AhPek Biker - Riding Adventures
Penang-Hat Yai 2025
Penang-Hat Yai 2025 : 1st to 5th August 2025
(See day-to-day blogs for more detailed routes)
It's been just three months since our holiday in Morocco, and our travelling legs are getting itchy again. We will be travelling to Penang for some matters, and since we will be driving there, we decided to cross over to Thailand and continue onwards to Hat Yai for a two-night stay.
BLOGS
Below are the daily blogs of our tour. click on the respective photos to read. Further below are some travel trips for this region. It was an interesting and awesome tour, so come and have a look:
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(MORE BLOGS COMING!
STAY TUNED)
STAY TUNED)
(Next... Laos-China?)
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Related Blogs:
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TRAVEL TIPS FOR MALAYSIA & THAILAND
1. Driving & Traffic Directions!
Driving in Malaysia and Driving in Thailand is right-hand drive, and driving is on the left side of the road. Do look to the correct side when crossing roads. A valid international driving licence is required for both countries. Those with a driving licence from ASEAN countries can drive in both countries, subject to conditions. Short-term car insurance is also required.
We drove around in Thailand, but where we expected difficulty in parking, we either took a tuk-tuk or hailed a Grab Car, comparing prices first.
Malaysians driving their car into Thailand will require a temporary import permit. This form can be obtained at several highway-side shops around Changlun. At the Thailand Immigration/Customs side, passengers will have to alight and go through the pedestrian lanes, while the driver drives through a different lane to have the form processed. There is no need for the passengers to alight when leaving Thailand. A copy of the approved form will be returned to the driver. This COPY HAS TO BE RETURNED to the Thai Immigration/Customs; otherwise, one is considered to have imported a car to Thailand, and on the subsequent entry into Thailand, one may have to pay a hefty fine!
We did the car import permit and comprehensive Thai car insurance at Mini Travel 1982, which has a large car park, a duty-free shop and a food court. They also helped fill in tourist entry forms and sell Thai DTAC Happy Tourist phone SIM cards. This also includes tow truck services, which can be contacted via WhatsApp call/message to +6012-4971068.
Malaysians driving their car into Thailand will require a temporary import permit. This form can be obtained at several highway-side shops around Changlun. At the Thailand Immigration/Customs side, passengers will have to alight and go through the pedestrian lanes, while the driver drives through a different lane to have the form processed. There is no need for the passengers to alight when leaving Thailand. A copy of the approved form will be returned to the driver. This COPY HAS TO BE RETURNED to the Thai Immigration/Customs; otherwise, one is considered to have imported a car to Thailand, and on the subsequent entry into Thailand, one may have to pay a hefty fine!
We did the car import permit and comprehensive Thai car insurance at Mini Travel 1982, which has a large car park, a duty-free shop and a food court. They also helped fill in tourist entry forms and sell Thai DTAC Happy Tourist phone SIM cards. This also includes tow truck services, which can be contacted via WhatsApp call/message to +6012-4971068.
Speed limits in Malaysia:
Expressways: 110 km/h, 80 or 90 km/h at dangerous mountainous stretches, crosswind areas and urban areas with high traffic capacity.
Federal roads: 90 km/h, 80 km/h during festive seasons, 60 km/h in town areas.
State roads: 90 km/h, 80 km/h during festive seasons, 60 km/h in town areas.
Do adhere to these limits, as speed detection cameras are along the expressways. Install the Waze App, and run it while driving, as it highlights if one drives above the speed limit, and will warn of impending speed traps.
Expressways: 110 km/h, 80 or 90 km/h at dangerous mountainous stretches, crosswind areas and urban areas with high traffic capacity.Expressways: 110 km/h, 80 or 90 km/h at dangerous mountainous stretches, crosswind areas and urban areas with high traffic capacity.
Federal roads: 90 km/h, 80 km/h during festive seasons, 60 km/h in town areas.
State roads: 90 km/h, 80 km/h during festive seasons, 60 km/h in town areas.
Do adhere to these limits, as speed detection cameras are along the expressways. Install the Waze App, and run it while driving, as it highlights if one drives above the speed limit, and will warn of impending speed traps.
Federal roads: 90 km/h, 80 km/h during festive seasons, 60 km/h in town areas.
State roads: 90 km/h, 80 km/h during festive seasons, 60 km/h in town areas.
60 km/h within urban areas, 100 km/h outside urban areas, including expressways, and 120 km/h on highways. Do adhere to these limits, as often police are monitoring with radars; our driver-guide was careful about this.
2. Immigration & Customs Requirements
Those from ASEAN countries (except Myanmar) can enter member countries without a visa for periods between 14 to 30 days. Click here for Malaysian visa requirements for other countries. Click here for Thai visa requirements for other countries.
3. Getting to and around Malaysia.
Both Malaysia and Thailand are well served by many international airlines. Click here for airlines serving Malaysia, and click here for airlines serving Thailand.
Highway and local roads in Malaysia are excellent, and while those in Thailand are good. Many expressways in Malaysia are tolled, while Thailand only have tolled roads in some cities.
Petrol is cheaper in Malaysia, with RON95 at RM2.05 (USD0.48) per litre. While in Thailand RON95 costs more than double at THB32.55 (USD1.01) per litre. So, do fill up just before crossing the border into Thailand.
4. Places & Things of Interest
Enroute were many places of interest, the following should not be missed (Note: click on GPS coordinates for a directional map to respective places):
a. George Town (UNESCO Heritage Site) (GPS: 5.41409, 100.32852).
a. George Town (UNESCO Heritage Site) (GPS: 5.41409, 100.32852).
b. Streets & Alleys of George Town (GPS: 5.41700, 100.33797).
c. Street Art of George Town (GPS: 5.41555, 100.33726).
c. Street Art of George Town (GPS: 5.41555, 100.33726).
d. Stainless Steel Temple (Phra Mahathat Chedi Traiphop Traimongkon) (GPS: 7.00495, 100.51630) in Hat Yai.
e. Wat Khuat Mak Dhamma Siri Bottle Temple (วัดขวดมากธรรมศิริ) (GPS: 6.81869, 100.65517) in Hat Yai.
5. Food
Arising from its diversified culture, Malaysian Food is a wide-ranging potpourri of Malay, Chinese, Indian and often with a fusion in between. With so many types of food available, one is spoilt for choice, but one should not miss Nasi Lemak and Char Kuey Teow.
Although not as diversified as Malaysian food, Thai Food has memorable, strong flavours, and not to be missed are Tomyam and Thai Crab Omelet.
6. Accommodations
Two nights at a relative's place in Tanjung Bungah, Penang Island, Penang. And two nights at the Golden Crown Grand Hotel (GPS: 7.00728, 100.47039) in Hat Yai, queen room at RM120 per night.
7. Communicating with Each Other
When travelling in a group, it's important to be able to communicate with each other, especially if one gets lost from the rest.
Physical sim cards can be ordered online or purchased upon arrival at international airports OR one can order Malaysian e-sim on line.
Some of us bought DTAC Happy Tourist physical Thai phone SIM cards at the "Mini Travel 1982" travel assistance office at Changlun. We got the 7-Days unlimited data physical sim at RM25.
Others subscribed for the Touch-n-Go e-SIM directly through the Touch-n-Go e-Wallet App in their phone, getting a 7-Day 1-GB plan for RM9. A 15-Day 2-GB plan is available for RM15. This e-SIM has to be activated and set up just before entering Thailand, or if in Thailand then activate it where there is WiFi.
Some of us bought DTAC Happy Tourist physical Thai phone SIM cards at the "Mini Travel 1982" travel assistance office at Changlun. We got the 7-Days unlimited data physical sim at RM25.
Others subscribed for the Touch-n-Go e-SIM directly through the Touch-n-Go e-Wallet App in their phone, getting a 7-Day 1-GB plan for RM9. A 15-Day 2-GB plan is available for RM15. This e-SIM has to be activated and set up just before entering Thailand, or if in Thailand then activate it where there is WiFi.
9. Communicating with Locals
Although Bahasa Malaysia is the official language of Malaysia, most Malaysians speak fairly good English; even in smaller towns or villages, locals speak some rudimentary English. One can warm up to locals by conversing in some basic Bahasa Malaysia. Failing which, Google Translate, should one get stuck vocally.
The official language of Thailand is Thai. At the tourist areas, many locals can speak basic English. One can warm up to locals by conversing in some basic Thai. Failing that, Google Translate should be used if one gets stuck vocally.
The official language of Thailand is Thai. At the tourist areas, many locals can speak basic English. One can warm up to locals by conversing in some basic Thai. Failing that, Google Translate should be used if one gets stuck vocally.
10. Weather
Average day and night temperatures in George Town were 32°C and 26°C, partly cloudy with no rain. For Hat Yai it was 34°C and 24°C respectively
A useful weather forecast site for George Town is AccuWeather. For more detailed weather, including cloud cover and wind speed, use Weatherspark and Ventusky.
11. Navigation
Geo-tagging of places of interest was via FaceBook or Google Maps.
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If you like this, view my other blogs at Jotaro's Blog
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