RE: Elephant Building Bangkok Thailand architecturalphotography
hey you, my fav monstrous building! Currently out of the country again but read about you trying to get to Malaysia.Go 3rd class train , no reserved seats and is just 335baht, hop a van from hatyai go the border for 80b and the anothet train from wakaf bharu or get a bus from Hat yai directly to KL for about 600baht....If youre really struggling, get to the airport, swampy, dmk in bangkok or KLIA, you can hang out there almost indefinitely if youre discreet, will give you chance to get sorted, and you'd have cheap food and free wifi...seriously, A few years back I was stuck at both swampy and klia for a while. It was a cinch and was actually quite an enjoyable experience...just don't get into hassle with your landlord, youve seen how easily they turn nasty and for gods sake dont end upon overstay, that would be a nightmare scenario.
Is there no way you could simply get to the US embassy and let them get you home and then you and your son could get it together and regroup and sort things together ?
You take care, I know all the absolute cheapest ways to do things from bitter experience ;-)
At least in malaysia, no visa run hassles for 3 months...
Wow! You are my hero @nathan007! Thank you for all the tips! Come hell or high water - I will not overstay. I know about the problems others have been through, and I am not going to end up in immigration jail!
Thank you so much for the info about the trip. I plan already to take the train so I can have more luggage and fluids and metal. It is too much for me to check bags and I need my implements!
I have the knowledge about getting to Hat Yai. I was told already not to book the train all the way to the border. Some one else said it would be cheaper to buy the onward ticket to the border at Hat Yai and then figure out how to go on after I got there. I have not really even looked at the options for once I get over the border. But I most certainly need to get to kl asap.
I have never gone 3rd class, but I was thinking I would. Do you think it will be somewhat empty so I can lie down and get sleep? I can sleep anywhere, especially on a plane, train, or boat. And by the time I get on that train I will be so relieved I will pass out as soon as I can. But I have always gone 2nd class with ac on prior trips. Remember, I am old, with arthritis, and I do not want to be dead when I get to hat yai. I want to be rested. I think the 2nd class no ac is about 650 thb and you get the bed that way. The trip is 18-20 hours, I think.
"hop a van from hatyai go the border for 80b and another train from wakaf bharu or get a bus from Hat yai directly to KL for about 600baht" <<< Can you break all this down more for me? I have always flown before on three trips to Malaysia and I am not familiar with Hat Yai at all. Can I get all the way to klia or kl Sentral in one shot?
I had not even though of going to Wakaf Bharu. Is that better than Padang Besar? Will the buses to either place get me though the border?
I could stay at the airport for sure. That place is amazing and I know no one would bother me. But I found a hostel in walking distance from Pasar Seni for 979 thb per 7 days and already booked the first three weeks there. But if I get to Hat Yai in the early morning, can I even make it to kl by midnight?
I did not have to give money or a cc for the hostel, so I can change. Is wifi free in the whole airport? I already shopped there once for a few hours and I know it is like a city. You have me thinking now. A long time ago I read a story by a guy who lived at LAX for a few weeks, and I am not adverse to the idea at all. Where would I sleep lol?
The embassy helps no one in my situation and going back to California with no cash would not be a wise course. As much as I miss my son, and I know he loves me, he cannot tolerate me for very long. I am the cause of his ptsd, and make it worse. So we would need to stay in separate households and I sure have no money for that.
You are a lifesaver - TYTYTY
Go to Swampy until its time for your visa to end, bfloormis best at night, look like a tourist , no one will bug you, many many airport staff used to rollout mats and sleep under the moving walkways down there, and you can change floors so you dont become familiar to anyone.
About 5 years ago, I know an English guy did 5 months there....now I believe its a bit harder long term but a few nights or week or so Im sure no issues. Theres also 4 seat benches with no arm rests but you need to be quick to get one booked early in the basement! theres magic food court on g floor at the very north end for cheap food..its where the staff eat and 7 11s which are a couple of baht dearer than normal....drinking water is free and with a little fiddling, youll get 24 hour wifi, or at worst, buy ond subway, or a coffee, they never change their passwords.
For entertainment, get a 48 van from g floor to the traffic lights at lat krabang (10b or 20 with bags!) many really nice guest house, small hotel for 700 a night as a treat and get showered and sort laundry out, for an hour out of airport, if youre going stir crazy, free shuttle bus to transport interchange, have a 7 11 there, come back again!
KLIA and KLIA2 is a fraction more expensive, but just as easy and changing from one to the other is free now!
Ok, 3rd class train to hat yai is usually busy but get a window seat and you will grab some sleep. 3rd class is a tough trip but doable, and its onlh 330ish baht. It never gets to hat yai on time but there are a few trains.
When you get off at hat yai, directly in front of the entrance are a couple of agencies, Ive always managed to get a bus around 3pm which gets into KL at about 1am....you can get buses direct to Puda Sentral (puduraya) which is in the middle of town near china town, but to get to KL sentral for an airport bus youd need a taxi at that time of night and I do t think they run all night, nothing between midnight and 5 I think, there ks a 24h maccies at KL Sentral though and its safe to hang out there.
Other buses from hat yai go to Terminal Berespadu, and that is a 24 hour bus terminal, busy and bright all nightand 24hour bus service to KLIA2.
Again, I seem to remember bus fares are around 550 to 600baht all the way from hat yai. Buses are comfy and easy to sleep on and the Malaysian highway is smooth!
Other options....bus to Satun, about 550Baht, boat to Langkawi 300Baht, then about 650 by bus including ferry to KL....train from bkk to Sungai Kolok, the the border is a short 1km walk..then get local bus to Kota Bharu, then workout train or bus from there....
Lots of choices..but if you can stand the 3rd class ride to hat yai, this is cheapest option. but like you say 2nd class aircon sleeper on a top bunk is not too much more...definitely get off at Hat yai and direct bus from there but you will need to book well in advance and this weekend is holiday so everything will be busy!
Holy moly! Thank you for all this information and I will get on it! I am so thankful to you!
2nd class aircon seat o a railcar is 675 to hat yai, sleeper is 1075 or a smidge cheaper for a top bunk!
www.seat61.com/thailand
I think I will go to Terminal Berespadu. I leaving here on Tue 7/31, so I don't think the weekend crowd will be a problem. So the bus from hat yai will get me through the border, and then on to the terminal late at night on the 1st or early on the 2nd. Then I will stay there until the morning, eat and use the wifi and go to my hostel on the 2nd during the day. I think that will work. It seems like that bus station is good and will be an easy ride to kl sentral after that. Whew!
Do I need to reserve the bus now?
No, I've always just booked the bus on arrival, but that was the only choice I had then! Good luck with the trip :-)