This posting relates on our visit to Songkla and again at Hatyai before we headed to our next destination, kuala Selangor.
We thought of spending the second day to explore Hatyai but then we decided to go to Songkla for a day trip. We chartered a tuk tuk for 1100 baht for the whole day inclusive of petrol and driver. So our own driver can relax and enjoy.
The tuk tuk driver, Haji Sulaiman, a Thai muslim first brought us to a Hill where we can see Songkla fishing village from the top of the hill (sorry forgot what the name). We paid 100 bath to go to the top of the hill via a slant lift (like those at Penang Hill). There is a buddist stupa on top of the hill. Its a marvelous view from up there. We spent about 30 mins and went down. From there we headed to Songkla beach. Its a public holiday in Songkla that day, so we saw a lot of family picnic at the beach. Most of them are Muslim cause the women can be seen adorn with their tudung and the men with their kopiah. (a headgears wear by women and the latter men).
At the beach, there are two prominent monument. One is a mermaid and another is a cat, dog and mice. There is a legend incripted near the animals monument. As for the mermaid, no specific story was posted near the it. Songkla is known to have good seafood. At this beach, we had our lunch. These were what we ate.
And there was kerabu mangga that I forgot to take. Beside we ordered 4 coconut, 3 coke and 2 big bottle of mineral water. All this for 7 people eating. Guess what! it's only cost us S$100.00. Haji Sulaiman must have enjoyed so much. He had 3 plate serving of rice. The food was very palatable. Our niece was so happy to eat osyter. We actually ordered only 2 piece of the oyster for her thinking it will be very expensive. To our surprise, it only cost 35Baht per oyster.
We headed to Hatyai after that. There was a road block on the way back to Hatyai. We thought that something had happened, rioting or what, but actually, its the KING. All motorised vehichle were asked to stop and diverted to side road. Engine should be off too. No passenger can be inside the vehicle. So we had to stand in the sun, while waiting for the King to pass by. It takes about 1 hours 20 mins just to wait for the King and his entourage passed that road. We we realived to be let off and proceed with our journey. After about 1 hour just before reaching Hatyai, again we we stopped by the traffic police and was asked to divert our tuk tuk to the inner side road. Alas! the King passed by again to go to the airport. Since we are in the country, we have to respect their culture. We notice that when the Kings entourage car passed by, all Thais look down or bow their head low. How respectful they are; infact the cars passed so fast that I dont think anyone in the entourage would notice if they do not bow nor low down. Anyway, there were a lot of policemen around. And that speak for the doing of the Thais.
Once we reached Hatyai, we headed to the market to shop, shop and shop. Tshirt, blouses, jeans, sportware dan dried goods like anchovies and shrimp were very cheap compare to back home. The weather was extremely hot. We bought what we think we want to buy and headed back to the hotel. Since it still early for dinner and we were still full, we decided to go for a swim. The novetel hotel swimming pool is at the roof top. We swam for about 45 mins followed by sauna. Wah! felt so good and now we felt hungry again. Aiyah, what to do when you are on holiday. Eat, Shop, Sleep, Eat, Shop Sleep.
Since it is still quite early for dinner, we gerls went for reflexology. Its was good. Later our brother joined us too. Then we roamed around the night market again, but just to look see look see. Then we had dinner again at Hamid's. After dinner, there were some pushcart just arrived. Oh! then we saw the yu char kueh stall that our nephew told us to try. Since we we quite full we only order one plate of the yu char kueh. Thai people have sweet tooth. They eat the yu char kueh with kaya. We ordered teh tarik to go with it. Our brothers ordered lengchee kang. Semangat, padahal dah kenyang.
This char kueh was so delicious that we finished them in no time. We ordered a second serving and laughed hard at ourselves for being such a glutton. Too full, and everyone was feeling sleepy head now. But we still walk around to make sure that the food we ate digest properly. We enjoyed hatyai so much, the food, the cheap swensen icecream and the shopping. We decided to extend our stayed at hatyai cause our nieces and their father complained that they had not shop enough. Wah! where got thai baht anymore left about 300 only for me. Aiyoh, dielah. Then Noy decided to withdraw some money so we manage to breathe shopping again.
Our third day in Hatyai was spent with late breakfast, no lunch and shop shop shop again. We went for massage again. Had dinner at the same place too. Packed some of our things and put in the car bonnet so it wont be so embarrasing during the check out next morning. Just 3 days in Southern Thailand, our bonnet already fulled. This does not include our luggage bag and some items that were still inside the hotel room. When we checkout out, our car was fully occupied. The rear sit was filled up by the things we shopped too. We really had a great time. There is no problem existing from Southern Thailand. We then headed for Kuala Selangor to homestay at someone Cow Farm.
