Music Shop: Spectrum Music - Georgetown, Penang

I recently had a need to find a good shop for musical instruments in Penang and, having scoured the internet (I often find adding the word 'Lowyat' to your search string is useful in this regard as it will bring up responses from this popular Malaysian internet chat forum where many will ask Penang / KL specific questions), I finally came across Spectrum Music.



My searches threw up a number of other stores but I got the impression that Spectrum was exactly what I was looking for, and how right I was.  The store is located on the 2nd floor of the 'One Stop' shopping area opposite Tanjung Medical Centre in Jalan Burma, near to its junction with Jalan Bagan Jermal. There is ample off-road parking here and to get to the shop you need to go round the the back of the (very popular) chicken/duck rice shop and take the lift to the second floor.  Turn right out of the lift and the shop is the last one along.

Map showing location of Spectrum Music

The store has been there for about 4 years but you'd be forgiven for thinking it had just opened because it really is immaculate.  It is tastefully designed, decorated and lit and has a great ambience, a great place to check out the stock or just to chat music with the owner Danial and his helpful staff.

Central to the store is an 'island' featuring examples of their stock of electric lead and bass guitars.

A closer shot of 'guitar island' with models from Fender, PRS, Ibanez, Spear and Sterling. Fender afficionados will be well aware that Fenders these days are made in America (MIA), Mexico (MIM) and Japan (MIJ) and it's great to see that Spectrum also stock MIJ Fenders, much acclaimed for their levels of quality control. Spectrum can also source most makes and model of guitar in the unlikely event of them not having something you want in stock.

As can be seen, the store is also well stocked with guitars for the acoustic enthusiast.

Spectrum can also satisfy the needs of drummers with a good range of drums and accessories.  Test rigs are also available in store.

Drums, drums and more drums!!

For the electric guitarist Spectrum stock a wide range of amplifiers including models from the ever popular Fender and Marshall brands.

And of course, no musical instrument shop would be complete with out a wide range of effects pedals, modelling processors (e.g. Line 6 Xpod), tuners and metronomes.  They also stock a comprehensive range of other accessories and spare parts including picks, strings and pick-ups.

Store owner Danial Tan has been in the business for years , is very friendly, helpful and a mine of information about all things musical.  Seen here demonstrating one of the most popular electric guitars of all time, the Fender Stratocaster Standard (MIJ) in 'sunburst' design.  For me, this guitar just oozes quality and cool :-)

That then is 'Spectrum Music', a gem of a shop in the musical instrument world for Penangites and visitors alike and great for me that it's so close to home.  They also have a Facebook Page here.  Brilliant shop, superb service, friendly owner and staff and, last but not least, great prices.  Go check them out, open every day except Sunday (Tel: +60 16 455 9780).  You can also email Spectrum here. Some more photos can also be found here.

Penang Districts (1): Tanjung Tokong

This is the first in a (very much belated) series of posts which will attempt to provide some insight into the main areas of Penang that people consider either visiting, or buying / renting a property in, when coming to Penang.

First up is Tanjung Tokong.  Along with Tanjung Bungah and Batu Ferringhi, Tanjung (generally abbreviated to Tg) Tokong is very popular with expats and these three areas are often, along with Gurney Drive, referred to as being the 'expat belt' in Penang.  Whilst there may be a greater proportion of expats in these areas compared to other parts of town (Georgetown, Bayan Lepas and Pulau Tikus etc.) they are still predominantly Malaysian in terms of ethnicity and, like everywhere in Penang, very multi-cultural with Chinese, Indian and Malay being the predominant influences and indeed operators of businesses.  The main exception is Batu Ferringhi which is VERY popular with tourists seeking a more traditional beach style of holiday.  With its numerous hotels, restaurants, bars and bustling night market, in Batu Ferringhi the visitor presence is much more noticeable with holiday makers flocking there from Europe, Australasia and the Middle East in peak season. When the term 'expat belt' is used I also think that people are more often referring to western expats, as many expats from other parts of the world often opt for Georgetown and the industrial quarter (Bayan Lepas / Batu Uban and beyond), many for work reasons.  The fact that the areas mentioned above are pretty much the main residential areas outside of Georgetown (but still remain very accessible to it) and the more industrial areas almost inevitably means that those seeking a more laid back and peaceful existence will gravitate towards them, Malaysians and expats alike, especially when close access to a place of work is not a priority or a determining factor.

In terms of location Tg Tokong is approximately 6-7 km from Georgetown and is centred around the crossroads  where Jalan Tanjung Tokong is intersected by Jalan Fettes (centre and to right of map below).  Distance wise it is also 1.7 km from Gurney Drive, 2 km from Straits Quay, 4 km from Tg Bungah, 10 km from Batu Ferringhi and 20 km from Penang airport.  For those unfamiliar with the geography, as you travel out from Georgetown you first come to Gurney Drive area, Tg Tokong, then Straits Quay, followed by Tg Bungah then Batu Ferringhi.  There are of course many other areas but this series of articles is focussing on the main places that will likely be of interest to visitors and property hunters.  In terms of getting to other parts of the popular northern part of the island it is very well placed but far enough out of Georgetown so as not to be quite as busy.

Map showing the 'heart' of Tg Tokong

Precinct 10

Tg Tokong, like many other areas, has a good number of eateries in close proximity albeit many are of the food court and low-cost restaurant style.  The area changed quite a lot in the last 18 months though and is benefitting from some significant development including the very chic and stylish Precinct 10 which has added a number of more sophisticated restaurants, music bars and coffee shops.

Island Plaza

There are also one or two eateries in a small mall called Island Plaza (at the junction of Jalan Tg Tokong and Jln Fettes) which also houses a medium sized, but quite well stocked, Cold Storage supermarket and an Absolute Fitness gym.  Island Plaza is also being renovated at the moment and I hope that there will be a greater number of outlets there as it nears completion, I would also welcome the return of the cinema.

The new 'Vantage' complex

There are at least three other commercial type developments nearby which will no doubt add further shopping and eating opportunities once completed, including 'Vantage' and a complex adjacent to Fettes Residence.  There is also a large Tesco on the outskirts of Tg Tokong.

Prima Tanjung Shops

Additionally, there are a number of small shops, mostly around the beginning of Jalan Fettes in complex called 'Prima Tanjung' which is adjacent to Tanjung Park.  The shops are mostly small businesses selling all manner of goods and includes hair salons, electrical, hardware, and bicycle outlets alongside places such as Watsons (selling cosmetics, toiletries and some OTC medicines) and a '7-11' store.  There is also a pet shop, CIMB bank, clinic and dentist nearby.

Leisure Bay condo

Most of the dwellings in the area, in common with the rest of Penang, are condominiums with newer developments such as Fettes Residence and The Brezza, sitting alongside older properties such as Tanjung Park and Leisure Bay, all being located in fairly close proximity to the crossroads at the heart of Tg Tokong.  New builds are also planned with Ivory's Lattitude being one of the most notable, albeit some way out.

Tanjung Park Condo

As an area to live it is very much a question of what you want, and more importantly, what you don't want.  I have posted quite a lot on the subject of property selection and stressed that, for me at least, it's vital to identify what you don't want as much as it is what you do because the things that you don't want could bug the hell out of you if you rent or buy and mess up.

The crossroads at the 'heart'
of Tanjung Tokong

I have lived in Tg Tokong and still like it but now visit mostly for the eateries, getting provisions at Cold Storage and the social scene at Precinct 10.  The area is centred around a busy crossroads and Jalan Tg Tokong is the main road used by those travelling to Georgetown from the area and beyond.  It's a busy junction and you need to be mindful of the traffic noise you could encounter.  There is also quite a lot of building and development in the area and, while it will improve amenities long term, it carries the burden of the associated noise and dust at the moment.

The Brezza

The area around 'The Brezza' condo has several building developments and a large low-cost housing area (kampung) from which you can get a lot, and I mean a LOT, of noise from cars, kids, yapping dogs, comings and goings and in particular very loud, modified, small engine motorbikes which often race around both the back and main roads at all hours.  Noise issues are something to be very mindful of and I would suggest that anyone contemplating living anywhere, not just Tg Tokong, makes a point of visiting numerous times, at different hours, including late night and early morning on both weekdays and weekends to ascertain what the area is REALLY like.  Not much good having a great balcony if you can't bear to sit on it because of unacceptable levels of noise.  Living in a condo within a densely populated island is always going to involve a degree of compromise, unless you are VERY lucky, and it's about prioritising but noise is a serious consideration for me, there will always be some.  The type, duration and time of it are things that can make life pleasant or miserable if not thought through properly and investigated thoroughly before signing on the dotted line.

Fettes Residence and the yet to
complete shopping complex

As a holiday base, for me Tg Tokong would not really be suitable, evidenced doubtless by a lack of hotels in the area, those in the Gurney Drive, Georgetown, Batu Ferringhi and even Tg Bungah areas offering either much better access to Georgetown, Gurney Drive and the Gurney Plaza shopping mall or a more traditional beach holiday dependant on your needs.  It's too far out and only 'strategically placed' if you have your own transport.  There is also too little going on there day-by-day to make it a good holiday base IMHO.  Even for holidaymakers though I'd suggest Tg Tokong is worth a visit, if only to try some of the eateries there including the excellent (and to be subject of a future review) D'Tandoor restaurant at Precinct 10, Restaurant 113 and No Eyed Dear (both already reviewed) and the excellent bars (Soho Gastro Pub and Nueve) at Precinct 10 if that's your bag.

A bird's eye view of Tg Tokong

So there it is, a brief look at Tg Tokong.  Strategically well located with a reasonable range of facilities and amenities, a popular social hub, and which is undergoing significant development.  For some, the advantages of the strategic location may be outweighed by the somewhat 'urban' feel that the area has to it, the heavy development and of course the traffic noise which comes from the main crossroads and surrounding back streets.  It's something only you can decide.

Websites: Life in Malaysia

There are a number of resources that people use in relation to obtaining the MM2H visa which many find useful, particularly when they wish to spend protracted periods of time in Malaysia (provided, of course, they meet the criteria).  This blog also provides extensive information on the whole MM2H and many related processes.  Many also reside here under different visas, one being the excellent work visas promoted via Talent Corp.  Indeed, Malaysia has some excellent visa options in my view, options which encourage visitors, help grow the economy, encourage cultural interchange and invigorate enterprise and business.  They are programmes which many other countries could learn from, including some of the more arrogant western nations!  As a topic for research and discussion however, the MM2H (or indeed any other) visa has a limited shelf-life; once people have their visa and heave dealt with various administrative processes which maybe seen as related to it (e.g. driving licences and opening bank accounts) many find there is less and less of need to visit sites that deal exclusively with those topics.

With regard to living in Malaysia there are a number of blogs and sites I visit regularly which may be of interest to readers.  These are listed in the links sections on this blog.  Of particular note though I would point out the following specific blogs:

Bangsar Babe: My favourite Malaysia general food blog written by one of Malaysia's favourite food bloggers.

Babe in the City: Another top food blog, KL focussed and unrelated to the one above, despite the similar name.

ExpatGo: Website for 'The Expat Group' (TEG) of publications, often contains interesting articles, things to do, up coming events and details of promotions from the wide range of publications they produce.

Malaysian Meanders: The experiences of a family from Texas living in Malaysia and travelling the region.

Penang Momma: Another great Penang lifestyle blog with some specific focus on parenting here.

Paul Tan: In my view the top automotive blog in Malaysia.

Retired in Malaysia: An excellent blog giving an insight into the life of an expat in Malaysia from the perspective of a US citizen.  Important because many of the processes described on other sites and forums do not pertain to US citizens who are subject to regulations within the USA where the banking systems vary greatly from those commonly referred to on many forums and websites.

Sapiensbryan: A good tech related site.

Spy Malaysia: A superb review site.

What2See: My favourite Penang specific food blog.  Covers from hawkers right up to high-end restaurants.

Your Penang: A very good events diary.

There are of course others including the ones mentioned in my 'links' sections but I highlight these because they are well written, informative and, most importantly, regularly updated.

Happy New Year

Pos Malaysia (Postal Services) - Hours of Operation

I generally find the postal system and services in Malaysia to be very efficient, reliable and very reasonably priced.  As an example, the cost of sending mail from the UK internationally by something like registered post is exorbitant compared to charges in Malaysia.

From 1 January 2013 'Pos Malaysia' is amending its operating hours for counter operations and delivery services.  The announcement regarding the changes can be found here.  The hours of operation for Penang can be found here, along with operating hours in other states.

Sale: Gotic Collections - Island Plaza, Penang

Just a quick post to advise that the KL based teak wood furniture specialists are currently visiting Penang with a sale of teak wood furniture.  I looked at their furniture on the last day of the sale when they had their last sale here and some of it was very nice indeed with some unique styles.

The sale is again at Island Plaza on Tanjung Tokong Road near to Jalan Fettes, Penang and will run until 13th January.  Worth a look if you are interested in furniture of this type of just looking for some ideas.

Drive to Penang / Malaysia from Thailand (Hat Yai / Dannok)

Further to the below post regarding driving into Thailand from Malaysia, this post covers the relatively simpler process of driving back into Malaysia from Thailand.

Upon returning you will inevitably approach down Highway 4 (closer to the border the road is also named Thanon Phet Kasem) which runs through the border town of Dannok and goes right up to the border.  At times this crossing can be very busy with public holidays, Sundays and between the hours of 4-7pm on weekdays seemingly being the times to avoid.  But, as with anything like this, there is a degree of 'pot-luck'.  Sundays will often be VERY busy and chaotic because of the many coach trips that will be returning to the different states in Malaysia.  On the days when it's not busy the whole crossing can be done in 15-20 minutes.  Hit it on Sunday and other busy times and it can take up to two hours with long traffic queues and even longer queues at Immigration.

As you approach Dannok, about 1 km before the border, the road will be closed off ahead and this will detour you through a Customs checkpoint, mostly used for trucks.  It's the same checkpoint as when you entered Thailand.  Merely turn left, follow the signs for your type of vehicle, follow the path to the right and then turn left back onto the road.  There is only the one route to go so you won't get lost.

Now, there are numerous ways in which you CAN (and many people do) do this crossing in terms of how, when and where to park your car but I will describe the process which is, as I understand, the official way and the way which will not create you potential problems.

The things you should have readily to hand are:

1) Passport
2) Thai Immigration Departure Card
3) Carnet Form (Simplified Car Import / Export authority)
4) Copy Vehicle Registration document

In terms of a mental / written checklist, there are 5 things you need to do when exiting Thailand at the border:

a) Return the Carnet form (authorising export of your vehicle), this is VERY important

Then park up your car and:

b) Clear Thai Immigration

Get back in your car and:

c) Clear Thai Customs
d) Clear Malaysian Immigration
e) Clear Malaysian Customs

The process is somewhat simpler than entering Thailand but can still be confusing if you don't know what to expect.

Firstly, it's best to clear your vehicle export.  As you drive into the crossing you will see a number of Thai Immigration kiosks on your left and in front.  To the right of these (kiosks numbered 7, 8 & 9), but behind and after them there is a kiosk marked 'Customs Form Return'.  If the border is very quiet you can often stop at this kiosk or just behind and to the left of it.  It's important to do this as Customs MAY wish to see the vehicle, whether they do or not is a different matter.  Take your Carnet form to the kiosk (it's advisable to also take your copy vehicle registration form and passport).   The Customs officer will rarely wish to check your vehicle and will merely take the form from you.  You should be asked to sign the form when your return it AND sign in a book regarding form return.  Make sure you do both.  Once done, you are clear to proceed to the next steps.

Again, this crossing can be very chaotic at busy times so in my view it's safer to head to the car park before clearing Thai Immigration though many just leave their vehicle where they parked up to return the 'Carnet'.  If you wish to use the proper car park, after returning the Carnet form, drive through past the kiosk and about 50 metres after look for the large car park on the right (this is the same car park used when you enter Thailand).  Take care as you need to cross the path of vehicles entering Thailand and many drivers, especially those of motorbikes, seem to exercise little caution when driving in, probably being as confused as everyone else!  Park up the car and walk back around to the Thai Immigration counters (obviously you need to use the 'Departure' kiosks which are next to the Customs Vehicle Export kiosk you just visited, not the 'Arrival' kiosks for those entering Thailand - believe me, I am told people have done it!).  Furthermore, if the border is crazy busy, I have also driven into this car park before handing in the 'Carnet' form, there should be no problem as the car is not far away if they demand to see it, but if it's THAT hectic, they will almost certainly not be interested.

As you face the passport kiosks from the Thailand direction there is a group of them to the left which have a metal barrier around.  These are intended for foot and coach passengers.  Those to the right (kiosks 7, 8 and 9 again), along the roadway sections, are intended for car / motorbike drivers and their passengers.  At Immigration you merely need to show your passport and return the Immigration 'Departure' card which you will have retained upon entering Thailand.  However, if you are entering Malaysia from Thailand as a visitor (e.g. you are a Thai resident or resident of elsewhere entering Malaysia) you will need to complete a Thai Immigration 'Arrival / Departure Card which can be found at the desks in front of the Immigration kiosks or can be had from the Thai Immigration office to the left of the Immigration kiosks.  Once you (and any passengers) have cleared Immigration, return to the car park to get your vehicle.

You can now drive your vehicle back to the crossing and turn right to head for Thai Customs.  Again, take care when crossing traffic entering the border. Drive slowly through the customs checkpoint as you may actually get stopped here.  They may well wish to check the luggage compartment of your vehicle and/or scan any baggage you have.  At busy times getting stopped is less likely as it just jams up the crossing.

After this you drive straight ahead and approach Malaysian Immigration.  This IS a 'drive through'.  As you approach the Malaysian side you will see the traffic filtered into 2 or 3 lanes.  Again, follow any signage for your type of vehicle and approach the kiosks (cars just drive ahead, whereas trucks and mini-buses are filtered off to the left).  When you see one empty with a green light, just drive up to the kiosk.  There is no need for the driver or passengers to disembark unless asked (you may be asked so that they can (electronically) take fingerprints at the kiosk.  Merely hand your passport and those of any passengers to the Immigration officer and follow instructions.

Directly after the Immigration kiosk (and I mean right next to it) there is a further kiosk.  Here you must stop and pay the toll charge for the section of highway you will use next (RM 3.60), if you have a Touch n Go card you can swipe the reader just under the cashier's window to pay.  After this kiosk you drive ahead and proceed slowly through the Malaysian Customs and follow any instructions there. You may or may not get stopped.

That's all there is to it, as I said, all very simple IF you know what to expect.  However, if I stress just one thing in this post it is this:

Remember to return your 'Carnet' (Simplified Vehicle Import/Export) form AND sign the book at the Thai Customs 'Form Return' (vehicle export)  kiosk BEFORE leaving the Thai side of the border crossing!!

If you need fuel there are three filling stations with a few km of the border crossing and I normally stop at the second which is a Petronas.

Merry Christmas!!!

Drive from Penang / Malaysia to Thailand (Hat Yai / Dannok)

I have now made a number of trips by car to Hat Yai in Thailand which, for those unfamiliar with the geography here, is about a 3 hour drive from Penang.  Having done the trip a few times I thought it might be useful to post a thread which details the border crossing layout and procedures as it will hopefully make the trip a little less daunting for those contemplating doing it for the first time.

Actually the process at the border is very simple and straightforward, IF you know what to do, but the crossing itself on the Thai side is quite chaotic, with what little signage there is not being very clear, to such an extent that it would be very easy to drive through without either having checked in at Immigration or obtaining a 'Carnet' (temporary vehicle import certificate) unless you happen to get flagged down, which, especially at busy times, will be a rarity.  Searching through the internet turns up several 'hits' which talk about the border crossing but in many cases the actual detail is either incorrect, very limited or outdated.

To cross the border into Thailand via Bukit Kayu Hitam (the border crossing closest to Dannok and Hat Yai) it's a very simple drive from Penang or elsewhere in Malaysia.  From Penang, merely drive straight over the Penang Bridge and keep going, following the signs for Alor Star / Setar.  You then keep on the 'E1' and continue to follow the signs for Alor Star / Setar and then 'Bukit Kayu Hitam' until you reach the border.  As you get close to the border though you will see a sign saying 'Bkt Kayu Hitam - turn left', don't.  Just drive straight ahead to the border.  Many of the main highways in Malaysia are toll roads and the charges for the main stretch from Butterworth to near Changlun is about RM13 with a RM 1.60 charge for a short section closer to the border.  I find it much easier to use a 'Touch and Go' card for the tolls and for bridge charges coming into Penang (see post here).

You may also wish to consider getting an extension on your car insurance to cover you 'comprehensive' for when you are in Thailand.  Most insurers will do this on an 'accommodative' (per trip) basis for a minimal charge and some may even provide annual cover if your trips will be frequent.  It is obviously worth checking with insurers to see if they provide annual Thailand cover when renewing car insurance if you intend to travel frequently.  If you purchased your vehicle insurance through a car dealership most of them can also provide the extensions to your cover for Thailand.  Be mindful that most insurers need at least 7 days notice to approve the extension to your cover.

Petrol is about double the price in Thailand compared to Malaysia so I always fill up before going and, doing little mileage once there, I have enough to keep me going until I return across the border and fill up at one of the three filling stations just after the border (Petronas normally).  If you need to fill up before crossing the border there is a large Caltex service station a few km before the border which also has reasonable WCs if you need them.

Things you will need to take when crossing the border:

1) A copy of your car registration document showing you as the owner of the car (make sure it's a current copy showing your correct address and the paid-up road tax for the year in question), I took the original too (see below)

2) Your driving licence (I use my Malaysian one) but there must be an English translation if your driving licence is not in English

3) Passport

4 ) Visa if you have / need one  (many visitors don't as Thai Immigration (land borders) grant 14 days on arrival to visitors from many countries). It's advisable to check if you're not sure if you need a visa or not and there are many sites containing information about Thai Visa requirements, including this one here.

It's also useful to have a pen handy!

In order of completion there are 5 things you need to do when driving into Thailand from Malaysia:

a) Clear Malaysian Immigration
b) Clear Malaysian Customs

Then, park up your car before the Thai checkpoints and

c) Clear Thai Immigration
d) Obtain a Thai 'Carnet' (the international simplified agreement that allows duty free import of a vehicle for up to 12 months) from Customs

Then return to your vehicle and:

e) Clear Thai Customs

The above is a summary and should be used as a checklist, make sure you have done ALL five before you drive into Thailand as at least two (c & d) would be easy to omit if you aren't aware of requirements and /or how the border controls work.  This may sound strange but if you have this mental (or written!) checklist you will be sure not to inadvertently drive through and forget something, and it's too late on the way back!!

Thai Compulsory Insurance

Before getting in to the detail, one of things you will also need in Thailand is compulsory 3rd party insurance cover, beyond that of your Malaysian insurance.  This insurance is available either before or after the border but there is something VERY, VERY important about this insurance that the vast majority of websites and forums fail to mention.  The compulsory insurance that the agents sell, and that the vast majority of people purchase (according to the agents themselves), is 3rd party BUT covers people only (e.g. anyone that you might injur) it DOES NOT provide 3rd party cover for damage to other vehicles.  This is very important as I suspect that some people buy this cover and happily drive off believing they are covered for most eventualities in Thailand.  Wrong!

If you want only the compulsory cover it costs RM 15 for the minimum which is 9 days cover or, if you plan to make several trips over a 12 month period, you can buy annual cover for RM 105.  Some internet sites make reference to you being given a disc when you purchase this insurance which you need to affix to your windscreen, however, this only applies to those purchasing the 12 month cover.  Now, if you also wish to insure against any damage your vehicle may cause to other vehicles or property this '3rd Party Damage' cover can also be purchased from the same agents for RM 50 for a single visit (7 days) or RM 360 for annual cover, these costs being over and above that of compulsory cover.  So, annual 3rd party cover for both people and vehicles / property will cost RM 465.

As mentioned above, some visitors from Malaysia go further and extend their domestic (and often fully comprehensive) insurance to cover themselves in Thailand and I am also reliably informed that as another option, comprehensive cover can also be purchased, again from the same agents, for around RM 800 for one year (whether this can be purchased on a per-trip basis I am not sure) and I plan to explore the cost / benefits of doing this v extending domestic Malaysian cover.  For the occasional trip it's probably not worth it but it may actually make claims and processing much easier if you have an incident in Thailand than trying to organise repairs and make claims from a Malaysian provider whilst in Thailand.  I will update this post in due course with the findings.

A couple of kilometres before the crossing on the Malaysian side there is a rest compound called 'CTC', it is not far after a large 'Caltex' gas station on the left which is itself just a few km after the traffic light controlled crossroads at Changlun (signposted 'Kodiang' (left) and 'Sintok' (right)).  It has a vertical blue and red sign on the road-side with the letters 'CTC' in red at the top.  CTC has a large off road car park and there are a number of stores located there.  CTC also has toilets but personally I would stop at either the Petronas or Caltex stations before CTC for toilets as they are of a higher standard.  The insurance is purchased from the small travel shop within the covered eating area. You can also get it at several locations in Changlun well before the border. The CTC shop and some of the other places you can buy insurance will sell you and complete a Tha Immigration 'Arrival/Departure' card for a small fee (RM 1.50) but the process is so simple I didn't bother.

You will need to show your copy registration document when you purchase the insurance cover.  I do stress that is essential to get this document.  You will most likely need the form in order to obtain your 'Carnet' (I say most likely as lately people are not getting asked for it) from Thai Customs.  I also encountered three police roadblocks in Hat Yai recently and, while I was waived through two of them, I was stopped and asked to show my Thai insurance at the last, they may of course also ask to see your 'Carnet' vehicle import form along with the vehicle registration and your driving licence.

The insurance document can also be purchased at kiosks just after the border (you basically walk through and buy it after clearing Immigration and before returning to obtain your 'Carnet') as there are many money changers which display signs for 'Malay/Thai Insurance Card'.  As I mentioned, it seems that most times of late you do not need to produce this insurance to get your 'Carnet' so many drive through, stop and then buy the the 3rd party cover BUT parking can be 'dodgy' to say the least as the section of road just after the border is a busy part of town and traffic can be quite hectic.   If you purchase it on the Thai side the cost is the same and, that close to the border, they will accept either Thai Baht (THB) or Malaysian Ringgit (MYR).


Border Crossing

Now, on to the crossing.  This is where you will need to ensure you have your passport and vehicle registration handy.

The first part of the process is to clear Malaysian Immigration.  This is very simple and straightforward.  It is essentially a 'drive through' process.  As you approach the border you will see signs directing cars, busses and trucks through different channels.  Following the cars route you will come to a number of kiosks set out in line ahead and its simply a case of queuing and waiting for the green light which indicates a free kiosk.  Drive up to the kiosk and hand your passport(s) to the Immigration Officer, there is no need to get out of the car.

After Immigration, you drive straight ahead a short distance to Malaysian Customs.  Again, another series of staggered kiosks.  As you drive through, have your drivers window down and be prepared to show the registration document.  At times they won't check, especially if they can see that you have it available.

Before reaching the Thai side of the border there is a large and well stocked duty free shop on the left where you can park (for free if just shopping there).  There is also a money changer inside and the rates are very good, slightly better than Thailand I find.  As to prices, from what I've seen, most whisky and gins are more expensive at the duty free than in Thailand, whereas some liquors such as Kahlua are considerably cheaper than Thailand. Shortly after the Duty Free Compound you will come to the controls on the Thai side of the border.

Now, this is the potentially tricky part that could catch first timers out.  Thai Immigration and the related booths are NOT 'drive through', albeit this is not immediately clear and, given the slight state of confusion at border crossings with vehicles and people milling around, it could be easy to just 'go with the flow' and drive through the Thai controls without checking in at Immigration or clearing the temporary import of your vehicle.  The role of the officers is to stop and check vehicles / people when they see a need, NOT to ensure that you have done all that you need to and have all the required paperwork to enter Thailand.  The onus is on you to ensure you complete each stage of the required process and the important thing to remember now is:

After clearing Malaysian Customs, drive ahead BUT be on the lookout for the entrance to a large car park on the left which is BEFORE the various Thai kiosks.  Turn into that car park and park your vehicle.

As you walk back out the car park you will see the numerous Thai Immigration kiosks.  At the kiosk you will need a two-part Thai Immigration Arrival/Departure card.  If you don't have one there may be some at the desks (some of which also have pens) before the Immigration kiosks or, if not, just to the left of the Immigration kiosks there is an office marked 'Visas on Arrival'.  They will give you a card.  Fill this in (both parts) before you get to the Immigration kiosk.  Don't forget the check boxes on the rear of the card.  Also, be sure to retain the 'Departure' portion of the card that they will stamp and hand back to you with your passport, Thai Immigration will need this when you depart, as will any hotel you check into, to verify you are still legally in Thailand.

After Immigration you will need to locate the Customs Vehicle Import kiosk to get your 'Carnet'.  DO NOT forget to do this!  At the passport controls you will see just one section (to the right) where vehicles can drive through.  There are passport controls located here also.  Directly after the passport booths on the drive through section there are two Customs booths adjacent to each other.  This is where you get the 'carnet'.  First you go to the desk kiosk which is on the right, produce your copy registration document and your passport (you may also be asked for your Thai 3rd Party Insurance). You will then be provided with the 'Carnet' form which you then take to the very next window where you will be asked to sign it in two places (there are example forms and the Customs officer will tell you where to sign).  This document covers your vehicle's temporary importation which you must retain for when you leave the country.  At times, people get told to sign the form and leave it at the booth until you drive your vehicle through but, to avoid jams, it seems this rarely happens now.  Whatever happens, DON'T forget it!  I have heard some people say that if you are using a copy of your registration document to obtain the Carnet, it must be a copy which has been certified by the police in Malaysia as a genuine copy.  I have never encountered this problem (having also done subsequent trips) but I did take the original document with me just in case (it's a long way to go back if a Customs official decides an uncertified copy is not good enough.

After this, simply go back to the car, drive out the car park and turn hard left, near the Immigration kiosks and this will funnel you down through Thai Customs.  This IS a drive through and most people are merely waived through, remember to collect your 'Carnet' form if they have retained it.

After that you are through and pretty much clear.  Just keep going on the road straight ahead.  It is a little confusing as about 1/2 a mile down the road there is another Thai Customs checkpoint, mainly for trucks.  You can't miss this as the road straight ahead is barriered off.  At the barrier you merely turn right, drive into the 'pound', follow the signs for your type of vehicle, turn left then left again, then right, back out on to the road you turned off (albeit some way further on of course).  Again, you are unlikely to get stopped here.

So, that's it.  Fairly easy really but easier still if you know what to do before you get to the border and the have a rough idea of the sequence / layout.   Hopefully this will be of help to others.  I have not posted images as at most border crossings photography is frowned upon.  Details of the return border crossing process can be found here.

When driving in Thailand I would suggest keeping your driving licence, copy vehicle registration, Thai Insurance and Carnet readily available in the vehicle as these are the things you will most likely get asked for if stopped by the police or other government department road-check.

There is a useful site here which covers some general information about driving in Thailand.  There are of course many others including a Wiki entry that is great for explaining Thai road signs.  Many may well also be unfamiliar with Thai traffic lights, it's good to be familiar with the meaning of these as you will encounter signals quite quickly after the border:

NB (Jan 2014): Previously, the 'policy' with regard to 'Via Waiver' entry (e.g. entry stamps given at the border for those without visas if they are from countries that qualify) was that if you enter Thailand by air you got 30 days but if you entered by land you got only 14.  Since the end of 2013 however, visitors from G7 countries will be granted 'Permission to enter' for 30 days whether entering by land or air.

NB (Mar 2014): It seems that the insurance certificates or 'discs' referred to above, which are affixed to your vehicle windscreen when purchasing annual Thai compulsory insurance, are no longer issued and you will get the certificate only.  I was advised about this when I recently renewed my 12 month cover.

NB:Please not that one reader has advised me that he had used the online service to pay for his annual car road tax online.  The trouble is, if you do this, you do not get your registration document updated with the details of that particular road tax purchase.  The reader had some difficulty at the border when applying for the Carnet because, despite having a valid car tax displayed, they were reluctant to accept that the registration document was valid.  So if you're contemplating trips to Thailand, renew your car tax at the post office!

Event: Asia New Star Model Search - Regional Final

Pick of Penang was both delighted and honoured to be invited by Iconic Model Management (event organiser) to be the official photographer throughout this prestigious event, the final of which was held on 12 December 2012, and which will see the two Penang winners fly off to represent Malaysia at the SE Asia Grand Final in Seoul, South Korea in January 2013.

The stunning Amber Chia

Held at one of Pick of Penang's 'Top Picks', the G Hotel, it was a very extravagant event with much by way glitter and entertainment, the central focus of course being the 15 regional finalists (sadly one had to withdraw because of sickness) who were judged by a panel which included my friend, and Asia's top super-model, Amber Chia.....

Raulen Lee

the lovely Raluen Lee, International Director of the Korea Model Association, together with Amee Philips (owner of sponsor Amee Philips Jewellery), Jane See (winner of Asia Model Festival Award 2011) and Sofia Yeng (first runner up - AMFA 2011). DJ for the event was another good friend DJ Chan (DJ at Nueve, Precinct 10, Penang) with the MC role undertaken by Iconic's very own Nelson Lo.








I also had the pleasure to judge and present the awards for Mr and Miss Photogenic. The winners were chosen based on shots I had taken of all the contestants at two locations in G Hotel (an event sponsor) some weeks before.  The awards were won respectively by...

Sampson Chew

Sampson Chew and......

Ginny Chan

the lovely Ginny Chan.

Venice Low

I was also happy as I got to shoot a lot more of a model I really really like here, the lovely Venice Low. A very beautiful model with a wonderful bubbly personality who looks stunning regardless of the mode of dress.  She is very photogenic and can be shot with ease, a real pleasure to work with.

Cherish Ng

I also got to meet and shoot a relative newcomer, the delightful Cherish Ng, an up and coming model who I have a feeling will do well.  Again she has a wonderful personality (and for many photographers and clients it's no personality, no work) and is extremely photogenic. Again, a pleasure to work with.









Final mention must of course goes to the event winners......

Binson Ang with Amber Chia

Binson Ang and......

Windy Chong with Raulen Lee

Windy Chong.

Congratulations to you both!!!  

Binson Ang

Windy Chong

All of the contestants did a great job and it was a pleasure to work with them all, especially Ginny Chan, Jess Tan, Venice Low, Apple Lee, Windy Chong, Cherish Ng and Binson Ang who either are, or through this event have become, good friends.  They can be seen in both the album link above and the Facebook Voting Page hosted at Iconic.  The models can also be contacted through Iconic Model Management through the link above.

The event was of course one with primarily a visual appeal so, rather than endless paragraphs of description, the best thing I think is to provide a link to the album of pictures for the event which can be found here.

Event: Penang Island Jazz Festival (final night)

A quick post to provide a link to the album (yet to be organised and captioned) from the final night of the superb Penang Island Jazz Festival.  Sadly the rain started bang on cue at 6:30pm and never stopped all night but again it did not prevent people from staying to enjoy the event.

Another superb line up of performers provided an excellent night's entertainment and for me the highlights of the final night were the solo guitarist Martin Taylor, pictured above, the Francesca Han Trio (led by the beautiful and very talented pianist / composer) and 'Butterscotch' (see post below for other links).

A truly outstanding event and I look forward immensely to the 10th Anniversary festival which will be held through Thursday 28th November and Sunday 1 December 2013.  Hopefully we will be blessed with better weather next time round.

Understanding your TNB electric bill

I am posting this primarily for the information of expatriates who rent or own properties here who do not yet speak Bahasa Malay and maybe unaware of this useful guidance page from TNB (electricity supplier) about how to understand your bill, providing a translation of each section of the bill into English.

The site provides a wealth of useful information in addition to the specific page above which shows how to understand both the new and old style of TNB billing.