Thailand (Betong) April 2011

" Should you encounter a problem along your way, change your direction but not your destination "

" No one can go back and make a brand new start. Anyone can start from now and make a brand new ending " 

" Different parts of our body ages at different times. Make hay while the sun shines " 

" My 3 days visit to Betong (8-10/4/2011) with my buddies from Petaling Jaya - a relaxing trip to a Southern Thailand town, popularly known as a town in a mist with beautiful flowers near the Malaysian-Thai border "

Total Expenses incurred (3 days) : Rm297 

Hotels(2 nights): Garden View (RM109 for a 3-bed room)+Winter Garden Resort (RM69 for a chalet of 3)

Petrol & Toll: RM200+RM50 (cost sharing)
Food & sundries: RM165
Traditional Thai & foot massage:RM100 (RM25 per hour).

I had visited Betong, Thailand twice with my families and relatives prior to my retirement in 2006. Given the short travelling time (approx 6hr from KL), good food & abundance fresh air and together with 2 neighboring friends (Mr Teh & Mr Leong), our group took a leisure drive from KL to Betong in Southern Thailand. All of us had a wonderful time and visited some interesting places in Betong, ie hot spring, Friendship villages, Piyamit tunnel, Communist museum, Winter Flower garden .... plus savoring some local food & fruit eg fish maw soup, century egg porridge, Tom Yam soup, steamed fish and chicken, roasted pork knuckles, wanton noodles, mangoes, honey pineapples .... really tasty and juicy !

Our group put up a night each at the Garden View Hotel (Rm109 for a triple bed room) and Winter Flower Garden (Rm65 for a chalet for 3) in Betong; both hotels were pleasant to stay ! We also treated ourselves to 2 sessions of Thai body and foot massages (Rm25 per hr) to give a boost to our tiring and ailing bodies !!!

No hassle for us when our vehicle passed through both the Malaysia and Thai Immigration check points. But get ready to pay Rm 2 on Thai side for filling up a simple entry form and another Rm2 for stamping your passport at the counter; Rm3 for vehicle insurance.

Hotels in Betong, Thialand - clean, affordable & value for money (room price for 2 approx Rm80); up to you to choose to suite your budget and convenience (Garden View, Modern Thai Hotel, Merlin, Winter Flower Garden chalets).

1) Malaysia Thailand Border (Betong)

2) Betong Town Centre, Thailand

 3) Hot Spring, Betong, Thailand

4) Piyamit Tunnel, Friendship Village No 1, Betong, Thailand

 5) Winter Flower Garden, Friendship Village No 2, Betong, Thailand

When I was in Betong, I thought of Teresa Teng popular song - The Story of a Small Town .... here goes the story of a small town called Betong, a hub of communist activities during the insurgent years, Chin Peng, CPM (Communist Party of Malaya), Baling pact, completion of Piyamit Tunnel complex in 1977, ending of communist hostilities in 1987, Friendship Village 1 & 2, Friendship Arch greeting you ..... I am impressed, what a peaceful place for tourists to enjoy a short vacation here "