globtr: Air Asia

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Way to Hikkaduwa and the bus story

2014 February, The long Trip - Sri Lanka, Hikkaduwa

On my way to Sri Lanka with Air Asia our pilot was so kind that he pointed to us the volcano eruption at Java Island. I arrived in Sri Lanka in the morning. At the airport I bought an Internet sim card Etisalat. No calls, just 1 GB Internet for 300 LKR (1.67e) top up another 1 GB costs me 200 LKR (1.11e). I wanted to take a free bus to the main bus stop but local people convinced me that it was not too expensive to take a highway bus to Colombo for 130 LKR (0.72e) it was a fast ride as it was via motorway. It was easy to take a bus from Colombo to Hikkaduwa for another 130 LKR (0.72e). After a few stops the bus was full and after another 30 minutes there wasn't any space inside. In the middle of the ride we had a flat tire. Luckily, tire stations are almost everywhere. It took a few minutes and we were back on the way. To change the second flat tire it wasn't as fast as the first one. It was funny to see all local people observing how they were doing this. In Hikkaduwa I was almost in time to watch the sunset - it was a long day.

Waiting for my plane

Volcano on Java Island

Welcome to Sri Lanka

Bus to Colombo

Bus to Hikkaduwa

First flat tire

Second flat tire

Local people

Green turtle - tomorrow

Monday, February 10, 2014

Kuala Lumpur

2014 January, The Long Trip - way to Kuala Lumpur

In the morning I had a flight from Krabi to Kuala Lumpur with Air Asia. I took a taxi from my guesthouse for 350 THB (7.84e). I landed on LCCT terminal and took a bus to KL Sentral for 8 MYR (1,77e). Then, I took a train to PWTC station for another 2.50 MYR (0.55e).
I bought a night bus ticket to Kuala Terengganu for 44 MYR (9.70e) as tickets to both Kuala Besut and Kota Bharu were sold out for couple of following days.
Luggage storage cost 5.00 MYR (1.10e).
It was time for sightseeing. I saw the two twin towers and enjoyed my time doing electronic shopping.
At 22:00 I was once more at Hentian Putra bus station to collect my luggage and to start my journey. The bus terminal was full of people and I was the only foreigner there.My bus departed at 23:00. Because of AC on the bus I was freezing. Nothing surprising in Asia.
I was around 6:00 am in Kuala Terengganu and took a local bus to Kuala Besut at 7:00 am. It cost 10.80 MYR (2.38e). After 10 am I was in Kuala Besut and the driver left me near the Jetty. He should left me at the bus terminal but they have a deal with local people. After I left the bus one guy offered me a boat to Perentian Islands - my destination. The price was 50 MYR (11.05) I paid 40 MYR (8.84e) and a girl from KL paid 50 MYR. I am sure local people pay less.
After 30 minutes of a bumping ride I was in the Coral Bay.