by Sya Taha

Taking a train from Bangkok to ChiangMai

Want to escape Singapore but you’re short on time and money? Here’s 10 tips for a fun and affordable adventure across Southeast Asia. I backpacked from Singapore to Melaka, Tioman, Kluang, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Bukit Kayu Hitam, Danok, Hat Yai and finally Bangkok. It’s not as hard as it looks!

1. Go overland. It’s cheaper to take buses and trains than to fly to your destination, especially if you have time. Plan your route if you want to visit several towns along the way. You get to see the countryside and sit and chat with locals on your journey. Even if the bus breaks down somewhere, it’s an unexpected adventure! Railway companies have schedules that you can check online.There are two main bus stations in Malaysia: Larkin in Johor and Puduraya in Kuala Lumpur. For Thailand there is Hat Yai in the south and Ekkamai in Bangkok. In April this year I went via car, minibus, and taxis from Singapore to Melaka, Tioman, Kluang, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Bukit Kayu Hitam to cross over to Danok, then to Hat Yai, Pattani, and Bangkok.
2. Be careful of touts. There are touts everywhere looking to profit from lost-looking or tired travelers. They might work in travel agencies and try to sell you marked-up bus or train tickets. Best way to outsmart them is to check out several agencies to know the market price for a package tour or a bus ticket and then decide. You should, as far as possible, get bus or train tickets from the station itself.
3. Research on border crossings. If you plan to go overland, you need to check what time borders open or close, or if there are any administrative or visa fees to pay. Border openings in some countries may change but crossing from Singapore to Malaysia via Tuas or Woodlands is fuss-free. Crossing from Malaysia to Thailand can be done via Bukit Kayu Hitam, Kedah in the western side or Sungai Golok in the east. I crossed at the former into Danok, Sadao in Thailand. The whole process is routine: you get out of your vehicle and queue, then the immigration officials take a picture of you with a webcam for their records and give you a stamp in your passport.
4. Hostelworld.com is convenient for basic searches and bookings of hostels in major towns. For smaller towns, a short walk can surface some good deals. If you get to a border too late and need overnight accommodation, spend some time checking out hotels or guesthouses nearby. Chances are they cost more nearer the border, but the price usually decreases the further you get from the border.
   

   Hotels booked online. We stayed at Ringo's for Melaka and Old Penang for.. well, Penang!



A street stall in Thailand

5. Bargain. Border towns don’t get a lot of tourists, so you might be able to bend the rules on guests per room or price per guest. Try to avoid shops selling souvenirs; the prices are usually marked up for tourists. Shopping at night markets in Malaysia and Thailand will reveal everything you might need for a trip (no harm picking up an extra T-shirt or a pair of flipflops in case you need them), and there’s usually all kinds of street food to try too. Always bargain if you’re on a budget. If you can afford the stated price, by all means make the shopkeeper’s day!
6. Eat where the locals eat. You might have worries (and rightly so, if you usually live in a clean and sterile country) about where or what to eat. But never succumb to familiar fast food places! Try going to night markets and hang around a crowded food stall. That’s where the good food is! Following locals during lunchtime can yield a hidden restaurant serving good food at low prices. There’s probably nothing to worry about if the food is freshly prepared and hot.
7. Try dishes typical of a country or town. Penang Laksa and Pad Thai eaten at the source were on my ‘To-Do’ travel list, but in Pattani I was introduced to a real treat (found in Thailand and Laos) mysteriously called roti.


Laksa in Penang and Pad Thai in Bangkok

8. Keep a budget, then stretch it. Write down everything you spend on during your trip so you don’t spend unthinkingly. There are many creative ways to stretch a backpacking budget: Put together your own sandwich for lunch (you can easily find all the ingredients you need like bread, tomatoes, cheese, and lettuce in a morning or evening market), or offer to do some errands in your hostel in exchange for a free night’s board or breakfast. Despite this, it’s best to keep extra cash on you and probably one or two emergency credit cards. You should only withdraw cash from an ATM machine near a bank, in case it gets swallowed – in which case you can get immediate assistance.
9. Learn the local language. The value of this cannot be overstated; just a few words can warm you up to locals, leading to a conversation. You could learn greetings, numbers, telling time, specific things you might need and how to ask for directions. I find that I end up saying pretty much the same things to people I meet, so I try to learn that in the language of any country I’m in. Some phrases you could learn are:
   1. Numbers. The Thai numeral system is easy enough; you only have to learn 1 to 10 and 100 to get by. For e.g. 40 is said as 4-10 (si sip) and 512 as 5-100-10-2 (ha-loy-sip-song)
   2. Familiar terms. In Malaysia, any older person may be respectfully called Cik. In Thailand, an older man is called Bong (and sometimes they reciprocate by calling you Nong or ‘little one’).
   3. Food. If you can’t eat meat, or are specifically looking for bread or rice, learn the words in the local language. It’s much easier than trying to mime for it.
10. Keep an open mind. It’s natural to have prejudices or fears of the unknown, but you will benefit in many ways by not letting them get to you. Talk to the locals you meet in the bus, train or restaurants (you can start by greeting them in their language to warm them to you, but often you will find that they can speak English). You will learn so much more about a country’s culture from its people themselves. They are also your best resource if you need help or information. And you might be surprised by how kind people can be to a stranger