Plan your tour

Do you think planning travel is interesting.Well it is definitely interesting but you definitely need a lot of research work for that.Well some people find that very much time consuming and boring.But i just love that.It gives me a feel that I am actually touring that place.Many places I have planned and have not visited actually but I can picture them because of my extensive research

So what comes in my mind when I am planning a tour

1)Leaves and holidays.Don't forget year end (Christmas) you will definitely have less work because it is the shutdown time for most companies.So it is easier to get leaves at that time.It is also the best time to visit many warm countries in the northern hemisphere.India,Thailand..etc.But obviously tourism industry will also take advantage of that.Your travel cost may just be double.And also the Christmas and New year eve Gala dinner may wretch your pocket.

2) Weather.Look this is entirely your personal choice.For  me traveling means both relaxation and adventure.I simply cant manage if the weather is out of order.So I always prefer to visit a place when it has the best weather.Most of the time it results in peak touristy season or at least high season.


 I will never visit Malaysia or Indonesia in Christmas  time.Weather will be worse and prices will be more because it is  Christmas .I will rather prefer Thailand.But still better I will plan to visit somewhere in India at that time because they at least don't put charges on GALA dinner on 24th or 31st.India being a warm country winter  is  the finest time to visit most of the places

3) Budget:Well a backpacker budget will not be same as that of honeymooners.I can plan a 3 nights Bangkok with 2 nights Pattaya tour in just 18K rupees(325$)  for a mid budget family of two.The same tour may cost 50K(900$) for  honeymooners because they stress mostly on luxury accommodation.Apart from these the air fare charges are also not constant.It obviously depends on the choice of airlines.But low cost airlines are good options for many nowadays.Apart from these you can take advantages of promotional fares also.

4)Laws and regulations:These are very important.Specially when you are traveling to a foreign country.Get your visa and travel insurances ready.Visa usually have lots of rules.For example you need to posses some US Dollar notes and get it stamped in your passports .Don't keep this for the last day.Contact the embassy and clarify about all the rules.Even if you are not traveling to foreign country keep your passports or any Photo Id proof  because when you change a state or district they may ask for it.It is sometimes necessary for train and bus travel also.Bottom line is keep your photo ID with you

5)Cards and money management:Nowadays  credit cards and ATM help us a lot.But before traveling to foreign country clarify how much the bank charges extra when used in a foreign country.Compare it with currency exchange rates and decide how much loose cash you want to carry.But to be on the safe side carry some cash with you.There will be currency exchange center in airports.So if you are not carrying any foreign money with you  get some from there because handy cash  is very much necessary.Also  ATMs in foreign countries deduct some extra money for foreign transactions.

6)Booking hotels:It is always preferable to book hotel in advance.Usually credit cards are the preferable methods for online hotel booking.You need to have visa card or Master card.You can also contact with the hotel directly over email or phone and ask if they have any special norms and offers for booking.Any good hotel's reservation departments are communicative enough to answer all your queries..Usually they will send you a "Credit Card Authorization Form".You need to fill it up with your credit card details.They will deduct the money and send you booking confirmation.This booking confirmation slip you need to take a print out and carry with you in your travel.

7) Booking tours/shows/transports:I usually plan my tour but don't book in advance.Sometimes rarely if my flight time is odd I ask my hotel  for airport pickup with extra charge that I need to pay afterward.

8)Packing:Dont jam your bags with clothes you wont wear.Think of each day of your vacation and what you will wear on that day.Plan in advance.Try to keep your luggage as small as possible.Being uncomfortable with huge luggage can screw your trip making you more vulnerable to theft. Or even over cautiousness can ruin your trip.In beach carry enough shorts, flip-flops and swimwear.In mountains carry extra shoes.In colder regions carry enough warm clothes.In Deserts carry both sun protectors and warm clothes because in deserts nights are quite chilly.

Few things to remember while packing
1)Small towel
2)Soap strips
3)Sunscreen
4)Hats/hair scarves/caps
5)Sunglasses
6) Handy Soap strips
7)Hand sanitizer
8)tooth brushes
9)tooth paste
10)mobile,laptop,camera chargers
11)Some  emergency medicines(Fever,stomach upset,painkillers)Check whether it is banned in other countries
12)Anti septic lotion,Band-aids and Pain relief balm,volini etc.Check whether it is banned in other countries
13)Mosquito repellent












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Lets start with My Honeymoon

It was a long awaited  trip.My  husband played a safe role.He wanted me to make the tour plan.He knew that I am a travel bug and I am quite particular about tour plans.Well,I was happy with the proposal.I decided that this time it must be the seas because my last 3 consecutive trips were the mountains.No one can get bored with the mountains.But you know I love both sea and mountain equally.I need  a fresh breath and that's all.

First I thought of Maldives,those water bungalows,tranquility and a romantic honeymoon.It's a pure beauty no doubt but its costly as well.Since this time we managed a long 12 days holiday from our office Maldives and its tranquility can become a little boring and quite a bit expensive for us.So we opted for Thailand.Thailand is lovely.It has everything to suit all your moods.You get beautiful beaches exotic islands,adventurous water sports,beautiful cliffs,rock climbing,cave ride and all sorts of entertainment all in one box.Not to mention you can indulge yourself in duty free shopping as well and that is definitely a deciding factor for a newly married honeymoon couple.

So my travel research was going on. and on.So many islands so many beaches.OMG.I got addled after seeing so many beautiful places .My long 12 days vacation seems to be really small for an all square Thailand trip.The popular ones are Phuket ,Phi Phi,Koh Lanta,Koh Samui,Koh Phangan.But apart from popular ones I was also looking for a tranquil less populated place.pristine beaches which are not yet spoiled by tourism industry.But I cannot avoid the gestures of those exciting water sports and the party mood. which is a must in Thailand.So it is difficult to get all in one roof..On searching  I just came across Raya islands.Raya with its talcum powder turquoise blue sea is rich in marine life hence a scuba divers paradise.This island stand alone in sea a few Kms away from phuket  which is a thailand hub of rich night life and you will get opportunities for beachsports.Immediately I decided this is the place.A few Kms away from phuket yet unspoiled by tourists.Phuket is very much accessible from Krabi.So a 3 night stay in Krabi is also a great option .In Krabi I opted for the raileh.Rai Leh is a peninsula surrounded by ocean and mountains and it is accessible only by longtail boats from Aonang.

So we are all set for our bubbling and bustling honeymoon Trip.The first destination was Raileh.Krabi Airport is a very small airport but it is well organized  and  you wont face even a small problem to reach your destination from there .You get all your information from the airport itself.There are authentic taxi stands, bus stands or taxi cabs .You can buy your tickets from the airport and there is no question of getting cheated from there. I think that Thai government kept a sharp eye on the tourism dept and they have arranged things in such a well  structured manner so that the tourists dont get misguided.We took a taxi cab from Krabi to Ao nang Pier.and then a longtail boat to  raileh. So we were coming from airport fully dressed in jeans,T shirts,snickers and with two huge trolley bags.Suddenly the boatman told  us to just walk into the water and jump into the boat.We were like Awwwww!!!.There is no water pathway or bridge!!!.Our jeans and shoes were all soaked like drowned rats.Now we understood the true Thai beach spirit.It should be beach,sun and only you.Just after reaching our resort we immediately took off our jeans and were mostly on our shorts and sandals till we reached Bangkok.

                                    On Approaching Raileh

The tiny longtail boat headed towards Raileh.It was hot.The sun was at its peak.But the  gentle sea breezes were calming our ruffled nerves.After a few minutes some adhoc limestone cliffs appeared from the vast sea bed.I got a prick in my stomach.We are approaching the exotic raileh.I got ready with my camera.The sight is incredibly beautiful.A small yellow sandy beach sheltered within the lap of towering limestone cliff ,appeared like a hidden gem in the heart of the ocean.Raileh is a sporty beach too.We could see lot of people kayaking ,swimming,playing beachsports and of course climbing those giant cliffs,.Infact Railay's dramatic rock faces lay claim to being among the top climbing spots.I stepped out of the boat.The water is clean ,warm and the waves are small.Lots of people are lying on the soft powdery sands and taking a luxurious sunbathe.Within no time we reached our resort .It was.just on beach.We got a nice cottage in a beautiful garden setting.The room was not luxurious but simple and clean and was enough to cater your necessities.But in nature gifted place like this you can hardly stay inside your room.There is so much to do and see in Raileh.

                                                Clear Waters of Raileh

                              From  Resort restuarant:(Railey West)

       

                                A bright sunny Beach Day(Railey West)

The places that needs special mention are Phrannag beach and the Lagoon.You need to rock-climb for about 30 minutes to reach the Viewpoint. On the way to the viewpoint you will see another path that leads down towards the jungle to the lagoon. That path  is steep, rocky, and dangerous.In a moist day it is very muddy also.The inaugural rock-climbing experience could not push the two of us to that path ,however.The viewpoint overlooks Railay beach East and it is a breathtaking view. You can also see Railay west.The East Beach is primarily covered in dense mangrove and it unsuitable for swimming.Infact after Tsunamis there is no beach in the eastern side.But the very pretty  west Raileh beach is just 10 mins walk from the eastern side and the even prettier Phranang beach which is just about 15 mins walk through a cave.This cave is a sacred cave named "Outer Princess Cave" and is dedicated to the goddess "Phra Nang".There are different theories about Phra Nang.One of them states that an Indian Princess was in a sea journey to marry a man in a foreign land but during her journey she was killed in a shipwreck offshore and her ghost occupied the cave.So Fishermen and boatmen still make offerings in the form of incense,flowers and phallic symbols or lingams to the princess.Local folklore says that if somebody engraves a wooden lingam and place it in water at high tide anywhere along the Krabi coast, it will eventually end up in Phra Nang cave.

The cave opens up at the Phranang beach.There are some  stunning limestone cliffs around this beach.One of them is best for cliff jumping.Phranang beach is spectacular.In daytime it is a bit crowded so we preferred to visit there at sunset.This beach has been recently voted among the top 10 best beaches.

                         Pranang Cave beach:Clear warm water.Perfect for swimming

  

                        Dance is the hidden language of the soul(Phranang beach)

A cliff standing tall near Phranang beach.You can swim to reach the cliff.In low tides  a sand bar is formed. Then you can walk to explore the cliff as well

                                                All my senses are captivated

A soothing calm laid back beach with  endless stretch of soft sand till your eyes can focus.Few small long-tail boats in the horizon with the setting sun in the background can be a tribute to any painter's eyes.The clouds bathed in all the colors of the setting sun were crowning the top of those proud cliffs.The amber sea was eagerly waiting to hug her "golden son" in her breasts .I stood motionless breathing pure air in my lungs , drinking pure beauty in my eyes and  listening only to my heart.All my senses were captivated.I walked along the sea shore.The sand in my feet feels so good.Some kids were rolling over the sand, playing,and making sand arts.Cute crab eating Macaques were roaming all over and they seem to have enough senses to understand that they have permanent places in many photo albums .People were taking naps in the soft sands and when they wanted a break from their sand naps they crowded around the local longtail boats for some delicious food served by the locals.--------A typical portrayal of a picture perfect  leisure beach.

                                                 Tintin watching sunset

                                                 Phranang beach at low tide

                                                       Breathtaking sunset

We came back to West Raileh.The day trippers have left the place and the sunbathers are now hiding inside their cottages.A big crowd is enjoying their night life in Raileh East which is more active after sunset..West   is now  a sleeping child in the lap of the hefty rock grimaces.My hubby  was  incessantly pecking  about tasting sea fishes.Sea fishes are very tasty but sometimes I get retched by their smell.However we bought Tiger prawn and Red Snapper and ordered to get them barbecued with our preferred spices.Mind you..whatever dinner you want  you must  buy it before 10 .because after that all the workers leave raileh and all the restaurants get closed.Only Some bars serving only drinks can still  be active trying to hold some party mood..Even you wont get anything in your resort's restaurant.We did this mistake the first day.We usually dine late.So we were seating by the beach being a bit mushy and romantic and when we realized that we are awfully  hungry we ended up buying soyabean  milk from a nearby bar.

        This is what we took for dinner one night.It was a great Thai Preparation

There are many sight seeing activities in Krabi.I will always regret that I missed the  Ao thalane Kayaking.But I know we will surely go back to Railey again.We did the 4 island hopping and snorkeling trip which included a beach Barbeque at a small island called Koh Poda.Poda is just a stretch of 1 Km of  white sand  bulging out of the  blue sheath  of ocean water.Water around this island is like an aquarium,clear to the extent you can sea numerous multicolored sea fishes right from your boat.Coral reefs and variety of sea life makes this place a great snorkeling  site.It was my debut snorkel experience.I was really scared and the boatman told me to go with my life jacket because sometimes it may cause shortness of breath.Even with the life jacket I was not ready to go inside water.I was holding the boat tightly and was snorkeling just around the boat.Even some 4/5 year old kids who came with the troop was not as hopeless as me.It took me quite some time to gain enough courage and start flowing freely with the aquatic life.We did snorkel in other islands too.One of them was Chicken  head island and there we saw a huge Sea turtle swimming  along with us They are so slow in their motion that even if they are scared by human day trippers they can't move their body fast enough to escape.There was a  sand pathway in the middle of the island.The turquoise sea divides and a "Y" shaped sandbar emerges out of the clear water to connect Chicken island with Tup and Koh Mor.On low tide you can simply  walk across the sandbar and hop from one island to another .But be sure to carry flip-flops because sharp corals and reef emerges from water.The whole area is stunning,definitely a photographer's delight wirh panaromic views of Krabi coastline in the background.

           The Sandbar at low tide.A baby in a paramulator donot want to miss the exp too

                             

            The same place at high tide(Koh Tup island).No sandbar But now a good snorkelling site

 

                                     Corals visible through water near the snorkel site

It was already 7 pm.I was  cherishing the flavor of night ferry ride lying on the ferry deck gazing at the dazzling stars.The only sound we could hear was the ferry whistle on the "Puget sound".It was all dark and a sudden rainfall in the evening has left us with a chlly sea breeze.I was  trying hard to keep my eyes  open after the day long exhaustion when I saw few tiny lights  emerging from the darkness..Suddenly our tour guide spoke out

"Hello Friend Raileh beach is approaching .But today is low tide.We can not take our boat any further.You need to get down here.Sorry we cannot drop you to the beach"

I was like Ah!!!!!!!!.Then I realized that the whole boat has started laughing".May be the chirpy tour guide cracked the joke of the day

But she ---"No I am serious you need to get down here and walk to the raileh beach".

Omg we understood the depth of the situation.Like!!!!! what is this?.We are in the middle of the sea.Only tiny lights of Raileh beach can be seen from distance.I don't even know swimming properly But I  can see that people who were doing mid sea snorkeling and were interested in night swim seems to look equally uncomfortable.I am damn scared and awed at the same time.My husband,my hero took the volunteerism to first step into the water.Ohhkkk......the water is not much deep.It must be 3.5 ft around..But still its sea after all.There can be dents and the sea bed was really uneven with corals and rocks..and  and.....the marine fishes can also chomp you..The whole troop was fretfully walking towards Raileh... I think this was the best part of this adventure tour.True unexpected adventure.My mom and my mother -in -law once insisted  me to carry some exclusive traditional Indian saree to the honeymoon.You know in my marriage I got quite a few gorgeous Sarees.I for-fended the situation saying "Mom in beach one can  utmost wear 'Sarong' not 'Saree' ".But if I was wearing saree that day  my hubby would have been really amused to see his little mermaid coming from the mid of the ocean wearing that 5.5 metre embroidered drape.

With the wind in my hair and the sand at my feet.