cost

cost: (excluding flights from your home country to vietnam)

Flight Hanoi-BKK: max US$96.5

Accomodation Bangkok: 4 days 3 nights: around $15 x 3 = $45
Pattaya: 1 night = around $35

Bangkok. Expenditure/day: ard $25, inclusive meals and transport. entry to places of interest (temples, museums) will be around $5. add your own shopping expenditure.

Pattaya: expenditure/day: estimated to be similar to Bangkok I guess (no indication on website). to go and watch the cabaret show (i assume we want to right haha) is $25.

other expenditures not covered: transport to and fro pattaya.
for sample prices of things in thailand, http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/thailand/bangkok/money-and-costs

Vietnam: phoebe says max $50/day (depends on what you want to do i guess)

ok can add up for yourself, too lazy to use my brain right now. haha. all prices are per person, in Singapore dollars unless otherwise indicated.

YOGA!!

HMMM.. yeah I HATE making decisions.. tell me about it..seriously.. bleah.. going to NUS is my first choicela.. but like yeah.. i have like 5 years med school, 2 years housemanship and 6 years bond.. seriously. .i'll be 33 AT LEAST when i finish.. all in singapore.. so means how? i gotta marry (IF i marry) in Singapore, live there at least... and have children all? HAHA.. ok don't wanna think about it.. i guess every choice u make will be like that la.. so yup

Yoga, I think u should MAKE A LIST! it helps.. like NZ or NUS.. money wise? about the same right both NUS or NZ? oh yeah how the ASEAN scholarship thingy? and yeah closer to your brother.. but yeah for me I really wanted NUS cuz i know my course + housemanship is long so I would want to be near home and like cuz I really like studying/living in Singapore and friends all la.. so yeah..and NUS is good.. so that's why i want NUS.. and it gives much more challenge..studying/living there.. so yeah.. NZ might be easier but I think it's about the same la.. do you want a challenging or laid back life? What do you see yourself like in the future? HAHA.. i know i know.. get rich then wait for girls to come.. HAHA.. i can so imagine you saying that.. anyway.. tell u how you decide k?:D

how how do i book for cil??quick not no tickets! then i dunno.. haha.. oh yeah train from bkk/kl i think quite scaryla.. and VERY long.. ahha.. shall just fly backla.. haha.

Help...

Oh well, now that maeyue is going NUS for sure, now it is my turn to be in dilemma...arghhhhhh, HEELLPPPP..my parents are encouraging me to go auckland, NZ instead..cos according to them, the uni life is more relaxed there (which is their definition of happier life), the country is growing more stable economically, i can work during weekdays and weekends, working life after uni is less stressful, and of course, i'll be nearer to my brother..blah, thousands of reasons..but i really want to go NUS leh =(((( actually not cos of the education, but more of cos i've got my frens there, i have more freedom, more challenging uni life, and i've adapted well to singapore lifestyle.. and switching to a place with slower pace of life seems quite boring, hahaha..soo HELP!!!i dont know how to convince my parents, hahaha...

Anyway, i am still struggling to live a normal life right now..Everytime when there is even a smallest space left for thoughts in my mind, it will start pondering of someone..Thanks to it, i woke up at 5 am unconsciously just to wait for a one word reply from someone who had her birthday few days ago..Thanks to it, i broke the front light of my car =p
Hahaha, been trying thousands of ways to find something to do..And now, my best distraction is to read CHINESE story book!!!!!!yeah, cos even reading the words requires such great concentration already, so i am happily reading pinnochio now..hahaha, and once a week, i go my cousin's house and just play winning eleven the whole day and night, it really works to stop my mind from thinking, hahahaha...oh well, hopefully when Euro comes, i'll be able to live a normal life again..or else, the next saviour will be the VN Bangkok trip already..hahaha..

confirmed? and TRAIN!

yes. so Mae Yue, Yoga, Van, Phoebe and myself are confirmed going. (right?) CIL???
hm is sally going?

Regarding the details in Thailand, I'll post options later.. (hehe)

then at the mean time if you havent done so look at the hotels in Thailand (a few post below)!! or look for some more if you dun want those I chose..

oh and btw, anyone interested in taking train to Singapore/KL from Thailand?? hehe.. went around and search after mae yue gave me the idea..

Bangkok (1445) - Butterworth (1310 next day): sleepers train (got bed), RM 112
then can go to Penang for a while, coz the train to KL only leaves at night
Butterworth (ard 9pm) - KL (ard 6am next day), RM 17-85 (depends on seat or sleeper)
KL (8am) - Singapore (3pm), RM 34-86 (depends on seat or sleeper)

yups so the journey will take 2 days 2 night.

haha yes. I'm seriously considering taking the train (it's so cool!!) haha. But dun think my parents will let me go if i'm alone. so yes, anyone??

ok MY flight details

TINA! i think i'll take same flight as you whichever you choose.. so yeah.. just book for me WHEN EVERYONE CONFIRMS!!!!! and then will pay you back later...

coming home mine
BKK-KL
1200 baht (EXCLUDING all the tax blah blah)
5.45pm 13 July, Sunday

FASTER CONFIRM SO CAN BOOK!!! so far now me tina confirm right?

THE date! yay :)

ok. So TRIP DATE will be on 6-13 July

6-8 or 9 July: Vietnam
8/9 to 13: Bangkok +Pattaya

yay!!!! (van, cil you ok with this?) reply! haha

and maybe van + phoebe can suggest whether we shd leave vietnam on 8 or 9.

I'd prefer 9 morning (3 days is hanoi seems rather short)

some flight details:

Vietnam Air:
Hanoi - Bangkok: daily morning flight, reach BKK at 1120 (Van can check how much this cost?)

ohh Air Asia fly the Hanoi-Bangkok route too!!
morning flight: reach bkk at 1115, US$93, or US$ 96.5 (8 Jul)
afternoon flight (reach at 4pm) and night flight (reach at 2245) only cost US$60

hm ok you should find your own flights to go to Hanoi and from Bangkok home.

hm I'll just put other flights here (for myself) haha..

Air Asia
KL-Hanoi
Sun 06 Jul 2008 0630am (reach at 0850am): 256.5 MYR
ah and the ticket price for 6 Jul (Sun) is cheaper than on weekdays. good.

BKK-sin
Sun 13 Jul 2008 1645-2005: 3125 baht

BKK-JB
Sun 13 Jul 2008 1640-1950: 2764 baht

oh shucks from the look of it I'll spend around $350-$400 for flights alone... hmm..

trip date

arrgh why is this so difficult!!!

hm ok phoebe can only go from 8 July onwards. (cousins coming, having family holiday)
Mae yue: 30 june - 10 july? (are these the only days you can go?)

the rest, anytime? (Yoga Cil???)

hm yeah. so i really dunno when we can go. unless we go for a 3 days 2 nights trip on 8-10 July (lol)

or.. um.. we go to Hanoi first, then Phoebe can join us to bangkok?

raaahhhhhh... reply reply..

vietnam + bangkok

hey!! SO maeyue you're going NUS? and yoga and tina too!!! rahhhh!!! i wanna join you guys so bad i still can't decide!!! T_T HHMMM.

anyway, i still havent been able to talk to the mr laos cuz according to my dad, he's erm, in laos now -__-''' i'll try to ask asap!

anyway--yeah i think there's no point if we all can't go together, so i think if we can't find enough time, maybe we go vietnam + bangkok? =D that should be like around 1 week right, i think everyone should be able to make it =)

heehee oh ya btw meisan's supposed to come here on last thursday but she MISSED HER FLIGHT cuz she read 18:10 on the ticket and thought it was 8:00 -__-'' so yup she changed her tix to today and i'm going to the airport to pick her up in a few hours' time!!! :D can't wait til you guys come too! hehehe!

hm

hm oh yeah

CONGRATS MAE YUE! haha!

ok so when shall we go for the trip? hmm... I think Van, Yoga and Cil are free to go anytime is it? (3 of you REPLY TO THIS POST!)

then mae yue only from 30th june to 10 July? hmm but phoebe cannot right??

hm yea i was talking to phoebe the other day also, maybe we should shorten the trip... (so sad)

Options i'm thinking about:
1. Vietnam trip only (most convinient, as we do not need to book hotels, right? haha. and I assume we can go anytime?)
2. Vietnam + Bangkok trip (fly from hanoi to bangkok, Van can check how much this costs?).
3. The whole trip but not everyone go for everything. (those who can only go for a while can either meet us in Bangkok or Hanoi, and those who want/can go for the full trip can go ahead.)
4. Bangkok trip only. (then can probably do more things or go to more places around bangkok)

soo CHOOSE!

i'd still want to go for the full trip if possible...


Van did you ask how to get to Laos, where do the bus go to etc? coz phoebe says it takes really long (more than 1 day) to get there by land. I think it's too long, so we should probably fly to Laos if we still want to go (oh Phoebe/Van can check how much the flight cost? the Vietnam air website only gives schedule of flights, not price, lol.)

hm I realise we (or I actually) need to plan this properly before I go back, coz at home I will only get limited internet connection.. haha..

so yups. REPLY TO THIS POST, IF YOU CANNOT/DUNNO HOW TO BLOG CAN EMAIL.

or talk about it if you guys (cil phoebs van yoga) are online tonight (instead of talking rubbish as usual).. i want to sleep alr.. haha.

i am going to NUS!

yay i'm going to be in Spore! Easier for us to meet up everything and I'm still see Tina/ Yoga! Van and Cil! Where are you guys going???? SINGAPORE! Phoebe everytime you got summer break you and Sally MUST come Singapore!!!!! hahahahhaa..

trip! HOW?? dates? i'm free from like 30th June to like 10th July like that.. before NUS.. or end of July? but yeah..quite close to NUS date so I might have to go to Penang to see grandparents..cuz like my sister is going to UK so must visit before she goes off to study!

discuss dates on the blog! if we cannot go so many places can we at least go to Bangkok for like a 3 days 2 nights trip? EASIER to plan.. haha.. !!!I WANT TO SHOP! oh yeah sale here..i bought two shoes that day..so happy! cuz was cheering myself up during the no-news stage.. haha..:)

dear tina!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

man, I just realise that we're all gonna be 20/21 this year. And when we went to Singapore we were like 15/16! Imagine! And was just fb-ing Tina that I miss birthdays in the hostel! With presents and CAKE! And gossiping downstairs there until the guard comes and chase us upstairs after the bell goes off! ARGH! i miss you all!!!

Anyway, HAPPEE BIRTHDAY TINA!:)

TRIP

Watching Thomas Cup semis now Malaysia vs. China.. HAHA.. first singles..Msian first singles just won first match..now second.. anyway..

Bangkok - I like the new joe one, the 2nd link.. or the 3rd one..

Pattaya - Sabai Inn!!

cuz for both i like the location! Like easy to walk and all that.. guys! YOGA CIL! you all definitely must go ya.. otherwise all girls.. haha..

dates: 1-11 July.. haha.. phoebe!!!!!! go then!!!!!

ok ok shall go watch again..hopefully whatever little support i give by watching tv can help msia win! HA.. then indonesia vs.south korea tonight!:)

i'm confused. and the trip.

hi. um. the planning of the trip on my part has temporarily stopped due to my inability to decide where to go for uni. haha. seriously i got so sick of thinking about it. I shd stop thinking and plan for the trip! haha.

so yeah btw coz I got the MOE teaching award and SMU scholarship, so I need to decide where to go by this weekend. should I go NUS do science or SMU accountancy/biz?
I think I'll enjoy doing science more and NUS will be so fun (the halls, friends if you all go there).
But can't help thinking that I like the way SMU teach better than NUS (based on H3/AP experience), and my parents keep on telling me that biz/accountancy combi is very flexible, you can do anything in the future, blablabla. and they give more money. HAHA.

and on top of them I have this feeling that I should go home to do medicine instead. But the chances of me getting to the top schools are quite low, I think. And the application outcome will only be known on early August, so unis here would have already started at that time. So I dunno if it is worth it to go home and just go to some random med school. And this may sound strange, but I'm scared I won't enjoy my time in uni as much as I could have done here. hmmmm.. a very long hm. haha.

so yes. If you have any opinion at all just tag.


oh and at the mean time, THE TRIP.

can we fix a date soon? coz apparently the air ticket price gets higher nearer to the departure date. and yes Mae Yue I think it'll be cheaper for me to go to KL first. But I think I'll just go there for transit (meet you at the airport or smth). I want to spend more of my holiday at home, feeling guilty that I dun stay at home at all during this super long hols. haha.

The date: I would prefer 1 July, but Phoebe says she can't make it.. So another suggestion will be second week (6/7 July till 16/17 July). Mae Yue can go?
SO suggested dates: 1-11 July or 6-16 July. (subject to availability of air ticket as well)

Flights to vietnam: Mae Yue can check the schedule of Air Asia flights to Hanoi? and Yoga and Cil check for yourself the flights from indo! or you can go KL as well.


Accomodation in Bangkok/Pattaya:

As I mentioned earlier I think we shd stay budget in Bangkok, and I would really like to stay around Khao San Rd (the backpacker area). From there it seems easy to get around and book city tours and we might meet interesting ppl. (like other tourists).

And Pattaya we'll go for a quite ok hotel (with swimming pool etc)?


My Bangkok top 3:
1. http://www.shambarabangkok.com/
2.http://www.khaosanroad.com/new_joe_guesthouse/new_joe_guesthouse/rooms_prices.htm
3. http://www.khaosanroad.com/top_inn/rooms.htm

1&2 are not on the main khao san road, good if you dun want it to be too noisy. 3 is on the main road. Prices depends on typeof room, aircon/fan, etc. But all will be less than $15/person/night.


Pattaya top 3:
1. http://www.pattayahotels.com/Hotel-reviews/Tropicana-Hotel.htm (nice hotel + rooms)
2. http://www.pattayahotels.com/Hotel-reviews/Sunshine-Hotel-&-Residences.htm (cheaper than the other 2)
3. http://www.pattayahotels.com/Hotel-reviews/Sabai-Inn-Pattaya.htm (I think this has the best location)

hm ok so 1 is resort style. 2 is not but i think has excellent location, 2 on north pattaya, 3 on south. but the review says that 3 is v near bars and everything so can b noisy. all price similar (from ard $65/night). Let me know if you want more expensive hotels.



Look at the hotels and see whether it's ok, let me know which ones you prefer. so when the dates are confirmed we can book.

HALLOS

just decided to blog..haha..STRESS WAITING! BLEAH
anyway.just came back from watching Prince Caspian! HAHA.. good looking princes...:)
gonna watch American Idol soon...

so yeah airasia to fly to hanoi from kl will be RM130 excluding tax and fees.. er.. plus all that add another RM100... so yeah.. anyway.. so maybe phoebe/tina can come to my house first before we go! or yoga cil also.. haha.. !

how's the planning? REALLY REALLY hope i get NUS so we all can hang out more! haha..

hey there pretty girls~ :))

lalala! i have that weird NUS interview tomorrow... WISH ME LUCK PEOPLE!!!

hahaha heyyyyyyyy pretty girls look like they're having fun (and good food) in the pictures!!! i miss u all a lot, wanna go back to s'pore and all hang out like before!! but YES! TRIP! i still haven't checked out the Laos thingy hahaha sorry but once i get the interview over and done with, i'll go check k!! :D

and renovated LT5 LOOKS SO GOOD! thank god they removed that multi-colored glass panels thingy...

woohoo i'm like missing NJ hehe :P and my wall :P and hostel :P most of all, you guys!!!! :(:(:(

yay!

i LOVE pretty pictures of pretty girls! hahaha...:)
and see the nice chocolate brownie!!!
HAHA

ANYWAY... today had the briefing on the COP thing.. community stuff i have to do..ican do it in one week!! so yeah.. i'm free from the 28th of June all the way to 14 of July! so YUP..can trip be then please please please?? please ppl go visualize me and phoebe getting into NUS.. so then can go for trip!!! :))

going to watch forbidden kingdom with dad after he's back from dentist! HA.. need to destress.. i have like 3 weeks worth of notes i haven't read thru! die..

pictures!

Hi... finally blogger allows me to post pics.. yups above is the Ngee Ann Kongsi Performing Arts Theatre.. (Lt 5 renovated, haha.) looks nice from outside.. and they have nice padded chairs.. but not sure whether the quality of the sound and everything has improved..




haha... 4 pretty girls. Sunday met up for dinner at Cafe Cartel.. Dinner was niceee, thanks to Mae Yue's mom! let's see if I can remb what everyone eats.. hmm phoebe: baked macaroni, sheila: pan-fried macaroni (do i spell that correctly?), mae yue: pork rib, me: chicken steak. plus salad, brownies and waffles for everyone! yummm....

more pictures of pretty girls below..







Haha Mae Yue with her brownies.. Before medicine test and interview.. Chocolate is good for brain power yes? haha..

the trip and other things

halo... what's everyone doing nowadays?

I'm still doing research/random things in school.. dun really have much to do these days... haha...
aniwae.. Phoebe and I went shopping on thursday.. and I think I spent around $100 on 2 tops, shoes, random accesories, xinyi's brithday present, and food... hmmm.. need to spend less so can save money for the trip.

ok. the trip.

1. Now tentative time will be early July. trip will be 11 days : 4 days VN, 3 days Laos and 4 days Thailand

2. Route.
After reading some travel guide, I realise that it will be much easier to cross to Thailand from Vientiane (coz it's really2 near). So the suggestion is to go to Luang Prabang from Vietnam (Van/Phoebe can check if this is possible?), then take a bus down to Vientiane from there. From Vientiane will cross the border to some place in Thailand (forget the name, haha.) where we can take train to Bangkok. Train leaves in the evening and arrive in bangkok in the morning.
er which means i dun think we can go Chiang Mai

So now the suggested (by me) route is:
Hanoi- luang Prabang - Vientiane - Bangkok - Pattaya
yups voice out if you have any other suggestion.

3. Accomodation
I think accomnodation in Bangkok & Pattaya should be quite easy to get.. there are many2 guesthouses/hotels that can be booked online...
for Bangkok there is one hotel which I think looks quite decent:
http://www.shambarabangkok.com/
but the thing is this place only have 9 rooms.. and only 2 double room with aircon I think..
oh and this place offers city tour as well..
price for the double room is ard $25/night

I was thinking we can stay in a cheap and decent place in Bangkok (since we won't stay in hotel much anyway, I mean it's a waste to pay extra for all the hotel facilities), then can go for a nicer hotel in Pattaya.

nicer hotels (meaning with nice room, big swimming pools etc.) in pattaya would cost from around $60..

4. itinerary
3days 2 night bangkok, leave for pattaya in the morning of 3rd day?
hm i think we are v rushed (as in want to go so many places with so little time)
but anyway...
I think 1.5 day in pattaya shd be enough, if we just want to go to the beach & do the water acitivities (I want to go parasailing!) and watch the cabaret show at night.

for bangkok..
since we practically only have 1 full day, and hopefully another (almost) full day if the train from laos arrive in the morning
We can spend one day to visit the temples/palace/historical places
and the second day for shopping?
oh or can do the shopping at night.. some market opens only at night.. haha..

will compile a few iteneraries for us to choose from.

at the mean time... do your researchand give some opinions! unless you dun mind going to all the places that I want to go... haha..


oh btw it's college day tmr. hm. finally I'll get to watch college day. never actually knew what it's about (other than the performance part).