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.
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!
