We have decided to write a blog about our trip to Hatyai so that we could actually really assist those that are really interested to have a great vacation at Hatyai. We have done many researches regarding Hatyai before we went there so that we know what to do, where to go and what to eat and also most importantly the cost of it all. However, there were no latest updates on what to go and etc.
So, we hope this blog help all the good souls out there. ;) I have written the dates here clearly so that you guys know when was this trip and is it still referable to.
Dear readers, it is highly encouraged for you kind people to have your vacation in Hatyai during the weekends because that is where all the "happenings" take place. Also, we would advised you all to change your thai baht there and not in Malaysia. You could change a bit here and most of it there. We changed in Malaysia at the rate of 10.70. We changed RM535 to thai baht amounting to 5000 thai baht. (which was really costly, so, not advisable) You may changed a certain amount for your transportation from the airport to your hotel. (ours was Tune hotel, but later on this)
Ok..that was quite a long advise. But hopely it does help you guys out.
So, let me (finally) begin our first day at Hatyai. (11/5/2013)-Saturday
We went there by Airasia and the journey was 1hour 15minutes. We actually wanted to take the train to Hatyai which is by KTMB that leaves at approx 9.30 pm Friday at KL Sentral. So that when we arrive in Hatyai it is super early in the morning. It is also to save costs and to experience something new. It is highly recommended from reviews as we are able to see the beautiful Hatyai green scenery. The cost by train from KL sentral to Hatyai was RM56/61 (depends upper or lower deck) But because of certain unavoidable reasons, we had no choice but to fly there. (which was costly, but worth it.) So, we arrived at Hatyai International airport at 12pm thai time. Then we took a cab to Tune hotel. Dear readers, once you reach the airport, there will be a few man ushering you to the counter on your right upon exit after taking your luggage to buy their cab ticket at a very high price. They will also tell you that they are the only people providing cab services. Bear in mind that outside the airport, there are many more cheaper cab for you. Well, as for us, we were tricked. So, the damage was 350 thai baht (after bargaining) to Tune hotel which was around 20 minutes journey. When we arrived at Tune hotel, it was only 12.30pm thai time, so we decided to have the early check in with an extra payment of 120 thai baht (RM12 approx, so what the hell). You cannot check in before 2pm. It is better to have an early check in rather than placing our 2 luggage bags at their storage for 40 baht per luggage. We were able to change and relax before we head out with a map provided by the hotel to scout for food! We were starving.
Well, if you are staying at Tune hotel like us, we recommend you to talk to Mr.Tanon (a guy sitting at the corner by himself at the hotel lobby) because he is a very helpful man. He also provide cab services if you are interested but the best about him is he would tell you where to eat and what to do. (No commission). Truly am blessed to have met him.
(We only talked to him a day before we were going home, so it was rather too late for us. Lol)
Ok, continue with the food scout. We walked and walked and came upon a chinese lady that speaks Hokkien that sells char kueh teow for 40baht a plate. It was not bad. Her small stall is in front of Honda building. (practically, many of them speak hokkien and mandarin there)
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| Char Kuew Teow @ 40 Thai Baht in front of Honda |
After that we 7 eleven thailand fans went to 7 eleven to buy the necessities like water, milk (my GF's favourite was Meiji low fat milk), Lays and some sweets. (We just love 7 eleven at thailand, amazing!, there are 2 near town)
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| one of the 7-11 in Hatyai |
Then we walked around town, passing central plaze, kim yong market, Odean Store, Santisuk market and Lee Garden Plaza area. We didnt buy anything on that day because it looks ordinary, as in Malaysia has it too. So, we went in the central plaza where its a shopping mall that sells branded things. My girlfriend is a huge fan of Sabina/Sebina bra. They only sell it in Thailand if im not mistaken. So, after getting the bras, we walked around Starbucks area and there are so many tuk tuk around. They will promote you certain tourists attractions such as Klonng Hae floating market, Wat Hat Yai, Ice dome, Municipal park and elephant rides. Bear in mind to do some research before going to Hatyai on the tourists area so that you are not conned.
So, we went to Klong Hae floating market because the reviews says its not a bad place to go, many things to buy and see and also the famous clay and bamboo drinks. It starts at 3pm to 9pm Friday to Sunday only. The drinks are served in your selected clay (there is hello kitty, ultraman, and etc) and also bamboo container. Its special and only costs 20baht for one. We brought back the clay mug (hello kitty) as a souvenier. The tuk tuk charged us 400 baht to and fro. Others charge 500 baht. They will wait for you while you shop at the floating market. So, no worries. The journey from town to Klong Hae was approx 20 minutes. We ate the yellow rice with 4 pieces of fried chicken for 40 baht which was super cheap but not so nice. There are many shops there for you to shop and eat and drink. We also bought 6 pairs of earrings for 100 baht. And also, the famous bug store is there too. If you dont know, there is this shop selling crickets and other bugs and worms to eat. So, we spent approx One and a half hours there and we head back to out hotel. We also booked this lady to take us to municipal park and elephant rides for 500baht to and fro. You can also request to go to other places along the way for that price.
Earrings, 6 for 100 baht
At night, we were so game on for Tomyum. So we walked upon this small stall that sells a bowl of seafood tomyum for one person for 80 baht which was quite expensive as our expectation was cheap food and cheap things there. But it was the most spicy and one of the nicest local tom yum there. Tomyum and a plate of rice was 90 thai baht. After dinner, we walked around town for a while before heading for oil massage for one hour that costs 350 baht a person, which was not bad. (it is advisable not to eat before massage).
Well then , after the massage we head back to our hotel and sleep. Shops at hatyai closes really early. 8.30 to 9pm is their closing time, so better shop and walk before that time people, or else its like walking in ghost town. Unless around this time, you head for massage!
Day 2 in Hatyai: 12/5/2013 Sunday
We left the hotel at 9am thai time with our tuk tuk lady waiting for us at the lobby. Remember we booked this tuk tuk lady (Chang) to take us to municipal park to and fro and along the way to elephant sanctuary for 500 baht. (2 persons). We also made a deal for her to take us for breakfast at this very famous dim sum shop opened by a friendly chinese couple. The shop was recommended by reviews, called Chok Dee dim sum. You could try it. Quite nice. You could ask a tuk tuk to take you there for only 20 baht a person. They not only sell cheap dim sum but bak kut teh as well. There are many locals there. One dim sum is only 20 baht while the bak kut teh is 80 baht.
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| Pork ribs- not bad |
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| This is the amount of people waiting to be seated |
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| Some of the dim sum sold there. |
This dim sum is special because they are quite small in size and cute, not forgetting because they have vegetables like broccoli. Go ahead and ask the lady owner anything, and they speak mandarin. Please be early if you want to eat there. Full of people.
After breakfast, we head for the municipal park which is uphill and located approx 25 to 30 minutes drive from Chok Dee Dim Sum. (After talking to MR. Tanon we found out, it is not safe and not advisable to take a tuk tuk uphill as there are cases where the tuk tuk overturn. So,take a cab next time,and worth going)
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| the whole of hatyai can be seen |
From here, we took cable car to a higher level. The cons is, they charge very high for the cable car which is 200 baht a person (two way ticket).
We then took the cable car back. From there we move on the chang puak camp. There is elephant riding, cart racing and also arrow shooting. We only took the elephant ride which was 1000 baht for two person for half an hour (rather expensive, but since we are there and we have not ride an elephant before, so, lets go!) . Before we have actually decide and hesitate whether to take the ride, the tuk tuk lady, Chang did convince us to take the elephant ride (as she would probably get some commission out of that) so if you think is expensive, better not to go, as if you were there you have nothing to do, there ain't any elephant show for you.
The elephant's trainer will bring you around the camp for half an hour's ride. (it was very sunny on that particular day,but fun!)
During the ride, before it ends, the trainer /owner of the elephant will insist that you buy a souvenir from them to feed the elephants. Either a ring,a pendant and etc. We took two rings for 500 baht (that was after bargaining, or else it is ridiculously more expensive). Initially he offered us, 650 baht for a ring. The ring that we bought was from the elephant tail's hair,for good luck they say. After the ride, they will serve you fruits and pictures of you on the elephant which was taken during the ride. It is framed and cost 120 baht. We did not purchase any of it. The picture above was from our own camera taken by the trainer.
After that, which was about 1.00 pm thai time, we have already done everything. The tuk tuk people will psycho and insist that you visit their ICE DOME, which is a waste of time for us (we have ice city as well in M'sia). So, we rejected it after so many times. They then sent us to the market (Pasar) which was already near town. We bought a lot of things from here. It is rather cheap. But not the food. Especially the food here is very expensive and not nice. One bowl of chicken rice cost 60 baht and a dry kuew teow cost 5 baht. The portion of the kuew teow were rather small and the chicken rice taste like vinegar.
The elephant's trainer will bring you around the camp for half an hour's ride. (it was very sunny on that particular day,but fun!)
After that, which was about 1.00 pm thai time, we have already done everything. The tuk tuk people will psycho and insist that you visit their ICE DOME, which is a waste of time for us (we have ice city as well in M'sia). So, we rejected it after so many times. They then sent us to the market (Pasar) which was already near town. We bought a lot of things from here. It is rather cheap. But not the food. Especially the food here is very expensive and not nice. One bowl of chicken rice cost 60 baht and a dry kuew teow cost 5 baht. The portion of the kuew teow were rather small and the chicken rice taste like vinegar.
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These are some of the things we bought at the "pasar"
After our massage is around 4pm, we stayed in the room and chilled. Around 6.30-7.00 pm thai time, we walked to the usual hot spot, near Lee Garden Plaza and Odean to search for some nice food and money changer as well. We actually change our thai bhat at a money changer which is located inside a Chinese restaurant (the exchange rate wasn't really good, we actually found a better one later). For your info we change RM100 for 950 Thai Bhat which mean the loss was RM5. And later we found a money exhchange selling thai bhat at the rate of RM150 for 1490 thai bhat which the damage is near to zero because exchange rate at that point of time was somewhere around RM1= 9.99 Thai Bhat (based on yahoo finance). Great thing is, we actually asked the money changer where can we actually find nice tomyam and he point to us (this restaurant). So we asked how much it cost, he told us, we are able to see the price in the menu itself so we give a try. Then we found out that there is only name and picture of foods but there ain't any prices stated. We knew that we are going to get slaughter at that moment. We ordered "kai lan" with salty fish and a tomyam (small). It costs us 400 bhat for a vege, small tomyam (for 2 person), 1 suger cane juice and 2 bowl rice. The breakdown was : tomyam : 160 bhat, rice 30 bhat each, kai lan 150 bhat, sugercane 30 bhat. It is very pricely (much expensive compare to M'sia). So we learnt a lesson here and we do not want the others to be victimized. Oh ya, the tomyam is more to milky type with bit sourish and not spicy. Kai Lan taste normal I would say. Free flow for rice. 
"Kai Lan" with salty fish
Tom Yam
Expensive one (money changer in the restaurant)
Recommended money changer
Green Tea Drumstick (guess is not available in M'sia)
Day 3 in Hat Yai - 13/06/2013 - Monday
(I have left this post discontinued after quite some time after my last update, therefore I couldn't really recall and write down in details what happen after the 2nd day). Hence, I will just keep it short and highlight on those important stuff to share.
On the 3rd day, nothing much as we have already went to most of the tourist attraction places. So we went to pasar again, walk around and buy some clothes for ourselves and souvenirs for our families.
An important part that I would want to share is the best shop to have Thai local foods. The name of the restaurant is "gan eng" if not mistaken ( Recommended by a friend of us - who we just met in tune hotels, a uncle who stays at the tourist company booth in tune hotel who speaks hokkien - Sadly I have forgotten his name by now). The shop is located in-front of a temple. From tune hotel itself, we took tuk tuk and as usual it cost 20bhat per person no matter where you want to go in town.  Just took a fast snap before I left the shop when I am in the tuk tuk, therefore the photo is not taken directly infront of the shop. Hope this helps.  And this is the temple that you probably pass by before reaching "gan eng" - sorry for the very bad picture quality due to this photo was taken when I am in the tuk tuk.  
not that spicy Tomyam soup - sourish taste
Morning glory with ikan masin
 For three dishes with unlimited rice and one bottle of sugar cane, it only cost me like 200-300 bhat. Not more than that. I can guarantee is much more cheaper than what we had at the shop near Lee Garden that slaughters foreigners. The following nights in HatYai, we just hang around in the shopping mall like Odean and walk around Lee Garden looking at the roadside stall - sadly said that not much choice for our dinner and our money gonna be used up soon at that moment. In addition, no food that is our liking and is not cheap though. We had ala carte samurai pork burger for our supper together with Mcd (ice blended teh with black pearl) taste kinda weird. Burger alone is not cheap though (it cost more than 5 bhat lesser than 10 bhat ), McD is like a luxury food in Thailand, no lunch and dinner set as in what we have in Malaysia, normal price all day long and is slightly expensive compare to McDonald Malaysia. Besides that, we do not have Mcd Cafe in Malaysia at that point of time, so this drink is not available in Malaysia.  Below are some pictures taken in the shopping mall - things aren't cheap    In conclusion, to end up this post, again and again I would advise you not spend your holiday in HatYai during weekdays, as there is nothing much, the happening time is only Friday night till Saturday night, beyond that HatYai is just like a dead town. Every shop start closing at Thai Time 9 p.m. nothing much you can do and road side stalls aren't as many as in the peak days (amount of tourist also much much lesser as they come on Friday and going back on Sunday morning). We went back Malaysia with KTM. From tune hotels to the train station, is just walking distance - if you do not have heavy bags and luggage you could just walk there. Last tip, be very careful if you are taking KTM back to Malaysia due to the time zone difference of an hour, the train departing time sounds very confusing. We have experienced it! The staff at Thailand train station told us that the train departs at 4pm thai time but in fact is 3pm thai time, luckily and thank god we did not miss the train! Maybe there is announcement made but we just couldn't understand. Train departs at around 3pm thai time and reach Malaysia KL sentral around 6am-7am. As usual, reaching malaysia border, we have to get everything down from the train and have it checked by the kastam and go up to train again to continue the journey. Overall experience in KTM was 3/5. Cleanliness in the train were pretty good but we are unlucky that we have air conditional issue, so we suffered for quite some time.       The End |
