Thai-Malaysia Trip – Gotchas to Avoid

While it is entirely possible to arrange for flight tickets and hotel packages online, we found it better in many ways to go with a tour company specializing in outbound travel services. Moreover, our Holyland trip reservation prepared us to better deal with the shortcomings of the tour company personnel. Even so, many surprises lurk for a first-time South Asia bound traveler. Below is a list of gotchas to avoid when reserving a trip to South Asian countries from Kerala:

1. Travel agents offer vanilla packages that include a city tour and/or one or more attractions, depending on the number of days planned for a particular city. The standard packages are very economical. They are only slightly flexible when it comes to adding/deleting items in the package itinerary and upgrading hotels. Half-day city tours are a given for many of these packages and are worthwhile only for first-time visitors. In general, tour companies do not favor altering packages for it involves more work on their part. We preferred Taman Nagara instead of Genting for the Malaysia wing and it took the tour company a few weeks before getting back to us – the quote was a whopping $2700 compared to the $1000 for the Genting package.
2. When choosing packages, it is vital one is clear on what exactly is offered. The itineraries provided tend to be on the cryptic side. It pays to ask and verify what the offer comprises of before signing up. Further, it is best to contact the tour providers in the host country directly with one’s concerns as opposed to the tour company you signed up with in Kerala. The local tour company representatives are not the final authority and in many cases can be fairly inaccurate.
3. August-September is a pretty good time to visit Thailand, Malaysia, and other South Asian countries – though it can be a little bit wet in September. For the Middle East, December through February is the best time to go.
4. Phuket is a lot more popular that Pattaya as a beach town. Our package offered Pattaya although switching to Phuket was no big deal for the tour operator. That option is slightly more expensive as a local flight is necessary to get to Phuket. From our perspective, Pattaya worked just as well and we have no reservations recommending it.
5. The tour companies provide visa services at reasonable costs – Rs 1500 and Rs 2400 respectively for Malaysia and Thailand. We didn’t avail this option, instead decided to deal with this at the airports concerned. As per the recommendation for the US consular affairs – there is no charge for visas for US citizens in Malaysia and Thailand.
6. The tour operators primarily offer packages with full-service airlines. When we approached for a quote, we were routed through Bangalore or Madras in either Malaysian or Thai flights. These options were comparatively more expensive than direct flights through Air Asia. Furthermore, Air Asia’s discounted fares when purchased directly from their website could not be matched by our tour operator even after we informed them about the discrepancy. Finally, we paid around $50 more per person going through the tour operator for our Air Asia tickets – as our credit/debit cards were not getting accepted when trying to purchase tickets directly from Air Asia website, we bit the bullet and went with what the tour operator offered.
7. Air Asia flight ticket rates can vary vastly depending on the date chosen. So, it is worthwhile to play with the rated quotes, if dates are flexible. Our initial quote from our tour company was with Thai Airways flight via Madras for about $175 more per person compared to the Air Asia flight they first quoted. After playing with the website, we suggested different dates which brought down the pricing further by around $110 more per person.
8. Online check-in is a breeze and highly recommended for Air Asia flights as otherwise one might end-up in crappy seats – online check-in can be done 7 days in advance. There are pages to sign-up for seat selection, seating upgrades, travel insurance, etc. But, there was no option to purchase meals in that interface. Better to do that via your travel agent or through the website.
9. US dollars are generally not accepted by retail vendors in both countries. Airport counters are generally not that competitive compared to money exchange counters in the cities. Exchange minimal amounts at the airport and do the bulk of your exchange needs once you are in the city.
10. The LCC Terminal in KUL is exclusive to Air Asia and facilities are very limited. A new one is being built with a tentative opening date of April 2013. We had a long wait at LCC Terminal and transfer counters didn’t open till 7AM in the morning. Even though we were on transit, we still had to go through immigration and get a 30-day visa. They do have a 120-hour transit permit option, but we were told to go through immigration – not sure why. Departure gates open only 3 hours before the scheduled flight. That is a bummer, as outside there is limited seating while many retail shops and much better seating and food options are available once inside the departure gates. We managed to find seats to spend about 5 hours overnight only to find special waiting room and a premium lounge by the side of the transit counters later – definitely a better option, if only we were aware.
11. The 7 kg Air Asia cabin-baggage limit is enforced during the first check-in and there were no other checks for the rest of the flights.
12. It is preferable to ask men instead of women for directions in Thailand. Possibly because of a lack of respect for women, being rude is second nature to many women. Also, it is worth being aware that Thailand is big on white-worshipping.
13. Alcohol is readily available in Thailand. But, it is very expensive and harder to find in Malaysia – it is heavily taxed and hence it is best to get it at a duty-free before arrival.
14. Accommodation can be iffy, if the travel agent’s default package is accepted at face value. If one can afford, it is worthwhile to get an upgrade to better hotels – online travel review sites can be a great resource in this regard.
15. For half-day city tours, marketing stops are mandatory and it is best to hurry through them – their offerings are generally overpriced. Sometimes cabs offer hugely discounted fares, if you volunteer to go inside their client’s retail shop. This can be a good deal, if you can resist buying their wares.
16. Genting First World hotel can be a frenzied experience although if you know how things work, things can go very smoothly: Check-in counters in the main lobby uses a ticket-based system – take a ticket and wait for your number to be called. Most places you would want to go are accessible via the indoor walkways – sticking to them is preferable to going out into the street and trying to locate the building. Check-out can be a breeze, if the kiosk is used. The bell counters work OK but there can be a big line at certain times of the day. Buffet breakfast can be very chaotic unless you go really early (6:30 AM) – vegetarian section is usually empty.

Related Posts:

1. Trip Report to Genting. 
2. Trip Report to Kuala Lumpur (KL). 
3. Trip Report to Pattaya. 
4. Trip Report to Bangkok. 

 
Last Updated: 10/2012. 

 

Trip Report to Bangkok

A DS Travel representative picked us at the scheduled pick-up time (4:30 PM) for transfer from Pattaya to the Royal Park Palace Hotel in Bangkok. There was a ten minutes minor delay when our driver was stopped, apparently for some license issue near the airport. Royal Park Palace Hotel is sorely in need of a major renovation - the rooms are infested, the carpets are way too limp, and the furniture needs more than a coat, etc. The indoor pool is 1.5 meters deep throughout. Room service at the hotel was average – it was hard to communicate in English. 

Breakfast was substantial and included Thai specialties, bread, few salads, decent coffee, watered juice, and one cereal option. (Breakfast is served from 6 - 10 AM but that day the place was packed by 8AM.) Our package included a half day temple and city tour of Bangkok and we were picked up for that at 8:10 AM. The tour consisted mainly of short visits to two temples followed by a driving city tour. The first visit was to the golden Buddha temple which hosts the world’s largest solid gold statue. It is located in the district of Samphanthawong in Chinatown. The statue is 3m tall and weighs 5.5 tonnes and is believed to have been made in the Sukhothai period between the 13^th century and the early 18^th century. At one point it was completely plastered and moved from Ayutthaya to Bangkok for hiding from the Burmese, who were besieging the city. Following that, its true composition was forgotten for almost 200 years. The rediscovery of the statue is truly an amazing story - An old abandoned temple housed a stucco-painted Buddha. Although, the statue did not appear attractive, the decision was to move it to Wat Traimit, a common pagoda in Bangkok. As that temple did not have a building to house the statue, it was stored under a simple tin roof for 20 years. In 1955, a new building was built and while moving it the cable of the crane broke and the statue dropped on to the mud. The wet plaster covering the statue cracked and during its cleaning the solid gold statue underneath was discovered!

The next stop was at the Temple of the Reclining Buddha (aka Wat Pho), located in Rattanakosin district adjacent to the Grand Palace. The complex consists of two walled compounds. The northern compound houses the Reclining Buddha and the Massage School and the southern compound is a working Buddhist Monastery. Apart from the huge reclining Buddha statue, the temple is also popular as the birthplace of traditional Thai massages. The site was the center of education for traditional Thai medicine before the temple was founded in 1781 AD and is recognized as the first public university of Thailand. During King Rama III’s reign (1824 to 1851 AD), plaques inscribed with medical texts were placed around the temple. The reclining Buddha is 50 ft high and 143 feet long with the foot (10’x15’) displaying inlay work in mother-of-pearl. Adjacent to the reclining Buddha building is a small raised garden featuring a bodhi tree which is a cutting of the original tree in India where Buddha sat awaiting enlightenment. The site is huge and home to more than thousand Buddha images – the reclining Buddha is the largest with a length of 160 feet. The grounds outside the temple contain 91 stupas – 71 of the smaller ones contain the ashes of the royal family while the 21 large ones contain the ashes of Buddha. The driving tour included photo opportunities at Emerald Temple, Royal Palace, Lumpini Park, police grounds, and the huge flower market. The tour ended by ~10:30 AM (very short for a half-day tour) with a marketing stop at a Gem Gallery. We were dropped off at at Robinson Plaza upon request. Level 0 of the plaza has a variety food court – it is very popular with the locals – lunch including desserts for four was only 400 Bhats. A McDonalds and a large grocery store are available in Level 1 as well – coffee was about 45 Bhats but ice-cream was only 9 Bhats due to some promotion. Nearby is the intra-market (roadside stalls) where bargaining is the order of the day – T-shirts start around 150 Bhats while regular shirts start around 200 Bhats – both can be easily bargained down although they quote about 50% more initially.

Breakfast at the hotel the next day was a repeat of the previous day. We checked out around 9:45 AM and were transferred to the airport at around 10AM for our afternoon flight to KUL. Document verification in the airport went very smooth. Food options during our Air Asia flight was again very limited – managed to get three tandoori wraps and a Malaysian dish (Nasi Lemak). Overall, we felt a packaged tour is a good option for a first trip but anyone wanting to explore more should allot a week or more to this country. 

Related Posts:

1. Trip Report to Pattaya. 
2. Trip Report to Bangkok. 
3. Thai-Malaysia Trip - Gotchas to Avoid. 

Last Updated: 10/2012.

Thailand - Travel/Philately/Numismatics/Memorabilia Profile

Thailand, a country in Southeast Asia bordered by Burma, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Gulf of Thailand, and the Andaman Sea has a total land area of 198,115 square miles and a population of around 66 million. Thailand, the land of the Buddha, has some of the most exquisite Buddhist temples. Its terrain is very diverse with mountains, plateaus, and river valleys. Thailand is an emerging economy and is categorized as a newly industrialized country. The major sectors of its economy are exports and tourism. Exports include rice, textiles, jewelry, cars, computers and electrical appliances. An upcoming huge engineering project is that of the Thai Canal which would make Thailand a logistical hub.

Travel Resources: 

The best time to visit Thailand is November through March. Many visit Thailand for the calm Budhist ambiance. The popular attractions are The Temple of the Emerald Budha, Wat Pho, National Museum, Vinmanmek Teak Mansion,  Koh Samui, Phuket, Pattaya, Bangkok, Ayutthaya, and Chiang Mai. The most popular and luxurious resorts in Asia along the Andaman Sea - Phuket, Krabi, Ranong, Phang Nga and Trang are frequented by the elite from round the world. Its traditions are influenced greatly by Indian, Chinese, and Cambodian culture. Thai cuisine is another reason for visiting Thailand. Gastronomic blending of the sweet, spicy, sour, bitter and salty tastes whips up some of the best dishes of the world. The staple food in Thailand is rice and Thai cuisine includes garlic, chillies, lime juice, lemon grass, coconut milk, and fish sauce.

Resource	ISBN or ASIN	Best Price	Description
Lonely Planet Discover Thailand	978-1741799941	$17	Best Guide Book for first-timers: Color Photos and maps, highlights on the top 25 can’t miss experiences, itineraries, and Local Expert Tips.
Thailand Nelles Map	978-3865740748	$11	1:1,500,000 Scale.
Thailand Grounded Adapter Plug – GUA	B004DRYIPE	$8

Philatelic Profile:

The first stamps of Thailand were a set of five stamps released on August 4, 1883 depicting King Chulalongkorn. The set (Scott #1 to #5) catalogs for around $95 mint and around $85 used. Surcharged overprints on the first issue released on July 1, 1885 are even more sought after and catalogs for upwards of $300. A couple of other designs of the same subject along with several overprints formed the primary stamp issues of Thailand till the turn of the century. Chief among them were a set of five stamps released in October of 1899. The set (Scott #70 to #74) is very rare and sought after and catalogs for around $4500 mint and around $1700 used. The premium valuation is due to the fact that the set was rejected by the King and so was not officially released. Three post offices however got shipments by mistake and sold some. Chulalongkorn was the fifth monarch of Siam and his reign lasted over 42 years – from October 1, 1868 to October 23, 1910. His policies are credited with saving Siam from being colonized. The absolute rule of the House of Chakri ended following a bloodless revolution by the Khana Ratsadon on June 24, 1932.

Other issues of Thailand enjoying good philatelic interest include:

1. A set of twelve stamps released on April 17, 1941 showing local scenes. The set (Scott #243 to #254) catalogs for around $225 MNH and around $70 for used. The designs show King Ananda Mahidol, plowing rice field, Royal Pavilion at Bang-pa-in, and King Ananda Mahidol.
2. A set of eight stamps released on February 1, 1967 in the Birds theme. The set (Scott #469 to #476) catalogs for around $75 MNH and around $20 used. The designs show great hornbill, hill myna, white-rumped shama, Diard’s fireback pheasant, spotted dove, Sarus crane, white breasted kingfisher, and Asiatic open-bill.  A sister set of eight stamps in the Orchids theme was released on April 1, 1967. The set (Scott #477 to #484) catalogs for around $75 MNH and around $20 used. The designs include vandopsis parishii, rhynchostylis retusa.
3. A set of eight stamps released on November 18, 1975 showing Ceremonial Barges. The set (Scott #764 to #771) catalogs for around $40 MNH and around $10 used. The designs show Sukhrip Khrong Mueang Barge, Royal Escort Barge Anekchat Phuchong, Royal Barge Anantanakarat, Krabi Ran Ron Rap Barge, Asura Wayuphak Barge, Asura Paksi Barge, Royal Barge Sri Suphanahong, and Phali Rang Thawip Barge.
4. A set of four stamps released on October 9, 1994 to mark the International Letter Writing Week. The set (Scott #1579 to #1582) and a souvenir sheet of four catalogs for around $5 MNH and a little less for used. The designs show winning paintings in design contest: Gold Niello Bowls and Octagonal Footed Tray, Pumpkin Shaped Bowls, Silver Niello Betelnut Set, Covered Square Bowl with Gold Finial and small Lotus-shaped Footed Tray. Thailand has released a number of stamps over the years for the International Letter Writing Week and those form a good collectible theme.
5. A set of four stamps and a souvenir sheet released on April 2, 2000 to publicize Thai Heritage Preservation. The set (Scott #1936 to #1939 and #1939a) catalogs for around $4 MNH and a little less for used. The designs show Chok Cloths from Hat Seio, Mae Chaem, Ban Rai, and Khu Bua.

Numismatic Profile:

Thai currency dates back to around 300 BC when Roman Copper coins along with beeds, seeds, bracelets, etc were used in trade. Metallic Coins from Indochina debut in the 1st century AD followed by Sandalwood Flower Coins, Cowrie Shells, and Baked Clay Coins durin ghte period till the 13th century. Bullet Coins (metal strips folded into spheres) of Thailand are the most well known as they were in circulation for a period of over 600 years starting around the 13th century till its withdrawal in 1904. Gold and Silver Bullet Money was also in circulation during the period. In the modern era, Decimal Coinage (25 Satang = 1 Salung, 100 Satang = 1 Baht) debut in 1937 with the introduction of Bronze Satangs. They are relatively common and catalogs for a few dollars.

Numismatic items of Thailand include:

Item	Price Range	Description
Coins	$1 and up	Common UNC Bahts start around $1. UNC Satangs from the 1940s, UNC Bahts from the 1960s, etc start around $10. Silver Proofs from the 1970s onward, Silver coins from the late 19th century and early 20th century in VF+, etc start around $50. Scarce Low Mintage Silver Proofs, Gold Coins, Authentic Ancient Coinage, etc go well into the 100s.
Paper Money	$2 and up	UNC Banknotes from the 1960s onward starts around $2. Commemorative UNCs from the 1980s onward, Polymer Replacements, Early UNC Banknotes, etc start around $10. UNC Bundles, Scarce Specimens, etc start around $50. High Value Bundles, Specimen Sets, Rare Dates etc go well into the 100s.

Collectible Memorabilia:

Thai silk, leather goods, textiles, pottery, carvings, leaf works etc., are some of the souvenirs from Thailand.

Resource	Price Range	Description
Art	$5 and up	Phuket Poster Art and other Travel prints start around $5. Silk mythology themed prints start around $10. Buddha and Swan Sculptures start around $30. Vintage Travel Posters, Kolae Boat Folk Art, Batik Paintings etc start around $50. Novica Fine Art Oil Paintings start in the 100s and go into the 1000s.
Antiques	$5 and up	Samran Brass Teakwood Forks, Buddha Amulets etc start around $5. 19th century maps, Lacquered Bamboo Basket Boxes, etc start around $10. Tribal Cotton Wall Hangings start around $30.
Jewelry	$2 and up	Ethnic Bracelets, Wisdom Earrings, etc start around $2. Tribal Silver and Bead Jewelry start around $15. 18K and 22K Gold Exquisitely Crafted Ornaments start around $100.
Miscellaneous Collectibles	$1 and up	Postcards start around $1. Character Masks, Postman Year Porcelain Models etc start around $10. Collector Dolls, Ceramic Candle Holders, etc start around $20. Cypraea Specimens over 50mm, Order of the White Elephant and other Honor Badges, etc start around $50. Handmade Buddhist Gongs, Chedi Cinary Urns, Benjarong Porcelain Decorative Jars etc go well into the 100s.

Last Updated: 12/2015.