Hat Yai is located in Southern Thailand. A city meddling with ancient temples and culture. It's the nearest you can get from Malaysian border that's why we chose to stay there before going to Krabi. Our simplest way to escaping 12 hours of sitting inside a van.
The wonderful Bak Kut Teh of Hat Yai
We started our trip at 8:00 AM. Aloha hotel endorsed us to one of their Department of Tourism guide Kik. For 1400 Baht, he toured us around Hat Yai's famous tourist attractions.
We first had our breakfast somewhere nearby (didn't get the name of the restaurant) that offers dimsum and Bak Kut Teh. Oh, I should mention that Bak Kut Teh, is so far the best soup I've tasted since I went out of the Philippines. Everyone must include this to their itinerary when visiting Hat Yai.
Check out the video below:
It's really sad that I wasn't able to get the name of the restaurant. They're staff are very accommodating, although they're having issues communicating, the service is still commendable.
Basta it's somewhere sa street na ito. Hahaha!
One of world's largest reclining Buddha
At 9:30 AM we visited Wat Hat Yai Nai. It houses a 35 meter tall reclining buddha. It would be good really if our tour guide is explaining atleast the relevance of the places we're going through. I think that's what Hat Yai department of tourism is lacking.
We stayed in the temple for like 45 minutes taking photos, watching people pray, observing stray dogs and yeah me starring at that reclining Buddha trying to question him inside my head why pose like that?
Please never ride the elephants
We arrived at Chang Puak Camp 11:30 AM. It's like a huge park for riding elephants which is unbearable for me to see.
They have different price range for various activities they offer. Signage looks colorful and attractive but behind all that are elephant slaves - forced while they were young to obey their masters so they can have their tummy full.
Just imagine how it feels to be a child molested for entertainment purposes?
The moment you enter the park you'll see this young elephant chained trying to entertain guests with a little trick it does. Everyone was so entertained, but not me.
Instantly we left the place and advised the tour guide that we condemn this kind of treatment to animals.
The hard talk
Everyone traveling to Southern Thailand must atleast know the basics of their language. We've lots of miscommunication with our tour guide ever since we've started the trip. He thought we're staying in the trip until dawn. He wasn't able to inform us that floating market will open at 2:30pm. We did informed him that we need to head back at the hotel by 2 so we can catch our ride to Krabi, but he doesn't seem to understand. We still went to Floating Market even though it is not yet operational. Hahahha!
Obviously, we've seen nothing but empty boats.
The Flower Garden turned Standing Buddha Temple trip
Their cable car is not working. Therefore, there is no way we can see the great standng buddha because our tour guide is charging us additional 700 Baht. Yes another fee just to go up in the mountain when the temple entrance is free. Buti na lang madiskarte kami and it seems that luck is in big favor with us. We decided to just go to the flower garden which also have another entrance fee. Nagpicture taking lang kami sa labas when suddenly, we saw this signage about a ride going to the temple for 20 Baht. We confirmed with some locals if its a ride to the standing buddha temple and they said yes so we went to the top.
Standing 80+ feet tall, this is indeed a one large golden statue.
Below the giant statue, lies a temple that houses, I am not sure, wax figures of their famous monks in a sitting position.
What also delighted me is the picturesque view of Hat Yai from above. It's refreshing to be just up there - makes it all worthwhile.
#JOTG
OUR NEXT TRIP!!!
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