Part 1 of 6

Introduction of the Trip

It was a 10 days travel

~ with 2 countries to visit ~ 5 stops to make ~

and

~ 3 sleepless nights ~

* * *

This time, I went for islands hopping within South Thailand and returned to Jakarta from Penang-Malaysia. Dunno if I can call it the islands hopping, but all my stops were in an island :p. The travel involved mostly land/sea transportation.. ferry, minivan, pick-up truck, tuktuk, various kind of buses.. it was so exciting…… tiring but exciting ^^

It’s my first time to Thailand and Penang.. I was very nervous because I would travel there alone. I never thought I would even gor for it… not to Thailand.. I was afraid of the news I heard <people trafficking>, or getting lost cause I dunno their language, or being lonely there… I supposed to travel with my sister but again, she had to cancel due to her work.. Well… it’s one of the consequences of buying ticket couple months prior. Although so, there is a good side of ending up traveling solo. I can go with any kind of itinerary I want, even the craziest one < like this trip ^^ > …. and I never expected that I would have friends to hang out or travel with too.. Apparently I wasn’t alone at all….

ITINERARY & TRIP JOURNAL
include Transportation, Meals and other Expenses

Since it’s gonna be a long post if I put it all here and I don’t like reading a very long post, I divide this trip journal into 6 chapters. Just click the title below for full reading.

January 2012

< Part 1 > Islands Hopping from Phuket-Thailand to Penang-Malaysia

This post is basically a brief summary of this trip.

< Part 2 > First Stop : Phuket, Thailand

Day 1 Phuket, arrival

Day 2 (part 1) Leaving Phuket for Koh Phi Phi

< Part 3 > Second Stop : Koh Phi Phi Don, Thailand

Day 2 (part 2) Phuket to Koh Phi Phi

Day 3 Koh Phi Phi

Day 4 (part 1) Leaving Koh Phi Phi for Koh Pha Ngan

< Part 4 > Third Stop : Koh Phangan, Thailand

Day 4 (part 2) Koh Phi Phi to Koh Phangan passing Krabi-Surathani

Day 5 Koh Pha Ngan

Day 6 Koh Pha Ngan

Day 7 (part 1) Leaving Koh Pha Ngan for Koh Samui

< Part 5 > Forth Stop : Koh Samui, Thailand

Day 7 (part 2) Koh Pha Ngan to Koh Samui

Day 8 Koh Samui

Day 9 (part 1) Leaving Koh Samui for Penang

< Part 6>  Fifth Stop : Penang, Malaysia

Day 9 (part 2) Koh Samui to Penang passing Surathani, Hat Yai.

Day 10 Penang, departure

ACCOMMODATION

Dorm at Lub Sbuy Guesthouse in Phuket Town

my review and picture : My Stay at Lub Sbuy Guesthouse  
related trip journal : First Stop : Phuket, Thailand

Dorm at the Rock Backpacker in Koh Phi Phi
my review and picture : My Stay at the Rock Backpacker
related trip journal : Second Stop : Koh Phi Phi Don, Thailand

Baan Talay Guesthouse in Haad Rin, Koh Phangan
my review and picture :  My Stay at Baan Talay Guesthouse
related trip journal : Third Stop : Koh Phangan, Thailand

Samui Mandalay Hotel in Chaweng, Koh Samui
my review and picture :  My Stay at Samui Mandalay Hotel
related trip journal : Forth Stop : Koh Samui, Thailand

Old Penang Guesthouse in Georgetown, Penang
my review and picture :  My Stay at Old Penang Guesthouse
related trip journal : Fifth Stop : Penang, Malaysia

TRIP MAP (click here)
include location of accommodation, visited place and restaurants

REFERENCE

Below are some websites / forum I found that have given me all information etc for this trip. Special Thanks to the members who gave me input, suggestion too

Book:

• Lonely Planet Book – Thailand’s Islands & Beaches guide

Travel Forum :

• Tripadvisor.com – Thailand Forum, Koh Phangan Forum, GeorgetownPenang Forum, Koh Phi Phi Don Forum

Travel Blog :

• The World As I See It – Not To Be Missed… Haad Rin, Koh Pha Ngan, South Thailand
• The Lazy Graduate – Suggestions: Thailand
• Kings of Thailand – 5 Tips Saving Money in Koh Phi Phi Don Thailand
• Eat Pray Love – Penginapan Murah di Pulau Phi Phi (cheap accommodation in Koh Phi Phi)
• Simply Alley – Phuket Phi Phi for First Timer (me!)
• Papi Lukas – Phi Phi Island
• Motormouth From Ipoh – Malaysian Food & Travel Blog (Penang Street Food)

Others :

• Wikitravel
• Map of Haad Rin, Koh Phangan
• Koh Phangan – Transport Info from BackpackersThailand.com
• Phangan.info – Accommodation in Koh Phangan