A Day On The Beach

Hello my fellow readers,

Its been 3 months since my last update, I have been up to nothing but enjoying making as much memories as I could as its my final semester here in USM. This weekend was a long one, but unfortunately I wasn't fast enough to make a booking to travel any where. So instead, Rowena and I decide to enjoy what we have in Penang and head down to Batu Ferringhi to enjoy the sun, beach and the ocean. Just to reconnect with life again.

I couldn't recommend much other than that no one really do sunbathing on the beach and its pretty dirty, but if you are adventurous then you could do what we did. Just lay open your beach towel in the middle of the beach (find a clean spot) and sun-bath. ;)

Just a little update because my blog seems a bit boring! 

We manage to take some seriously nice picture though. Here are some of the pictures! Enjoy!

Stay beautiful and stay positive! 

Hello sunshine

Kibar, kibar pasir

Random Candid

 xxx

Amberstories

PADI Open Water Dive Course

Hello bloggers/readers!

I am back to share a little about my little adventure in my hometown Kota Kinabalu, Sabah. Being so close to the ocean and beautiful islands, taking a diving license is merely a foot step away. Just like every other home girl, I have taken this for granted for 17 years of saying yes I will do it but never did. Giving myself excuses like "Hey, there is always next time." Finally, on 17th July 2016, I took the step and paid for it which by all means I have to finish the course or I will lose my money.

With that being said, it turned into the best 3 days of my life. Diving is definitely different from skin diving/free dive. Which I do so often. Diving is literally breathing under water and 45 minutes underwater feels like 5 minutes. I dare not say that I love diving more than free-diving or vice-versa because the experience from either are two separate experiences. But rest assure, diving is for the brave of heart.

I say breach the fear of deep waters, experience the life beneath and its nothing but pure bliss!

WHERE TO GET YOUR LICENSE IN KK

Scuba Junkie Wisma Sabah
RM 1030 (ALL INCLUSIVE + LUNCH FOR 2 DAY DIVE)
*its definitely cheaper that any other trip advisor scuba company, they are generally at the price of RM1200
*book a day earlier, Scuba Junkie get fully booked real fast

WHAT TO BRING

• Towels
• Extra clothes
• Sunscreen
• Motion sickness pills (if you have)
• Basic essentials

WHAT TO DO

• Have loads of courage
• Remember to keep breathing (especially if you are so used to skin-dive like me)
• Do NOT panic
• Try and stay calm
• Trust your instructor
• Enjoy!
• Ask loads of questions 

WHAT TO EXPECT IN A 3 DAY COURSE

Day 1

Watching videos on Scuba Diving (5 sections)

Knowledge Review

Final Exam (Paper)- General questions that you will learn from DVD

Day 2

Water confinement (10 min water float without equipment)

Dive with equipment on shallow water (Dive skills as instructed by instructor)

Day 3

Water confinement (200M swim without equipment)

Dive deep water (Dive skills as instructed by instructor)

Hopefully pass and get your license!

Go get your license soon! Its definitely bucket list checked for me!

Here are some pictures!

Dive instructor

my buddy, my instructor

Hi Nemo

Prawny touched me

Breath and keep breathing!

xxx

xoxo

Amberstories

Ao Nang, Krabi, Thailand

Hello my lovely blogers and readers. Yes this is a long overdue post that has to go up. I am so sorry for not posting in a long while as this semester is a real hectic one. I am on my study week now and finally got the chance to travel and some time to write about it. So here goes.

I have decided to travel again to Krabi but this time to Ao Nang. It is a very pretty town and full of life. I love it.

How to get there;
We decide to go by mini van which brings us from PENANG-HATYAI-KRABI and KRABI-HATYAI-PENANG. Both ways with about THB1800/RM180. Its not the best option but its a road trip, backpack for sure! *Try book a flight if you have car sick*

Where to stay:
SLUMBER PARTY HOSTEL AND BAR. There are two Slumber Party Hostel in Ao Nang, the one in the beach and the one off beach.
My friend and I stayed off beach, but its only 15-20minutes by foot to get to the beach and Ao Nang civilization. This hostel is so much fun!
They offer free BBQ dinner and breakfast, pretty awesome drinks and even party all night, every night.
So if you are not looking forward to party, dont stay here.
It is also very very clean, with a cubic style beds and the staff are super friendly.
A night per bed would cost about RM50/THB500.

What to bring;
-Light clothes
-Good slippers
-Good liver (drinks are so cheap you have to drink)
-Beach wear/supplies
-Your crazy self
-Stamina to last you the whole night partying

What to do;
AM: 
- Have breakfast in Cafe 8, serves one of the best breakfast
- Walk to the beach, tan yourself
- Go on an Island trip (We took the tour from Slumber Party Hostel and did almost everything from snorkelling to jumping into the sea)
-Eat ice cream (Movenpick is a good one)
-Get manicure and pedicure done
-Get a massage
-Walk about the streets
-Shop

PM;
-Have dinner in Jenna's if you fancy a fancy dinner
-Have dinner at a local restaurant (they serve the best pad thai)
-Party in Slumber Party Hostel (They are wild)
-Head to Chang Bar/ Disappointment Street for more fun and more parties
-Walk about the night market for shopping
-Take beautiful pictures
- Enjoy the beautiful lights of Ao Nang at night.

Ao Nang is party and solitude as well.
So if you have the time, pack your bags and head off somewhere.
It might change you or even so you might just find yourself <3

Slumber Party Hostel (Orange Building)

Ao Nang at night

Breakfast at Cafe8

Hello

Ao Nang Beach

Ice Cream?

Island Tour

It means I love You

Party at Slumber

Cubic beds

Jenna's

For all the love

xoxo

Amberstories

Koh Phangan enroute Hatyai

Hello my lovelies,

Its been a while since I last posted anything about travel and adventures. That is because I have a really bad internet connection and recently traveled to Hatyai for Koh Phangan, Thailand. 

It was a fun trip and tiring. Lets get to it and have fun reading! 

TRAVEL METHODS;

Since this was an inpromtu travel, it was expensive to travel by air and it was a public holiday. My friends and I managed to grab a mini van from Penang to Hatyai with the price of RM35. 

It took us 5hours to arrive Hatyai due to heavy traffic at the border. It was tiring as well as we do not have enough leg room in the van. Departing around 4pm we manage to reach Thailand, hungry and exhausted at 0900pm (Malaysian time) 

Due to public holiday travels, we failed to grab the bus to Surat Thani for ferry to Koh Phangan. But instead got a van and ferry straight to Koh Phangan the next day for 1200TBH.

As for return, we manage to grab tickets from Koh Phangan straight to Penang but with alot of stops and tuk-tuk adventures and van changing. We travel by water from Koh Phangan to Surat Thani and then by land to Hatyai back to Penang. It costs us the same price of 1200TBH. 

In general;

 Penang-Hatyai-Don Sak Pier- Koh Phangan

 Koh Phangan- Surat Thani- Hat Yai- Penang

HATYAI

Upon arriving Hatyai, we manage to grab a tuk-tuk (taxi in Thailand) and head for our hostel. Stayed in Hatyai Backpacker Hostel and is really a beautiful and clean one. 

Where to stay; Hatyai Backpacker Hostel (RM40 per night) 

What to do; 

• Eat the street food especially their fried stick food and fried chicken served with sticky rice. Must try also include Pad Thai and fried egg with muscles. 
• Shop, there is so many stalls selling everything from clothes to shoes and toys
• Walk along their night market (open up till 0300am) 

Since I was only in Hatyai for a night this was all I could come up with.

We left for Koh Phangan at 0630am as it takes about 20minutes from our hostel to the bus station.

KOH PHANGAN

As the travel methods got us slightly crazy, we manage to arrive Koh Phangan at 1600hrs (Thailand time) 

We manage to book our hostel the night before and arrived safely at Koh Phangan. 

However, there are different places to stay in Koh Phangan, if you are heading out to where the Full Moon party, like us, I suggest Haadrin because it only takes 5 minutes or so (depending on the area around Haadrin) to the beach.

How to get to Haadrin: From the pier, get the tuk-tuk (100TBH). It takes 30-40minutes to Haadrin (depending on how many stops the tuk-tuk takes) 

Where to stay: We stayed at Gallery Domitory (very close by to the beach and everything) for 55TBH per night.

 It could be cheaper but due to late booking price are hiked up. If its an early booking you could stay at a much better place with cheaper price too. 

What to do: 

• Hang out by Haadrin Beach and soak up the sun
• Go to the Full Moon party, atleast once in your life so you say you actually did it
• Enjoy the music and tourist
• Eat good Thai food
• Get a foot and full body massage (especially after math of partying)
• Drink their bucket drinks. (At least once)
• Get to know the people
• Have lots of fun
• Buy atleast something from the fullmoon party
• Bikini shopping (really cheap, 250TBH and you can still bargain)
• Walk around Haadrin and explore the place. (Its like a circle, you always end up where you started)
• Rent a motor bike if you are up for adventure and staying quite far from Haadrin beach

What you need;

• Good pair of slippers
• Good music (travel by land and water takes hours and gets really boring)
• Really loose clothes and shorts
• Small bag and wallet for safety when partying
• Open mind (crazy stuff happens when the full moon party is on)
• Beach towel 
• Cash
• Durable bikini
• Big heart

I have had a great time and met alot of new people and had tonnes of adventures.

Its good to sometimes just pack your bags and travel just because you want to.

Teaches you patience and lots of lots of love.

Travel like I did (by land and water) if you are up for long hours and adventures. But I am pretty sure train and airplane are as equal!

Have fun if you are heading out for the next Fullmoon Party. 

Party responsibly and just let loose!

xoxo

Amberstories 

Road tripping

The muscle with eggs

Ferry to Koh Phangan

In Hatyai Backpacker Hostel

Hatyai Night Market

Fried chicken served with sticky rice

Haadrin Beach by day

Haadrin Beach by night

Add caption

Chilling on the beach

Almost there

Travel babies

Sun-kissed best kiss

Just being silly

Fullmoon