Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Indochina

Wow! I can't believe it's over. All those months of reading and planning, and the 7 days just really went on... really fast! No one really noticed. Or maybe it's because we are all too busy with our activities, only sleeping when traveling. It was a really tiring week, but I wouldn't trade it for anything! (okay, maybe I'll trade it if I had a similar future trip with a special someone! Hehe)

Summary of our Itinerary:
August 20:
1830 - meet up at NAIA 3
Because of the floods and the heavy rains for the last couple of days, some of us weren't able to come. Though at least they were able to rebook their flights the next day, though one wasn't able to. And so, we were 15 at the time.
Delayed for about 4 hours (which was nothing compared to those waiting the whole day and whose flight was in the morning)

Cost: 550 Terminal Fee + 1620 International Tax

August 21:
We were picked up by our rented van from the airport, who also provided us a free English-speaking tour guide. They have been waiting for us since 3 AM, and weren't really able to sleep.
Cost: 216 USD + 20 USD tip for driver and guide, good for 15 people

We weren't able to catch the sunrise at Black Virgin Mountain, and arrived there at around 9 AM. We spend about 2-3 hours there, then went to Cu Chi Tunnels where we spent another 2 hours.

Cost:
Entrance fee to Black Virgin Mountain - 12,000 VND
Shuttle to the cable cars (option to walk is possible) - 4000 VND
Cable Car + Toroggan Slide - 150000 VND
Cu Chi tunnel Entrance fee - 90000 VND

Our last stop for our rented van was to check-in at our hotel in Saigon in District 1, Mai Guesthouse.
since we were late in starting, we arrived at the hotel around 4 or 5 pm. Just enough time for us to get our money exchange, have some street foods, walk around for a bit, see the night market in Ben That Market, and have a bit of night life behind our hotel.

August 22:
We woke up early to do the walking tour. We walked to the Reunification Palace, could have visited the War Museum (but didn't), visited the Notre Dame Cathedral, and Post Office, saw the Opera House and ended the morning with lunch in Saigon Central, where we spent the rest of the afternoon shopping.
Unfortunately, no more energy left for clubbing. Especially since some of went to different places and got lost hehe

Cost (Accommodations): 177.02 USD for 4 twin rooms (good for 16 people though we were 17 all in all)

August 23:
We just rented another mini-bus to take us to Mac Boi border, because it's a bit of a hassle to walk to the bus station with all our belongings, and not everyone is very punctual...
Cost: 140 USD, good for 17 people with our luggages (We booked the previous day through Kim's Cafe near Sinh Tourist in a street near our hotel.)

When we got to the border, it was a bit of a hassle because there were several groups in front of us, cutting in our line. It was very distressing!! We spend an hour in the Vietnam border for this, the Cambodian border was more organized and friendly though we had to spend 1 USD each person for each border (without receipt so we don't really know what this part is for)
Cost: 2 USD/person

Our driver who was supposed to pick us up in Phnom Penh was nowhere to be seen, so we had to buy a sim card to call our guide, who would call our driver (who also cannot speak English).
Cost: 170 USD/bus for the transfer from border to Phnom Penh

Since we were really late, our restaurant where we are supposed to eat (at Friends Restaurant, which is number 8 or something in Trip Advisor) was already closed. Ralph (who came from Phuket) paid for our food, and we passed him and our food before going to the Killing Fields.
Cost: 50 USD/bus for the Phnom Penh city tour
Killing Fields entrance - 3 USD/person

We asked to be dropped off in Sisowath Quay, where we ate dinner at Happy Herb Pizza, took some night pictures by the Royal Palace (I think it was the Royal Palace), walked some more, and arrived in the Night Market by 10 PM, where we met up with our driver to go to Siem Reap
Cost: 230 USD/bus for transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap

August 24:
Unfortunately, the wheels of our bus broke down. It was a good thing my friend remarked upon it with the driver, or else he wouldn't stop! And something might have happened. I was just dead asleep, I woke up several times but didn't bother to check. Anyway, because of this delay, we arrived in Siem Reap at around 530 AM.
We weren't able to set up properly for sunrise. Again. Huhu
Costs:
Angkor entrance fee: 20 USD
Tour Guide: 35 USD for the group
Angkor transportation: 75 USD for the group
Upgrade to 35-seat bus: 80 USD for the group

We had lunch at Green Star Restaurant, though I found the owner a bit um, unfriendly. I'm not sure if it's just a language barrier or what. Anyway, dinner was better at Joe to Go Restaurant.

Cost (hotel): USD 150 for 4 Angkor Palace rooms

August 25:
Pick up by the bus going to Aranyaprathet-Poivet border.
Cost: 150 USD for 18 people

Immigrations was fast enough, we spend 30-40 minutes because there was a lot of us. Anyway, we spend about an hour waiting for the 2 vans that we rented anyway.
Cost for 2 vans: 5200 THB for 2 vans (transfer from Aranyaprathet to Born Free Hostel, Banglamphu)
Unfortunately, because of the long wait that we had, we arrived in Bangkok at around 5 PM. Of course. Check in and fixed ourselves. Finalize our itinerary with Wasana.

There were those who wants to go to MBK so we took a taxi to go there. Some had a bit of a night life in Khao San Road.

August 26:
Pick up from the hotel by our private van to go to Kanchanaburi, supposedly by sunrise. Unfortunately, we got there around 630 PM. (Our driver stopped for breakfast, toinks!)
Cost: 4500 THB for one van
Sunrise over River Kwai Bridge - free
Elephant and Bamboo rafting - 250 THB (only!)/pax
Erawan Falls - 200 THB/pax

We had too much fun at the falls, and missed climbing so I guess we got a little carried away. We arrived in Bangkok by around 5 pm, too. We just went to Khao San Road, had some street food for dinner (or shopping depending on who you ask), and had some drinks (it was our last night after all).

August 27:
There were two general groups:
Pick up from the hotel by a private van to take them to Pattaya, for the bungy jumping. Then enjoy the rest of the day at Nong Nooch Garden, then drop them off at the airport by around 7 to 8 pm.
Cost:
Van - 3500 THB for one van
Bungy Jumping - 2100 THB (including video)
Nong Nooch Garden - round off 300 THB (discount care of hotels2thailand.com)

For the rest of us who didn't go to Pattaya, we spend the day shopping in Pratunam. I love it! :)
Airport transfer from KSR to Pratunam: 1200 THB/van

We had dinner at the food court (where we last ate, affordable compared to the food court above with food ranging to as low as 35 THB!) We checked in at the airport around 8:30 PM and found each other eventually.

And before you know it, it's
August 28:
0400 - arrived in DMIA, Clark, Pampanga

Back to reality...
I will try to write more details later on and put also pictures.

I just want to summarize our budget :)

Description USD/Pax USD/Group Subtotal
HCM Airport - Blk Virgin - Cu Chi Tunnel - Mai Guesthouse + 20 USD tip           15.73               236.00
Black Virgin Mountain and Cu Chi Tunnel - Entrance + shuttle + cable car + slide           12.19               182.86
Sub Total (Day 1)            27.92
Mai Guesthouse - Std Twin           10.41               177.02
Ho Chi Minh to Mac Bai Border             8.24               140.00
Immigrations - 1 USD/border/person             2.00                  34.00
Mac Bai Border to Phnom Penh           10.00               170.00
Sub Total (Day 3)            30.65
Phnom Penh Half-Day Tour             2.78                  50.00
EK Memorial Killing Fields Entrance Fee             3.00                  54.00
Cellphone             0.39                    7.00
Green Star to Share             0.94                  17.00
Angkor Wat           20.00               360.00
Phnom Penh to Siem Reap           12.78               230.00
Angkor Tour with sunrise-sunset             4.17                  75.00
with tour guide (for 1 day)             1.94                  35.00
SP to border; private             8.33               150.00
Angkor Spirit Palace             8.33               150.00
Upgrade to 35-seater bus             4.44                  80.00
Western Union             1.17                  21.00
Sub Total (Day 4-5)            68.28
Van Rental from border to BKK (converted to USD)             9.32               167.74
Sub Total (Day 5)              9.32
Van Rental from BKK to Kanchanaburi         321.43 4500
Elephant and Bamboo Rafting         250.00
Erawan Falls and Pha trat cave         200.00
Sub Total (Day 6) - THB          771.43
Van Rental from BKK to Pattaya to Airport         500.00 3500
Bungy jumping     2,100.00
Nong Nooch Garden         300.00
Sub Total (Day 7) - THB      2,900.00
Born Free Hostel (aircon)         400.00
Born Free Hostel (fan)         360.00
Airport transfer from BKK         109.09            1,200.00
Total (USD)         136.17                         -  
Basically, excluding the Kanchanaburi and Pattaya tours, our budget is around 140 USD :)

Saturday, June 22, 2013

Planning Indochina

I realized na hindi ko na pala na-blog ang Bangkok ko, at hindi ko pa natapos ang Visayan road trip ko. Tsk tsk... And yet, I'm planning another road trip: Indochina! And, bente kami! As in 20! Grabe, ang dami. Gusto ko ata maging tour guide e. Anyway, it's still in August, but the plans are laid out as follows with a few minor changes nalang :P


Date
Time
Itinerary
Cost
Comments
Aug 20


1830
Meet up at McDo Resort's World
KKB
Group bus or taxi to NAIA 3
1950
Check in at NAIA 3
PhP 450 + 1620
Terminal Fee + International Tax
2250
ETD Manila via Cebupac









Aug 22

0020
ETA Ho Chi Minh via Cebupac
250+25 USD/grp
Pick up by bus (Vietnam Tours)
0530
162000
Free
Breakfast in the area
0900
80000 VND/pax
Average time: 1-2 hours; included tour guide
1300
Check in at Mai Guesthouse
230 USD/grp
5 rooms x 2 double beds

Reunification Palace (sunset) – 30000 VND
War Remnants – 15000 VND
Hotel de Ville (People’s Committee Hall)
KKB

Shopping: Ben Thanh, Saigon Central
KKB
Walking distance; TNF, here we come

Nightlife in Vietnam: Pub, Dancing
KKB



Aug 23
0600
ETD Bus for Phnom Penh (Mac Boi border)
40000 VND/pax
2-3 hours travel; via Sapaco Bus

0800
ETA Mac Boi Border
170 USD/grp
Pick up by Angkor Guide Sarak

1300
50 USD/grp
Transportation around Phnom Penh


Cheong EK Memorial (Killing Fields) – 5USD
5 USD/pax
2 USD/pax
City Tour via coaster

1700
Sunset river cruise at the Mekong River
50 USD/grp
Blue River Cruise; may bring food on board
1900
Dinner? Shop at Russian Market, Central Market (?)
KKB
Tambay lang

2230
ETD Phnom Penh to Siem Reap
230 USD/grp
6 hours via private coaster


0430
75 USD/grp
Transpo around Angkor temples

Alt sunset: Phnom Bakneng, Pre-Rup, Bakheng Hill
20 USD/pax

1900
Check in at Angkor Spirit Palace (1, 2)
Aug 25
0700
Check-out at Angkor Spirit Palace
150 USD/grp
Free breakfast
1000
ETD Poipet – Aranyaprathet Border
400 THB/pax
Cross immigrations
1500
ETA Bangkok. Check-in
THB 4000/van?
Van to (Chatuchak?) to BKK
Chatuchak Weekend – up to 6 pm?
(Outside) temple at night
PM
Patpong Night Life             
KKB


Aug 26
Plan A
Est 3000 THB
2050/bungy + 2000/taxi + 450/Nong Nooch
Plan B
830 THB
Aug 27

AM
Last-Minute Shopping
1900
ETD Bangkok to the airport
 No travel tax
8 pm - check in
2340
ETD Bangkok via Cebupac


Aug 28
0344
ETA Clark via Cebupac

Rent a jeep back to Manila?

Grabe, I can't believe I'm this organized. I was able to do most of the planning in a week's time! Haha Tapos minor tweaks nalang ang iba, grabe.

These are the list of hotels that we would be staying at:
Hotel
Price (est.)
Amenities
Facilities
Comments
Pham Ngu Lao St., District 1
PhP 510 (2 nights)
– 10USD
20 sqm
TV, Desk
Free tea, coffee
Computers
Trip Advisor 5 of 505 B&Bs and Inns
Booking and Agoda
Phneachey Village, Psa Krom Market
PhP 323 (1 night) – 7.50 USD
55 sqm
TV, View, Ref
Free breakfast
Swimming pool
15-min drive to Angkor Wat and 10-min drive to market; Trip Advisor 52 of 195 Hotels
Booking (3
Khao San Road
PhP 480 or 600 (2 nights) – 320 or 400 THB
12 aircon dorm
8 fan dorm

10-min walk to KSR; 5-min to bus stop
Newly renovated; 3-months pa lang
Hostel Bookers: 98.5%

And our working budget is...
Tour and Entrance fee - PhP 1700 (excluding Bangkok tours because we all have different plans)
Transportation - PhP 2800 (excluding Bangkok tours)
Accommodations - PhP 1250 to 1430
Total: PhP 6000 (excluding shopping and souvenirs, and Bangkok Tours)

Tada!