Krabi & Bangkok: Sending Postcard 2014

During Krabi and Bangkok trip, I had having my first experiences to send some postcards from there. It was a challenge for me from buying stamps and postcards until send out the postcards. The value of stamp that needs to post a postcard in Thailand is 15 Baht.

Where to Buy Stamp?

In Krabi, I had bought some stamps from Family Mart. When buying the stamp from the staff, I had an enquiry but due to communication barrier and the staff did not understand my question so my enquiry regarding stamp was an unknown.

My enquiry is when buying the stamp with value of 15 Baht; I need to pay for 20 Baht to buy it. It means that I need to pay additional 5 Baht to get it. WHY?

On 17 October 2014, I had sent a postcard to a postcrosser in Thailand name Pannika. In her profile, she stated that if you put your address on postcard then she will send a Thank you postcard for you. I had put my address on postcard so I received her Thank you postcard too. When I received it, I had email she to tell she that I safety received it and at the same time I tried ask the postcard inquiry as above.

She did answer my enquiry. Actually I have lots of questions. Haha..Her answer as below:-

Regarding Thai stamps, Thailand Post has 2 prices:

Stamps for normal usage – you pay prices that printed on the stamps itself, normally there are several stamps of the same design per sheet.

Stamps for collectable – usually come in a single sheet with a set of stamps, you have to pay extra for those kind as they are for collectable only.

 

Besides Family Mart, when in Krabi Airport, I do brought some stamps for Bangkok use and luckily I bought some extra as in Bangkok, I cannot find where to get the stamp.

In Bangkok, I had tried to ask 7-11 shops for stamps but the stamps finished. In the end, I did not manage to post some postcard to myself from Bangkok because all the stamps had been used for sending postcard to friends and postcrossers.

After buying the stamp, I was headache about how to paste the stamp on postcard as I did not bring glue. Luckily one of my friends told me that I can use water to paste the stamp on postcard. If not, I will use my saliva to paste it. Haha..just kidding. 

Where to send the postcard?

Krabi

In Krabi as Ananta Burin Resort have postal service so I can ask receptionist to help me post out my postcards. They will put my postcard in a post box before sending out. In Krabi Airport, you can find a mail box before went to waiting hall.

Bangkok

In Bangkok, it is very hard to search for mail box so I also asked The Berkeley Hotel's Concierge to help me send out the postcard. I can saw many postcards in Concierge Counter there. If you did not have time or did not know where to get stamp, you can give some money to Concierge so that they will help you buy and paste the stamp on postcard before send out.

Where to buy postcard?

Krabi

Along the Ao Nang Beach has many stalls, I had bought some postcards from there. Each postcard cost 10 Baht or RM 1.00. In Krabi Airport, it also has some shops sell postcards and stamps.

When waiting for the flight, I had gone around to shop and found out a Krabi Phi Phi Island postcard with beautiful view so I bought one or two of them to be sending out.

Bangkok

I had bought some postcards in Chatuchak Weekend Market as the postcards were so cute with elephant illustration.

Postcard Arrival

23th July 2014

I had received my postcard which sent from Krabi. It had taken around 20 days arrived my house.

16^th August 2014

My friends from Labuan had told me that she had received the postcard that I sent from Bangkok. Although it took around one month to arrive, the most important was the postcard did not getting lost.

Krabi & Bangkok 2014: Shopping Haul

Thailand especially Bangkok is a shopping heaven but in this trip, compare with my friends, my haul is the lesser. They really bought a lot. I think maybe either I am a rational buyer or I did not see the things that I like.

Krabi

In Krabi, I had bought Meiji brand yogurt as I have constipation problem in the first day. My friend had bought yogurt with coconut flavor which is more delicious.

This is Paddle Pop ice-cream that did not see at Malaysia before which bought by my friend.

This is a small note book with a nice 3D cover that also bought by my friend. This note book really has beach feel.

These entire magnets cost 300 Baht which is a great souvenir to friends and family.

The soaps are in fruits shape which is so lovely. All these soaps cost me 900 Baht after negotiate with the owner. The soap has the smell of the fruits.

This is all the snacks that my friends bought which include the yummy coconut yogurt. She also bought a mask. Pocky snack is a popular snack in Thailand.

Bangkok

My picture of shopping haul is unclear due to the romantic light in hotel but I had done some small editing. As I took all the haul pictures at the night and end of the day because at the early of the morning, I need went to airport so I have no choice but just snap some pictures under romantic light. If I took picture after I come back, surely I will forget it.

This Thai keychian was bought by me in airport while wait for the flight arrived.

As Malaysia did not have pork porridge so I had bought 2 sachets of porridge for my family to try for it. The taste is good.

This is the milk candy that I bought from 7-11. Before go to Bangkok, I had knew that this candy is quite popular among tourists.

This is another type of milk candy. I did not know what the different between these 2 candies is as I dislike milk candy. My family quite likes to eat fish sheet so I had bought some to them.

Although this peanut can be finding in Malaysia but this snack’s packaging was in Thai words so has little different compare with Malaysia. The one that I bought was truly original. Haha..

I had bought bread for my tomorrow breakfast as we need to go to airport in the early in the morning so I scared did not have time to buy for breakfast. This cracker is so tasty as my friends had given to me tried before so I bought one for my family. I cannot bring too many packs of cracker as it is eating space. I had bought pork floss from Thailand for my family tried which also good to eat with porridge.

This belt is for my father which bought at the stalls which in the front of The Berkeley Hotel.

These shirts were for my sisters and I. I will let them to choose first. The 3 shirts from top were bought from Chatuchak Weekend Market while the rest was from the stall in front of our hotel.

This is the only dress that I bought also at the stall that operates in front of our hotel.

In Siam Paragon, I had bought some Naraya bags for a gift. Naraya bag has many varieties from cosmetic bag to pouch and others. I really took lots of time to find some bags because due to money limitation. If I have many money, surely I will bought each of the bag for my collection *Dreaming*

Nichakarn Massage & House

[Itinerary]

When go Thailand, many people will try for Thai massage as it is cheap and has variety of massage for you to choose for. I ever saw had tomato massage..Wow..

After finished our dinner at food stall, we went around and saw has one friendly woman ask for message. Then we looked for the price with services and planned to try for it. I had tried for foot message (200 Baht) whiles some of my friends try for body massage.

 As we just finished our dinner so the woman did not recommend us to do full body massage with oil. Then the body massage that done by my friends is cover by cloth, not naked. Haha..

Pic Credit: Tiny Boo Boo

When surf for more information about this massage house, I had saw blogger Tiny Boo Boo has put the price list of massage which I had been forget to take photo of so I use her picture in my blog post for your references. In her post, she had been told by the owner that this massage house has 3 shops in Krabi.

When massage, you can online with your handphone as this shop provides free Wifi but I did not online as I cannot concentrate during massage.

I was doing foot massage with one of my friends and he was started early few minutes than me so I can knew what the next massage step that will be done for me. When I saw the message that done to he looks painful then I will asked for his feeling and I will get prepare with it. Haha..

It was my first time to massage so I keep laughing because feels itchy than painful. This foot massage did not painful at all. When the shop getting more and more people came for massage then I tried to control myself for laughing. If not, others will feel weird that has one girl kept laughing at there.

For the body massage, I had heard of my friends that the staff will sit on your back during massage. Don’t worry that your bone will be break down as the staff is small in size and they only sit for a while and not all the times.

During massage, the friendly woman had promoted to us some island hoping package and restaurant. We decline her offer as we are flying to Bangkok by tomorrow so did not have time to try for it.

After 40 minutes, my foot massage finally ended with shoulder massage. During massage, the staff had used oil for massage but the oil was easily absorbed to skin so I did not feel any oily on my foot after massage.

Food Stalls Opposite Apasari Krabi

[Itinerary]

04 July 2014 (Friday)

Opposite of Apasari Krabi has food stall

Our initial plan was go to Krabi Town after island hoping but due to too tired from island hoping so we cancelled it and just dinner at food stall that around resort. After went around, we had chosen a food stall that opposite Apasari Krabi for our dinner. We had ordered some food to be share with each other.

Mango Sticky Rice

Highly recommend for this food stall’s mango sticky rice as the portion is big and delicious. This mango sticky rice had topped with coconut milk. When in Krabi, try look for food stall to get mango sticky rice as it is cheap and big portion.

Tomyam

This Tomyam is acceptable for me compare with yesterday dinner at E-San Seafood and Thai Food. The soup did not too sour so I can drink more.

Pad Thai

Pad Thai is a stir-fried rice noodle that some like Kway Teow in Malaysia.  It has some shrimp, bean sprout, peanut and many more. This is one of my favorite Thai dishes.

Mixed Vegetable

In these few days, we always ate meat and seafood so must order some vegetable to balance our diet. 

Tom Yum Fried Rice

Fried rice quite common in Malaysia but Tom Yam fried rice was my first time to try for. This rice did not so spicy. Maybe we had made request for the owner that we want medium spicy. If you likes spicy can asks for super spicy.

Drinks: Dragon Fruit & Blueberry

Drinks: Banana & Lemon

We had ordered fruits shake which are banana, lemon, dragon fruits and blueberry flavor. I ordered for lemon that was sour which is a good appetizer.

When we finished ate our dinner, we had met with a few China tourists and they highly recommend us that must tried for Coconut Shake that we did not order for this during dinner. Never mind, next time if have chance to go there again can try for this drink. 

Island Hoping: Phi Phi Island

[Itinerary]

Our hotel package includes one trip to islands which is Phi Phi Island or 4 Islands (Tup Island, Chicken Island, Poda Island and Phra Nang Cave) or Hong Island. Last, we had chosen for Phi Phi Island as it is very famous.

The island hoping packages was included hotel transfer, mask/snorkel, life jacket, fresh fruits, drinking water, lunch in restaurant, first aid kit, professional guide and entrance fee with insurance.

04 July 2014 (Friday)

Around 8.30 a.m., we wait for transport to island hoping. Before this, we did get a towel from lobby for use when we get wet and sun protection as the towel is quite thick. We need to pay deposit for 100 Baht (refundable) in order to get the towel.

Lohsamah Bay: Enjoy the colorful fish and coral.

Pileh Bay: Sightseeing a fantastic lagoon.

Monkey Bay: Snorkel and exploring.

Maya Bay: Stunning location for the Hollywood film “The Beach”.

Viking Cave: Photography and sightseeing.

Phi Phi Don Island: Restaurant lunch

Bamboo Island: Explore the coral and the beach

On the bus

In hotel lobby, have many tourists whose include us waiting for bus to come. In bus, I found out that the window of bus did not have mirror so if raining the water will spill you. After less than 10 minutes, the bus arrived and we must walk for some distance to reach at beach.

Our boat number 8

At the beach, we had been divided into few groups for boat transport. My friends and I took the boat number 8. After that, we went to the boat. Before go in the boat, the staff will require you to take off your slipper and wash your slipper in the sea because they want to keep clean in boat.

Gathering before go to boat 

When it’s my turn to get into the boat, I cannot step into the boat like others. Then, the staff told me that I can use stairs. Haha.. My leg is too short. In the boat, I had met with Beauty Blogger, Charmaine with her husband. Through her social media, I just knew that they came to Krabi for honeymoon.

On the way to boat

In the boat, you can get free mineral water. From Krabi to the island, it takes around 40 minutes to arrive. That day, the wave was big that the boat keep hit with the wave. Based on my taking boat experiences, it was my first time feel uncomfortable in the boat as the wave is big. When the boat hit with the wave, you will feel jump a while in the boat. For those sit in front of boat will have big feeling and big jump when wave met with boat. 

On the boat

Free mineral waters

First stop at Phi Phi National Park, we had given around 40 minutes to go around at this island. The beach is so beautiful and the sea is so clear without any pollution. I did not play with the water as I did not know how to swim. I just step on the sea which the water level is low. We (two of us who did not know how to swim) hand in hand to play with water.

Phi Phi National Park

Slowly, we moved to deeper water and unluckily that a wave come on and both of us cannot control and fall into the sea. When I fall in the water, I was drowning as I did not know how to swim and nearby did not have anything that I can catch or hold to. I had experience with drown before so I quite scared with it. Luckily, Mark and Ena saw it and came to save us. Both of them are good swimmer. If not, I also did not know what will happen next.

Swimming & snorkeling

After the National Park, the sky was starting raining and we required to put on the safety jacket for safety purpose.

Sky become dark

The rain was get smaller when we at the middle of the sea so continue with snorkeling activity. As the snorkeling is at the middle of the sea then I think that only good swimmer can snorkeling while for those who did not how to swim also can snorkeling but it is good with accompany of good swimmer and life jacket. I saw that many people did enjoy for the snorkeling.

Snorkeling

The boat that near with my boat

Snorkeling

After snorkeling, the boat took us to see around the beautiful caves. I did not pay attention for the introduction from Guide as I busy took picture of those caves. All of the caves are so beautiful. 

Nice view

Cave

Beautiful view

The water is so clear

At Monkey Bay, I did saw lots of monkey playing around. I also saw a couple (did not same boat with us) took picture with the monkeys. They were so brave as they did not scared attack from monkeys. I think that couple was rent a private boat to take them here.

Monkeys on island

Tourists take photo with monkey

Private boat

We were having our lunch at Phi Phi Island. We need to walk for some distance to reach at eating hall. The lunch is at buffet style. At the hall has one small shop that selling snacks and souvenir. Many people came to this shop to buy for ice-cream for dessert after finished lunch. As I saw this shop has sell postcard so I did ask for stamps in this shop but they did not sell it. 

Food stall

Beautiful decoration

Shop

Lunch time!

Queue up to take food

My lunch

After lunch, the snorkeling activity started again at other part of sea. This time, they can saw Nemo Fish, a type of clownfish. While others were snorkeling, I went to the front of the boat and seen a child was giving some bread to fish. Then all the fishes grab for the food.

Nemo

Last, we did not go to Maya Bay as the wave was so rough. On the way to Krabi, we did served with fresh fruits. After eating fruits, the boat driver play with us by made the sea water splash on us so I keep myself cover with the towel.

My island hoping buddies

The island hoping is fun especially you know how to swim or snorkeling. Like me who did not know how to swim also enjoy with this trip as attracted by beautiful view.