Life, as we know it: Songkran Festival @ Hatyai Thailand 2013 (Part 1)

Sawadeekap from Thailand!

After some decisions being thrown about, Hatyai it was for our (with my family) mini trip during my one week holidays. I don't really get many holidays though, so I was thinking of making this worth while. Well, it isn't just going to be a normal kind of trip, it was a trip to Hatyai of purpose, which I would say, to experience the annual Songkran Festival in Hatyai. Songkran Festival are the Thai's new year, in which yes, you do go around wishing them Happy Songkran.

Songkran Festival

A chartered van and a few things packed, we soon got on a 2 hour journey from Alor Star right down to the boarder of Thailand, and straight right into Hatyai City. Being a northern Malaysian state, we residents of Kedah, Perlis and Kelantan enjoy the priority of having to use only boarder-passes instead of passports, in which serves to cut down many tedious procedures upon entering the 'King's Land' as they would call it.

Immigration checkpoint

Thai currency, Baht

Hustling through the streets of Hatyai, our eyes were locked-on the unconstrained, unsystematicly busy traffic. At each moment you would feel an accident is about to happen, with cars and motorbikes changing lanes almost instantly, forcing their way through the clogged traffic. Streets were narrow and congested up to a breaking point. If you think Penang being bad, imagine this of a worst case scenario. A change of view above, one could observe a nestled-spider-web-like electric cable interchanges. For us it may be shocking, but for the locals, it's as normal as it gets. Somehow at one point, I'm glad to be in Malaysia then.

My dad actually went there to pray for luck, Huat arh!

Crazy cables!

It was evening by the time we arrived at Hatyai City area, hence we decided to make our first pit-stop of the trip. Our driver and tour guide took us to a well-known Thai restaurant, known as Saban-nga Restaurant. Here, we were treated to a wide range of Thailand delicacies. Of any Thai food that you've heard before, you could get it almost all right here. Pictures speak more than words, and I'll let them do the talking here.

Famous Thai restaurant, Saban-nga

Great Thai dinning ambience!

King's of Thailand

A bar outside the restaurant

Thai mango slice fried fish

Thai fried pork trotter

Thai ulam

Sauces for taste

Tom Yam Kung

Pork-filled veggi

Special purple steamed rice (the dye is from flower petals I heard)

Must-try Thailand Green Curry

Mango cubes fried fish

A check on the schedule saw us heading towards Yong Dee hotel to check ourselves in. It was a decent hotel then, complete with everything you need. Just a tip, that the plugs there (as in every country) are different, so do brace yourselves on charging your electrical devices then. A quick bath and we were soon all ready and set for our next destination ~~ Greenway Market.

Yong Dee Hotel

Comfy!

A coffee bar at the hotel

Well, from Yong Dee hotel (or any hotel at Hatyai City area) to Greenway Market will only take less than 15 minutes. So I would suggest, ~~not to walk there of course~~, to take the all-round famous Thailand transport, the tuk-tuk to travel there. It costs only 20 baht per person and it's really refreshing to get a change of transportation. Greenway Market is famous for it's wide range of products sold at bargain prices. From dandy pants to portraits and pictures, you can find it all right there. A tip here is to bargain your prices, get the lowest price as possible there.

A whole lot of goodies for sale!

A scene of Greenway Market

Bargain for better prices!

All that aside, I would really regret if I had not paid a trip there. Mind you, not because of those fancy women clothing on display, or those eye-catching cigarette lighters in array, but because of the amazing tastes of Thai delicacies it has to offer at the food court!!! I'll just never stop being a food lover.. :)

An art in many ways!

Boosting creativity!

Yes, it does bring excitement to one's taste-buds, being able to taste so many foods in just one place at reasonable prices, it really is a heaven for food carvers! Be sure to pay a visit here, it will be worth your while.

Thailand LengCheeKang, must-try, lots of tasty ingredients!

Grilled garlic pepper pork slices!

Thailand famous mango durian rice pudding

Som-tam!

Soon after, we took the tuk-tuk back to Hatyai City center, only to be bombarded with blasts of water from water guns aimed at us. One hint, is that you'll be sitting ducks on a tuk-tuk during this festival, so look out for these attacking maestros who will show no mercy! You could get the water-guns there at a price you'll need to watch out for. For 1500 models, you could get as low as 240 baht, while the 5000 models costs merely 500 baht. Beware of swindlers who overcharge visiting tourists. Cheaper prices could be attained at a flea market, explained in Part 2 then.

Tuk-Tuk

Water-gun fight!!!!

From then on, it was rocking to the rhythm till midnight. People were dancing to the beat, pumping out to the base. It was an awesome scene and it lasted throughout the night, with DJ's planting high spirits in each and everyone of them there.

DJ's rocking the event!

An appreciated crowd!

This festival is awesome, where in my opinion, touching a girl or guy with powder (purchased at the spot for 40baht) is of no matter. In fact they willingly let you do so, but remember to wish them Happy Songkran, not for the sake of just touching. (Touching in which I meant their faces and hands ONLY! Treat them with respect and usually we go for the opposite sexes. And yes, I made sure they are REALLY GIRLS! If you know what I mean).

Partying till midnight!

It's a wet night in Hatyai

Plan to get tattoo's here? I swear I almost went in there, :)

Hotel and massage parlor

Weapons for sale!

A plus point, I admit Thai girls are really pretty, somehow I felt. Don't believe mii? Come experience it for yourself! And, also in my opinion, the more powder smudged on your face, it meant a higher popularity amongst the girls, as for girls amongst the boys. And yeah, I got plenty I would say, high market of mine? Muahahahhahahahaha! Erhem, ok, sorry, back to the point. Aside from all this, there were food stalls around the area as well. A good way to grab a warm bite after a chilly water fight I thought.

Giant fried prawns! 50 baht each!

Lobster feast! 100/200/300 baht depending on sizes!

Lot's of road-side delicacies!

Thailand's famous fried chicken! 70 baht each

A note that Thailand's time is an hour later than Malaysian time. That said, all the excitement, the colours and the fun died down at 4am Malaysian time. I was told by a few girls to expect a bigger celebration come the next night where their real new year kicks into place. As that, this was just their new year eve, and I'll be expecting more amazement to come as I retired to my hotel for a rest. Part 2 to come then. For now, goodbye!