This trip started with my desire to visit Songkhla and Hat Yai, including the Hat Yai International Balloon Festival and nearby attractions. However, my plans didn't go as expected.

I spent too much time relaxing in Ayutthaya, assuming that Thai trains would be as punctual as those in Japan. While the train was indeed on time, I underestimated the time it would take to reach the airport. To make matters worse, the locomotive lost power and ran slower than usual, causing me to miss my AirAsia flight.

I take full responsibility for this mishap. Whether you're late by one minute or five, missing your flight is still missing it. Punctuality is crucial, and airlines operate on tight schedules. It's essential to check in at least an hour in advance to ensure a smooth boarding process. Even Nadech Kugimiya, a famous Thai actor, was denied boarding for being slightly late.

For this trip, I packed my Nikon D750 camera, a replacement for my retired model, along with 35mm f/1.4G and 14-24 f/2.8 lenses. I also brought my DJI P4 drone, unsure if I would be allowed to fly it.

With all this photography equipment, I had to minimize my clothing to make space. I even left my tripod at home. Fortunately, the D750's high ISO capabilities should compensate for low-light or nighttime photography.

You can follow my adventures on my Facebook page, "สะพายเป้ เท่ทั่วไทย": https://www.facebook.com/saphipae.

Missed the flight, no worries!

Across the street from the train station, there's a pedestrian bridge just a few steps away. We're laid-back travelers.

Train station: "Hat Yai is full."

Full? So what? Southern Bus Terminal, of course! What else?

From Don Mueang to the Southern Bus Terminal isn't far, just on the other side of Bangkok.

Got an old taxi, not through any app, with an elderly driver.

With the classic "Sanya, Sanya" album playing throughout the journey to the Southern Bus Terminal, the traffic jam seemed almost relaxing, letting the mood flow with the music.

After braving the traffic jam and arriving at the Southern Bus Terminal, with three hundred baht gone from the start, it was already 7 pm. I headed straight to the ticket counter, looking for my destination for the Hat Yai ticket.

Ticket counter: "Hat Yai… Full, full, full!"

Heard a voice from a nearby booth: "One seat to Sadao!" Who ordered sweet fish sauce in Sadao? Haha.

"Sure, one to Sadao, no sweet fish sauce."

Once in Sadao, where to next? The original plan was to visit Hat Yai, but that had to change.

So close to the border, why not cross over to Malaysia?

Where to go after crossing, we'll figure it out later.

This is what a laid-back traveler does, changing plans on the fly.

Others might lose all their fun after missing a flight.

Some people plan, book accommodation, book cars, book everything, and missing a flight is almost enough to make them cry.

Some even have their trips ruined. But for me, it's not a problem, traveling without any plans.

See you in Malaysia!

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Ticket counter: "Hat Yai… Full, full, full!"

Heard a voice from a nearby booth: "One seat to Sadao!" Who ordered sweet fish sauce in Sadao? Haha.

"Sure, one to Sadao, no sweet fish sauce."

Once in Sadao, where to next? The original plan was to visit Hat Yai, but that had to change.

Looking at the map, so close to the border, why not cross over to Malaysia?

Where to go after crossing, we'll figure it out later.

This is what a laid-back traveler does, changing plans on the fly.

The destination changes, the mind changes. The only thing that doesn't change is moving forward.

When the coordinates change, the heart goes to Malaysia. We'll figure out the tourist spots day by day. Ideas will come on their own.

Others might lose all their fun after missing a flight.

Some people plan, book accommodation, book cars, book everything, and missing a flight is almost enough to make them cry.

Some even have their trips ruined. But for me, it's not a problem, traveling without any plans.

"What brought my heart to Malaysia?"
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Ten o'clock, the bus arrived in Hat Yai.
Huh!!!! .. What!! Hat Yai, sounds familiar, doesn't it?
You said Hat Yai was full, so why do you have a ticket to Sadao, even though the bus stops in Hat Yai?

Damn it. I was cheated by a Thai person who sold me a ticket at a higher price.
But it's okay, I decided to get off at Sadao and have to sit to make the ticket worthwhile.
Another thing is that my heart has changed to come to Malaysia, so I must not change my mind back and forth.
Head to the backpack and continue the journey.
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The bus dropped me off at the intersection of Sadao District.
The new destination is to cross to Malaysia at Padang Besar checkpoint.
From Sadao, 11 km by local songthaew for 20 baht.

And today's final destination is "Ipoh".
The first destination of this unplanned trip.

Train Journey from Thailand to Malaysia

The songthaew will drop you off at the Padang Besar train station (Thai side). From there, you need to purchase a train ticket to Padang Besar (Malaysian side) for 45 baht. This is a special express train originating from Hat Yai. If you board the train in Hat Yai, the ticket price is 80 baht. The train arrives at Padang Besar station (Thai side) at 13:55. From this station, it takes less than 5 minutes to cross the border to Padang Besar station (Malaysian side). You can then complete immigration procedures and board the connecting train to Ipoh.

The train has arrived. Since we are still in Thailand, we have to take the Thai train for now.

Just one more stop, and we'll be out of the country in no time.

A familiar sight on Thai trains.

A 5-minute journey from Padang Besar on the Thai side brings you to Padang Besar Station on the Malaysian side. Upon exiting the train, you will be greeted by this scenery.

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The Electric Train Service (ETS) will take us from Padang Besar to Ipoh.

After a quick border crossing, let's take a look at the train from Padang Besar to Ipoh. This electric train costs 66 ringgit and appears to be well-maintained, with only the train tracks separating it from being considered luxurious. It's a stark contrast to the train we just took from Thailand.

Train tickets can be booked online and paid for with a credit card. Book your ETS tickets at http://www.ktmb.com.my/.

Alternatively, you can purchase tickets at the station like I did. However, booking in advance is recommended for those with planned itineraries. *** Don't forget to add 1 hour to Malaysian time. ***

I arrived in Ipoh around 8pm. The time here is one hour ahead of Thailand.
By 8pm, Ipoh was already starting to quiet down.
Most of the shops were closed, and there were only a few restaurants open for the late-night crowd.
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As a newcomer to a foreign land, my first priority was to find a place to stay.
I didn't have much chance to explore the city.
I'll save that for tomorrow morning when I can put on my backpack and wander around.
Here are a few photos of the atmosphere I encountered while looking for accommodation, during what is considered a late night here.

Another mistake I made was not bringing a tripod.
This forced me to rely on the D750's ability to push the ISO high.

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After searching for a place to stay, I ended up exploring most of the city. I finally found a cheap hotel within walking distance of the train station. There were also many other options to choose from. However, the hotel room I got tonight turned out to be a mixed-gender dorm (lucky me). 5555 But the room was mostly filled with girls, with only one Thai guy who seemed a little shy. There wasn't much to do, so I went out to grab some food and explore the area. Let's continue exploring the atmosphere.

When it comes to street art, many people think of Penang, which is well-known among Thai people. However, in Ipoh, Perak, the street art scene is just as charming and has its own unique appeal.
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Ipoh is located halfway between Penang and Kuala Lumpur, surrounded by mountains, making the weather here quite cool. There are many ways to get here, depending on your travel itinerary. This time, I started from Padang Besar, Sadao District, Songkhla Province, Thailand. It didn't take long to get here by train, making this my first encounter with Ipoh.
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The morning after a night spent sleeping amidst a room full of women, and after a day of strenuous walking, we explore Ipoh in the daylight.

One of the must-see attractions in Ipoh is the graffiti adorning the old buildings, a Western architectural style created by Ernest Zacharevic, a young Lithuanian artist, similar to the one found in Penang.

In addition to the murals, there is also the Sam Poh Tong Temple, or Cave Temple, and Kelly's Castle, or the Haunted Castle of Ipoh. I did not visit these two locations, but I will return to do so, as I only learned about them later.

Let's take a long look at the atmosphere.

The sun began to rise, casting its warm rays upon the earth, signaling the start of a new day. The air was thick with the scent of sweat, a testament to the arduous journey that lay ahead. Where to next? The question hung heavy in the air. A decision was made: Cameron Highlands, a tea plantation nestled amidst the rolling hills. The allure of capturing breathtaking aerial shots, surpassing the beauty of previous visits, proved irresistible. The journey from Ipoh to Cameron Highlands, a renowned hill station known for its year-round cool climate and sprawling tea estates, began with a bus ride. The 30a bus, departing from the Ipoh Bus Terminal (Oldtown side), cost a mere 1.8 RM and transported passengers to the AmanJaya Bus Station. From there, a connecting bus to Cameron Highlands awaited, priced at 20 RM (approximately 8 Thai Baht per 1 RM). The anticipation of the adventure ahead filled the air as the bus embarked on its journey, promising a day of exploration and discovery amidst the verdant landscapes of Cameron Highlands.

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AmanJaya Bus Station

Bus to Cameron Highlands

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It takes about 3 hours to travel 84 km to reach the town of Tanah Rata. After finding accommodation, we set out to explore the tea plantations. There are two main tea plantations here: BOH and Bharat Tea Plantations. You can take a tour, rent a motorbike, or, if you are in a group, hire a taxi, which is more economical.

In the afternoon, head straight to Bharat Tea Plantations by taxi. Leave BOH Tea Plantation for tomorrow morning.

After checking in, it's time to satisfy our hunger. This place has a Thai restaurant, perfect for those who are tired of Malaysian food. It's run by a Thai person who speaks Thai. However, since we're here, we should try some local dishes or whatever is popular here.

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If you visit Cameroon Highlands, don't miss their signature hot pot dish (you'll regret it if you do).
I can't recall the exact name, but it's similar to our "jim jum" or, more elegantly, shabu-shabu.
Let me tell you, it surpasses the taste of even the most renowned restaurants in our shopping malls.

This morning, I hired a taxi to go to the BOH Tea Plantation for the convenience of taking pictures and controlling my own time. I could stop and take pictures wherever I liked and stay longer at my favorite angles. The taxi fare was RM25 per hour with a minimum of 3 hours. If I had purchased a tour package, I would have been taken to the main attractions, but I wouldn't have been able to linger because there would have been other tourists with me. There were many tour operators with different prices and programs.

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The first morning at the BOH Tea Plantation...

After a tiring day of taking photos, you can relax and enjoy a cup of tea and snacks at BOH Tea Plantation.
There is a souvenir shop selling mainly tea products, and a tea processing factory.
Visitors are welcome to take a tour.

From Cameron Highlands, the land of tea plantations, "Malacca" is the next destination.
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At first, I intended to go to "Penang", but I thought the atmosphere would not be much different from "Ipoh".
So I looked for a new location and received a message from a fan page suggesting that I go all the way to "Malacca".

I've heard the name Malacca for a long time, but I've never been there. I don't have any information. What am I afraid of?
Because I didn't have any information when I came here. I have a mobile phone and internet access, so I can find information. What's so difficult about that?
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Traveling from Cameron Highlands to "Malacca" doesn't seem difficult.
Just buy a ticket to "Kuala Lumpur" and find a bus to Malacca.
But the question is, will there be any tickets available now? !!!!!

Let's take a break for lunch first, then we'll find a ride to KL.

"The bus is full today."
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"Wow, that was exciting. This company is full, so let's go and check other ticket sales periods. There are many buses going to KL. Luckily, there was just enough space for the last luggage and people. I almost had to stay in Cameron for another night and take the 11 am bus. From Cameron, it takes about 6 hours to reach the TBS bus station in Kuala Lumpur to continue to Malacca. It's a long journey."

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After a six-hour bus journey, I arrived at the TBS bus station. As you can see from the pictures, the queues at every ticket booth were incredibly long. I'm not sure if it was a holiday or festival for the Malaysians, but it was quite crowded.
It was almost 5 pm, and I was unsure of what to do next. Should I continue my journey or take a break to rest my feet and give my camera a break?

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Originally planning to relax and go with the flow, without booking tickets or accommodation in advance, I decided to change my plans and give my camera shutter a break. Instead, I will find a place to stay in Kuala Lumpur for the night, explore the city, and decide on my next move tomorrow morning.

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A second-hand phone purchased for 300 baht has started working again. The phone's navigation and maps seem to lead users astray, but they are forced to continue using it due to its affordability.

Following the GPS's directions, we turned left, then right, walked forward, and turned back. Finally, we arrived at our accommodation for the night: a "hostel" that seemed perfect for us at 260 baht per night (a very reasonable price). Located near the KL Sentral Station, it offers convenient access to minimarkets, restaurants, and shopping areas at Pods Backpackers.

Stepping out the window, you're greeted by the train station, connecting you to all corners of KL.

Upon arriving in Kuala Lumpur, a visit to the iconic Petronas Twin Towers is a must-do for any tourist. To reach this architectural marvel, various transportation options are available, including the efficient underground metro system. This convenient mode of transport allows visitors to emerge directly beneath the towers, providing an unparalleled view of their towering presence.

Out of time from Kuala Lumpur, where backpacker Sae went out to find her in Malaysia
Ma-lay, Ma-lay, Ma-lay, etc. (As mentioned in P'Pe's song)
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Pick up the backpack and head to Lanka. Hey!!! "Malacca"
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From the electric train, KL Sentral Station
In Kuala Lumpur, take one more station to TBS bus station
With a ticket price of 6.5 RM, which looks big, many people travel
Distributed to various regions of Malaysia
But finding a ticket to "Malacca" is not difficult

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I got a ticket for 11 RM. The trip is at 10.30 AM.

A two-hour journey brought us to Melaka, arriving at the Melaka Sentral Terminal.

From here, take bus number 17 to the city center for 2 RM. Get off at Dutch Square, the heart of Malacca. Finding accommodation is easy, with a wide variety to choose from. For a budget-friendly option, you can find a place for as low as 43 RM (approximately 350 baht) per night.

Malacca, a small town that was once an important port city in Malaysia.
Its history is readily available online.
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This charming little town is perfect for exploring on foot or by trishaw.
This time, I chose to walk around to explore the nooks and crannies.
And to take as many pictures as possible of the various locations.
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After checking into my accommodation, I set out to explore Malacca from afternoon until late evening.
And started again at dawn the next day.
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Follow me on a long journey through the lens as I explore the atmosphere of Malacca.

I've been craving Malay food for days, so I decided to satisfy my cravings at this Thai restaurant. The owner's sister is very kind, she gave me a lot of rice and even provided me with some information. ...

With full bellies and renewed energy, we continued our exploration, wandering aimlessly without a set plan. We lingered at scenic spots, capturing their beauty in photographs. Later, we discovered that we had missed several places, which left us with a tinge of regret. After all, we had embarked on this journey without any prior knowledge or itinerary.

Melaka: A City of Charm and Caution

Melaka, a city renowned for its captivating architecture, historical buildings, and picturesque streets, also presents a side that demands caution. This review delves into the safety concerns that visitors should be aware of when exploring this enchanting destination.

Safety First: A Constant Reminder

During my brief encounter with Melaka's beauty, the issue of safety emerged as a recurring theme. From taxi drivers to locals, everyone emphasized the importance of vigilance, particularly regarding belongings, snatch thefts, and even personal safety. This constant reminder, even in broad daylight, served as a stark contrast to the city's alluring charm.

Darkness Descends: A City Transformed

As dusk settles upon Melaka, a transformation takes hold. By 8 pm, the streets, alleys, and lanes become eerily deserted, devoid of the bustling activity witnessed earlier. Shops and restaurants begin to close, making it increasingly difficult to find sustenance.

Strength in Numbers: A Precautionary Measure

For those venturing into Melaka, traveling in groups is highly recommended, especially for solo female travelers. Even during daylight hours, companionship offers an added layer of security. Conversations with Thai residents revealed frequent incidents of snatch thefts targeting tourists, with some cases even resulting in fatalities.

A Balanced Perspective: Acknowledging the Risks

While these concerns may paint a daunting picture, it's crucial to maintain perspective. No corner of the world is immune to danger, and even familiar surroundings can pose unforeseen threats. Incidents reported in local newspapers serve as a reminder that vigilance is paramount, regardless of location.

Prevention is Key: Mitigating Risks

Fortunately, adopting precautionary measures can significantly reduce the likelihood of encountering unpleasant situations. Avoiding isolated areas, securing belongings, refraining from displaying valuables, and keeping cameras and mobile phones safely tucked away are essential steps. These practices, applicable to any travel destination, become even more critical in environments where safety concerns exist.

Embrace Adventure, Exercise Caution

While the prospect of potential dangers may instill fear, it shouldn't deter one from experiencing the wonders of Melaka. As the saying goes, "If you're constantly worried about danger, you'll end up watching TV at home or flipping through travel magazines."

Melaka: A City Worth Exploring

Melaka's undeniable charm warrants a visit, backpack in tow. Embrace the adventure, but remember to exercise caution and prioritize safety.

Further Explorations:

For more insights into my travels, follow my page, "สะพายเป้ เท่ทั่วไทย": https://www.facebook.com/saphipae

Two days and one night in Malacca is enough for me to capture the essence of this charming city, which rivals other Malaysian destinations in its allure. My journey was beginning to take its toll, as this trip was an extension of a previous one. By the time I reached Malacca, it was already my 15th day on the road. While many people travel to recharge their batteries, I prefer to return home to replenish my energy for future adventures.

And I want to try AirAsia again after missing my flight to Hat Yai.
Making my heart sink, coming to Malaysia has opened up a new perspective for me.

With one day to spare, I have nothing to do but sit and wait to check in at the airport.
I promise I won't miss my flight this time. 55555
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Thank you all for taking the time to visit and read this review.
Next time I travel, I will definitely come back and tell you all about it.

"Mr. Wanderer"
Backpack, cool all over Thailand
https://web.facebook.com/saphipae/