Backpacking Pai: 10 Things To Do

Unlike some popular destinations in Thailand, the people here are not prowling on tourists. The fact that most visitors just rent scooters to go around Pai, it is encouraged to explore this place on your own. Also, locals are more than willing to help without expecting anything in return.

One of the reason why Pai is a magnet for backpackers is because staying in this place is inexpensive. This place is so laid back that spending the whole day in the front porch of your room is an acceptable thing to do.

Backpacking Pai: 4 Days Itinerary, Expenses and Travel Tips

"I am going to Thailand."
"Oh nice, where in Thailand? Phuket? Bangkok?"
"I am going to Pai."
"Pai? Where is Pai?"
"In Northern Thailand."  
"Oh, Chiang Mai?"
"No, but somewhere 3 hours away from Chiang Mai."
"Oh, Chiang Rai?"
"No, not Chiang Rai"
"Ok, have a nice vacation."

You have probably never heard of a place named Pai in Thailand and if you will try to google blogs about this place, you will get articles either expressing their extreme love for this quiet town in Northern Thailand or their hate about its hippie culture.

If you are visiting for the first time and is expecting breathtaking landscapes, I think you will be a little disappointed especially if your stay is during or right after their summer when the vegetation are all seemed to be burned down. But if it is the relaxed vibe that you are after, then Pai will not disappoint.

Flashpacking Bangkok: 5 Days Itinerary, Expenses and Travel Tips

DAY 0 - March 24	Time	Price (THB)
ETD KL	9:55 PM (KL Time)	2320
ETA BKK	10:55 PM (BKK Time)
Don Mueang Airport to Khao San Road Taxi	11:15 PM	200
Check in at Lamphu House	12:00 MD	420
Walk Around Khaosan Road
Lights out	1:30 AM

Touchdown Bangkok

The entrance of Lamphu House looks shabby but this is actually a good place to stay.

Backpacking Langkawi: 10 Things To Do

Only having 3 days to spend in Langkawi, it is expected that our stay will be filled with different activities but all our plans changed after we checked in at Pantai Cenang (Cenang Beach). Maybe it is due to aging or lack of budget, we decided to drop most of our activities for an afternoon stroll at the beach and evening food comma trip at Pantai Cenang road. 

Backpacking Langkawi: 3 Days Itinerary and Expenses

Langkawi, officially known as Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah is an archipelago of 99 islands (an extra 5 temporary islands are revealed at low tide) in the Andaman Sea, some 30 km off the mainland coast of northwestern Malaysia. 

Itinerary for Seven Days and Six Nights in South Korea

First things first, Filipinos need a visa to visit South Korea. Below are the requirements to get a tourist visa:

1. Application form
2. Passport (should be valid for not less than 6 months)
3. Photocopy of the 1st page of the passport
4. Passport size photo
5. Photocopy of ITR
6. Certificate of Employment
7. Bank Certificate (you should have at least Php 50,000 in your bank account)
 
Note: 
- Visa processing is free.
- Visa will be released 7 days after the requirements were completed and submitted.
- Make sure that the email address on your certificate of employment from the company you work for will not be changed soon because the Korean embassy will do a background check and will require them to reply. In my case, it took me almost a month to get my tourist visa because the HR personnel put in a soon to be phased out email address on my certificate of employment. PFT.
-South Koreans DON'T NEED a visa to visit the Philippines. UNFAIR!!

We booked our flight to Korea last June via Zest Air/Air Asia, fare is Php 5,000. As compared to the promo fares in Cebu Pacific, this is more expensive but at least I only have to wait 3 months and the best part is that there is free food during the flight. :)

SEx: The Day Before

Along with my college best buddies whom I have been with on a Quezon Adventure before and whose mantra is to be on the road less traveled a.k.a. bawal ang maarte, we will be braving the Southern part of the Philippines tomorrow. We will prove to ourselves that there is more to General Santos and Sarangani than Manny Pacquiao.

And as always, planning the trip is my responsibility. I am not complaining, it is something that I enjoy doing.  I am actually thankful that my friends always trusts me with this important task and I honestly think I am good at it. ;)

So for the past few days I have been hopping on every single travel blog I could find that talks about their SOCCSKSARGEN Experience (SEx) and thankfully, I was able to create our 3 day itinerary. Thanks to the following blogs for the detailed sharing of their experiences: Marxtermind, Ireholic, Chasing Philippines and specially to Chasing Rins (for confirming that it is possible to be in Maitum and Maasim (Lemlunay Resort) at the same day). I will try to do the same for my future blog post regarding this trip. 

Below is the itinerary that I was able to formulate. Yes, it is in a notebook written with a pen and with color pencil highlights and not in a technological form. Heck! Yea, I am that old fashioned and besides, this is a nature trip, no city gadget allowed! :)