Readme before you journey
Fresh from a trip to the Maldives from January 28-31, 2018, I'm eager to share my experience before it fades. I've been wanting to visit the Maldives for a long time, but the high cost always deterred me. However, with some research, I found ways to make it more affordable.
The original text is in Thai and describes a situation where the author found a good deal on Air Asia tickets and is trying to convince a friend to join them.
Here's the translation:
"Hey, I just found a good deal on Air Asia tickets! It's only 6,030 baht for a roundtrip ticket. My other friends aren't going, so it's just me and another girl. We can even bring our carry-on bags for free. What do you say?"
With our plane tickets secured, we turned our attention to finding accommodation. Initially, we anticipated high costs for both lodging and transportation. However, upon reviewing online reviews, we discovered a plethora of affordable options. We decided to forgo the luxurious Water Villas in favor of more modest accommodations on local islands. With our meticulous planning complete, we embarked on our adventure, adhering to our meticulously crafted itinerary.
The user has requested a translation from Thai to English.
Here is the translation:
"Bump old thread"
1. A 3-day, 2-night review of Hong Kong in my own style: http://pantip.com/topic/32090888
2. South Vietnam, I don't know if I want to go, but if I do, I might not want to go: http://pantip.com/topic/33104901
3. Solo Trip to Ubon Ratchathani: A Sissy's Fight Against the Sun
Original Text: 3.รีวิว เที่ยวอุบลราชธานี คนเดียว ฉบับตุ๊ดสู้แดด : http://pantip.com/topic/33575529
3. Review of a solo trip to Ubon Ratchathani: A sissy's fight against the sun.
Link: http://pantip.com/topic/33575529
4. A short and economical 3-day, 2-night trip to Okinawa for those with limited vacation days: https://pantip.com/topic/37223799
Before the flight, I checked in advance. I could only check in for the outbound flight, not the return flight. I was told that I had to check in at the Maldivian airport myself. Okay, I only checked in for the outbound flight. But then I couldn't check in through the computer again. I had to check in through my mobile phone and then print the ticket at the KIOSK machine. When I arrived on the day of the flight, I went to print the ticket. Oh, I had to check in again, even though I didn't have any checked baggage. However, I informed the intern, and he took me to the line where I only had to check my ticket. So, please allow extra time for the outbound flight. Or if other people can print and go, then good for them. I must have low karma, as everything was a bit of a hassle.
The flight was a long one, four and a half hours, and when we finally landed, we had to circle for another ten minutes before we could deplane. I thought I was going to throw up! But the view from the window was beautiful, as you can see in the picture above. I had read online that they would hand out immigration forms on the plane, but the airline didn't do that. We had to fill them out at the airport, which was crowded and chaotic. But we made it through! As soon as we got out, we bought a SIM card from Ooredoo. They have a variety of options, and I was worried that I wouldn't have enough data, so I bought the 15GB 7-day plan for $22. It's a bit pricey, but if you're traveling alone, it's probably too much. The 3GB plan would have been enough.
On the left side is a money exchange bank where I exchanged $40 for 600 Rufiyaa. Walking straight ahead, you will find a ticket booth for the ferry to Male city. Let me tell you, this airport has no signs or information whatsoever. Asking for directions only led to confusion. Thankfully, I had read reviews beforehand. However, if you are staying at a hotel that provides airport transfers, they will be waiting with a sign, making things much easier. In my case, I walked to the pier myself. The ticket booth is located near Burger King. The ticket price was $1 per person, which is reasonable. After crossing a small road, I reached the pier. The water was incredibly clear.
After a brief photo stop, we were ushered onto the boat. Our bags were taken from us, with the boat staff insisting on carrying them themselves. We handed over our tickets and set sail for Male Island.
We will take a boat to Maafushi Island from Male. The airport is on one island, and Male is on another. I saw that they are building a bridge to connect Male with the airport. In the future, we may not need to take a boat.
After a 20-30 minute boat ride, we arrived at Male Island. The airport and the city are located on separate islands. We needed to take a taxi to the ferry terminal to reach Maafushi Island. The Villingili Ferry Terminal was our destination. However, hailing a taxi and hopping in wasn't an option. It was crucial to confirm the price before agreeing to the ride. Every taxi driver we encountered quoted exorbitant prices like $5 or $10. We were unsure of what to do when we met a fellow Thai traveler who had been on the same flight as us. She was traveling with her foreign partner. We decided to join them on their journey to the ferry terminal, making a group of four. The taxi driver agreed to take us all for $4. We were happy to share the cost. The boyfriend of our Thai companion struck up a conversation with the taxi driver, who then took us on a scenic detour around the city. We politely declined his offer, as the car lacked air conditioning and the wind was strong.
Upon arriving at the port, I couldn't find the money I had exchanged. I panicked and searched for a long time before finally finding it in my passport. I was so relieved! I bought tickets to Maafushi for 22 Rufiyaa each, which is about $3 for two people. It was slightly cheaper to pay in Rufiyaa. The boat to Maafushi departs once a day at 3:00 PM. Don't miss it!
Okay, then I had to find a speedboat myself. Looking at the time, it was only 1:30 PM. I thought I'd take a look around the town. Oh, by the way, the time in the Maldives is two hours behind Thailand. So, adjust your watch accordingly. As I walked, I couldn't help but exclaim, "Oh my god!" The traffic was as chaotic as the tangled wires in Bangkok. Be careful to avoid the cars, they're always ready to hit you. I walked to find some water and came across a small shop. Hey, they even had Thai snacks like "Go Gae." I got some water and potato chips to stock up on supplies.
Before returning to the port, we encountered a Thai couple who were having trouble accessing Wi-Fi to resolve an issue with their ATM card. They needed to contact someone in Thailand, but even the nearby cafes lacked Wi-Fi. We offered to share our mobile hotspot with the couple's partner, allowing them to contact the necessary party and resolve the ATM issue. It's always heartwarming to help fellow Thais abroad.
When it was time, we boarded the boat. There were drinks and snacks available for purchase on board. The boat ride was quite long, over an hour. The first stop was Gulhi Island, but we didn't get off there. Our destination was the next island, Maafushi. We arrived at Maafushi around 4:30 PM. There were people holding signs to welcome us, but be careful, there are many Arena resorts. We were staying at Arena Lodge Sky, so we followed the signs for that resort. Someone came to greet us and took our luggage. If you haven't exchanged your money for rufiyaa yet, you can ask the person who takes your luggage to do it for you. Once we checked in, the staff gave us information about the island, including a map showing where it's okay to wear bikinis and the location of the hotel. We also received a brochure with various tour packages. We chose the Half Day Adventure Tour for the next day and the Day Visit to Adaaran Prestige Vadoo Resort for another day. They told us that we would meet at 9 AM the next day. We agreed and then went to explore the island. Oh, the resort has a list of tours available, including prices for speedboat rides. You can check it out here: [link to tour list].
We strolled along the beach area of the island, where it is said that you can swim in a bikini. We walked, took pictures, and enjoyed the sea.
We walked from the resort to the area around Arena Beach.
This evening, we stumbled upon a buffet restaurant that cost $15 per person. We decided to give it a try, and the food was decent, with a middle-of-the-road flavor profile that justified the price. We enjoyed our meal amidst the romantic ambiance of candlelight and the sea breeze. Unfortunately, I was with my friend, and we couldn't quite get into the romantic mood. (Haha) Afterward, we returned to our accommodation to rest and prepare for the next day's adventures.
In the morning, we had to pay for the booked trip, which was a half-day adventure tour for snorkeling and dolphin watching at $25 per person. We also had to pay for the one-day trip that we had booked earlier, which was quite expensive at $150 per person. There was a cheaper option available for $85-110, but we chose the one with spa treatments. It turned out to be more expensive than we had planned, but we decided to go with it anyway.
The total cost was $350. The hotel staff spoke English very quickly, and I couldn't understand them. When I tried to pay, they wouldn't accept my old, torn, or marked bills. My friend had exchanged all of her bills for the same types that were rejected. I had no credit card with me, and my ATM card was useless. I had to pay with the remaining rupees that I had exchanged. I was left with $8 and 300 rupees (15 rupees = $1). I asked my friend to transfer money to my Kasikorn Thai debit card, and I would withdraw money when I returned from the tour. The first problem was solved.
We were waiting to board the tour boat when the departure time was changed from 9:00 AM to almost 10:00 AM. We were then taken to join a group of people from another hotel. Towels were distributed, and we were allowed to choose life jackets and snorkels. However, the life jacket I received was torn, so I went to exchange it. The staff member told me that they only had small sizes left and that someone of my size would not be able to fit into them. I gave her a stern look and told her to bring it over. I was determined to wear it, even if it was a bit tight.
The lifeguard helped me onto the boat and gave everyone a bottle of water. He then took us to the first diving spot. If you're not a good swimmer, you should wear fins. I didn't bring mine at first because I thought they would be in the way. I swam out to get them, kicking my legs so hard that if there had been a shark, it would have been torn apart. But guess what? No one cared. The boat boys were only interested in the girls. The boys even held the hands of the girls I was with and took them swimming. They were like, "Hey, little sister, are you interested in a gay guy?" I'm not a strong swimmer, and the boat boy even said, "If you swim out to the deep part, where the water is dark on the surface, you're on your own. I can't help you. I can only help you in the shallow water. OK?" OK, then! I'll swim by myself. This snorkel is hard to use. I have to cover my mouth and nose, and I can't breathe. I've never used one before. I have to hold this breathing tube in my mouth. I don't know how many people have used it before, but I thought to myself, "Well, other things have been used by many people before, and we still use them, like the breathalyzer." So I said, "OK, let's use it." Let me tell you, snorkeling is not for me. I'll pass. But the water is very clear, as you can see from the video.
After diving, we went to see a pod of dolphins. Wow, I've never seen so many dolphins in my life! We sat on the boat and took pictures of them. Don't jump in after them, though! They were so cute, jumping and swimming around. Some of them even did flips. They really know how to work the crowd. This was amazing, I loved it!
The final stop was Sand Bank, a small sandbar in the middle of the sea that resembled a "sea parting." It was stunning, and we enjoyed swimming, taking pictures, and having fun. The friendly crew members provided each of us with a box of water and a box of lunch, which included stir-fried instant noodles with red chili sausage, chicken, and a salad bar. We were grateful and didn't mind the simple meal; we were hungry and enjoyed it while admiring the beautiful seascape. Remember to dispose of your trash in the provided bags instead of littering the ocean with foam boxes.
The highlight of the trip was when I tried to take some aesthetic photos by standing and sitting in the water. The waves crashed, and my iPhone fell into the water. The case I was using got soaked and separated into two or three pieces. It was a disaster. I almost screamed, hoping the dolphins and fish in the Maldivian sea would understand my heartbreak. I picked up my phone, about to cry. I was already on a budget trip, and now I had to spend money to repair my iPhone. I felt like I was going to faint. From fifteen thousand, it became a total loss of thirty thousand. What's worse, I couldn't use my phone. I was so annoyed. I'd rather not have a husband than not have a phone. It was a complete disaster. It was already two in the afternoon, so the tour guide took us back. I sat there feeling depressed the whole way. This is the last photo my iPhone took before it sank into the Maldivian sea. You sank so far from home.
And it's beyond repair, broken. I'm exhausted, crying.
After returning to my accommodation, I went to withdraw money that my friend had transferred to me. There were 6-7 people standing at the ATM, and I waited for half an hour. Unable to bear it any longer, I went back to sleep. I was still shaken from dropping my phone in the water. I slept until the evening and then went out to find dinner and try to withdraw money again. Oh, disaster! My card wouldn't fit in the ATM slot; it was too small. I was even more annoyed. I had to go find food with only $8 and 300 Rufiyaa (15 Rufiyaa = $1). I was wondering which restaurant to choose when I came across the Kaani Hotel buffet, a different one from yesterday. The buffet for two people cost $25, so I asked to pay with my debit card. The staff member told me to eat first and pay later. I said, "You have to swipe it now, or I won't be able to pay. I don't know if it will work." She then swiped it hesitantly, dragging the card with a loud scraping sound. The receipt came out, and she looked at me. I was saved! I could use this debit card. I was relieved. I ate, but the taste was very disappointing. It wasn't as good as yesterday's restaurant. I ate, feeling sorry for wasting my money. Today was really not my day. I'll call this trip "Maldives with a Good Vacation and the Bad Luck I Encountered." Sob. I'm going to sleep. Today was a complete disaster.
Day Trip to Adaaran Prestige Vadoo
On January 30, 2018, we purchased a Day Visit package to Adaaran Prestige Vadoo. The package offered various price options depending on the chosen deal. Initially, we opted for the $110 option, but due to a strong desire for a spa experience, we upgraded to the $150 package, which included a spa treatment. Despite the high cost of the spa, we decided to proceed with the purchase.
As scheduled, we arrived at the designated meeting point at 7:35 AM. However, the departure was delayed, and we did not set off until nearly 9:00 AM. This delay caused significant frustration and inconvenience.
Upon arrival at the pier, representatives from various hotels boarded the boat, all heading to the same destination as us. The speedboat zipped through the water, arriving at a location with crystal-clear water at the entrance. The scenery was breathtaking. Upon disembarking, we were given blue wristbands to signify our status as visitors. Access to the accommodation area was strictly prohibited.
The staff explained the day's schedule and showed us where lunch and drinks were served. I couldn't understand a word they said; they spoke so fast! I had to ask a young woman nearby, who showed me her phone for 8 seconds and then walked away. I guess I'll have to remember it all. This isn't a BNK48 handshake event; I don't have 8 seconds to memorize everything. I went to ask another staff member, but a Filipino person asked me for the schedule first. My English is bad, not theirs. After that, I realized I hadn't gotten my spa treatment yet. I asked the staff, and they had actually forgotten about me! They had to call our hotel to confirm that I had booked a spa package. Once they realized their mistake, they took me to the spa, but the staff there didn't know I had purchased a package. I had to argue with them to get the expensive spa treatment I had paid for. Finally, they scheduled it for 11:00 AM.
It's spa time! Head straight to the drink station, where you can order anything you want from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Liquor, water, wine, it's all yours. Get as drunk as you want, it's your business.
Oh, and the girls will give each of you a towel. Remember, the towel serves a purpose: reserving your spot. Almost every chair on the beach and around the island can be reserved with a towel. So find a good spot and put your towel down, or you might lose your seat!
Translation:
The resort experience can be summed up as being stranded on an island. We spent our time taking photos, swimming, and using the pool. We were free to do whatever we wanted, so I walked around taking pictures until I was soaked. I even peed thirty-eight times! At 11 am, we went for a spa treatment. I was supposed to be in the same room as my friend, but I asked for a separate room because I didn't want to be naked with her. The spa was amazing, though. They used pork fat oil, which was a pleasant surprise. I didn't tip because it was already expensive. After the spa, we had lunch. The food was excellent, with fish, chicken, and no pork. Unfortunately, there was no squid or shrimp. For dessert, we had ice cream and cake, which were both delicious.
In the afternoon, we started getting drunk on wine, probably because we drank a whole bottle. Can we swim? No, I'm afraid of drowning. And the beach of this resort is like a cliff into the sea, it's not very sloping. Plus, the view is of an island in the middle of the sea where they are digging sand, it's not beautiful at all. But the surroundings of the resort are really beautiful.
Around 5 pm, I was taken to feed the fish, stingrays, and baby sharks. They told me to feed them. Did I raise them?
All set, we sailed back to our accommodation. Let me tell you, it was a super chill day. The island was small enough to walk around without getting tired, and the water was crystal clear. You could go snorkeling or do whatever you wanted. It was so peaceful and quiet, perfect for relaxation. I promise, if I have the money, I'll come back again.
Today is the day we return home. We woke up early, as our flight departs at 12:30 PM. We will take the 7:30 AM ferry back to the airport, as it is the only departure time available. After packing our belongings, we waited for breakfast. We were delighted to find familiar red sausages from Dinso, along with stir-fried instant noodles. We were impressed with the quality of the food considering the room rate. The housekeeper and staff were incredibly friendly, even helping us carry our luggage to the pier. Feeling generous, we tipped them $1 each, forgetting that we only had new bills left. Oh well, we were feeling rich and generous at the time.
And how do I pay for the boat? I use the Rufiyaa. I have 2-3 hundred Rufiyaa left. When I paid for the boat, a boatman came to collect the money and took 60 Rufiyaa. Is that a rip-off? It was only 44 Rufiyaa on the way here. I was about to yell at the collector, but when I saw his muscular build, tanned skin, and beard, I paid him. I'm not a fighter. While I was on the boat, an old lady with a headscarf behind me kept nudging me and asking if I was here on vacation and if I was Chinese. It seemed like she was going to ask for money, so I pretended to be asleep. The world has taught me to be mean. I have to be suspicious of everything, even though I'm actually a very gentle and sensitive person.
Upon arriving at the port, we said goodbye to the Thai girl and her foreign boyfriend whom we had met on the first day. She said she would stay in Male for another night, while we were returning to Thailand. We had taken more days off work than her, so we would probably end up eating dirt at the Department of Employment. Anyway, we hailed a taxi to go from the port to the airport. Let me tell you, the traffic here is chaotic. You have to find the right moment to snatch a car from among the tourists and dodge the oncoming vehicles. Once you get a taxi, tell the driver your destination and ask for the price first. If it's too expensive, don't go. On our way here, it cost 2 dollars (30 rufiyaa). Today, we got it for 40 rufiyaa. We immediately waved goodbye to the other tourists. It's a first-come, first-served basis.
To the pier, I bought a boat ticket to the airport. It was 40 rufiyaa more than the way here, which was only 30 rufiyaa. Which price should I believe? The exchange rate fluctuates like a wave. When I arrived at the airport, it was still early, and I had almost 3 hours to spare. I was in a hurry for fear of missing my flight, so I wanted to grab something to eat before entering. I saw a Thai restaurant and thought, "Oh, I want to drink some Thai iced tea." But the price was $14. Is the tea from the Altai Mountains or something? I'm not going to drink it. I'll just have a $2 Dairy Queen.
Translation:
For this AirAsia flight, online check-in is not available. You must present your booking confirmation at the gate. Once you enter, you cannot leave. Make sure you eat and do whatever you need to beforehand, as there are only 2-3 restaurants inside, and they are very expensive. Upon entering, you will check in and receive your ticket. Then, there is a baggage check. We were both overweight, but the friendly ground staff gave us a thumbs up and let us through. We then proceeded to the departure gate on the second floor, still feeling a bit confused. After the security check, my water bottle slipped out (haha). We arrived at a small duty-free shop where everything was very expensive. We hadn't bought any souvenirs, thinking we could find something here, but everyone should be warned: a flimsy keychain costs 160 baht! We were shocked. So, we bought tea instead. Was it expensive? Yes, it was. But it was tea from Sri Lanka, which is good quality, so it was worth it.
The AirAsia flight was originally scheduled to depart at 12:30 PM, but it was delayed. We waited anxiously, checking the cookie fortune for clues, until the departure time was pushed back to 1:30 PM. Feeling hungry, I bought a burger. As soon as I finished eating, the plane was about to take off. I had to throw away my Coke and quickly stuff down the hot fries. I carried the burger onto the plane but didn't dare to eat it. Instead, I bought water and onigiri on board. When I finally ate the burger, the onigiri fell apart into five pieces when I pulled it out. I had to suck on the bag and gnaw on it. The trip ended with a series of unfortunate events. Here are the expenses, but you can cut some things out, especially the spa. It was expensive, and I shouldn't have listened to my friend. In conclusion, despite the many problems, I still enjoyed the trip. It was fun, the sea was beautiful, and I liked it.
Note that the price does not include the cost of the SIM card and the water-damaged iPhone.
ไกรสุวิทย์ ศรีสวัสดิ์
Monday, November 11, 2024 10:30 AM
