Crypto Tripping

Cryptocurrency is currently in a state of confusion among the Global population. Those who have no idea what is crypto or have some vague idea about this decentralized digital world, visiting Thailand can bring some experiences to connect with the then utopian concept which is functional in reality. One can walk around the street & encounter bars, cafes where Bitcoin payment is acceptable.

We are still in a world where traveling to other countries can be complex when it comes to local currency & the exchange rates. 

Local ATM Bangkok

While withdrawing money in Bangkok from Krungthai ATM, I had the only knowledge of per transaction fees which is 220 Baht & 4% mark up fees of the whole amount but later I got the notification of an EXTRA amount DEDUCTion from my account which had no break-up point given in ATM slip.

I requested the local bank for the break up points of the EXTRA amount & I'm still waiting for the updates after a month... (Hopefully I will get it someday)

So be updated & informative about the fees before you withdraw money from your respective bank cards. 

Hence if you run out of money, What will you do in a Foreign country?

Should you travel with enough Cash, Forex Card or emerging e-Wallets like Binance 7Eleven MetaMask  in Thailand?

7Eleven has launched their payment wallet app recently Click here

 

A shop in Koh Tao where they accept Bitcoin

 

 

One can book ferry rides & buses in advance using this website (https://12go.asia/en) Surat Thani Airport to Koh Tao costs 1100 Baht

Koh Tao Ferry View

                                                               Ferry Ride to Koh Tao

 If you use your bank cards in any shops, diving center, bars,...there is a 3% fees per transaction of the amount you are paying + there can be an additional fees (which can be vague or updated with time).

 Is Crypto Wallet an option to pay for your expenses locally? Kindly comment & share valuable info

When you walk across the street of a tiny & beautiful island called Koh Tao which is 413 KM from Bangkok, you will find cafes, pubs accepting Payment in Bitcoin.

 

While looking for some videos to update myself into this parallel cycle of crypto world, I came across an YouTube Channel [https://www.youtube.com/@TheBitcoinfamily]. He call himself Didi & the most interesting thing is he has converted every bit of his assets into Bitcoin & currently traveling around the world with his family leaving behind the bank payment system. He is educating people by frequently uploading videos in his Youtube channel.

 

I'm that old school guy who still writes blogs. I'm not used to shorts or reels or Insta kind of thing. Is there anyway to reach out to decreasing attention span teenagers & young travelers? May be something better is on the way into the Blockchain world... Stay tuned for more ^^

No Internet? Still you can navigate with this app

Amidst the turmoil going on in our country, we are facing problem in some places where internet connectivity has been shutdown. What we can predict in future is our golden era of free access to information through search engine will soon be history. As per the optimistic point of view there will be something alternative to Internet for communication around the world & outside in future.

Without going further into space & future, let's go to Triund in Himachal Pradesh. I went for a quick visit from Delhi during the first week of December 2019. I didn't have any fix plan to go there but luckily I started my trekking with Triund. It was an experience that I enjoyed throughout that can be expressed through the following pics that I clicked while doing 10 km trek.

Halfway View

I started walking early in the morning at around 9 a.m. from Macleodgunj where my net connection helped me to locate the way using GPS till Gallu Devi temple. After reaching the temple (starting point) there's a straight trek of 6 kms where there's no connectivity of mobile tower. After showing my Government id I started going up towards the peak following other travelers on the way. I came across travelers mostly from Europe & Israel. Some travelers are exploring places for more than 8-9 months or even a year.

While trekking anywhere, a continuous conversation with someone (friend, stranger, traveler) can help anyone keep going without getting exhausted. If you are traveling solo or with friends it can distract the mind from getting tired and will help to complete the path easily. Triund trek can be done in one day if one starts early in the morning. I completed it in one day as I had to return to Delhi. Those who wants to see the sunrise from the top, they have to book the tent online in advance to stay at night. You can book here : https://www.booking.com/hotel/in/mcleodganj-camping-resort.en-gb.html

Trekking route

Top view of Triund

Fortunately I came across some travelers on the way who had the same plan to complete on the same day. When I was almost 1 km below the final destination, the view was getting better with frozen ice on the path & the hour long conversation in Portuguese language with an European traveler made the journey more interesting. I noticed that she was constantly looking at her mobile phone to track the location. I asked her " Você tem cobertura ou internet?" She replied "Não" My response was "What's the point of looking at the GPS if you don't have internet connection!" & then I was introduced to this app called "Maps.me" where internet is not required after installation and you can navigate & see the location.

Download this app on Google Play or Apple Store

It's not a very new app. You can download by clicking here: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mapswithme.maps.pro&referrer=mt_click_id%3Dmt-xuhg85-1577005389-679605027

Those who don't know they can find it very useful especially during traveling & network connectivity problem.


Finally we could enjoy at the top & finished the trek before sunset. There's a sunset cafe where you can enjoy this colorful skyline after Triund trek.

It's near the starting point of trek roughly 15-20 mins by walk through forest.

Sunset cafe - Chillax zone

After sunset if your mobile ph is out of battery then returning from this place can be difficult or adventurous. Make sure you have power bank or follow other travelers because it's completely dark out there in the forest apart from sound of animals & ... 


          

Darjeeling Jomjomat

If I visit Darjeeling for 1000 times & any1 says "Hey let's go 2 Darjeeling"-- My response would always be "Yes". That's what my view on  "THE QUEEN OF HILLS".

This was my second visit to Darjeeling without any plan. Initially we thought of visiting Sikkim & come back to Kolkata. But travelling has no fixed plan and that's how it should be. So I decided on the way having momo @ Gangtok that we are travelling to Darjeeling before going back to Kolkata.

Those who have read my blog on Sikkim can continue reading below or else I recommend you to read my previous blogs on Sikkim because there is a mystery connected there that I am going to narrate while having hot chocolate @ Keventer's.

Keventer's is one of the popular restaurant with an open rooftop & beautiful views of the Himalayas. It is one of the place where Satyajit Ray used to visit frequently and bring solutions to the mysterious puzzles through our favorite detective character FELUDA. This is the place where I feel like sitting I don't know for how long & may be write or enjoy the nature.

Well I was talking about a Mumbai guy right? Who was travelling with us @ North Sikkim? Who was trying to act like a mysterious guy? What happened to him finally?

He was suppose to come back to Gangtok with us before we headed here. But he didn't. He chose to get down from the car while coming back.

Now coming back to Darjeeling it can be sometimes tiring to walk if we compare with Sikkim because Darjeeling is situated on the slopes of the mountain. So the roads are stiff and for the city people it's like mini trekking. But I enjoy walking around here watching the beautiful buildings, Mall, Tourists etc. One thing I haven't mentioned yet that when people come across the view of Kanchenjunga for the first time in the morning, it really takes one's breath away. WOW. Let's have a look @ it...

Sunrise @Tiger Hill where almost everyday Kanchenjunga appears with golden reflection

One never forgets his/her first encounter with KANCHENJUNGA

Who is She??...

So stay tuned for my next blog to have the flavor of best Darjeeling tea &  untold mysteries surrounding this trip .....

Frozen MYSTERY at North Sikkim

Before we go on a trip 2 one of the highest lake in Asia, let me share 1 short story that reminds me of Danny Boyle's movie "Trainspotting". There was a Mumbai guy of our age in 20's who was traveling with us from Gangtok 2 North Sikkim for this 2 nights journey. He seemed 2 be a cool guy & was traveling solo. After attending the local party with the Sikkimese people, when we were at our room chatting, this guy suddenly asked "Do you know why I am traveling alone?". I said "May be U njoy ur own company"... The guy replied "No. I am running away from Mumbai"...

So with chilling weather outside, this conversation was pouring more adventure, where I had a feeling that we were not there for traveling only but to solve some hidden mysteries buried somewhere in the mountains like our very own popular Bengali detective character "FELUDA"(to b contd... somewhere after).

Let's go to the starting point of our journey 2 Gurudongmar lake at around 3-15 a.m. in the morning or night you can say. I was half asleep & once in da car I was trying to sleep on da way but due to the rough condition of the road, constant jerking kept me half awake. We reached a place called Thangu (altitude 14000 ft.) @ 6 a.m. in da early morning to have some garma garam Maggi noodles. I started shivering with the icy-cold weather of Himalayas & it was almost close to ZERO degree Celsius. I was not carrying any gloves & it was difficult to take pictures from my camera as my fingers were frozen. At last I bought a pair of gloves there.

I was trembling bcoz of da big temperature drop

Garma Garam Maggi

While having Maggi, my friend told me to come out & see the outstanding sight of the mountains that have started appearing slowly under the dawn. At first, after getting out of my drowsiness, I was totally mesmerized what I was watching in front. What my eyes were witnessing, my mind was transmitting different views of the nature. If I have to explain I can say it's a volcano with golden lava erupting from the peak, a mountain full of gold all over its surroundings or the first reflection of our god i.e. Sun. Whatever seems logical, pictures (#copyright) say many things.... 

With our driver

After having breakfast, our journey began towards the higher altitude. After crossing 15000 ft. we saw the river water that were flowing alongside the mountains, were frozen all over and the temperature was dropping with increasing altitudes. There were some military check points & one can see the military people with their green Indian uniform & covered face. This is because the China Border lies only 5 Kms from our destination i.e. Gurudongmar lake. Special permits are required for the Foreigners to visit north Sikkim. All the permits can be collected from the Indian Missions in different countries. It can also be collected from Foreigners' Regional Registration Offices in Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai & Mumbai or the Office of the Assistant Resident Commissioner, Govt. of Sikkim, Kolkata or the office of the Deputy Director (Tourism), Govt. of Sikkim, New Delhi.   

NESCAFÉ :)

Frozen water from da mountains

Frozen Gurudongmar Lake

5183 meters --Almost equivalent to da Everest Base camp altitude i.e. 5380 meters

First Selfie

My friend became a temporary brand ambassador of HONEY BEE brandy :p

                            

                           

While clicking pictures I was also enjoying the beauty of World's highest mountain ranges with my eyes. May be there are plenty of ways to express the happiness of traveling there. That's why da photos (#copyright) here express their own meanings to the readers.

And da MYSTERY continues.....