I Fell In Love with Hatyai All Over Again

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

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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!