Thailand – Travel Younger

Chapter 227: Motorbike/car/ferry/taxi/train (x2): Oh, the places you can go!

Norm Bour — Thu, 03 Oct 2024 05:01:47 +0000

10.03.24

Our recent exit from Thailand (to KL) started from the island of Koh Samui about noon on day 1, and ended about 1:30 pm the following day using all those types of transportation –and that included hanging out at the Surat Thani train station from about 730pm until 0230 when we picked up train #1. This was the second 24 hour travel day in a week, and we were exhausted!

When we reached the Malay/ Thai border, it was a simple walk through immigration, and picking up the KL Kommuter, which starts a four hour train ride to downtown Kuala Lumpur.

But first we needed a break, so took one in Butterworth (Penang), Malaysia for two days, and we both marveled at how smoothly that all went. Which we appreciate, since that is not always so!

No question, it takes planning and LUCK to travel as often as we do. The logistics of time changes and ticketing (online and in person) improves with experience and PRACTICE, but there are no short cuts! So many things can go wrong, both on OUR end, ie, booking incorrectly, plus the weather and “Acts of God,” and surely, the challenge of hoping that your transportation provider follows through on THEIR end. Even after all these years, hundreds of train, plane, and bus rides, I still freak myself out a bit, wondering if I made a mistake.

A few years ago we were on the Greek island of Naxos the week before Christmas, and it was beautiful! We took a side trip to Santorini, and on New Years Eve DAY we were scheduled to return to Athens via ferry, to catch a flight to Singapore later that day. This was a REALLY BIG DEAL, since this was our first trip to Asia, about 13 hours in the air, and we’d be celebrating the New Year of 2020 while in the air with several hundred of our closest strangers!

That departure morning we woke to rain and strong winds and went down to the ferry port in plenty of time, only to discover that ALL ferries were grounded. Oh s..t! How to get back to the mainland? There was only ONE morning flight, and it was due to leave about 90 minutes after we had our ferry cancelled. So Kat and I hauled ass (she was a trouper), got a taxi, and took a painfully slow ride to the airport, all the while dodging huge raindrops and large puddles. We got to the airport as the weather was “kind of” clearing, went to the ticket counter and found out that 1) there WERE tickets available, and 2) the flight we wanted to take BACK to the mainland was delayed getting IN, so we actually had plenty of time.

Long story short, we caught the plane, we got to Athens, and later flew to Singapore. But just ONE little hiccup and we would have been out a grand and have to do some serious scrambling to get to Asia.

The lesson here is, do what you can to be sure you are doing everything RIGHT, allow yourself plenty of TIME, be PATIENT, and HOPE (pray) for the best outcome. In all our travels we have missed just one flight (to the island of Dominica) out of Miami—due to a hurricane—and ended up staying in the Miami airport for almost 24 hours. Stuff happens, but the odds are usually in your favor

Chapter 226: Koh Samui Grew on Us!

Norm Bour — Mon, 23 Sep 2024 10:07:31 +0000

09.23.24

Some new locations are immediate hits and we literally fall in love quickly. Da Nang, Vietnam was like that, and within a day of being there to “check it out” we knew we wanted to return; which we did a month later. Some places are immediate “fails,” and can STAY that way, and other times they grow on us, and that was my feeling in Koh Samui.

The island gets a lot of love from many travelers and expats, and as the second largest island in Thailand, it is a well known spot for Brits, Aussies, and other Europeans. It is not necessarily the easiest island to get to, although it does have an airport which you can fly into from Bangkok and other large cities. That is a pricey flight for the distance, primarily since there is little competition and Bangkok Airways has a lock on it. You can also fly into Surat Thani, which is on the Thai mainland, and within a 90 minute ferry ride away. But if you want to do it affordably, you need to stay on land and fortunately there is a nice overnight train from Bangkok, for about $25 one way. Then it involves a one hour bus/ shuttle ride to the ferry port, then another 90 minutes ferry ride. The point is, Koh Samui is not a “weekend” trip if you are short on time or money.

After an almost 24 hour travel day we arrived on the island mid Friday and on the second day did an exploratory ride around the perimeter, which is NOT that long, and took a few hours with stops. We hit a few beaches and happened upon Silver Beach Resort, which enamored us, so stayed for the afternoon. It’s a small bay with rocks on either end, plus large rocks in the water which gave it lots of character. I noticed the hotel adjacent to the restauarant we ate at and thought, “nah, can’t afford that…” So I was pleasantly surprised to book two nights for less than $80 and Kat and I planned to return at the end of our initial stay. That first lodging was challenged due to an ankle injury that she sustained, we aren’t 100% sure how, but for a few days she was home bound, unable to walk. At all. And with another BIG move a week later, that caused us both concern.

As it turned out, it was nothing serious and within a few days she was able to get around and we returned to Silver Beach. And for two days we loved every minute. The front desk noticed she was limping and offered us a room in the FRONT—ocean view—for a slight upgrade, so I said,

“hell, yea!” She was fine hanging out at this new spot while I explored a bit, and I visited the Na Mueang waterfall, and Lamai Beach, neither of which wowed me. But we DID like the vibe of the east side and as we parted we said that yes, we might return, maybe for a month. Our few days on the Lamia Beach side was a great way to end, and also gave us a chance to get ready for yet ANOTHER 24 hour travel day to Malaysia. Coming up.

Chapter 225: Our Latest 23.5-hour Travel Day

Norm Bour — Sun, 15 Sep 2024 09:54:48 +0000

09.15.24

Time for a change and yet another island as we left Pattaya (Thailand) after 50 days, took the bus back to Bangkok (2 hrs.), then transferred to an overnight train at An Bang station, which was enormous and beautiful, as nice as an international airport! From there we went south to Surat Thani (11 hrs. overnight more or less) then ferried to Koh Samui (pronounced “Koh samooey”). Now we get to see what this little jewel of an island that everyone talks about is like, so we’re checking it out.

The train ride was not the most comfortable in the world (for me) and instead of private cabins, all the berths were along the length of the rail car, but it was roomy enough, like a dorm. We left on time (7:50 pm) and arrived on time, 0630, SO that is always appreciated using ANY form of transportation!

From the Surat Thani train station we were solicited by vendors offering a combo bus shuttle/ ferry ride to our island, so we bit to the tune of 420 baht, about $12, but I had no idea that the Donsak ferry port was over an hour’s ride. Even so, the station was delightful and we hopped on for an easy 90 minute ride across the Bay of Thailand. Kudos to Seatran, the vendor, for keeping unbelievably clean bathrooms–always a nice surprise. Before we left, I joked with Kathleen and told her that this would be your last chance to use a clean bathroom before we get on the ferry, but I was wrong.

We have a nice AirBNB room, but it’s actually an upstairs/ downstairs apartment. Not bad for $15.50/ night. For 5 days we’ll explore and possibly go to yet ANOTHER nearby island, Kho Phangan, to see which is better. I think this makes 16 islands we’ve stayed on in 12 months, and I have to say, sometimes getting to them can be challenging…

Chapter 224: The “Visa” Question & Shoulder Season (recaps)

Norm Bour — Sat, 31 Aug 2024 03:48:09 +0000

09.05.24

We’re transitioning our newsletter to a paid service along with LOTS of new features, incluiding FREE books, webinars, discounted tours, AND a FREE quarterly phone call to get YOUR questions addressed. Here’s our past two newsletters which will give you an idea of some of things we teach you:

After nine months in Asia and visiting five countries (Vietnam twice), we’ve learned the nuances of visas, and one thing you can be sure of is this: many times they make no logical sense, and the rules seem to be random, arbitrary, and designed to trip up the potential visitor! Some allow you to make “border runs,” which are quickie turn arounds and allow you to start the visa timetable anew, but the rules on them are also quite specific. Either way, it’s in your best interest to know how to handle them. Here’s my last newsletter which went into more detail.

https://normbour.substack.com/…/we-dont-need-no-stinkin…

If you are NOT subscribed to our newsletter, we will be enhancing it over the next month and offering a free webinar on “Five Ways to Manifest Your Travel Dreams.” With your subscription you will also get a copy of “Nomadic Life for All Ages,” and “The History and Magic of Northern Greece,” plus two other books I wrote. The icing on the cake will be a 15 minute call every calendar quarter to ask your own specific travel related questions. Your subscription is offered at a low “Founders” price, which you can learn about here:

https://normbour.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=898064ef.

WHAT & When IS Shoulder Season? Timing and location are critical to a more comfortable stay!

Most of us have learned that there are four seasons each year: summer, fall, winter, and spring. But for travelers—especially nomads or full time travelers—they can be broken down into similar, but different, categories:

1. Tourist Season (summer)

2. Shoulder 1: fall

3. Winter (brrrr!)

4. Shoulder 2: spring

You may be unfamiliar with shoulder season, but for many (including us) it’s the best time to travel. The weather is nice, not too cold, or too warm (the Goldilocks Zone), and demand is not so high (yet) to push up prices, which is why you should be selective about where you spend the “summer” season. And for this story, I’m using northern hemisphere summer, ie, June through August. For you Down Under folks, it’s opposite.

We discovered shoulder season in our first year of travel when we stayed in Italy, followed by Croatia. Leg number one began about April 1, and after six weeks in Italy we ferried over to Croatia for another six weeks, and discovered that we hit the “sweet spot” of ideal temps, and not that expensive—yet—nor that crowded. As our six weeks in Croatia moved along we definitely saw an increase in traffic come the middle of June. Over the years this has been a huge part of determining where we go, since weather dictates crowds as well as expenses, and since we don’t do “cold” anymore, we prefer the Mediterranean climates. And that is why so many travelers and nomads gravitate to the equatorial belt from Portugal through Spain, then on to Italy and Greece. It’s Econ 101: more demand= higher prices. That is one reason why we avoid “Western Europe,” since those countries are destinations for much of the world. Here’s my last newsletter which went into more detail.

https://normbour.substack.com/…/what-and-when-is…

Chapter 223: Hitting Some “Tourist Attractions” in Pattaya, TH

Norm Bour — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 03:50:47 +0000

08.18.24

We’ve been venturing out over the past few weeks and found two very different attractions. One is called the “Sanctuary of Truth,” and it’s a magnificent WOODEN structure that they call a museum, but it seems more like a shrine. The other is a bit more mundane, but still fun, and that was Dolphinarium, which is a water attraction with half a dozen very well trained dolphins and two sea lions.

The Sanctuary, which they claim to be the “largest wooden castle in the world,” is toured with very knowledgeable guides that offer insight in almost every language. Because the structure is under constant construction we had to wear hard hats, which made a lot of sense. It’s not that old and construction was started in 1981 by a private party, Mr. Lek, who was guided by Thai/ Buddhist principles of How to Live Life based on Truths. The castle doctrine asks: “Who are we? Where are we from? How do we live our lives? And what is a life goal?” and guides the visitor through seven of them:

1. Who are we? Where are we from?

2. How do we live our lives?

3. The End of Life, which discovers the nature of death

4. Samples of Civilization

5. What is a life goal?

6. Society is like a two-sided coin (discussing good, as well as bad, sides)

7. The beginning of society, which focuses on Family

Kat and I were both awed by the Sanctuary, which is perched at the water’s edge, with magnificent scenery all around. It reminded us of the La Familia Sagrada in Barcelona (the Gaudi cathedral), in that the tour involves a 360 degree look in all directions to truly take it all in. As you might expect, pictures do not do it justice.

The Dolphinarium was a pleasant getaway and we both agreed was one of the best aquatics shows we’ve seen. The relationship and love between the dolphins and their trainers were evident, and with a show time of less than an hour, it kept us entertained. And Kat got to pet a dolphin for the first time, so scratch that one off the Bucket List!

Chapter 222: More Pattaya Thoughts: Beaches, Cats, Bikes…

Norm Bour — Tue, 13 Aug 2024 04:50:30 +0000

08.13.24

So far Pattaya is winning us over after just two weeks. The weather has been hot, but surprisingly comfortable, and I think not as humid as Vietnam or Malaysia. We are able to go outside and “do things” without melting, and since we have a really killer pool and beach area, we’re taking advantage of them. I found a bike club in the area and a rental company and took on a Honda Forza 300 for a few days. I got a nice ride out in the countryside to see some of the back areas, and even though the bike for ME felt like a Barca Lounger on wheels, for Kat the back seat was NOT as comfortable as the front. It’s a heavy scooter, pretty wide as well as long, and with an auto transmission it’s easy to get around. We ventured down to a national park on a military base, with a private beach, Sai Kaew, and on the way out drove by a cat shelter. It was also run by military personnel and they allowed us to stop in and visit the cats, who were very friendly and affectionate. We both agree that having a pet is just not in the cards yet– it’s hard enough just moving US!

I also did a longer solo ride and found a really nice scenic view spot, ALSO on the same military base. I was unable to ride the bike in to the end of the road, so had to hike about 1.5 km to get to the top, and it was magnificent, plus had a beautiful shrine at the summit.

We’ve explored a bit more of the town and find that there’s a few other areas to check out for longer term stays. Jomtien Beach is one of them, and is recommended by several people. But we DO love the Wongamat Beach area where we’re staying for another 30 days and found an awesome beach restaurant just 5 minutes away, plus several other eateries. When we leave here we head back to Bangkok, then pick up a train south into Malaysia for 90 days

Chapter 221: Medical Costs Overseas (intro to our NEW newsletter)

Norm Bour — Mon, 12 Aug 2024 04:47:00 +0000

08.12.24

If you’ve ever wondered about medical costs overseas, OR thought about the option of getting medical treatment done outside your own country, here’s a newsletter I recently published that shared some of our experiences:

https://normbour.substack.com/…/medical-tourism-medical….

https://normbour.substack.com/subscribe?coupon=898064ef.

Chapter 220: One Week In-Pattaya

Norm Bour — Mon, 05 Aug 2024 04:13:45 +0000

08.05.24

Our first week in Pattaya is proving to be quite an eye-opener! Truly, I was not that excited to come to Thailand, primarily because of my overreaction in 2020 to the crowds and excessive pollution of Bangkok. But this town is chill! It has almost 100,000 people, yet traffic is quite manageable.

We recently went downtown at 0800, and had no problems with rush hour anything; there was none! Scooter riders are courteous, and they are not trying to outrun the lights, and with a series of one-way streets, everything flows nicely. Car drivers are very slow and cautious, but I’d rather that than some of the wildness we saw in Vietnam.

We’ve found several well-stocked, I mean really well-stocked grocery stores, with a good selection of local as well as Western products, along with a quasi-Walmart store (Lotus) which has just about everything. A few days ago I had two cases of nostalgia, as we found a Turkish restaurant with something I truly love–simits (very hard to find)—and in Turkey they are sold on almost every street corner, plus I caught my first flick in a while, Deadpool, which I rate 4.5 stars, but definitely for Marvel & superhero movie lovers.

Within a very short walk or ride are several nice restaurants, and we found our first night market, which consisted of several dozen kiosks of delicious food for very good prices. We’ll be here about 2 months, and so far I’m enjoying everything about Pattaya. The city has a bad rap in certain corners and I plan to write some stories to offset that with the GOOD around here. Even though it’s rainy season, we haven’t really seen any yet, just a threat, and maybe a few light sprinkles, which has been a pleasant surprise since the overcast skies keeps it cooler. Our resort is located outside town, and is very private, plus our scooter cost all of 80 some dollars for the month. But best of all are the people: they are kind, respectful and sweet, as we also found in Bali and Vietnam. But there is a factor here that we recognize could change things in the future.

There is more Russian spoken around us than we’ve ever heard, and more Cyrillic writing on signs. We were told that the wealthy Russians are buying a lot of property, presumably as a hedge against troubles in their own country. Is that a factor for US? Not sure yet.

I’ve made note of a few differences between Vietnam & Thailand:

> credit cards: Thailand seems to be more restrictive on minimum purchases, even at major stores and chains. It ranges between $6.00-9.00 USD which is a hassle because that requires us to use and carry more cash, which I avoid.

> left side driving vs right side driving: aside from the easier overall driving conditions, I find it more comfortable to drive on the LEFT side…this from a right side driver all my life. Left land driving seems to be more fluid on corners and turns where there is two-way traffic.

Along with this post are some pictures of a really cool 3D optical illusion museum we went to last week. We went to one in Mexico when we were stuck there, but this one was far better.

Chapter 218: One night in Bangkok makes a hard man humble…

Norm Bour — Sun, 28 Jul 2024 04:09:39 +0000

07.27.24

That opening line from the 1984 hit song says a lot about what Bangkok was 40 years ago, and it’s possible that not much has changed. It’s still a place where you can get humbled and crazy if you want…

Our first 24 hours in Bangkok were interesting! We chose a nice part of town, about 1 mi from City Center, but our particular street is quite a reality check, with cannabis clubs, girly bars with men my age picking up bar girls who are old enough to be their granddaughters… It’s a seedier side of life that I am not that familiar or comfortable with, but that’s okay. Kat does a lot of research before we book, but sometimes the information is wrong, or skewed, and it’s not what we expected. The prices in town are also not as good as Vietnam, and we may have gotten spoiled; some of their breakfasts are double what we’ve been paying.

Today we went to some malls that we were familiar with from our last time here, which was in January 2020. Truthfully, I was not prepared for a city like Bangkok, and at that time I was way out of my element. We had been traveling for less than one year, and the crowds, smog, and chaos definitely did a number on my psyche, and made me want to get the hell out of there. Which is what we did, by bouncing to several different places during the 60 days we were here.

Today was a different story. Yes it was crowded, but it was also overcast with a light drizzle, and temperatures much better than what we have been experiencing, almost cool. We hit some of the pharmacies, and it’s amazing that you can get so many things without a prescription, so we stocked up on some items while we are here.

Which will be for about 72 hours, and then training south to a nice resort just north of Pattaya. It’s a high rise with pools and a gym, and not like a lot of our usual stays.

For me personally, I don’t have enough of a sense of Thailand yet to know if I like it as much as other Asian countries, but it IS quite large, and it seems like the areas to focus on are to the north, ie like Chiang Mai area; the south, like Phuket Island and such, and the central region around Bangkok. And of course we could also head further east and be out of all the big cities totally. So, the bottom line, it is a country worthy of exploration for a long-term stay, especially since they have eased the process of entry.

Chapter 217: Goodbye Vietnam; Hello Thailand!

Norm Bour — Fri, 26 Jul 2024 03:58:30 +0000

07.26.24

We left Vietnam after utilizing almost all of the 90 days available to us on our visa, and it was absolutely time well spent- probably the best overall visitation stop we’ve had in a long time.

We got to Da nang the end of April, and spent 2 days there contemplating if we wanted to return; we loved it and decided that we would come back for 30 days, so looked around and found a great unit which we ended up renting for almost 60 days. But first, we went down to Hoi An, a much smaller city, very mellow, and we spent a bit of time in what they call the Ancient City. After 30 days there, we looked forward to going back to Da nang, and we adored our location, which was just 5 minutes walk to the beach (never crowded), plus more restaurants that we could ever visit in several months time!

We reconnected with and made friends there in a short period of time, both Americans, and other nationalities as well. Kathleen found a great coffee shop, I found a great gym, and we are definitely planning to return. That took some pressure off, since we did not visit all the attractions that were available, so it gives us one more incentive to return.

Next?? You can take this for what it’s worth.

Thailand supposedly needs proof of “onward travel” before you can depart the country you are leaving from, so we got an “onward ticket”. Come to find out it was a waste of $32; no one ever asked anything, nor did they inquire how long we planned to stay. We read these rules and regulations, and many times it freaks us out, but we have found most of the time they really don’t get followed