Arina Nazurah: Hatyai & Songkhla, Thailand

Assalamualaikum.

It has been long since the last time I updated this blog. This time, I would like to share about our trip to Hatyai & Songkhla for 3 days 2 nights. It was not a budget trip because it was just us two, Nizam & me. I prefer you to go in a group of 4 & above so that you can save more!

2nd & 3rd of November

We departed around 10.15 pm on Friday & reach the immigration the next day around 7.00 am. It took around 1 hour to pass through immigration because of the long queue. Luckily I slept well in the bus so I was not that tired but excited!

Oh ya, we took City Express bus from Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) to Hatyai. They prepared blankets on every seat. (I got a cute one!) We didn't even have to take van from Dannok after immigration as the bus took us straight to Hatyai. They also printed our departure forms so we just had to tick the right box & signed. Bring a pen but don't be like Nizam, he brought a pen but the ink was already empty zzz.

We arrived Hatyai around 9.00 am, our hotel was not so far from the office they took us to but as the check-in time was at 1.00 pm, we decided to just walked to Kim Yong Market.

For me, Kim Yong Market is more to wet foods. There are also snacks, chocolates & some souvenirs you can get there. You've got to be good at bargaining to get cheaper prices ya!

Then, we went to Salma Halal Restaurant not too far from there, because we were so hungry we need breakfast!

We ordered roti pisang (60 THB), murtabak ayam (I can't remember the price) & mineral water (10 THB each).

Even after eating I felt like the time there went so slow as it was only 11.00 am, we still couldn't check in our hotel yet.

So we decided to just walk to Lee Garden Plaza. It was better than doing nothing, right?

We didn't buy anything there. Just walked around, it's same as the other shopping complex too but you need to let your bags be scanned before you can finally enter the mall.

Then, finally we got to check in our hotel yeay! It was not too far from the shopping mall so we just walked there. Our hotel name was Silla House. We booked for 2 rooms which each costs THB 1,000 for 2 nights included breakfast. That was the best & cheap hotel I could find because most of the hotels there were fully booked.

I rate it 4/5, so comfortable though the rooms was quite small but everything was complete & the staffs were all friendly & helpful!

Oh ya, we also got to buy these popular milk at 7-Eleven before check-in.

THB 55 each.

We cleaned ourselves, prayed & got ourselves ready to go to Khlong Hae Floating Market!

It was quite far from our hotel so we took tuk tuk to get there but...as that was our first time & we didn't good at bargaining, we were charged for THB 700 (return - Asean Night Bazaar). We were like, oh my God...

Coconut ice cream. THB 30 each.

In the bowl was my brother's dumplings & the pau was mine, he asked, "Eee pau ni memang kena letak atas dumplings aku ke?" Well, all need to be in especially mine.

There were so many people there that I couldn't really see what was sold. Plus, I am quite short alolo. So I just followed my brother & kept on asking him, "What do they sell? How much? Can we ask for no vegetables?"

He was annoyed lol sorry Chibot.

Overall, this Floating Market was my most favourite! It has so many foods that were way cheaper than other places & of course, tasty!

Then at night, we went to Asean Night Bazaar.

THB 700.

Mango sticky rice. THB 50.

& this was what we've been looking for!

I was so cerewet that I kept telling the seller to make sure the design was accurate to what I've showed them. It ended up not that perfect but I was happy!

& tadaaa! My brother was so sibuk to have the same design as me! #sweetbrosis #siblingsgoal #lololol

The night was still young that time so we continued our journey by walking to Greenway Market that was not too far from there. Perhaps around 15 - 20 minutes?

They were just like uptown & the food station, you need to have a reload card that you can have it at the counter. We didn't buy anything here because we were already full & we weren't there for shopping, we just wanted to look around.

I just bought an earphones case for THB 20 hehe.

Then we walked back to our hotel which took 30 minutes walking!

But my brother said that I was too talkative & cheerful that he didn't feel tired of long walk.

Sedar sedar dah sampai pintu hotel haha!

End of day 1!

Day 2.

Early in the morning, my brother knocked my room. I got up in shocked & just realized that I was late for Subuh prayer! I grabbed my scarf real fast & opened the door. My brother looked at me with his -_- face & said, "Bangun, solat." & walked to the ironing board on the 2nd floor to iron his clothes. Heh.

To be short, we got ourselves ready, took our breakfast meals (served by hotel) & went to Municipality Park by GrabCar. He agreed to bring us to few places for THB 1,000 (if I'm not mistaken). We no longer want tuk tuk because of phobia of being cheated. It hurts you know but we decided to just laughed it off & be happy!

As we arrived, we finished our breakfast first &... went for photoshoot!

Indeed it took more than 42 shots to get this beautiful photo.

Ugh, my brother...

Then, we went to the Cable Car Hatyai City which located beside this Municipality Park. We arrived super early that it was not opened yet but better be early to skip long queue! The ticket costs THB 200 / person (return).

Up there is a temple with a lot of elephants! Including a big elephant with 3 heads.

My brother, "Aku sampai dah tak boleh beza mana gajah mana kau." Eei!

Then we went to Chang Puak Camp but we weren't doing anything there, just walked & looked around because it was too crowded & too hot I gave up.

Banana for the elephant.

After that, we went to Samila Beach which was a bit far from Chang Puak Camp. It took around half an hour to get there.

We bought coconut ice cream!

Kerabu maggi

Mango!

Honestly this beach has a lot of dogs I was quite uncomfortable but my brother was more afraid than me lol.

The Golden Mermaid

Then, we went to Tang Kuan Hill. We had 2 options whether to go up there by hiking of to just go by elevator. Of course we chose the elevator! 30 THB per person, return.

We were in rush, so we just took a quick walk around Tang Kuan Hill & right away went to our second last place of the day, The Central Mosque of Songkhla. This was the last place our driver took us before our deal ended.

We decided to eat burger at the lower ground floor & that was when a bad thing happened. I vomited for more than 5 times, not sure why. Even after performing prayer, I continued to vomit. I kept saying sorry to my brother that I felt so sick all of sudden.

We (desperately) took tuktuk to go to Khlong Hae Floating Market, I can say the only tuktuk left there (the place was so hard to find any public transportation), I was grateful. We looked for rice because I didn't take rice for lunch & my stomach was protesting.

We went back to hotel early because of my health condition sobsob.

Day 3.

This was the day where we had a really long walk, I think more than 15 km! Early in the morning, we walked to the Clock Tower.

Bought these at 7Eleven nearby. I love it!

Then we went to Hatyai Plaza Trade Centre which took around 10 minutes walk from Clock Tower.

I bought a box of Serda instant noodles & Nizam bought a box of Teapot condensed milk here as souvenirs for our family & friends. Then, we decided to go back to our hotel to check out. Unfortunately, it was raining but still, we insisted not to take any Grab Car or tuktuk so we just walked.

My brother was so worried that I walked freely without covering my head. I said I already have my scarf on. He said no, then he took the instant noodles box, we walked together while he protecting my head by using that box.

We teased each other during the long walk, he then hit my head with the box. Whut the fish.

To be short, after left the hotel, while waiting for the bus which was a few hours to go, we decided to go to 7-Eleven around Hatyai. Yes, around Hatyai, by walking. This was when we walked the longest! We walked for more than 7km. We even went to Lotus Tesco! Because of what?

Because of that Meiji Banana Milk. It was out of stock everywhere!

It was challenging and funny!

We finally got ourselves few bottles of them, then my brother said, "Kau bagi dekat orang yang betul bermakna bagi kau je tau. Susah payah nak dapat ni. Aku sampai dah tak nak tengok 7E lagi." I laughed.

The ones who got the milk from us better appreciate well haha!

After being so extremely tired, we reward ourselves with these!