Monday, April 16, 2018

3D2N Sekinchan Trip, Star Photography

Since 16 April is a public holiday for Malacca state as replaced for the 15 April as the anniversary of declaration Malacca as Historical City. We planned a trip to Sekinchan for 3D2N. I didn't want to go just for 2D1N as it takes 3 hours from Malacca to reach Sekinchan. As a driver, I will be very tired. In addition, I planned a midnight for star photography as the light pollution at the area is very minimum.

Day 1

After 2 hours drive and reached Kuala Selangor, we settle our lunch at McD. Another 20km drive, we reached the sekinchan. We stay at The One Boutique Hotel which cost RM158.75. It is discounted price that booked on Booking.com.

First we visited the rice factory. The entrance fee is RM5 which include a small pack of vacuumed rice. We got into a room and watched some video about paddy planting, seed nursery etc. Then a guide bring a group of people to told us about some operation of the factory. We knew different kind of machine. It is like factory visit in Taiwan which the visitor is separated from a glass window from the factory. We also just knew that brown rice without bran, germ and endosperm become white rice. After finished the visiting, we had dessert at the 米乐坊.
The rice packages

The rice exhibition


Old rice machine

The view of factory

Brown Rice Red Bean Dessert, RM3

Brown Rice Spring Roll (They called it dumpling), RM3

Paddy planting machine

The paddy field view just outside of the rice factory

Rice factory gallery entrance

After that, we visit Sekinchan Fishing Port and walk around the fishing village. Most of the fishing boatmen were having shower on the boat.
Fishing port




Then we have the photo with the mural arts




We had our dinner at 喜记炒虾姑
4 dishes cost RM41 include two drinks

After dinner, we went back hotel and rest. For the star photography, we found that day weather is lesser cloud than next day. Hence, we went out at 10:30pm and find the darker area at the paddy field. At last, we stopped at the small lane between Jalan Parit 9 and 10. It was very dark, I need to use phone flashlight to help and adjust the camera and tripod.

This is my first time to take star photography. I learned a lot of thing like:
1. How to adjust manual focus for the dark sky. I adjusted the focus by focusing to the light on the land and adjust until best focus.
2. 500rule, shoot less than shutter speed of 500 divide by lens focal length. E.g. I used 14mm f2.5, hence is better shoot less than 500/14=35s. This is to avoid startrail
3. Bring mosquito repellent. There are too many mosquito.
4. Shooting Raw
5. That day still cloudy, cannot see milky way.

The star photos were taken with Olympus OM-D EM10 and Panasonic 14mm f2.5 len then edited with Lightroom.



The brightest star is the Jupiter.

At last, we shot until 1am.

Day 2

We woke up for branch that day at Ri Ri Fatt Restaurant.

Then we visited the Ah Ma House, There are many antique gadgets and stuffs. It also sold a lot of my childhood memory sweets and snacks. After visited for a while, suddenly, a group of tourist from a bus visit this house. This made the house so crowded. Then we leave the house and buying nothing as the queue is quiet long.
Rice Prawn Cracker

Old times snacks and sweets.




The making of kuih kapit


Then we walk to the opposite of the ah ma house to visit the maritime gallery. The entrance fee is RM5. The exhibition inside is quite simple and short. The we rest at the snack store nearby to having a coconut and fried yam shrimp snack.
Inside the maritime gallery

Coconut cost RM4 and  炸芋头虾饼 Fried yam shrimp snack cost RM10

Next, we drove the Nan Tian Temple. The most interesting place in this temple is the two tower that you can climb up and view the wide area of the Sekinchan paddy field.
The view from the top of the temple tower.

Since it's a hot day, Sekinchan doesn't have any shopping mall. We just chilled at the Mango King store for having the Mango Shake,
Mango shake cost RM5 each. Very sweet

After that, we don't have any activities in the afternoon, we just took the timelapse of the paddy field.

Around 4pm, we went to the PTP prawn cracker. The owner told us that they don't have variety of flavour to select and suggest to bought at a souvenir shop. The souvenir shop called 新兴手信点, there are three flavours of cracker to choose which are yam, squid and prawn. Each big pack cost RM8 and free a magnet! Other shop don't have free magnet.

Next, we went to the Redang Beach. The main activity to do there is playing kite. There are a lot of shop selling kite with the normal price of RM12. Even renting kite for RM5. We didn't bought any kite and play the ship-style kite that I bought in Bali. It take 10 minutes to assemble it. After several times of throwing up and adjust the balancing, we successfully flew it but we didn't led it fly so high.
The tree house at the Redang Beach

Proton Wira Exhibition?

The ship-style kite

Finally, it can fly.

Ship in the air

Then we were just sitting at the beach and enjoyed the sunset. It has been a long time haven't been at the shore. The sticky feel of my skin let me feel uncomfortable.

We settle our dinner at J&M lah lah seafood.
Top: 炒爱情鱼, super oily and it cost RM15
Bottom Right: 炸虾姑炒饭
Bottom Left: 啦啦煎
3 dishes and a drink cost RM31.5

Day 3
We woke up at 5:30am that day to go to catch sunrise of the paddy field.

We drove till the small lane in front of the rice factory and wait for the sunrise. After sunrise, the view is very beautiful and we took more photos.
This photo view is super nice.

The condensed  liquid water on the paddy leaf

Next, we went to Ri Ri Fatt to have the pork glutinous rice. But the man said have to wait till 9:30am. Hence, we went back to the hotel and continue to sleep first. After checked out at 10am, we went back to the restaurant and having breakfast.
Top Left : 瓦煲老鼠粉 RM6.5
Bottom Left: 咖喱米粉 RM4
Bottom Right: 糯米猪 Pork Glutinous Rice
Total RM18.4

Next, we go to rice factory bought the rice and Ah Ma house to buy more souvenirs and snacks.

Then drove back home.

Friday, January 19, 2018

Total Expenses for 4.5 Months Backpacking in Asia 8 Countries in MYR

The total spending for each person travelling 8 countries cost around RM17717. The 8 countries include 28 days in Indonesia, 28 days in Taiwan, 22 days in Philippines, 5.5 days in Hong Kong, 19 days in Vietnam, 6 days in Cambodia, 13 days in Laos, 21.5 days in Thailand.

The Indonesia Backpacking Trip is separated from the other 7 countries backpacking trip as I need to go back Malaysia to attend my brother convocation. Hence, there are to total return flight cost RM426 include the 20kg check-in going there and 25ke check-in going back.

For the 7 countries, we flight to Taiwan first by AirAsia. After travelled round the Taiwan island. We flight to Manila and then transfer to Puerto Princesa which both by AirAsia. Then travelled around the Philippines by ferries and buses back to Manila. Then took the flight to Hong Kong by AirAsia and then continue to Hanoi by JetStar. All of these flight we took 20kg check-in for two person.

After travelling south from Hanoi to HCMC and enter Phnom Penh. Then travelled north to Luang Prabang, Laos and Chiang Rai, Thailand. Then travelled south again to last destination, Bangkok. The AirAsia flight that we took was with 45kg check-in luggage as Bangkok is a shopping heaven.

Therefore, the most expensive country that we have stay is definitely, Hong Kong, cost us average RM183 per day. Then follow by Philippines which is RM137 per day as travelling around Philippines with ferry is quite expensive. Next is the Taiwan which cost us RM121 per day. The rest are almost the same.

The total flight ticket cost RM2032 per person for 8 flights.

THE MOST EXPENSIVE

The most expensive ticket for out backpacking trip is definitely the Hong Kong Disneyland, Cost us RM280 per person!

The most expensive transport exclude the flight is the Ferry from El Nido to Coron, Philippines, Cost PHP1340 (RM111) per person.

While for the land transport is the Overnight Bus from Luang Prabang, Laos to Chiang Rai,Thailand, cost LAK 250,000 (RM125) per person. By the way, we also paid extra due to bus is not reliable.

The most expensive tour that we have taken are Lan Ha Bay - Ha Long Bay Day Cruise tour from Cat Ba Island, USD21 (RM90) per person. This tour is really worth although the weather is very cold.

The most expensive Motorbike rental is in El Nido, Philippines. The only motorbike rental in that country cost us PHP400 (RM33) per day.
Other Countries for a motorbike rental per day:
Indonesia : IDR60,000 (RM20)
Taiwan: TWD200 (RM28)
Vietnam: VND100,000 (RM19)
Cambodia: USD5 (RM21)
Laos: LAK20,000 (RM25)
Thailand: THB200 (RM28)

The most expensive accommodation is absolutely at Hong Kong. Cost us HKD200 (RM100) for a double room per night.
Other Countries Accomodation (Cheapest for Double Room or Dorms) per night for two persons:
Indonesia : IDR80,000 (RM27)
Taiwan : TWD310 (RM44)
Philippines : PHP640 (RM53)
Vietnam : VND170 (RM32) We found the cheapest and the best double bed room at Cat Ba Island.
Cambodia : USD5.7 (RM24) We stay at the dorm with just USD1 per person per night!
Laos : LAK78,500 (RM39)
Thailand : THB296 (RM38)

Friday, January 5, 2018

Thailand day 9 & 10 : From Pai - Minivan to Chiang Mai - Overnight bus to Mo Chit Bangkok - Minivan to Pak Chong - Khao Yai Art Museum - Pak Chong Night Bazaar

In the morning, we enjoyed the environment at the Mr Jan Guesthouse while waiting to check out before 11pm since our booked minivan to Chiang Mai is 2pm. After checked out, we had the lunch at the Tik Kitchen. The meal is cheap but normal and the juice is so sweet that I can't finished it. I feel headache after drank it.
Top : Fried Rice with Chicken , 50B
Bottom : Rice with stirred fried chicken, 50B
Juice, 20B each

The minivan to Chiang Mai departed from the Aviabooking station. Our backpacks were tighten at the van roof top. The minivan stop at the same stop after one and half hour of downhill and curve road journey. The total journey took 3.5 hours as the road is quite jam bear to city area. After reached the Arcade terminal 2, we had dinner at the local restaurant nearby the bus terminal. At the first restaurants, we asked how much is the food since there is meal name written in English. The lady boss said it is 50 but I saw the menu written in Thai only 40. Then she said the big bowl for 50 and the small bowl for 40. Then we want to eat the small bowl but she refused to do our business. Hence, we left the restaurant and found next one have english menu with listed price.
Rice with stirred fried pork, 40B

Our overnight bus to Mo Chit, Bangkok is the Transport.co first class double decker bus. There are only one departure time at 7pm daily. The cost is 488B/person. There is toilet inside. The carry on bag can be put in the door cabin above the seat. The seat can be adjusted to around 135 degree with the leg rest. There is blanket provided. A water bottle, muffin and coffee is given to everyone. There is hot water downstairs. The bus stopped at several town bus station to drop off and pick up passenger. Around 9pm, the bus attendant gave another juice drink to everyone. We hardly sleep in the bus as there is TV playing movie in thai and it is very loud. But it shut down after 11pm. The bus stopped again at 1am at a big rest area with supermarket and food stall. After that, we sleep all the way to Bangkok.
Transport.co first class bus



A water bottle and a box which have a cup, a muffin and coffee

Our Expenses for Day 9
Lunch : 160
Water : 9
Minivan to Chiang Mai : 300
Dinner : 80
First class overnight bus to Bangkok : 976
TOTAL ; 1525

At 5:40am, we reached the Mo Chit Bangkok. Mo Chit is also called Chatuchak Bus Terminal. We straight away asked for the minivan to Pak Chong. After asked for 4 persons, finally we get on the minivan which cost 160B. The minivan depart every hour. The minivan that we sit departed at 6am.
Minivan to Pak Chong

After 3 hours journey, we reached the Pak Chong town. The driver thought us is going to the Khao Yai National Park. He straight away told the songthaew driver that we were going. After we get off the minivan, we just straight away get back our backpacks from the songthaew. 

Firstly, we found the breakfast to eat. By using foursquare, we found a very famous local restaurant near the train station. It is crispy pork with rice and only cost 40B.
Crispy pork with rice, 40B
Chinese sausage with rice, 40B

After that, we put our backpacks at train station while I went to find the motorbike to rent since our booked accommodation was far away from town. We don't waste our money to sit the songthaew. After asked 3 rental shop, the price is the same which is 300B for 24 hours. Hence, I just rented a newer scooter.
Honda Click 125, 300B/day

The accommodation that we booked is Lake view tent. One tent for two people only cost 300B/night. The dorm bed in any hostel cost 300B/night for person which is very expensive for us although they are near to the train station or town area. After two times riding back and forth from train station and lake view, we finally transferred our four backpacks to the place. The tent have two futon beds, two sleeping beds and two towels. The tent is just located beside the lake.

After that, we rode to the town to find lunch. We couldn't find any local food to eat as most of the local here don't speak English. Then we just had our lunch at KFC. Then departed to Khao Yai Art Museum which is free admission. The journey took half an hour from town. We just spent there for an hour since it is not that big.
KFC big box, 167B

In art space A

Art space A, there are a lot of paintings and statues of Rama IX king.

Art Space B

Art Space C is the artwork of the white temple artist

There are some artwork at outside too.


After that, we rest at the Tops Daily convenience shop to have some coffee. There is not much thing to do in Khao Yai as most of the attraction is not free and the entrance fee is at least 100B/person for most of the place. After loitered at the Tesco, we went to the Night Bazaar at the Pak Chong town center.
Coffee 30B and watermelon 10B

Pak Chong Night Bazaar






Fried sandwish with vege and crab meat, 15B

Left : Sticky rice with pork floss and sausage, 20B
Right : Steamed fish with curry paste and vege, 10B

Grilled squid and others, 10B each

Our Expenses for Day 10
Minivan to Pak Chong : 320
Breakfast : 80
Motorbike : 300
Lunch : 167
Coffee and fruit : 40
Dinner : 65
Accomodation : 300
TOTAL : 1272