chalet. So nice of him... opps, when we reach our Chalet, he was shocked and immediately close the door... As they haven't dress up the room after the previous customer checkout.... Okay, since then, we just went rest room and left everything there. We continue check with Mike for snorkeling trip package.
The packages divide into 3, A, B, C.
$1500 Baht Package A with 5 snorkeling spot and 2 island visit.
$1800 Baht Package B with same 7 place but for deep sea snorkeling spot.
$ 2300 Baht Package C is Package A + B which we can choose to leave if we do not like the place.
I cannot remember the price clearly as he speak min English and I did not take note of it.
This packages is for private boat chartered for 2 pax. I check with him for cheaper option. Then he said we may discuss with another group of resort tourist whose also from Malaysia, if they agree, we may share the price together. Therefore we were 7 adults and 1 kids. Include snorkel goggle and life jacket, each pax is around $320 baht. I surveyed, outside shall be around $650 baht. :-) Our lunch was excluded, we order tapao from our resort... Oh ya, the we chosen package A which is 9am -4pm.... worth the value right??
(Photo will be post later)
Since we had done our day 2 package, we move on to walking street to look around. Bought a bottle of mineral water and bread. Why bread? you will know shortly. Then walk around, they are a bit lay back, those area just like our market alley in the morning and some town feels. As the day is too hot, we dropby to a lady pan cake and take a sip of Thai tea with milk, and sure won't miss our pan cake. Ordered a whipped cream banana cheese pancake. The shop is just opposite The Box chalet at walking street. Thumb up for the food and drink, with free wifi too. The pancake is so crunchy, is a hot thin roti canai with filling of banana and cheese with whipped cream on top.
Then we continue to walk around walking street, it is quite long, although on the map and some blog say the island is small. That is not true! As the weather too hot, we just walk half of the walking street, we also stop by saw a shop with promotion of $120 baht for 6 1.5L mineral water, then we bought them and next, we carried them so heavy, then we decide go back to our resort to rest. I haven't have a good sleep and had bad viral infection before the trip, so just take a nap.
When woke up, it is around 5pm, we refresh ourselves then enjoy our beach, we met our new friend William and family who join tour for snorkeling the next day. They just finish enjoy the beach fun and told us that it is low tight which we can walk to the sea, with lots coral and fish. Then we went back our chalet to change to swim suit, we enjoy our evening sight seeing some coral and nemo! yes it is reachable, as the water just below the knee level, and guess what, nemo hiding in the soft coral.
you can touch them! so cute, little nemo doesn't afraid of us, just sometimes feel shame and hide in the coral. Great experience haha though this is not my first time see them.
Just too bad we saw many sea urchin, and many rocks, as we do not want to destroy the soft coral, we just walk around without touch on them. Remember they will die if too much of touches! After a while we went back to our chalet, we prepare ourselves, clean up and we went to night walking street around 7pm. We heard that walking street like night market, lets go around, I am so excited and hungry. I saw lots stall with fresh seafood and barbecue pit all ready waiting for customer, some stall full of customers too. Well we just walk along, at one of stall, we saw some selling bbq chicken on stick, we grabbed one @ 60 baht. Taste good, we share and continue walk around. Opps, then later while enjoy the meat, something not right, there is a doggie follow me, look at the meat...we just don't bother, we enjoy it, we walk to the end of walking street at pattaya beach. Omg, the doggie still following me. The beach is nice with cool winds, there we just walk around, since it getting dark, not much scene, and the doggie was so pity, walk behind me and sit there waiting for my bbq chicken stick bones. No choice I just gave up, let him have it, then when he enjoy it, then few more dogs run over toward me, so we left the beach soonest possible.
Then when I got back to the walking street, I still holding the stick from the bbq chicken as no dustbin around, then suddenly the same doggie follow me, argh, I had a shock, so I throw the stick to him, scared him to came nearer to me. Then SP just laugh at me. Okay, time to grab some other food. We saw Paolo's Pizza, there is many choice giant pizza, it is so fresh, we grab 2 piece @ 100 baht each. The lady also offer help us to reheat the pizza. So we sit in front of Pattaya beach enjoy our pizza.
After our pizza, we decide to hunt for our dinner. We want to have seafood dinner, walk back to mid of walking street, we found a shop full of people enjoying seafood dinner, plan to join the crowd but just too many people, then we just don't want to wait, we walk back to our resort and have ours dinner on the beach which with some free music and some disco light on the beach with some dogs giving us free dances on the beach. Wave and the moonlight was extra romance for us.
We had our Mike to take our order, we have lemon juice steamed squid, very fresh and spicy juicy, then we have a tom yam seafood, BBQ grilled Thai Tuna with Chaolay sauce, stir fried morning glory, local thai vege like kang kung. For drinks, we have a Chang Beer and a Fresh Mango Juice, 100% fresh mango at 70 baht, no water and sugar added. Really nice...
Mike also remind us to order our tabao for tomorrow snorkel trip, he was so caring to organize everything for us. Imagine with a lay back area, you being serve like a five star service when he just can understand limited English, he still politely with proper service manner 'May I repeat your order please?'
Our drinks served, since the day is so hot, our refreshing cool drink gave us a lovely cool down. While wait for our food, we enjoy the music and relaxing environment. Food photo may describe our stories here. The portion is much worth the value, we cannot even finish our food. Overall the bill come with the list which I will upload later, it is with SP.
After our dinner, Mike walk to us and check if we need extra order and whether the food quality and make sure their service is good. It is amazing service in budget resort. Love it! Highly recommended. Well after a while we went go to counter for our bill, guess what, they totally forgot to bill us for our lunch. If we just kept quiet then we may got our free lunch! Since we enjoy their service, we be honest and get them to bill us for our lunch that we had for the afternoon.
Ops after a whole day stories, it just around 10pm, time to bed and can't wait for tomorrow, our trip for sea. Our room is cool, just some irate mosquito around, else no complaint.
Day 2
Suppose to wake up at 7.30am, prepare ourselves for island hopping journey at 9am. Just as early as 6am woke up due to heavy storm and rain. SHIT! How is my sea plan if it is raining?? Crossing my finger, pray for rain stop soonest possible, continue my sleep, hope my next wake will have a shiny day after rain.
Alarm rang at 7.30am, seems mine was a fat hope, it was rain non stop :-(
Well, I just didn't care, was hungry, get to our Zanom cafe, Mike was ready to serve us. Order our breakfast, then Mike told us that our trip arrangement might be cancel if the rain continue, just wait to a later time if rain stop, he will rearrange the tour for us.
Our breakfast here... it is a bean brewed coffee and fresh orange juice with american breakfast set of ham, bacon, toast with cheese, scramble eggs @ price of 170 Baht... worth of the food just a little small portion but the taste and quality is good. After our breakfast, well, we only can sit at the cafe and hope for the rain stop.... it finally stop at 10.30am!!! phew! Although still with slight rain, Mike arranged our Chao Lay and long tail.. lets get off...
We reach to our first spot, here is semi deep around 8-10m with colorful corals. With lots of fish, we brought some bread.
will continue blog soon
Our flight ticket price just RM 60 return ticket Lcct - Langkawi .... ahahhaa thanks to Airasia zero fare promotion.
Day 1, trip from KL capital, Me and SP start our journey from Bandar Tasik Selatan (BTS) to LCCT airport via KLIA Transit, ticket is available at the counter. It is RM 10.80 one way/pax. Transit stop at Salak Tinggi station, transfer by bus to LCCT airport. Overall it is about 30 min Train transit and 15min Bus journey.
Since we arrive early, we had our lunch at McD. Our travel from LCCT airport to Langkawi Island.
We decide not to rent car, therefore we took Cab from Langkawi Airport to our hotel @ Pantai Tengah Desa Terrace Hotel. The room is nice, quiet and comfortable, price? most budget, RM 80/ night for double room via agoda. You will need to spare RM 50 as deposit for room key, refundable upon check out.
Since we did not have any transport, just rest at hotel and order Artisan Pizza Delivery locate at Chenang beach.Their delivery is so efficient, 20 mins later, order arrived. Their food is excellent, worth a try. We ordered Hawaiian Pizza, Chicken Cheese Burger, Chicken Wings, Garlic Bread and 2 cans of coke. Price @ RM 47
Thats goes our day 1. On our day 2 journey, It is an adventurous which scared me to the max, we suppose to ride our speedboat at 9am, upon 6am, I was awakened by heavy storm and rain. Omg, I was hoping the rain to stop as fast possible, hope it doesn't affect my trip.
Well, while waiting to check out and collect our deposit, we saw rainbow, wow shall be a good start of the day...
We requested for a cab to send us to pier @ Awana Porto Malai 7.30am which the journey just 5 min away, Our driver was so punctual, wait for us at 7.15am. RM 15 for the trip as it was early in the morning therefore RM 5 extra charge, usual at RM 10.
Okay when we arrive at pier, it doesn't look like usual, very quiet, and not open yet! The Awana Porto Malai resort seems empty and no one around. Well so early and just after rain, everyone should have hide in their blanket... We shall go to Koh Lipe via speedboat, which I purchased the ticket online via http://tigerlinetravel.com/
The price is 20% discount for round trip. Price with baht, 2 pax return at 4450 baht, well although with promotion, if I know I had this journey tragedy, I rather buy ticket and depart at Telaga harbour. I will explain why... Since we are early, we just wait patiently and again we saw another rainbow! What a day with two rainbow at different place... We thought of having our breakfast while waiting at the pier, unfortunately there is nothing can spare us as the hotel breakfast is buffet and so expensive at RM 42++... We just share our leftover garlic bread from last night but still yummy.
Wait and wait, according to our ticket, immigration officer shall reach and stamp our passport for departure, but there is no one till 8.45am. Our boat suppose depart at 9am, but no one there except both of us!!! sweat! Then 5 min later, a few local guys was here and ask us whether we are going to Koh Lipe, phew, I felt relief, since they preparing stuff for boat, then we thought we are safe but when I looked at my watch, it already 9am, then one of the guy came to us ask us to show the boat ticket, he told us Tigerline no service to Koh lipe as our trip on 26 Apr, it is almost the end of the season, there is not much people visit Koh lipe, the company cancel their service.
I am so freak and scared. I call the contact person printed on my ticket. Mr. Adam. He said the same, there is no service by Tigerline to Koh lipe. What I suppose to do? Mr. Adam said Tigerlines office located in Koh Lipe Island, so if I want to get my refund, must get from them. RM 450 fly away? Felt so lost, so he suggest us to buy a new ticket which they do operate speedboat to Koh Lipe, which by Andaman Cruise service, price will be at normal price without discount. RM 120 one way, 2pax round trip at RM 480. We have no choice but to adhere their suggestion.
They drove us to immigration centre to stamp our passport then drove us back to pier, when we reach to pier, we saw around 8 of other tourists waiting, felt more safe now and we pay them for new ticket, here we depart.... phew, finally we board the speedboat. The journey about 1 hour. Finally we arrive, we were stopped on a floating pier as speedboat unable to unload us, there is no pier on Koh Lipe Island. We transferred to long tail boat with fee of 50baht per pax for transfer us to the island.
Due to heavy rain the night before, we were stopped at Tarutao Cabana at Sunrise beach instead of Pattaya beach due to high tight. Upon arrive, we were welcome by few Thai Guys, help collect our passport for arrival immigration stamping purpose. Here I explain to him that I need to look for Tigerline office. He brought me to him.
I explain my situation and showed my ticket to tigerline personnel, then he said, I was board with the tigerline speedboat just now, I was shocked and felt cheated, I told him that I bought another ticket, then he requested me to show him my new ticket which I purchased this morning.
He explained to me that both Tigerline and Andaman Cruise were travel agent who authorised by Forra speedboat for boat ticket service. He show me that both my ticket was printed with Mr Adam name and contact number which I did not realize. Both ticket really with same person contact!!!
The real situation, I was conned by Mr. Adam and gang, according to Tigerline office, we are third cases!!! If we purchase our ticket from Tigerline, the profit will be goes to Thai agent Tigerline. If we purchase from Andaman Cruise, profit will goes to Adam and gang.
OMG, what should I say?? Conned by own Malaysian! and I need Thai guy to refund me. He (sorry I forgot his name) said he willing to refund my depart ticket fees since I had used new ticket, so I get back RM 240 and he want me to use the Tigerline ticket to board the speedboat upon return and get my return ticket refund from Andaman Cruise. I told him I need to discuss with my friend, as I was blanked and lost, cant think anything after whole screwed morning. Then later when I go to him again, he said he spoken to his boss, who agreed to refund fully to me. So nice of him and now I know the whole issue. Therefore I decide to blog it here, hope no other tourist caught by Mr. Adam.
Okay, all done, it is about 11.30pm so we shall move on, got our free map from Cabana, then we look for our resort, so we decide to walk over since it is near the beach side about 400m away, so we carry our luggage and walk but after 100 m, we find that we have trouble as high tight. End up we walk thru one of the resort area to the street area, guess what, those local people look at us at a kind..haha sure, some strangers walk into their places under the hot sun.
Since we not familiar the area, upon reach the street area outside the resort we just passed by, we walk to ask some locals about our resort Zanom Sunrise Beach Resort....ops, the little boy do not understand English... a kind tour agent asked us to go near him, he helped us to call our hotel personnel, then we wait there. It is really really hot. 10 min later someone by the bike arrived.
Mike, the perfect Resort manager who with us throughout our trip in Koh Lipe, he fetch both of us with our luggage to our resort. Wow, although just 500m, but quite far if walk under the sun. Upon our arrival, we just don't care anymore, sit at perfect beach side for our lunch. That's really a nice view, blue sky, greenish sea and white sands. Our lunch was great, we ordered Green Curry Noodles, Pad Thai and Mango Sticky rice... then the fun part upon we ask for our bill, Mike said, don't worry about the bill, just take some rest at our chalet. So nice of him... opps, when we reach our Chalet, he was shocked and immediately close the door... As they haven't dress up the room after the previous customer checkout.... Okay, since then, we just went rest room and left everything there. We continue check with Mike for snorkeling trip package.
The packages divide into 3, A, B, C.
$1500 Baht Package A with 5 snorkeling spot and 2 island visit.
$1800 Baht Package B with same 7 place but for deep sea snorkeling spot.
$ 2300 Baht Package C is Package A + B which we can choose to leave if we do not like the place.
I cannot remember the price clearly as he speak min English and I did not take note of it.
This packages is for private boat chartered for 2 pax. I check with him for cheaper option. Then he said we may discuss with another group of resort tourist whose also from Malaysia, if they agree, we may share the price together. Therefore we were 7 adults and 1 kids. Include snorkel goggle and life jacket, each pax is around $320 baht. I surveyed, outside shall be around $650 baht. :-) Our lunch was excluded, we order tapao from our resort... Oh ya, the we chosen package A which is 9am -4pm.... worth the value right??
(Photo will be post later)
Since we had done our day 2 package, we move on to walking street to look around. Bought a bottle of mineral water and bread. Why bread? you will know shortly. Then walk around, they are a bit lay back, those area just like our market alley in the morning and some town feels. As the day is too hot, we dropby to a lady pan cake and take a sip of Thai tea with milk, and sure won't miss our pan cake. Ordered a whipped cream banana cheese pancake. The shop is just opposite The Box chalet at walking street. Thumb up for the food and drink, with free wifi too. The pancake is so crunchy, is a hot thin roti canai with filling of banana and cheese with whipped cream on top.
Then we continue to walk around walking street, it is quite long, although on the map and some blog say the island is small. That is not true! As the weather too hot, we just walk half of the walking street, we also stop by saw a shop with promotion of $120 baht for 6 1.5L mineral water, then we bought them and next, we carried them so heavy, then we decide go back to our resort to rest. I haven't have a good sleep and had bad viral infection before the trip, so just take a nap.
When woke up, it is around 5pm, we refresh ourselves then enjoy our beach, we met our new friend William and family who join tour for snorkeling the next day. They just finish enjoy the beach fun and told us that it is low tight which we can walk to the sea, with lots coral and fish. Then we went back our chalet to change to swim suit, we enjoy our evening sight seeing some coral and nemo! yes it is reachable, as the water just below the knee level, and guess what, nemo hiding in the soft coral.
you can touch them! so cute, little nemo doesn't afraid of us, just sometimes feel shame and hide in the coral. Great experience haha though this is not my first time see them.
Just too bad we saw many sea urchin, and many rocks, as we do not want to destroy the soft coral, we just walk around without touch on them. Remember they will die if too much of touches! After a while we went back to our chalet, we prepare ourselves, clean up and we went to night walking street around 7pm. We heard that walking street like night market, lets go around, I am so excited and hungry. I saw lots stall with fresh seafood and barbecue pit all ready waiting for customer, some stall full of customers too. Well we just walk along, at one of stall, we saw some selling bbq chicken on stick, we grabbed one @ 60 baht. Taste good, we share and continue walk around. Opps, then later while enjoy the meat, something not right, there is a doggie follow me, look at the meat...we just don't bother, we enjoy it, we walk to the end of walking street at pattaya beach. Omg, the doggie still following me. The beach is nice with cool winds, there we just walk around, since it getting dark, not much scene, and the doggie was so pity, walk behind me and sit there waiting for my bbq chicken stick bones. No choice I just gave up, let him have it, then when he enjoy it, then few more dogs run over toward me, so we left the beach soonest possible.
Then when I got back to the walking street, I still holding the stick from the bbq chicken as no dustbin around, then suddenly the same doggie follow me, argh, I had a shock, so I throw the stick to him, scared him to came nearer to me. Then SP just laugh at me. Okay, time to grab some other food. We saw Paolo's Pizza, there is many choice giant pizza, it is so fresh, we grab 2 piece @ 100 baht each. The lady also offer help us to reheat the pizza. So we sit in front of Pattaya beach enjoy our pizza.
After our pizza, we decide to hunt for our dinner. We want to have seafood dinner, walk back to mid of walking street, we found a shop full of people enjoying seafood dinner, plan to join the crowd but just too many people, then we just don't want to wait, we walk back to our resort and have ours dinner on the beach which with some free music and some disco light on the beach with some dogs giving us free dances on the beach. Wave and the moonlight was extra romance for us.
We had our Mike to take our order, we have lemon juice steamed squid, very fresh and spicy juicy, then we have a tom yam seafood, BBQ grilled Thai Tuna with Chaolay sauce, stir fried morning glory, local thai vege like kang kung. For drinks, we have a Chang Beer and a Fresh Mango Juice, 100% fresh mango at 70 baht, no water and sugar added. Really nice...
Mike also remind us to order our tabao for tomorrow snorkel trip, he was so caring to organize everything for us. Imagine with a lay back area, you being serve like a five star service when he just can understand limited English, he still politely with proper service manner 'May I repeat your order please?'
Our drinks served, since the day is so hot, our refreshing cool drink gave us a lovely cool down. While wait for our food, we enjoy the music and relaxing environment. Food photo may describe our stories here. The portion is much worth the value, we cannot even finish our food. Overall the bill come with the list which I will upload later, it is with SP.
After our dinner, Mike walk to us and check if we need extra order and whether the food quality and make sure their service is good. It is amazing service in budget resort. Love it! Highly recommended. Well after a while we went go to counter for our bill, guess what, they totally forgot to bill us for our lunch. If we just kept quiet then we may got our free lunch! Since we enjoy their service, we be honest and get them to bill us for our lunch that we had for the afternoon.
Ops after a whole day stories, it just around 10pm, time to bed and can't wait for tomorrow, our trip for sea. Our room is cool, just some irate mosquito around, else no complaint.
Day 2
Suppose to wake up at 7.30am, prepare ourselves for island hopping journey at 9am. Just as early as 6am woke up due to heavy storm and rain. SHIT! How is my sea plan if it is raining?? Crossing my finger, pray for rain stop soonest possible, continue my sleep, hope my next wake will have a shiny day after rain.
Alarm rang at 7.30am, seems mine was a fat hope, it was rain non stop :-(
Well, I just didn't care, was hungry, get to our Zanom cafe, Mike was ready to serve us. Order our breakfast, then Mike told us that our trip arrangement might be cancel if the rain continue, just wait to a later time if rain stop, he will rearrange the tour for us.
Our breakfast here... it is a bean brewed coffee and fresh orange juice with american breakfast set of ham, bacon, toast with cheese, scramble eggs @ price of 170 Baht... worth of the food just a little small portion but the taste and quality is good. After our breakfast, well, we only can sit at the cafe and hope for the rain stop.... it finally stop at 10.30am!!! phew! Although still with slight rain, Mike arranged our Chao Lay and long tail.. lets get off...
We reach to our first spot, here is semi deep around 8-10m with colorful corals. With lots of fish, we brought some bread.
will continue blog soon
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