Hatyai Holiday By Car: 26th July - 28th July 2014

Its Hari Raya holiday and the exodus of the KLites from the city has begun.We left our house at 4.30am and as expected, were caught in a jam towards Ipoh. However, it was a smooth journey after this juncture and we reached the Sadao Thai immigration check-point late evening, making this road journey longer than the 

one that we traveled in Sri Lanka of 13hrs. Hooray, we have broken the record! 

For Malaysian cars to enter Thailand, you need to buy a car insurance policy which cost us RM14. Just bring along a photostat copy of the car registration will do.

Seriously speaking, it was fun traveling with my family members in our superb first class highway.

First visit after done with the Thai immigration: Water View Restaurant to fill our hungry stomachs. To go to this restaurant, you need to make a U-turn in front of the 7-Eleven junction immediately after the immigration check-point and then turn left after the Oscar hotel towards Soi 4. Soi means road in Thai.You will drive thru a small rubber plantation with some houses and there are signs to guide you there.

The uniqueness of this restaurant is that the foods are delivered by a motorboat and is located beside a big lake with a serene view of lush greenery.The foods are yummy and price is above average, meaning not very expensive and not cheap either.

The ubiquitous Thai cuisine: Tom Yam Gung

The dishes here are delicious and are prepared in authentic Thai style. Do try their curry prawn which comes in big size and taste yummy.

Its prayers time the next morning to pay homage at the Four Face Buddha temple which is located at the top part of the cable car station at Municipal Park and is not far from Kosit Hotel where we stayed.
Well, I guessed my wife prayed for the three most necessities in life: happiness, health and wealth.

The cable car distance from the Four Face Buddha temple at the top to the lower station  is a short distance. With the ticket price at RM20, we felt it is a bit expensive and decided to skip the ride. Anyway, one can view Hatyai city at the hill and visit the tall Standing Buddha and Laughing Buddha at the lower station.

We were here at this Samila beach 25 years ago.How time flies and today, we took the same picture with the same  posture and with the same mermaid. After so long, the mermaid still looks beautiful, just like my wife.

This dragon park is located not far from Samila beach.It is interesting to note that the dragon is divided into three parts and one needs to locate them. The body part can be easily seen along the road and the head is located facing the sea. With water shooting out from the mouth like a fountain, it is a nice sight to behold. We did not locate the tail part as we were rushing back to the city. By the way, there is a Kuan Yin temple at the top of the hill as you approach  Samila beach.

This Phra  Maha Chedi Tripob Trimongkol temple is an architectural marvel as it is completely make of stainless steel. It was an adventure by itself for us to locate this hill top temple which is not far from the city. It is definitely 

worth a visit.

The floating market in Hatyai is entirely different from the one in Bangkok. While the former one are just food sellers on a stationed sampan, the later one is bustling with marketing activities on rowing sampans.

Most, if not all of the food sellers are muslims and being Hari Raya day, not many are opened for business.

Conclusion: It was a fun and an enjoyable holiday. It would be much better if we plan for a three nights stay instead of two to make it possible for us to visit Crystal Island.

Hatyai is a safe and clean city and in these aspects,in my opinion,is better than KL. With GPS and a map, it is easy to navigate in the city.

Oh yes, please bring plenty of cash. Everything seems to be cheap, from  food, pots and pans to .......clothing! At RM8 for a nice quality shirt,I bought 10 pieces!!!