Ok here's the plan (won't be driving anymore)...
We'll take the first flight to Kota Bahru from KL (alternatively, from Johore to KL) and from there grab a cab (old Datsun 120Y style) and head towards Rauta Panjang (2 hr journey). Should read there by 2.45pm.
We can then trek towards the border crossing (1 km, its flood prone so were Teva trekking sandles, bermudas and have your backpack HIGH UP above waist level) and spend a few hours there to see if we can capture some "river life" with sunset backdrop.
Towards the night, we cross the border (before 8pm) in Sg. Golok (Nirathiwat State, Thailand) and check in to a 3-star hotel, perhaps rent a motorcycle (or hitch a ride on one for RM2) and then walk down Cheap Food Street.
Later in the night, we may just relax at the lounge area of the hotel to enjoy some very wild and nude show (choice between drag and real females), strictly no photography.
Early in the morning, somewhere at 3.15am, we'll then hire a cab and have him drive us towards the direction of Hadyaii via Costal road, we'll stop somewhere in between (kampung) and there we can capture rural life. We'll then negotiate with a villager to allow us to stay over 1 night.
The next morning, we'll then take a public bus (if you're adventerous, you'll like it. I had a unique experience once, a gunman with SMG stopped the bus half-way and stormed the bus, and pulled two illegal aliens off) and head towards Hadyaii, we'll spend 1 night there, probably sampling birds nest and go for authentic nuat-thai massage.
Next morning, take a flight out to BKK and from there, make way to Hua Lum Pong train station and board a train heading either towards Vientien (Friendship Bridge) or Kanchanaburi (River Kwai), spend about a day there capturing some landscape and return to BKK next morning and catch the 430 or 645 flight back to SG.
Thats MY plan, any input or suggestions appreciate. Please do not invite female partner on this trip and strictly no female photographers too.
Tentative departure date is end Aug 03. (Flood wont start until mid Aug)