Update on **13-15 April 2017**
“Hatyai smelled like history”
“Hatyai is my second home”
“Hatyai becomes my old places”
“Every corner and part of Hatyai has plenty of my memory as
I passed by”
That’s what I thought over and over again as I did the
immigration clearance in the Malaysia checkpoint. Because of these reason, I
didn’t plan much.
I confident enough to be the Hatyai tour guide for Naruto. It
beyond my expectation at the end. 2 days in Hatyai turned to the exciting and
memorable trip.
These memories were unique. It took my brain a lifetime to
forget. I fall in love with Hatyai all over again.
Here were several reasons:
1. Experience Songkran festival
google image
I actually visited Hatyai this time mainly due to Songkran
festival. Every time heard people talked about it and wanted to experience it.
I loved to see everything with my own eyes instead of others’ mouth and
newspaper or articles. So, I always glanced through the van windows to check Songkran
Festival celebration when the van passed by along the way headed to Hatyai.
9.40am passed Danok. Nothing
10.10am half way passed Hatyai. Nothing.
10.30am-small and young kids played the water guns with each
other. We then assumed Songkran festival was dominated by the young kids.
3.20pm-loud music everywhere and shot by waters. I screamed
and laughed.
3.40pm-ice water poured over my entire body. A guy then put white talc on my faces. The white talc smelled good.
At that moment, I knew that Songkran festival had been
started. Everyone happily joined this celebration regardless 8 or 80 years old.
Big smiles were clearly seen in their faces. Everyone became impolite in terms
of water shooting or ice water pouring (but within acceptable levels). They all
liked the innocent children, purely and absolutely enjoyed such joy at the moment.
Waters had washed away all their worries, unhappiness and tired souls. I
shocked to find that majority of Malaysians holding the colorful water guns and
involve this water assault. Malaysians and Thais together experience the
culture. It was such a great feeling. Everyone was your friends and the friend
lists multiplied.
The bad side of Songkran festival was water permeated my
every single thing. My camera, smartphone, passport, clothes all soaked wet. As
I realized Songkran didn’t care if you have good camera, Songkran didn’t care
you don’t want to get wet. Songkran didn’t care if you run and escape. No
matter how, you will get wet! A Malaysian old man who took the same lift with me
asked when he saw I generated huge water prints in the lift.
Old man: “you join the water shooting event?”
Me: “no, I was shot
by others”.
I had to say Songkran festival was special after I
experience it. I wouldn’t get this in Malaysia.
2. Old favorite & Other Thai foods
I missed Hatyai foods. It tasted similar my hometown’s
foods.
The first I revisited was Char Kuay Teow stall. I had blogged
it previously H.E.R.E. The same chef, friendly and helpful waiters, table
setting and cutleries not changed. Most importantly, Char Kuay Teow still as
good as it be. Kuay teow were broad, smooth and covered with high dose of “wok
hei”. Also, the juicy and tender porks enhanced the richness of the Char Kuay
Teow.
The second revisited was fresh bread stall. Though I hated
to eat breads while I away from university (breads always be my breakfast), I
wouldn’t have same feelings. The breads were fluffy as I remembered. The aromatic
kaya jam still won my heart. And I told the owner how delicious her breads were
and my revisit. She gave me a hug happily after that and hoped to see me again in
the future.
Banana chocolate pancake from floating market-30 Baht. Pretty crispy, crunchy and flavorful
Somtam of floating market-50 Baht. It was the green papaya salad of Thais. Tasted good-enough spiciness and sourness.
roadside pork porridge-50 Baht.
coconut ice cream-50 Baht
Mango summer of Swensen, 89 Baht
First meal in Hatyai. KFC cheese egg tart was highly recommended-so fragrance and crispy
3. Convenient transportation
From Danok to Hatyai-57 Baht. This red T-shirt lady coincidentally took the same van with us from Hatyai to Danok on the next few days.
This time I discovered the reasonable and cheapest transport
from Danok to Hatyai which was van that cost 57 bath per adult. The ticket
booth of the van located in the outside of 7 eleven (left side of the
shophouses from Sadao check point).
From Hatyai to Danok-57 Baht
Similarly, this type of van could be found in the Hatyai bus
station. Tut tut driver knew to send you over there if you told them you wanted
heading to Hatyai bus station. It was 57 bath per adult from Hatyai to Danok.
4. Largest shopping mall-Central Festival Mall
Paying visit to the Central
Festival Mall who claimed to be the largest shopping mall in Southern Thailand.
Throughout the mall, there were
many blue, white colors of balloons and wallpapers decorations which were the
symbol of Songkran festival 2017. They also liked us, used the decorations to usher
the festival.
Further, this mall had catered
specific floor for telecommunications, kids, entertainments and foods.
When
speaking about kids’ floor, cartoons like statues welcomed you to take photo
with them.
In terms of entertainment, I had
tried G.O.R.indoor laser tag. 15 minutes=150 baht per adult. I was bullied by Naruto
whom kept on shooting me. I unable to fight back too since I had awful shooting
skills.
At the end, I became the winner.
Perhaps the several shots when Naruto let me shoot her. No matter who was the
winner, it was quite fun to play gun shooting.
I realized Thais loved to eat
Japanese foods as many buffet style Japan restaurants could be found. Every
Japan restaurants seemed full house. Some Thais even waited at the outside of
the Japan restaurants.
There were pretty fresh salmons
in the supermarket of the mall, Tops Market. These salmons really had the
bright red colors.
Not only that, the signs of the
Buddhism were evidenced in the everywhere of the mall. Buddha statues, donation
boxes, waters, Thais slow down their steps for the quick prayers when shopping
in the mall.
I followed Thais too-praying in
front of Buddha statues, bathing the Buddha and giving the donations.
There’s a
saying:
“Buddhism
had become the essence of Thais’ life and culture”
It’s so true.
5. Massaging
I told Naruto we needed to try authentic Thai massage if came to Thailand. So here we went!
6. Pilgrimage Tours As A Buddhist
Hatyai had several well-known
giant Buddhist statues which I couldn’t visit in the previous times. This time
I purposely paid 500 Baht for 3 Buddha statues.
Four Faces Buddha at Hatyai Municipal Park
Tourists and Thais prayed over there. I saw some Malaysians purposely paid for the wishes that answered by the Four Faces Buddha by bringing gifts such as fruits and fire-crackers.
The third chair (from left) was donated by the Kuchingites
Out of my budget, thus I changed my mind for releasing the birds. The prices ranged from 100 Baht to 400 Baht.
"I want to touch all of them since it can bring the good luck"
Cannon ball tree in front of temple
Spreading holy water on the foot of the Buddha
Naruto: I was told by Master Hai Tao that walking around Buddhist pagoda has 7 times of merits
Me: Ok, let's walk together!
Naruto: (After several rounds), This is Buddha statues instead of Buddha Pagoda. Don't bother anymore, it should be ok.
#thingsnarutosays #naruto&meconversations
Kuan Yin statues- little similar with the Guan Yin in Sandakan. Guan Yin Sandakan faced the sea whereas Hatyai Guan Yin oversee the Hatyai and Songkla city
"It's the hot day, luckily I own sunglasses. It was fordable and convenient to keep"-shared by Naruto which was not the promoter of sunglasses.
"Must take 1 photo here. Hong Kong travel channel used to shoot here". Naruto said.
7. Dinner at 33rd floor of Sky Buffet Restaurant, Lee Garden Plaza and Hotel
169 Thai Baht per adult
Hatyai had many low buildings.
I'm the big fans of vegetables and fish maw soups
Overall, the service of sky buffet restaurant was acceptable. The waiters and waitresses quick in replenishing the foods, beverages and cutleries. Just the way I liked it.
Further, all the foods in here were Chinese foods-braised chicken feet and eggs, chicken herbal soup, mixed vegetables and fried chicken. If you're the Chinese food lovers, this place surely suitable for you.
However, this restaurant was noisy and crowded with tourists especially. I would suggest to come here early for dinner (e.g 5pm or 6pm) since it would be more visitors during late night.
Until then, thanks for reading!
