246. SOUTHERN THAILAND

 

That narrow 'neck', the Isthmus of Kra, connects Peninsula Malaysia to Thailand...

This trip is to check out that neighbourhood. I flew into Hadyai, the largest city in Southern Thailand, its commercial, transport and tourist hub. It's become really bustling with more small businesses springing up. Their major tourists would be from across the border, the Malaysians, who take the trains across or drive.

I bussed across Songkhla province into Pattalung, the next province and right up into Nakhon Si Thammarat, covering 3 provinces in all. It's a rural, agricultural, fishing region, rustic in parts with mercifully little traffic nor highrise concrete buildings. The accommodations are resort style, by the water and quiet, we were the only group invading the grounds and we are a quiet bunch. To the Singaporeans' credit, they are not rowdy and are punctual, but than, it's an older demographic...more into eating and shopping!

Joined the local tourists at this golden mermaid beach icon, everybody waited patiently for their turn with this beauty...corny! But when in Rome....

Street art has hit their streets! This is the 1st offering, more to come I'm sure...welcome to the club!

The 2 local tour escorts who took us around, gave us their undivided attention...

The room verandah has a swing over a creek - one clumsy move and I'll end up in the drink...

On balmy evenings, it's lovely out...

Had a visitor...

I've long admired the artistry, creativity, craftsmanship of the Thais. Their attention to detail is lovingly carried out and the finished product is fine. It's painful to sink my fangs into such art...

Nail art

What's a visit to Thailand without a stop at a Buddhist temple - this ancient one started off as a stupa hundreds of years ago. Many parts were added to it until it became the largest in this region. 

This glitzy Buddha is a beauty, the stone inlay magnificent!

The pit stops along the way offered some good cakes and hot tea. I overdosed on the local milk tea which is similar to the Indian masala tea with a hint of spices. I detected cinnamon and cardamom, the deep orangey colour may come from turmeric (I hope). When in India, I will overdose on their masala tea!

Stopped for a coconut drink at this park. Those creatures are woven from a mix of twine, screwpine and possibly plastic but whatever, once again I love the artistry and ingenuity of their craftspeople. They can work on all materials - bronze, silver, wood, fabric - name it...

The Master puppeteer works on buffalo skin, punching holes that form intricate filigree designs that allow light to go through on the screen

Needless to say - the finished product is a work of art...

Needless to say, it's a dying art as younger people have little or no interest to learn and take over...

This was the same lament by the puppeteers in Myanmar and Rajasthan, India. Their puppets were marionettes...they were beautiful and it's not easy to manipulate the strings...

Shadow puppet demo by the puppet Master. He crafts the puppets on buffalo leather, performs and is their voice...

My fave part of this trip. A boat ride in Songkhla lake which took me to this sea of pink - a field of waterlilies! Glorious! The boatman cut me a bunch!

2 trips out in boats turned me a toasty brown...

Feel like an explorer with National Geographic!

Pattulung has these cantilever fishing nets which were not seen in the other provinces that I covered. Apparently Chinese in origin, I've yet to see them in China but are a common sight in a part of Kerala and Sri Lanka.

Looks like installation art at dusk...beautiful.

Perched on a hill, this all-white Buddha is like a lighthouse

In my resort gear...dressed for an evening out at this cafe perched above the greenish blue waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Sipping coffee or tea or something cold is how older Singaporeans consider an 'evening out'. 

Boozing is not in our culture, absolutely no one drinks, not even the men nor the younger ones among us - smokers, often times just one male or none at all. If any female drinks I might be the only one! A gin tonic is refreshing! A beer in China during our meals is better than Coke, their local brew has a low alcohol content, is a nice change from Chinese tea! And in Japan, a warm sake is calming...and here I am, waiting for a cappuccino with a trusty water bottle by my side...

The long and winding road, I covered a lot of ground, from Hadyai and back there for the return flight...

As a travel destination, Thailand is diverse with some savvy tourism people who continuously refresh their offerings - I'll be back I'm sure to - somewhere...

I still can't figure this folklore rooster out so will treat him as a nice piece of art with fine workmanship...I do believe there's something spiritual about him or he wouldn't have a year dedicated to the Rooster in the lunar calendar...

Roosters galore! Spot the real McCoy!

Last word

Pics came from Alec, Kit, several fellow travellers. Travel arrangements by Jimmy Ooi, ISE Travels...