Upon arriving at the Thai-Malaysia border area and clearing Thai exit customs I located the big A/C bus for the 43 Km run into the city. The center of the city features an interesting landscaped park-like area where three gazebo-like structures are located. I quickly learned by mistake that two of the shady sitting platforms are reserved for women and the other one for men: implementing some sort of local religious custom. Addicted to my usual hotel shopping habit, I checked out the promising lodges in the downtown area and decided on the four star $45 Diamond Puteri Hotel.

 

After a single night in Malaysia I reversed my course and headed back north into Thailand toward Bangkok with plans to stop near Phang-Nga Bay which has geological formations similar to those I saw in Halong Bay in Vietnam.

 

Peace,
Fred Bellomy

 

PS: Another traveler's similar report of the visa run I made: "Selamat Datang - Welcome to Malaysia Another early start at 6:45am for our minivan to Kota Bharu in Malaysia where we were told..."

 

No photos this time.