Gili Trawangan to Bali - Fast Boat

Two days before our departure date we could book onto the boat we'd like to get with Eka Jaya. We picked the earliest boat leaving at 11am and were told to turn up at 10am.

To be honest we didn't need to turn up that early, 20 minutes before departure would of been fine. We checked in and received our departure cards. Just before 11am around 5 different boat companies docked up on the shore so make sure you get on the right one! Our boat was the same as the previous one coming and we waited for everyone to depart before boarding. 

Leaving Gili Trawangan 

This boat was much more full than the one going however everyone still had a seat and the aircon was working. This boat went directly to Padang Bai, Bali and took about 1 and half hours. We enjoyed watching most of the new Tarzan film on the boat. 

Fun for people getting on a different boat!

We departed the boat, got our luggage and headed to the free shuttle services they provide. This part is where they let themselves down.

We were heading to Seminyak and they clearly didn't know how many people were going there. We were two seats short so we squeezed up to fit one more in but nobody else seemed to offer so the other must of got another bus. Being over 6ft 4in it was quite an uncomfortable journey for me and the person infront of me. Unfortunately my legs were cramped for the two hour journey. It also took a while for the minibus to cool down.

Our driver was always looking to race other traffic and we stopped once for fuel. I knew beforehand it was unlikely they would drop us off at our hotels as they advertise but that wasn't a problem. The only annoying thing is, he had no problem in taking the Indonesian couple to their hotel first, they look after each other but not tourists who pay the ridiculous prices!

Oh well, we got dropped off near Seminyak Square, grabbed some food and got a Bluebird meter taxi to our hotel.

Overall I would recommend Eka Jaya to anyone who wants to take a cheaper option! Compared to other boats we saw, they were much bigger and I only encountered an issue at the end due to my height!

Eka Jaya 4 out of 5 

Bali to Gili Trawangan - Fast Boat

The choices for fast boats to Gili Trawangan are endless and I spent a good while looking around online at prices and reviews. The best boat seemed to be Blue Water Express which costs three times the price of cheaper ones. Of course the cheap ones all had awful reviews on online websites such as TripAdvisor. 

After reading around, I decided to opt for Eka Jaya, instead of the likes of Semaya One and others. I can't remember why exactly but either way how bad could a short boat ride be? Prices online were a lot pricier so we booked a few days before at a travel agency in Ubud.

I went into several travel agencies and got offered tickets ranging from 500,000 idr return up to 1,500,000 idr. All the Eka Jaya return tickets were between 600,000 idr and 1,000,000 idr. Some people say you can get it for as little as 400,000 idr if you find the right travel agency on the right day.

Anyway we booked 2 return tickets for 600,000 idr with the shuttle bus picking us up at 11am and the boat departing from Padang Bai harbour at 1pm. We also had the option of being picked up at 7am. They arrived on time and we spent the next hour picking up other people from around Ubud.

Traffic near the boat harbour was very bad and when it passed 1pm we were worried we might have missed the boat. However, within 20 minutes we were all checked in at their office and running for the boat. We think everyone just about made it!

The boat was a nice surprise! Inside was quite modern with a film playing and plenty of room. We were on the Eka Jaya 23 boat, I think they have two boat types. The journey took around 2 hours and the sea was quite calm. We stopped off at Gili Air first to drop and pick people up. When we arrived our luggage was handed down to us on the beach. We headed off for our guesthouse, hopefully the return journey would be the same!

Arriving at Gili Trawangan

4 out of 5 

Medan to Bukit Lawang (Return) - Tourist Bus

Sorry I missed out this post of Medan to Bukit Lawang. 

We were able to book our bus tickets with our trekking company; Bukit Lawang Jungle Trekking for 15€ each. They called it a tourist bus which is basically a 7 seater car. We arranged to be picked up 11am however our hotel got a phone call to say he was running half an hour late which wasn't a problem. 

'Tourist Bus' 

Another couple were already in the car when we got picked up and when we got chatting they were still to be dropped off in Medan. After that we picked up 3 more people which took a while due to the awful traffic around Medan!

One more short stop for the driver to have a cigarette and we were on our way. The car inside was very nice with plenty of space and a small music video screen in the front to watch.

The roads heading towards Bukit Lawang were truly awful from pot holes and it was an extremely bumpy ride. We went through many some villages with school kids waving to you at every opportunity! A very lovely scenic route towards the jungle in Bukit Lawang.

When we arrived we were picked up by motorbikes and taken to our guesthouse. This was a very fun experience, sitting on a motorbike with your big backpacks on!

The return journey to Medan was very similar to the one going! For some reason it only cost us 120,000 IDR each which is nearly half of what we paid going. A bit more of a basic car this time but again it was fine.

The only major downside of both journeys was how long it took due to mainly the traffic in Medan. Both journeys took about 5 to 6 hours each.

4 out of 5 

Medan to Bali - Flight

This flight caused us quite a lot of confusion and problems when we tried to book it. Firstly we couldn't find any direct flights from Kualanamu International Airport in Medan as they all had one stop. Some of these seemed very short and we presumed we would miss our connection. However we then realised that these planes stop once to drop off and pick up passengers without you changing planes.

We found Lion Air to be the cheapest airline offering flights to Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport. They have 3 flights departing a day and we selected the cheapest one. However after several attempts and different credit cards it wouldn't accept any. After some research online, people said it doesn't accept international credit cards. The next plan was to use tiket.com to purchase these flight tickets. I had read mainly positive comments about this website. This time I had my credit card blocked at the payment stage (also happened to a friend). After unblocking my credit card and confirming my transaction was unsuccessful I gave up with Lion Air. 

My next option was Garuda Indonesia which I had heard great things about. Yes two flights cost quite a bit more at 3,185,000 IDR but using there website was quick and simple. The only downside was the departure time of 7am!

After booking we got confirmation electronic tickets and a couple of days before the flight we checked in using the mobile app. This allows you to pick your seats and collect your tickets at the airport as finding a printer can sometimes be a hassle!

The airport shuttle taxi cost 200,000 IDR and we got picked up at 3.30am. Thankfully at this time of the morning there is no traffic. Medan is very new and modern and we arrived just before 4.15am. We checked in with no problems and passed through airport security. We found some comfy sofas with plug sockets to chill on for a couple of hours before boarding. Around 5.30am some cafes started to open so we managed to grab a coffee and some breakfast!

Impressed with Medan's new airport!

Boarding was quick and efficient, we took a short shuttle bus out to the small plane. The plane was around 2 thirds full with plenty of room for everyone. During the first flight we received complementary breakfast and drinks. Breakfast consisted of sausage, omelette, veg and fruit. They also had a selection of hot and cold drinks to pick from. The food was good for a flight. 

Boarding

We landed at the first airport in Palembang around 8.30am and waited for people to disembark and embark. This took about half an hour and we were off again with the plane half full. The second flight was fine and again we got another small meal. This time is was spicy beef with rice and some jelly fruit. Not bad again but quite hot!

Finally we landed on time at Bali Ngurah Rai International and collected our luggage. Now a lot of people write about taxis from the airport to anywhere and getting ripped off. It's cheaper to head out of the airport or to maybe head to arrivals but we thought we would try the taxi counter.

On the sign behind the desk is a price to all destinations, don't pay more even if your hotel is slightly out of the centre! For Ubud the price is 300,000 IDR which was fine however they asked for 350,000 IDR as my hotel wasn't in the centre. Our hotel was on the road next to the main road and I refused to accept. The young guy behind the desk was very arrogant and I felt sorry for the drivers who wanted the fare! I said no and headed back towards the airport where I'm sure I could find someone to take us. A second later another guy from the desk shouted wait wait, 300,000 IDR is fine. Of course they won't turn away money. It just puts you in a grumpy mood that they try to constantly rip you off.

The drive was fine and took about 1 and half hours and the driver was nice. However no tip was left due to way the taxi desk acted.

One final point about Uber, we think that this is now legal in Bali. I believe the price is under 200,000 IDR, so if you already use them maybe it is a cheaper better option! Just don't tell people that you use them as a lot of signs have been put up in Ubud saying they are banned.

4 out of 5

Kuala Lumpur to Medan - Flight

We booked our flights a month in advance as we knew we would be leaving Kuala Lumpur the day after the F1 Grand Prix. The flights weren't expensive and cost 314 ringgit for two people. This package included a meal and 20kg luggage. Once again I didn't receive any confirmation emails from AirAsia when I booked the flights and had to contact them.

With our flight at 8.40am we decided to jump in a taxi from Chinatown (Petaling Street) around 5.30am, as the LRT doesn't open until 6am. We got the taxi to KL Sentral for 15 ringgit and then got on the KLIA express train to the aiport KLIA2. This again cost 55 ringgit per person but was very quick and efficient.

Compared to other airports on our travels, this one was huge! Check in and baggage drop off didn't take long and we headed to grab some food. We had plenty of choice for breakfast ranging from fast food to cafes.

Flight on time!

The flight itself boarded and took off on time. It took about 50 minutes, so by the time your up in the air it feels like your descending for landing. 

Upon arrival at Medan, Kualanamu International Airport we picked up our luggage and headed outside to the taxi rank. It took well over an hour as the Medan traffic is very poor in the city centre. The meter cost came to about 185,000 idr + 3,500 idr for the toll. This seemed reasonable as the hotel wanted 200,000 idr for pickup (however it was unavailable for us).

We stayed at Permata Inn which was nice and cheap for backpackers! Please note that Medan doesn't have much to offer and I would only stay for a day or a stop over. Next stop Bukit Lawang for jungle trekking!

4 out of 5 

Langkawi to Kuala Lumpur - Flight

The difference between flying from Langkawi to Kuala Lumpur and getting the ferry/coach was very small. However one takes only 1 hour whilst the other 8 hours. Simple choice. We found AirAsia to be the cheapest airline and they had several flights leaving each day. We picked the cheapest flight leaving just after lunchtime at 12.50. This flight cost 187.96RM for 2 people with 15kg of luggage each.

Nothing but problems with AirAsia

After booking the flight I received no confirmation email from AirAsia. I managed to check my online banking to see that the payment had been successful. A couple of days later I got a general email to say I could check in for my flight which I did with no problem. Only after checking in did I realise that the flight time was now at 15.10. I didn't have any email to see if it was my mistake or if the flight had change.

I contacted AirAsia using there live chat feature online, I waited in the queue for over an hour. Here I got confirmation that my flight time had indeed changed so I asked them why I wasn't contacted to be made aware. The reply I got said, our staff my have been too busy to email you, which I thought was awful! I told them it was very unprofessional from AirAsia but thanked her for helping to which she abruptly left the live chat.

We turned up at the airport 2 and half hours before our flight departed. We had to use an AirAsia machine to print off our luggage tags before heading over to the bagged drop off. It was quite a quick and efficient method and we headed through to departures.

Langkawi airport is very small with only 4 gates and plenty of AirAsia flights leaving to KL. There was a lot of confusion with when our flight was boarding as some flights only had 10 minutes between them. For some reason our flight had been moved from 12.50 to 15.10 and the 15.20 flight was now leaving at 15.00. I have no idea who decides on all of this! 

Lots of confusion around times!

Finally we boarded the plane and headed towards the runway. However after lining up on the runway we turned around and headed back to the gate. We weren't told anything for a while and waited for some information. The pilot then told us something was wrong with the plane and we would be delayed by 30 minutes. After 45 minutes we got told we must take our luggage and depart the plane for the departures lounge.

Here we weren't given any updates for a while and only had a small snack shop available to us for food and drink. After hours of waiting we were informed that we would be boarding another plane at 6pm.

'Now Everyone Can Fly'

Once we were back on the plane we finally took off and reached Kuala Lumpur in about an hour. The plane was fine with limited legroom for someone over 6ft!

Upon arrival we got our luggage quickly and headed to the KLIA express train to KL Sentral.  We did hear taking a taxi was cheaper however when I asked for a quote at the taxi stand to Chinatown they quoted me well over 100 ringgit when I had been told it should be 80. The KLIA express is 55 ringgit each but only takes under 30 minutes. It is very easy and comfortable to use.

1.5 out of 5  

Penang to Langkawi - Boat Ferry

Tickets from Georgetown, Penang to Langkawi are easy to buy from most hotels, travel agents or online. We decided to buy ours from a local travel agency on Lebuh Chulia Road which is the main backpackers road. They cost us 70RM each and we picked to leave at 8.30am.

We were told beforehand to arrive at the ferry station 45 minutes before departure. With us staying at Malabar Inn we left not long after 7.15am as we had quite a long walk to the ferry pier. We were told the wrong ferry pier however a local helped point us in the right direction towards Swettenham Pier.

On arrival, they checked our tickets and allocated us numbered seats on the boat. We headed over to the boat and boarded. We left on time with a full boat of people.

Well what a journey it was! They hand out sick bags to people before you leave but I didn't think much of it. However after only 5 minutes the sea was already very chopper and rough. The boat was bouncing up down and lots of people were throwing up on the boat! It was like a comic sketch with every other person being sick! The smell got really bad at one point and we still had over 2 hours to go. Thankfully we weren't sick however be wary if your known to get sea or travel sick.

We stopped at a small island, Payar Island Marine Park after 2 hours where some people got off the boat. After we left here the sea was much calmer and the final hour was much more relaxed for everyone.

When we arrived on Langkawi Island, lots of taxis were available. We were heading to Shell Out Resort near Pantai Tengah/Cenang. It cost a fix rate of 30RM and took us 30 minutes.

2 out of 5

Pulau Perhentian to Penang via Kota Bharu - Flight

A few days before leaving Pulau Perhentian Islands, we decided to book our transport to Penang. We asked at our hotel reception about getting the bus but he told us that it was sold out Saturday and Sunday, with the next available bus Monday night. We asked the only other shops selling tickets on the beach and got the same reply. I think this was because it was the end of school holidays but book in advance to be safe!

With it costing too much to stay on the island any longer and limited availability on accomodation, we decided to fly. We had a look online and managed to book two tickets with Firefly. It cost 527.78RM and included 15kg of checked in luggage each.

The morning of our flight we left Pulau Perhentian Kecil at 8am and got the speedboat back to Kuala Besut. You have to pay 2RM to get a little boat out to the main speedboat. Another way to squeeze an extra couple of RM out of you!

Leaving Pulua Perhentian after a great week!

From Kuala Besut the airport is in Kota Bharu which is about an hours drive away. A taxi costs 75RM or a minibus is 25RM each. With no rush we opted for a minibus and waited. However after 45 minutes no one else turned up and the driver said he called us a taxi to take us. This was no problem and still only cost us 50RM.

Kota Bharu airport is basic and small but has more in it than Yangon's International Airport in Myanmar! We grabbed some food and then got our bags security checked and checked in. This was all a bit hectic!

After this you pass into the departure lounges and wait around, with plenty of seating and a couple of shops. We then waited for the passengers to depart the plane and walk past us to arrivals. We were running a little behind schedule and boarded the plane about 14.45 when we were meant to depart.

Loading up the plane

The plane itself was small and held about 80 people. The journey was great and only took 45 minutes, you also get given a free drink and snack.

Getting ready for take off!

From Penang airport we grabbed a taxi to Chinatown, Georgetown for 40RM.

4 out of 5

Cameron Highlands to Pulau Perhentian via Kuala Besut - Bus & Boat

When we arrived in the Cameron Highlands (Tanah Rata), we decided to book our bus tickets to leave in 2 days time for Pulau Perhentian Islands. We were offered tickets to go with CS Travel again and thought it would be a safe bet. It costs 125RM which includes boat tickets from Kuala Besut or in our case 75RM as we already had boat tickets through our dive company. We were told it would take about five hours which was no problem.

We walked over to CS Travel office on the main road at Tanah Rata at 7.45am to wait for our minibus leaving at 8am. A lady turned up 5 minutes later to open up the office and never said a word to us. Even after 30 minutes, she still sat there and didn't even seem to notice us. We had previously read that the lady working here was useless. Well around 8.20am, a man came over to say our minibus was leaving from around the corner so we followed him. 

Waiting around for the minibus!

We ended up at TJ Travel office with another couple heading the same way and 5 minutes later, two more passengers turned up. I presume not many people booked onto this journey so they joined companies up which surely the lady at CS could of mentioned! No worries however everyone at this office disappeared and we were left sitting there for a while too. Finally the minibus turned up not long before 9 and we loaded up.

This minibus had plenty of room as only 6 of us were on it and we sat back and relaxed. We were on the road for about 1 hour 45 minutes before the driver stopped at a service station for a toilet break, everything normal. However 10 minutes later we pulled into another garage at Kuala Lipis and the driver said we would wait here for another minibus to pick us up. That was the first we heard of changing minibuses, nobody back at the offices or when booking the tickets mentioned this. So we waited here for nearly 45 minutes.

Eventually the next minibus picked us up already half full and we squeezed in. This driver was much more adventurous and didn't hang around! After about an hour, we stopped again at a closed restaurant with a seating area. They said nothing to us and someone asked how long we were stopping for, and yes... he said we were changing buses again.

We sat there until around 1.15pm with nowhere to get food. We were getting hungry like the others who had left at 8.30am that morning. Then a coach pulled in and unloaded with people coming from Kuala Besut. We then boarded this coach and set off for Kuala Besut.

This bit of the journey took around 3/3.5 hours with a short stop in the middle. It was a relief to finally get going and to not keep on stopping! Beware that the drivers happily smoke on the bus so it may be better sitting further back.

When we pulled into Kuala Besut, they took us to their own ticket office to buy boat tickets if we didn't have any. As far as I'm aware return tickets cost 75RM in general so you won't get them any cheaper elsewhere. We had to pick ours up from a different office and left the bus.

At about half 5, we finally made our way to the jetty and got onto a speedboat. It said a maximum of 12 people however there was double that plus luggage! We put life jackets on and set off for Pulau Perhentian Kecil. Wow, the speedboat is quick and bumpy- loads of fun! We then got dropped off on Long Beach around 6.15pm.

A very long day of travel that should of been much quicker! I think this is the only way to travel from the Cameron Highlands to Pulau Perhentian so be warned and maybe look at your travel routes!

1 out of 5

Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands - Bus

For this bus journey, the initial plan was to just buy our tickets on the day. However a couple of days before we planned to leave I looked on easybook.com to see only a few times for departures on Saturday. The only one going late morning was with CS Travel with only a few tickets left for the 11.30am bus. I decided to book them online for 35RM each.

I'm sure more buses are available on weekdays.

With unpredictable traffic in KL, we decided to get the monorail and KLIA transit back to TBS-  bus station from Chinatown. This was quick and easy to use.

We later found out that this weekend was the start of a weeks national holiday for Malaysians. Therefore the bus station was heaving! Luckily they have several desks for e-ticket collection for any bus company which was quick. I did notice that the queue to buy tickets was huge and would of taken well over half an hour. 

Ticket collection desk very quick

After this, we went to our gate and waited until our bus arrived. It pulled in on time and everyone boarded and we set off for the Cameron Highlands. I have to say that TBS is a great bus station that is efficient and works very well. By far the best one we've come across on our travels in South East Asia.

The CS bus was quite nice inside with 2+1 seats that were big and comfy. They also played an English film however we were sitting at the back so it wasn't too easy to see.

They seem to have a very strict policy of no food and drink on board, only water. Make sure you put any in your bags if you want to sneak some on otherwise you'll have to throw it away. After 30 minutes, the driver actually pulled over to stop someone eating and made him take it off the bus. I don't know whether he had to throw away a bag full of food or put it underneath the bus. It all seemed very over the top, we managed to sneakily eat some chocolate!

CS Travel bus

The journey itself was very long as it was the national holiday and loads of traffic. We left at 11.30am and didn't arrive in Tanah Rata until 6pm; it was meant to only take 3.5 hours. We stopped once for food around 3pm after the driver tried to take a short cut down some housing areas. I think he misjudged the size of his bus and we ended up back where we started 25 minutes later.

The final 50km is windy on some narrow roads and takes nearly 2 hours. I was feeling quite light headed by the time we got there. Oh well we finally made it!

2 out of 5

Melaka to Kuala Lumpur - Bus

Buses for Kuala Lumpur leave every half an hour from Melaka Sentral. Our guesthouse owner said we didn't need to book a ticket in advance so we jumped in a taxi from near Chinatown and headed to the bus station. We paid 20 ringgit for the 15 minute journey; I have no idea how much it should be (probably cheaper).

The first bus counter we came across at Melaka Sentral was for Mayang Sari with a bus leaving in 10 minutes at 11.30am. With tickets only 12 ringgit each, we bought them and boarded the bus. If you have a little more time, you could look around at the various bus companies and you may find one cheaper.

The bus stated beforehand it was VIP which was true in having 2+1 seats however it was very basic and dated inside. No worries though.

The journey was very quick and took under 2 hours with no stops. We arrived at TBS (the main bus terminal) in Kuala Lumpur. Here we got dropped off and got the escalator up to the main terminal. We then went across the bridge to catch the bus. You can also get the KLIA (train).

TBS Kuala Lumpur

If you are heading towards Chinatown, jump on the 690 bus for 2 ringgit (no change given). It takes only 20 minutes outside of rush hour and drops you off at Pudu Sentral.

690 bus to Chinatown for only 2RM!

4.5 out of 5 

Singapore to Melaka (Malacca) - Bus

We booked our bus tickets to Melaka (Malacca) online with easybook.com . They had lots of buses available every hour to Melaka for a reasonable price. We picked the 11am bus from the Queen Street Terminal for S$23 per person with bus company 707.

This terminal is only a few minutes walk from Bugis MRT station. We arrived 30 minutes before departure and signed in at the desk; small counter desk opposite the main road. Shortly after we boarded the bus and set off for Malaysia.

It took about 40 minutes to reach the border crossing. We got off the bus to get stamped out of Singapore which was very quick and then we jumped back on to the bus. We then crossed the bridge and arrived at Malaysia customs. The queues here were much bigger but they moved quickly. We had to take all our luggage off the bus here so it could be scanned. Again this didn't take more than 20 minutes.

Please note 707 bus company state in several places that you only have 30 minutes at immigration otherwise they'll leave without you. I'm not too sure how strictly they enforce it, the driver seemed very laid back.

The Malaysian side was fine and we made one toilet stop just outside of Melaka. After this we crawled into the centre of Melaka and stopped at Meleka Sentral. All the locals got off here however we were told to stay on the bus as it would drop us off downtown (Chinatown).

After filling up we finally got dropped off near our guesthouse. The driver couldn't speak much English and was struggling to understand where we were staying. It got all a bit hectic but we sorted it and got dropped off 5 minutes walk from our guesthouse.

Just a quick note on times, we didn't arrive until 16.30! A 3/4 hour bus took well over 5 hours which was mainly down to some traffic.

4 out of 5

Yangon to Singapore - Flight

Following on from my previous post, we had over 12 hours to wait at Yangon airport before our flight. With my partner being very ill on the night bus, we decided to check into the hotel across from the airport. This was called Season's Hotel and was very overpriced at $50 for 8 to 12 hours! However we didn't have much choice and got some much needed sleep. Please note this hotel is very basic and dated but handy if needed.

We checked out about 4pm just over 3 hours before our flight so we could check in and get some food. Yangon's International Terminal is very small with limited seating and only one coffee shop. Don't plan to arrive too early at the airport as there isn't much there, even once you go through passport control, it is very limited.

Our flight was with Jetstar at a reasonable price of $148 for two people including 15kg luggage. Check in was swift and opened about 2 and half hours before departure.

Passport control and security checks were very quick and easy, just make sure you have your departure card filled in beforehand. At this side you have a choice of one restaurant and one cafe. We picked the restaurant which cost nearly 20,000 kyat for two waters, soup and a burger which seemed pricey! Food was ok.

We boarded the plane on time and left on time. The planes were fine, we got asked to sit in front of an emergency exit free of charge as the plane wasn't full. This meant we had lots of extra leg room. The trolley service selling drinks and food passes down once during the flight with several currencies accepted.

The plane landed on time at 11.45pm after the 1hr 30min time difference. Again on on this side passport control and luggage collection was quick.

Singapore airport offers you a lot when you arrive including a range of shops and places to grab some food and drinks. They also have several ATM's including an HSBC one that doesn't charge you a fee to use.

After that, we located the airport shuttle service and paid S$9 (singapore dollars) for a minibus to our hostel downtown.

4 out of 5

Mandalay to Yangon - Night Bus

Our final travel in Myanmar required transport from Mandalay to Singapore. The cheapest way for us to do this was a night bus to Yangon then a flight to Singapore. Flying straight from Mandalay was not direct and pretty expensive.

We picked the latest bus possible from Mandalay with Elite Express at 10.30pm. This took around 8 hours and cost 20,200 kyat per person.

We arrived at Mandalay bus terminal around 10pm for checkin and soon boarded the VIP bus. Again we were the only foreigners on the bus however this didn't matter as we only had one stop, Yangon.

The bus itself was clean with big comfy chairs and blankets. You get given a little snack box, bottle of water and can of coca cola. The chairs also have screens to watch films or listen to music. Films ranged from Despicable Me 2 to Iron Man 3 whilst the music were greatest hit albums apart from 16 pages of songs dedicated to Westlife (didn't realise how many songs they had)! 

Plenty of room

The journey was smoother than other trips in Myanmar but it was still be very bumpy. We stopped once near the capital for a 30 minute break around half 1. My partner was very unwell on the bus being sick a few times but the staff were very helpful even though they only spoke limited English. They allowed us to pull over one more time for my partner to get off for a few minutes. 

Screens for everyone 

After this, we managed to sleep and rolled into Yangon at 5.45am, ahead of schedule. The Yangon bus station is very hectic with lots of taxis. Make sure you know how much your taxi trip should be in advance otherwise you'll get ripped off.

We jumped in a taxi to the airport for 6,000 kyat between us which took about 30 minutes.  Then only a 12 hour wait until our flight!

4 out of 5 

Bagan to Mandalay - Minibus

After a fantastic few days in Bagan exploring we decided to move onto our next stop, Mandalay. Our second two days in New Bagan we stayed at Arthawka Hotel which I can highly recommend, especially if you want a pool after a hot day of exploring the temples!

The hotel had minibus (19 seater) tickets available to Mandalay for 9,000 kyat per person. This seemed reasonable and included pick up from the hotel as the bus station is quite far out. The bus company is called Pyi Taw Aye Express. The only two times available were 5am or 9am and it takes 5 hours, we picked the latter with pick up at 8am.

Old 19 seater minibus

We were picked up on time by a pick up struck along with other backpackers and travellers. We then drove up to Old Bagan and across to Nyaung-U where we arrived at Pyi Taw Aye Express bus office. We had expected to depart from the new bus terminal which must just be used for when you arrive to make more money from you for taxis.

The bus itself was quite old and only had a boot big enough for three suitcases with most backpacks being put under seats inside the bus. We departed not long after picking up many locals on the way. The bus at times got very crammed with locals standing up and  aisle ways full of backpacks. This also meant the bus attendant had the door open for large parts of the journey which made it very hot!

Locals crammed on

The roads are quite poor on this journey and we were in for a very bumpy ride. At one point you drive along train tracks across a bridge as the roads aren't accessible.

No longer a bridge!

We stopped at another of their offices in Myingyan to pick up a few more locals and have a ten minute toilet break. After this we didn't stop until not long before 12 for lunch, we just nipped across to a small shop for a couple of snacks.

The last leg of the journey was a bit smoother  as you hit the newer highway. A few more pick ups and drop offs before you get into Mandalay. The bus drops you off at your hotel which is good however we had difficulty finding ours. Finally we managed to locate the hotel and we arrived not long after 2.

3.5 out of 5 

Inle Lake to Bagan - Bus

We opted for a day bus to Bagan from Inle Lake and contacted JJ Express about there day bus, which I'd read about online, however they only now do a night bus. We managed to book a day bus through our hotel for 12,000 kyat opposed to 19,000 kyat for the night bus. Lots of travel agencies offer tickets to Bagan but I had previously heard from other people not to get the minibus.

We were picked up at 7am from our hotel and thought we would be taken back up to the junction at Shwenyaung junction, but after picking up a few other travellers we were taken around the corner to the bus office in Nyaung Shwe. We then waited until around 7.50am when the coach arrived and we quickly boarded and set off.

However, about 5 minutes later we stopped on the side of the road just outside of Nyaungshwe for what turned out to be nearly an hour. We weren't told anything and didn't leave until 9am, I have no idea why they pick you up so early when it could easily of just picked you up at 9am. Slightly infuriating!

The first of many stops!

After this, we set off for Kalaw but again stopped before here at one of their bus stations for a ten minute break even though we'd probably only just done about an hour of driving. Once we got moving again we picked up a couple more people in Kalaw and began the drive through the mountains.

The first bit of the mountain drive is full of bends but our driver seemed to know the roads well and didn't hold back. This was no problem for us and just before 12, we stopped for lunch at a little roadside restaurant.

After 30 minutes, we set off again but the driver seemed to be more laid back now and a lot slower. Then we stopped for the bus to be cleaned, thankfully only for ten minutes.

Throughout the journey, we picked up and dropped off local people which wasn't a problem. The bus was never more than half full and we had a couple of very loud local films playing on the screens which we followed and they were awful!!

The second half of the journey felt much quicker as the roads weren't too bad and we looked to be good for time! We made one final stop at there offices in Kyaukpadaung so the driver could wrap up a gift in a box. He then went off on the back of a moped with a local for 20 minutes and finally reappeared at the bus so we could leave again. Unbelievable.

We finally made it to Bagan's new bus terminal  at about 4.30pm and to finish off the day we got ripped off for a taxi. To get to New Bagan they wanted 20,000 kyat!! We now know that it should be 7,000 and we ended up paying 12,000 kyat. Oh well, we made it.

2.5 out of 5

Yangon to Inle Lake - Night Bus

After searching around online for which bus companies to use in Myanmar, the main ones coming up were JJ Express and Elite Express. With only a couple of days in Yangon and unsure about where the station was, we asked about booking a bus with our hotel. 

They could only offer overnight bus tickets to Inle Lake with Taung Paw Thar Express for 20,000 kyat each. They said it was a vip bus with 2 + 1 seats and reclining seats. We decided to go for it.

We got a taxi to the bus station north of Yangon two hours prior to check in for the bus from advice by our hotel. At 4pm, it took nearly two hours in traffic and cost 10,000 kyat between 4 of us. At the bus station we checked in and boarded the bus and we left at 6.15pm with a full bus.

Our bus for the night 

The seats were very comfortable and big with plenty of leg room. You also got a small pillow, blanket, drinks and snacks for the journey.

A couple of negatives with the bus included the fact they didn't turn all the lights off and they had the standard local film showing on the highest volume! Make sure you have an ipod with you and maybe an eye mask.

Lights on, volume up!

It also stops three times, once after three hours around 9pm, then about 1am and another time around 4am. Thankfully these stops make you arrive a little later, we got dropped off at Shwenyaung at 6am.

From here, you have to get a taxi down to Nyaungshwe which cost 8,000 kyat between 4 of us. On the way you stop at the ticket office to buy Inle Lake tickets which costs 12,500 kyat each.

Thankfully our hotel let us check in at 7am with a room free! If your on a budget and looking for a double room I recommend Aung Mingalar Hotel for early check in.

3.5 out of 5

Bangkok to Yangon - Flight

Before you do anything you must apply for an E-Visa for Myanmar (Burma). It costs $50 and takes a day or two for approval.

So do we fly or get the bus from Thailand to Myanmar? We decided a month in advance that we would fly as prices were only around £30 including free 15kg hold luggage.

The two main companies offering flights out of Bangkok daily to Yangon were AirAsia and NokAir at similar prices however you have to pay extra for luggage with AirAsia.

We booked tickets for the 10.25am NokAir flight from Don Muang airport in Bangkok. We decided to get a taxi not long after 6 to beat the rush hour traffic. We advise you not to get a taxi around Khao San Road and instead walk just a few minutes to the main road to flag down a taxi. You can alternatively book a minibus service with various travel agents.

After a couple of taxis wanted 500 baht upfront we finally found a taxi to use the meter. We knew the cost should only be around 250/300 baht. We also got the choice of going on the highway or not which costs 120 baht extra in toll charges. We did this however you don't need to at that time of the morning as the roads were very quiet.

All international flights leave from terminal 1.

Check in was available 3 hours in advance and was quick and efficient. You must have your Myanmar E-Visa approval letter printed off to show them. Passport control to get stamped out of Thailand took quite a while as they only had a few members of staff working. Try and go to the foreign passport control section furthest to the left as they had more staff counters available. Remember to fill in your departure card beforehand!

Don Muang airport had plenty of shops and coffee/food outlets including Boots, Starbucks and McDonald's. There is also a lot of currency exchange counters however you can't get Mynamar Kyat from any of them.

Boarding didn't take too long and we got a shuttle bus from the terminal to the plane. The outside of NokAir planes have a fun bird design!

Interesting plane design!

The flight took 1hr 10min. You get given arrival and custom forms to fill in upon arrival at Yangon airport. You also get a small snack box with water and a muffin.

After landing at Yangon airport, immigration control was very quick for foreigners as the majority of people on the flight were from Myanmar. You hand all your paperwork in and after a few minutes you get stamped into Myanmar. At the airport you have a few currency exchange counters to get some Kyat and also there are some ATM machines available.

After going through customs with your bags you can easily get a taxi to downtown Yangon at the taxi counter for 8,000 kyat which takes about an hour in traffic.

Downtown Yangon

5 out of 5 

Kanchanaburi to Bangkok - Minibus

This was a fairly straightforward trip. On the main street called Maenamkwai Road there are plenty of travel agencies or hotels offering tickets for a reasonable price to Bangkok. Minibuses leave every hour to the Independence Monument, Bus Station and Khao San Road.

We booked to the latter for 160 baht per person via minibus that included pick up. We also asked about luggage after our other journey (previous post). He said for luggage you pay an extra 120 baht to buy another seat whilst backpacks are fine. I said to him we had  big backpacks but he didn't seem to understand so we just payed for one extra seat for the luggage.

The next day we were picked up promptly by a minibus taking us to the bus station in Kanchanaburi. Before boarding the bus the person who sold us our tickets earlier that morning saw our big backpacks and said we shouldn't of paid for another seat. Before we knew it he rushed off to get the 120 baht we paid to refund us which was very kind as he could of said nothing.

The next minibus we boarded was very nice with leather seats and plenty of room even with our backpacks inside. We probably waited a good 30 minutes for them to fill up the bus with locals before we left for Bangkok.

The journey to Khao San Road took about 3 hours with minimal traffic midday. We did stop once just outside Bangkok for 15 minutes for fuel.

4 out of 5 

Sukhothai to Kanchanaburi via Bangkok - Day Bus

After two days in New Sukhothai, we were ready to leave and head on towards Kanchanaburi. With this not being a very common route of travel we had a few various options. We could opt to take the most direct route, which involved changing buses or we could head towards Ayuthaya or Bangkok and change.

We decided the safest bet was to get a bus to Bangkok and travel onwards from there. We managed to book a bus in New Sukhothai through our guesthouse-who went to get the tickets from the bus station for no extra commission which was a nice gesture!

The timetable of buses offered various departures between three companies with the earliest at 7.50am. We decided to use WinTour buses again (even though the last one wasn't great) as they had a first class bus leaving the bus station at 8am. This cost 310 baht each to Bangkok.

We arrived at 7.45 and waited around half an hour until the bus showed up. We boarded the bus with only one other foreign couple and the rest locals. We were given seats upstairs at the back of the bus presumably as we wouldn't be getting off anywhere before Bangkok.

This first class bus was fantastic and very new! The reclining seats were very comfortable, we were given water and snacks and the two screens showed a fast and furious movie further down the bus. We had seats 12a and 12b however if possible get 12c and 12d as your in front of the emergency exit and therefore have lots of leg room!

Nice modern bus

Screens showing Fast and Furious

This bus only stopped a few times for locals to get on and off throughout the journey with most coming around arrival at Bangkok. We also stopped once around midday for a 20 minute break. Here we redeemed a 20baht voucher we got with the ticket for some local food.

We arrived into Bangkok northern bus station around 3.15pm. From here, we tried to locate buses going to Kanchanaburi and after asking around for a while managed to find a minibus. We bought tickets for 120 baht each for a bus leaving at 4.30pm.

We boarded the bus around 4pm with our big backpacks to find that they had no storage for them on the minibus. The only option was to put them on a seat which they weren't happy about and wanted to charge us money for. We declined (as did another backpacking couple) and said they saw we had big backpacks when we bought the tickets and after some huffing and puffing, they filled up the remaining seats and we left 15 minutes earlier than scheduled. 

Not much room on the minibus!

With traffic we got told it might take over 4 hours to arrive in Kanchanaburi but thankfully it only took 3 hours. The driver really couldn't drive and we were all really crammed in but oh well.

Sukhothai to Kanchanaburi via Bangkok cost 430 baht per person with the first part of the journey being much better than the 2nd!

4 out of 5 

Pai to Sukhothai via Chiang Mai - Day Bus

We had a look around Pai for buses going to Sukhothai but we couldn't find any on offer. The only choice we had was to get a minibus to Chiang Mai and then a bus onwards. We manged to do this for 357 baht each.

In Pai, we booked a minibus with a company called Prempacha. We decided to use them instead of aYa Services as they drop you off at the bus station in Chiang Mai. This cost 150 baht each which included a bottle of water. We booked onto the 8am minibus and arrived 10 minutes prior to departure. 3 minibuses were leaving at this time so check your receipt for the bus number and your seat numbers. Big backpacks go onto the roof and they are covered in case of rain. The journey again took around 3 hours with a short stop in the middle.

We arrived around 11am at Chiang Mai bus station and quickly found a company called WinTour offering bus tickets to Sukhothai for a reasonable price of 207 baht leaving at 12. Please be aware that this was a second class bus, I'm unsure what time first class buses leave.

We boarded the bus straight away in order to get good seats as you aren't allocated any. We managed to sit on the back row upstairs in front of the emergency exit with extra legroom however bags will get piled up here too! 

At Chiang Mai bus station, there are toilet facilities, some food/drink stalls and a 7- eleven around the corner. Stock up for 6/7 hours as you won't be stopping again to buy anything.

We left bang on 12 with a full bus mainly of locals but a few tourists. It was a very basic bus, with cracked windows, a broken toilet and very weak aircon. It got quite hot at times! On a positive note, the seats were comfy and we arrived on time. Throughout the journey, the bus stopped many times picking up and dropping off locals. They also stop at Lampang and Tak bus stations which is the best chance to use a toilet.

We pulled into Sukhothai bus station around 6.45pm which is located 1km away from New Sukhothai. We then got a tuk tuk to our hotel in New Sukhothai for 120 baht which we now know was 40-60 baht too much. They also have wooden buses that go to the New and Old Sukhothai for 30 baht per person but I think they stop running around 6pm.

3 out of 5

A quick note about New Sukhothai; it is a very quiet place with limited restaurants/bars/cafes and things to do. It costs 30 baht to get the bus to the historical park which is very nice! 

Chiang Mai to Pai - Minibus

At 180 baht each, we decided to just book the minibus to Pai with our hotel '24 Guesthouse'. We booked onto the 11am bus and we were picked up by a pick up truck and taken to the minibus.

The company was called aYa Services and have offices in both Chiang Mai and Pai. It might be a little cheaper booking directly with them.

After another pick up truck of people turned up, we left for Pai. It takes around 3 hours with a short stop in the middle. The journey involves some very windy roads and even I started to feel a little light headed by the time we arrived! If you get travel sick, make sure you take some medication as you have 762 curves to deal with!

We arrived on time at aYa Services office on walking Street in the centre of Pai.

4 out of 5

Huay Xai to Chiang Mai - Minibus

We booked our final bus out of Laos at our hotel Thaveesinh opposite the gibbon experience office. The ticket costs 90,000kip which included a tuk tuk to the border, bus transfer over the friendship bridge and a minibus to Chiang Mai on the Thai side.

The tuk tuk picked us up 8.30am and we were given a sticker so the minibus driver in Thailand knows who to look for. After 20/30 minutes we arrived at the border.

Laos passport control is quite quick but can be limited to only 2 queues for foreigners. Make sure you fill your departure card in before queuing up or you'll be sent back to complete this. One additional note; we were required to pay 10,000kip each to leave Laos after passport control.

We waited for the border crossing bus to pick us up, we'd been allocated a ticket for this. Again this is pretty quick and we arrived at Thailand's border control (Chiang Khong). We had to fill in an arrival card and queue up to be stamped into the country.

Prior to arriving, we had heard/read various things on whether you get a 15 or 30 day visa at a land border. Most official sources say 15 days, however we received 30 days.

We then met our pick up driver and got told we will leave in about an hour, presumably waiting for more people. After half an hour we were ushered onto the minibus and within 15 minutes it was full and we set off for Chiang Mai.

The drive was fine and took about 5 hours with a 30 minute stop. We arrived in Chiang Mai around 4pm and got dropped off opposite the main entrance gates to the old town. From here it's easy to grab a red sorngtaaou (red pick up truck) to your accommodation for 20 to 40 baht per person.

4 out of 5

Luang Prabang to Huay Xai - Slow Boat

We were a bit unsure whether to take the two day slow boat from Luang Prabang to Huay Xai or the overnight bus. We could buy slow boat tickets at our hotel but they were priced at 350,000kip which seemed too much and the pier wasn't within walking distance. After looking around, we managed to get cheaper tickets from Galaxy Airticketing travel agency based on Sakkaline Road. We paid 270,000kip* which included pick up. 

*The cheapest way is to buy the tickets at the pier. It costs 105,000kip each day (for the boat) and a tuk tuk to the pier should be around 20/30,000kip. Just turn up at least half an hour before the boat leaves at 8.30am.

We got told to be ready for pickup at 7, we were the last ones to be picked up at 7.30am and it took about 20 minutes to drive to the pier. At the pier, our driver sorted out the check-in with our tickets and we boarded the boat, leaving around 8.45am.

The boat on the first day wasn't too bad, we managed to get a couple of seats each to spread across as the boat was only about 60% full. The seats are old car seats which aren't attached to the floor but they were comfy enough! Most locals sat at the front as they hop on and off throughout the day. You'll pull up at some rocks and they'll jump off and dissappear into the forests!

You will see some lovely views down the mekong river across the two days.

We arrived at Prakbeng not long after 6pm, where there are plenty of people offering accommodation at great rates (whether you want basic or something nicer). We stayed at guesthouse Syvongsack that cost 50,000kip for the night.

The guesthouse was basic with only fan rooms but the room was a good size and we had a private bathroom. We decided to eat and have a couple of beers at the restaurant- it was very cheap and we also ordered breakfast and sandwiches for the following day. Only negative was the WiFi didn't work.

The next morning, we went down for 7am for breakfast and got our sandwiches. We decided to leave around 7.45am and walked down to the pier. There were a few boats at the pier but we asked a couple of locals and managed to find the boat to huay xai. Unfortunately, a lot of the other travellers from the previous day were here already sitting on the car seats. This boat had fewer seats and had mainly wooden benches with a thin cushion which we had to settle for. None of the other travellers wanted to offer us a seat as all the couples spread out across two seats each. A little annoying when two then used the other car seats for resting legs instead of offering them not just to us but others on wooden benches! Oh well, some people are just rude.

The rest of the day wasn't the comfiest, but the river was much quieter today despite a lot of rainfall overnight. It was also quite cold in the morning so make sure you have a jacket with you!

Overall, a different experience and a very long two days, but the views along the mekong make it worth it!

3 out of 5

Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang - Minibus

After our first minibus experience in Laos, I didn't expect much from this journey.  How wrong was I?!

We arranged travel through our hotel, Pans Place, for the 9am minibus which takes 4 hours costing 90,000kip. The other option was a vip bus which cost more money and takes 6 hours leaving at 10am- however this may take a safer route!

We were the last ones to be picked up at 8.45am and had to settle for the front seats alongside the driver. This minibus was much nicer than the last one we got and seemed quite new with its leather seats. 

The first hour of the journey was lovely and scenic with plenty of cows and goats wandering around along the road. You then have a quick pitstop for about 15 minutes. 

After this, you start climbing up into the mountains, which at first offers great views, especially from the front seats. However after 10 minutes, we went past a coach which must of crashed not long before. Thankfully it only had damage to the front of the coach and didn't seem to be too serious.

The roads climbing up are in a terrible state with huge potholes everywhere. Thankfully, our driver seemed to know the roads well. He was very patient and cautious as some corners you had to go around on the wrong side of the road. The higher we got the worst the visibility got and soon we were in thick fog. This got most of us on the edge of our seats as we watched on. Even with cars, minibuses and trucks going the other way we made it through the fog. The other side was a slow decent.

Once back on more normal roads, we made one final 10 minute stop and then arrived near the National Musuem/Palace in Luang Prabang just after 1pm. 

A very unique drive.

4.5 out of 5