Hatyai Archives

In Featured By Taufulou 10 Mins Read

Songkran Water Festival @ Hatyai 2010

04/05/2010 8 Comments

*Remarks: this post will be more on like a camwhore post (do not scroll till your finger got numb)

For the first time in my life, I came to Thailand to celebrate their New Year which is known as Songkran Water Festival which falls on 13th – 15th of April. It is now one of the most happening festival in Thailand during that period for the year.As I understand Songkran is something similar like Chinese New Year that it was traditionally a time to visit and pay respects to elders, including family members, friends and neighbors. People celebrating Songkran may also go to a wat (Buddhist monastery) to pray and give food to monks. They may also cleanse Buddha images from household shrines as well as Buddha images at monasteries by gently pouring water mixed with a Thai fragrance (Thai: ????????) over them. It is believed that doing this will bring good luck and prosperity for the New Year. In many cities, such as Chiang Mai, the Buddha images from all of the city’s important monasteries are paraded through the streets so that people can toss water at them, ritually ‘bathing’ the images, as they pass by on ornately decorated floats. In northern Thailand, people may carry handfuls of sand to their neighborhood monastery in order to recompense the dirt that they have carried away on their feet during the rest of the year. The sand is then sculpted into stupa-shaped piles and decorated with colorful flags.Some people make New Year resolutions – to refrain from bad behavior, or to do good things. Songkran is a time for cleaning and renewal. Besides washing household Buddha images, many Thais also take this opportunity to give their home a thorough cleaning.

People in a tuk tuk getting soaked during Songkran in Chiang Mai

The use of chalk (Thai: ????????) is also very common having originated in the chalk used by monks to mark blessings.

The throwing of water originated as a way to pay respect to people, by capturing the water after it had been poured over the Buddhas for cleansing and then using this “blessed” water to give good fortune to elders and family by gently pouring it on the shoulder. Among young people the holiday evolved to include dousing strangers with water to relieve the heat, since April is the hottest month in Thailand (temperatures can rise to over 100°F or 40°C on some days). This has further evolved into water fights and splashing water over people riding in vehicles. (abstract from wikipedia)

The usual fight that we will equip ourself during this festival which is no stranger to our childhood memories are widely used ‘Water Gun’, besides this, you can use a pail, or any item that can store water to splash it on people/ passer-by.

Lets head back to my story, continue of my previous post that during the eve for the night. After had walk around and nothing much to shop, then we decided to join the party as our newly bought water guy had pass it to Karen and the rest, Kenji and Me went back to the hotel to gear ourself up!

This is our special op officer, Komando Kenji… warming up . . . . on the way back to our location, we were like half drench in water, as most people are at the road side with water and splashing every vehicle and human that pass them~

Can you imagine that kids were trained as young as 3 years old, he will be proffesional in a few years time~

At the scene with all gear up and wet. . . Before walking

When you on operation and Action…Kenji is under arrest for violating the place.

This kid is our newly recruited member for the night, to go againts one group of people that keep aiming at us as that group is quite big! Quite a cute kid~

the process of attacking back~

After whole night water fighting and only we realise that, that group were attacking us all night long also Malaysians.

After used too much energy and hand pumping on the guy, we were exhausted they have food hut around the area to fill in your stomach. Pretty interesting street food~

After the meal, we walked around the streets and saw this, 3 girls sitting on top and just pay 20bhat to get 5 balls, used it to aim and hit the poll to throw them into the water and my goowddd! the girl on the very left, she is head banging all the way non stop for like more than 15 minutes before we walk off and and she still continue. We were like, if it were us, were wont last more than 3 minutes and felt that our head will come out.

Then we walked to another end of the street and there is another stage there. One thing that we were impress is that every junction of the street there is the stage, therefore it covers the rectangular shape of the street that makes if 4 stages.

One of a famous Thailand group that when they came out, every one was screaming for them as for us we don know who is that also.

Then early next day, we woke up early and went to the street area again, Jonathan trying to be thrown down into the water and he said that the water stinks with pee smell. I guess yesterday night those drunkyards went there to pee after the place was close.

The festival start after 3pm and it was early morning that the ‘Fei Fu Dui’ (special op unit) are being deploy eveey where with full load of tut tut.

but then we decided to head for shopping for that day cuz there are many things that the rest wanted to buy. We were all wet when we reach the market, and walk till we were dry and wet all the way back to hotel.

As the night falls, we had become devil again and the street crowd is crazzyyyy.. Sardin Pack!

Tonight, we had decided to station at another base, which is directly infront of 7-11. For what reason, scroll down for more and we are ready to attack!The charm that we wear on our neck, based on their tradition is go help us cleans our body and make it like a brand new soul that to splash with water to usher a brand new year~

These 2 devils are the are the party crasher as they have never failed in their mission! Very professional that charge with a absolute cost.

this is the ‘Act Pig eat Tiger Look’

After first round of drinking, we walk further into Lee Garden there which had transform to a massive street party. With famous Thailand DJ spining R&B all night long and it was fantastic to estatic!

If you would want to kill yourself, this certainly would be a great place cuz no one will care.

Every one was dancing all night long and remember, to replanish water around this area, they charged is 30bhat for 1.5L as this is a hot area.!

We saw this ‘papan’ and stand below it. . . great things will happen as we saw this on the floor.

FOAM! Knee high tim!

Can you imagine with super smooth RnB music with all the latest hit with foam party infront of the stage??!!!

We were jumping around, shaking around. . .

Partying around…

Crazying around~

After much dancing and need to pee and to recharge with ‘Guai lou Leong cha’ we head back to our station.

Again, strike with this post and here the drinking session begins!This is the reason we are infront of 7-11, we need Beer energy and ‘Chang Beer’ was our choice (because the rest of the choice we all gone which left it no choice for us).

This is how we ended up~

Drink till you pengsan, hang over, mati mati on the floor is a trend~ Keni is like not on this earth anymore, that we need to spray on him to make him wake up. . . (actually his eyes caught the chalk and its very minty that need to spray with water to open his eyes) – the white power that every one use to put it on our face is to mark a blessing.

Kenji had not enough and keep on refilling and go again~

When the nights proceed with more alcohol…things just doesnt seems right.

Alright team! we have clear the area, lets head to new teritory with Kaptian Jon leading..

Rah-rah-ah-ah-ah!Roma-Roma-ma-ah!Ga-ga-ooh-la-la!

This is what happen when you are too excited over the event, veli high, sober or drunk. So please take care of your personal belongings!

We called it a night again, when most of us are already on 70% and went to eat at the same place, but this time we get to eat and watch ‘Muay Thai’ one of a martial art from Thailand.

Before heading back, we head to the same place that previously we went for the night as the bass here is geng! With the KaipTan Jon already high. . .

This is what happen when we are too excited. and seriously this is more heavy than carrying a buffalo. wkakakaka~

The next morning before we pack up and head back, we went for last round of water fighting during the day time. It was the official day of the water festival and its more fun than the night before.

The war is even greater, with whole street, every one that pass by will be totally drench from inside out.

Catch: equip your water with ICE WATER! it just makes you shiver and jump like a monkey or stand there stun for a few second, if you got splash with a bucket if freezing ice cold water.

This is one of the most happening street in Hatyai for this festival. Whole strech of the road filled with people and for cars purposely to pass by.

When you try to take a nice picture, you will never be at ease. . . you will be attack by many directions, so the picture can end up just like this instead of the normal kawaii post~

This is what happen! With no car passing by, they run out and attack motocycle. . .

If there are a car pass by with back load of people, this is how they got ambush!

Songkran never makes you feel old, even the mature generation are into it, by . . . . . .

Attttaccckkkkkk….. (to hire a truck to tour you around with a big pale of water cost RM400-RM500 per truck) our next choice next year!

A statue is there is for you to take a bottle of water to pour over it from top to bottom for blessing purpose~

Take a break with the police, and the police was not even got spare, who ever pass them, they will spray on the police also..

After the event, the car will be parade through to circle around the area . . .

One of the best New Year that I ever went and looking forward for more. . .

and this is what I mean, freaking cold water to be splash on you!

Signing off Songkran 2010 at Hatyai. . . Already start planing for 2011 water festival next destination! Astala Vista babeh~ See you guys at 2011. . . . .

Previous post on the trip:

Water View Restaurant

Road trip to Hatyai – Street food Hunting

In Featured By Taufulou 8 Mins Read

Road Trip to Hatyai – Street Food Hunting

26/04/2010 16 Comments

Continuation of my Road Trip to Hatyai , after overnight at Penang for a night for some leisure and food hunting, and next after at the boarder getting stamping and head to a very nice restaurant introduce by Karen and quite well know to a lot of Malaysians too which is a restaurant by the lake side (click here).

This is the kind of queue that you can expect at the boarder but we were there early and a day before, therefore it is not a hassel. Took us about 35mins to get through.

The whole gang sot sot, as early morning already went to the duty free area and hantam beer already as cannot deny that the beer is very cheap with a large can of Heineken for around RM7 if not mistaken and each of them already had 2 cans each.

After lunching, we drive up further north into the city of Songkla to check into our hotel. It took us about 35 minutes drive to reach. With no choice to choose from the list as this trip was a pretty last minute decision, the only hotel left that nearby the city was Hotel Daiichi and the rest in the city center are all fully booked as mostly a lot people from far and local came for this festival.

When we went into the room, I was so shock of the room condition as if the floor had not vacumm for the past 5 tenants as I can see nuts, and it is very dusty, with my barefoot step onto the carpet, this is the first time I feel gross. With charges of RM175 for this festive season, I would say we have no choice but to bare with it for these two nights. Only one phrase would never return back to this hotel again.

One of the most famous transportation in Hatyai or Thailand is this mini car, which they called it ‘Tut Tut’ with a charges of 20baht (= RM 2) per trip regarding on the distance within city area, it is one of the most convenience transport that they have as its everywhere and every corner.

We were exhausted from driving, as for the first thing to do when we reach in Hatyai is to do massage first. They offer one of the cheapest massage.

‘Siam Traditional Massage’ was one of the place introduce by Karen. If you compare the rates in Malaysia, your jaw will drop not only the time frame but with the RATES! RM24 for 2 hours, can you IMAGINE that… for the whole 2 hours for only RM24 as I could not believe it myself. In Malaysia it can be easily RM 80 – RM100.

While we are waiting this is what we do. . .

Madammm . . . and hanndsoommmeeee.. . . . .

If you do need any masseur we do have important with very good energy and inner power which is ‘Sui Mak Mak’ that you can choose from. All the local massuer are not available as they are fully book. We have Karencharak, Kenji Pom Pom, Lingnon and Bokrachak.

This was not the best massage that I have gone but no complain with the rates, would go to another parlor to try out. After the little nap and laughter during the massage, we are now fully charged and going to raid the city.

This is one of the main street that hosting this festival. If you feel you are too dry, then stop by.

Most of the stalls are selling water gun as I have not got mine yet. Still looking for better rates and bargain as what I heard from my friends, they can go as high as RM80 per gun during the actual day, as it was eve of the day, the guns still sell around RM30 for 1.5L tank.

Asking the rates but the gun colour and shape did not interest me. Till now, only me and Jon have not get the gun yet.

walked towards one of the famous landmark in Hatyai is Lee Garden Hotel which is the complete area with food, and shopping paradise.

behind me is all the street food and street shopping that you can get a t-shirt as cheap as RM5.

All of us were very hungry as it is around 4pm after the massage and hit on the streets as Hatyai there are a few street food you must not miss .. . . . .

which is big prawns selling for 100-200 baht depends on the size.

Young coconut. . 10 baht for one.

And three of them are on casting to host for upcoming makan makan channel that introducing what is nice as we going to shoot for fun ourselves. 3 of them pass!

what is next?

Street Shopping. . . .

Since when I was a kid that my parents brought me over to Hatyai for the very first time, I was so amaze with the air gun here and hoping with all my hear that I can actually own a few for my own collection and the price is very cheap, RM45 jus for one piece.

But one of the good thing is that sometimes preventing from people owning one would be a good cause for example case like this, one would be eating too much that cause him to suicide cuz cannot support the input of the other half.

This is the area where you need some drink and prepare used all your bargaining power to buy cheap stuff.

Next as this is one of the market nearby Lee garden which is about 10 minutes walk (about 3 blocks away)

In this area, it is more compact and easy for you to look for the food and stuff you wanted to buy but the alley is just ngam ngam 2 person walkway.

After everyone been happy shopping, and stomach started to play drum, we went for another street food hunting again next to the market and wanted to go for restaurant which is highly recommended by Jonathan( which I will blog later).

‘Fried Chicken’ @ 15 Baht

I don know what is this, but it looks like Taiwan sausages.

unique in taste but of course do not mind to try it out. 10 baht

Next is we head for the fried pork bacon. A pack of full small pastic size only15 baht. Bite till your jaw got numb.

One of the best street food that you must not ever miss is the ‘Mango Sticky Rice’ 20 baht per pack with one full mango inserted in it.

this stall has unique sticky rice and its very flavourful.

2 minutes walk from that stall we saw this kuih stall with so many people then we also stop by to look at it. My gawd!

So many variety of it and all also look tempting. Then we bought every thing one piece as the owner previously reluctant to sell us in that order as he sold a packet of 3 pieces in it. 10 baht per pack.

If you do eat ‘Chai Kuih and Bangkuang Kuih’ in KL or Malaysia, then this is the Thai Version.

They pan fried it till both side of the skin are cripsy and the season ingredient in it are pretty similar.

but it taste awesome that we regret did not buy more.

The street food above are along the road from Thanon Supasamrangsan till junction of Thanon Pracharak.

Map

The night version of the ‘Tut tut’ is very different. This one that we took is lighted with blue neon and one of their favorite song that would blast away is Vengaboys – Boom boom boom. . . if you still remember this song.

Went back to hotel to drop all our heavy load of shopping bags and round back to Lee Garden there to see how their night life is.

With the army team lead by fierce and not so human Karen to the war.

and without weapon we could not go for war and here finally I saw the gun that I like with white and blue colour.

Buy –> store –>> load with water and prepare to go war!

With this very nice guy he is selling us each gun for 250 bhat which is a good bargain so Jon bought one too.

the very yeng seller that constantly shoot by kids.

This is the eve of the water festival and every one is already at war! We went back to HQ (hotel room) to take the rest of the gun and declare war with these people. . . . !!!!!

Food in Hatyai is very cheap cost from 50-500 bhat! with our currency which is RM1 – 10 Bhat
How we go for war? look out for next post!

In Featured By Taufulou 9 Mins Read

Water View Restaurant at Danok

18/04/2010 12 Comments

Last week, me and my colleague were so excited on our very first trip up north, to be more excited is that, we are going on for a road trip start off from KL –> Ipoh –> Penang (stay over a night) –> Hatyai for Songkran water festival which is their New Year. After Immigration, our first eating stop is this famous Water View Restaurant at Danok which is famous among locals.

I will be skipping our makan trip in Malaysia and head to our Thai Boarder, we start off our journey early in the morning 7am during the first day and eat all the way up north till Penang. Then we continue our journey again early next day to the boarder to avoid long queue in the immigration area as a lot of Malaysian are entering for the festival, as there is once my colleague stranded there for about 3 hours just to get the passport stamped.

As we drive into Thai and I come accross some great info from Star Online that one of the guy went over, he sure do cover up the details to those who are driving up as below:

Just a guide for those who want to drive into Thailand. [1]Original or photostat copy of vehicle registration in the driver’s name is required for our Malaysian border Police checking and for the Thai Customs officer at their immigration checkpoint to issue an “Import/Export” permit for the vehicle. Those driving company vehicles have to obtain a letter of authorisation by the company to allow the driver [you the visitor] to use the vehicle. I do not recommend visitors to use company car because if there is an accident or car stolen, the reporting and recovery procedure is very complicatng and long – very messy.

If you intend to drive a lot fill up full tank at Changlun cos petrol in Thailand is much more expensive – I think at least RM3/- per litre. Buy a one-week insurance cover for RM19/- at any of the tour agencies in Changlun, at the same time pay RM1/- for your Thailand imigrattion card to be filled up. Never give a ride to strangers and never carry some luggage for them – especially when departing from Thailand.

As all our makan itinerary been planned by Karen as Thai is like her second home with her assistant Jonathan. The first stop for the early lunch was this famous place Water View Restaurant which is highly recommended by Karen and her friends, that locate right at the boarder. The journey driving in is with the feeling of, we got kidnap into thai and ready to be sold to some strangers as the road is small and through a small village back alley.

It just took about 10-15 minutes to reach this restaurant from the boarder.

When we reached, we hopped off our car and faster head to the restaurant as we were very hungry and hot as when we were toast at the border and just cant wait to get a glass of coconut or cold beer and this place is huge. It is like another small village out from the town.

Of course, new place in another country, will usually start off with some photoshoot and camwhore at the main entrance of Water View Restaurant.

Yen Ling and me posing Kau kau while the rest went to water the plant~

I think this is where all the restaurant people staying in by building their own homes. Interesting!

A glimpse of the village restaurant, that build up upon the lake.

When we walk to our sitting place, I got so fascinate by the place love how the decorate the place in a traditional concept, kampung style decoration, by using dry coconut leaves to build as the roof, low table for us to sit in and pillow to support us when we are lazy, one thing great about this place is we have a fantastic view by overlooking the lake and hills. We feel so relax even though it is very hot and as if we are in sauna but with a glass of beer just chill us off.

This is the kitchen area, one thing unique about this place how they serve the dish will be a few pictures below.

This shows how big is the restaurant and what I have been and what I have been told, if you do come during dinner or the night session, it would be even nicer as the whole restaurant is light up beautifully but will miss the scenery. I guess, we cannot take one stone kill two birds.

Dinner time, this place is usually very packed!

our nice scenery that overlook the lake and hills.

camwhore session is not to be miss.

If you are thinking of giving birth, it might be a good place too with natural surrounding in kampung style.

I just love this picture so much, with Yen Ling is like so jealous over the two of them.

Our mini two local tour guide in Thailand with Karen and his friend Francis.

Jeng Jeng jengg… here comes the menu and time to order food to filled our stomach.

I flipped through the menu a lot of times back and forth, and I got lost. The entire menus are in Thai language. Totally lost! That is why we tag along our local tour guide.

I just miss these bottle mineral drinks, as I used to come to Thailand with my family when I was a kid.

Usually we see waiter and waitresses serve us the meal but one thing unique about this place is they transport the food by using a boat as the kitchen is not attach with the meal area, which is located at another side of it.

Tadaaaaa. . . . . arrival of the first batch of food.

and let me introduce you second batch of food at Water View Restaurant

Naming dish in this post will be a little difficult as menu and receipt are in Thai language.

‘Kerabu Seafood’ which is one of the dish that will not miss when in Thailand. Filled with, prawns, shrimp, chicken feet skin, clamps, mussel, with some lime, sour and spicy gravy.

Next would be ‘Fried Fish in Tomyam Sauce’. The fish is very fresh as the meat is very soft that soak in the spicy tomyam soup and by just a few bite and sip we were drench in sweat and our mouth is on fire.

‘Fried Oyster’

We love our ‘Seafood Tomyam Soup’ and with the colour we could really tell it is spicy, sour and its sweet with the seafood taste.

The best dish of all ‘Crab in spicy sauce’, unique in taste as we get to eat slab of fried egg, not that really spicy but very aromatic with the sauce and egg taste. The crab meat is solid too, that is why this is one of the best dish.

This is how we enjoy our meal with Kenji start to burp fire out of his mouth and Jonathan enjoying is every bite of crab or would more like ‘sapu’ing’ everything on the table.

During half journey of our meal, most of our lips had become sausage as its flaming spicy and in hot enviroment that makes us drench in sweat, Yen Ling, being very hungry and just eat what is available and Karen start to burp our fire too.

‘Singha Lager Beer’ is something we do not miss on our meal too cool us down in such a hot weather. Love the taste of it, not that strong in alcohol taste that makes it just nice to go along with spicy food.

After heavy meal, we need to water the environment, what capture our attention too was the toilet. Well docorated with enviroment friendly concept.

Mini waterfall is usefull during your relief moment.

Big spacious room for you release to the nature.

The mens loo, that you get a great few while watering the enviroment.

See, how nice it is when you go pangsai with sun light above giving you some vitamin and mini waterfall sound with birds chirping makes it more smooth sailing. 🙂

Right now we just cannot wait to hop into our car. What we neeed is airrrr-coooonnnnnn…

This is our first time and would not be our last time, we will definately return if there is a chance. Water View Restaurant

The total damage in this place was around 1700Bhat which is equaivalent to RM170, with 3 bottles of beer it is not cheap yet nor very expensive but we had a satisfying, burning spicy lunch, would rate this place one of the best thai food at Hatyai boarder . .

Remarks: the food here are quite spicy and at night its packed with people.-= Ka Ching =-

Food Rating 8/10, Quite good~ Recommended~ -Stamped-

–Warning– This is based on my individual taste. Try it at your own risk-

Location:

Water View Restaurant
Do not have a specific address as it is located in the rubber tapping plantation area.

From what I do remember is, directly after the boarder, you look at your right, there are a few road entries, (calculate only the first junction entry to third junction, any of it can be accessible) find a junction which is less than 50m to make a U-turn to axcess into the small road.

Drive till the end till you see a very small T-juntion then turn right, just drive all the way straight through this small alley about 10-15 minutes and you will arrive at this restaurant which is on your LEFT which is very obvious (a straight road with plantation then suddenly you will see cars parking around a area)

Water View Restaurant

Tel: Thai Number – 081-7487410 or 087-1295708 or 084-8563292

Map is through my estimation and memory in google. Hope it helps.

View Water View Restaurant in a larger map

In Featured By Taufulou 1 Min Read

Road Trip up North to Songkran Water Festival @ Hatyai, Thailand

15/04/2010 No Comments

I have been MIA for a few days, and now I am back. I went up north for Thai New Year which is their water festival. One of a memorable trip that I have went with my siau colleague to go for battle.

Preview on battle field.

remark: those who are dry, will splash you with water and shoot you till wet.

will blog more on my trip soon~

Hatyai

Songkran Water Festival @ Hatyai 2010

Road Trip to Hatyai – Street Food Hunting

Water View Restaurant at Danok

Road Trip up North to Songkran Water Festival @ Hatyai, Thailand

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