ในหลวงของแผ่นดิน 万王之王

I have finally found this song today - about five years after watching it in the hotel room while holidaying in Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.

I find the music very moving but I have no ways to search for it online since I could neither read nor write Thai.

Despite not understanding the lyrics, I could somehow associate it as a song about the Thai King judging from the images shown on TV.

Hatyai Sabbatical 2015

I must really apologize for the lack of updates.

The first half of 2015 has just gone in a flash. A lot has happened during the last six months and my mind have been bogged down by family matters. All is fine for now and I hope it stays that way.

Last month, my folks and I brought forward our yearly retreat to Hatyai (we usually go during year end) and we took the opportunity to recharge and re-energize. Hopefully, we did not bring the negative vibes back with us.

I think Hatyai has been blogged to death by me so I shall consolidate the entire five days into one single post and not go into the details. Since it is simply a staycation, we spend most of our time sleeping/watching TV in the hotel when we are not out looking for food.

Now if you would fasten your seatbelt, our journey shall begin in just a minute.

Hat Yai Trip 2013 *Photos Intensive*

Hat Yai

*中文版*

Sawadeeka!

Last month, I boarded Tiger Airways with my parents heading for Hat Yai, Southern Thailand. We touched down at Hat Yai International Airport after a 75 minutes flight from Singapore Changi Airport.

Compared to taking a coach ride setting off from Golden Mile Complex to Southern Thailand via Malaysia, we saved more than twenty hours and alot of backache.

Those who know me might wonder why does my family visit Hat Yai year after year? Isn't it boring?

Hat Yai is not as picturesque as Phuket nor as glamorous as Bangkok. What it have is a very slow pace of life and aged buildings.

However, these are the exact factors which drew my parents to this place as they find the way of life suits them perfectly.

Furthermore, the cost of living is relatively cheaper here and communication is not much of a problem as the Thai Chinese here speaks a little Teochew, Cantonese and Hakka.

合艾之旅2013 *图多慎入*

合艾

*English version*

三碗猪脚！（Sawadeeka）

上个月，我和两老登上了虎航飞往泰南，合艾。从新加坡樟宜国际机场起航短短75分钟后，我们就抵达了合艾国际机场。

这比起N年前从黄金大厦（Golden Mile Complex）搭乘二十几个小时的长途巴士途经马来西亚再抵达泰南边境而省却了不少的时间与折腾！

认识我的朋友或许会纳闷，我家为何年年都会回到这里度假呢？难道不闷吗？

的确，合艾即没有普吉岛那怡人的景色，也没有曼谷的绚丽繁华。这里有的，只是非常慢的生活节奏和老旧的店屋。

可是，两老偏偏就喜欢这一点，觉得这样的步伐才适合他们。

再来，这里消费便宜，沟通上也没多大的问题因为这里的华侨都会说些潮州，广东或客家话。

合艾2012：美食篇之甘英饭店

今天想向大家介绍的是在网上口碑深获好评的甘英饭店（Kan Eng Restaurant）。

我心理非常纳闷为何到过合艾那么多次却从未听说过有这么一家店？

据我所收集到的资料显示，甘英是一间小有名气的餐厅。它不但深受当地人欢迎，就连许多游客都会慕名而来。

这次的合艾行，我就特地找上门看看它是否真的有如网友所评价的那么好？

店内虽然只有一些简单基本的陈设，它胜在于地方够宽敞也很通风。但对我来说，最重要的还是这里的环境很干净。在这儿用餐非常的舒服。

一翻开menu就察觉到店家很用心地把里面的每一道菜都拍成了照片。就算是语言不通的我们只需用手指点给服务员看就行了。

甘英的营业时间是从早上10.30至晚上9.30（2点至5点休息）。每当到了繁忙时段，就会产生座无虚席的情况！

为了避免久等，最好是提早一点到。

合艾2012：美食篇之Shabushi

位于蠡園酒店（Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel）1楼的Shabushi是结合了旋转生锅和自助寿司的概念。

简单的说，师傅会把生锅的配料放在盘子后再摆到运输带上而运输带将会围绕着餐厅的吧台而行，方便食客随意地拿。

寿司则是以自助的方式呈现。

以345泰铢（13.80新币）就能吃上两种日式料理实在是物超所值！

但有趣的是，此店规定顾客必须在75分钟（即1小时15分钟）内吃完否则每超时10分钟将会有额外20泰铢（0.80新币）的收费！

合艾2012：美食篇之Hachiban Ramen

这家Hachiban Ramen位于蠡園酒店（Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel）的1楼。打从入住这家酒店那天起，我就一直想试试这里的拉面了。

但由于两老比较向往吃道地的街边泰国料理，我就没向他们提出此要求。

然而，父母见我每次经过此店都会放慢脚步因此就问了一句：“是不是要吃拉面啊？”

真不愧是我爹娘也！那么了解我！

就这样，我们终于走进去啦！

合艾2012：美食篇之蠡園酒店33楼Sky Buffet

之前提到，我们入住了全合艾（Hatyai）最高的酒店 - 蠡園酒店（Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel）而在它第33层的顶楼有个非常廉价，叫Sky Buffet的自助餐。

成人只须区区的169泰铢（6.70新币），就能够享用丰盛的一餐。乐龄还享有50%！

听说这已经是起过价的了 - 之前是149泰铢（5.90新币）呢！

既然有这么划算的自助餐，我们又岂能错过？

合艾2012：酒店篇

大家好，我刚结束了5天4夜的合艾（Hatyai）之旅。

合艾处于泰国南部宋卡府，靠近马来西亚的边界。是许多马来西亚于新加坡人爱到的旅游地点。

我家几乎年年都会到那放松一下，所以今年也不例外。

只是，我们这次决定不安排任何的行程；我们不去拜佛，不逛水上市场，不光赏人妖秀也不去看美人鱼。

这些都是往年去过，看过，玩过的因此没必要再花钱去多一次。

因为纯粹是staycation，所以大部分的时间除了在酒店附近买东西，吃东西和按摩外，就是呆在房里补眠。

这次的旅行有爽到 ～

Transvestite Show, Hat Yai *Videos*

After we returned to the hotel from the [Floating Market], some of them went out for more shopping while some of us proceeded to watch the Transvestite show.

There was nothing sleazy about it like I had thought initially. It was more like a cabaret show with elaborate costumes, stage design, plenty of lip-synching and dancing.

Cameras were not allowed but people still take photos anyway so I joined in too albeit discreetly without flash.

Klonghae Floating Market, Hat Yai

After leaving [Guanyin Shan], we headed for Klonghae Floating Market.

Alighting from the coach, we had to walk some distance before making our way down the slope to where the boats are.

There was no proper path for us to walk and no handrail for the elderly to hold onto. Due to the bout of rain earlier, the ground was slippery with mud.

Should one person slipped on the slope, many more would be knocked down like bowling pins.

Quite dangerous, if you ask me.

Kim Yong Market, Hat Yai

Before I proceed with Kim Yong Market, allow me to digress a little about the previous night after checking-in into President Hotel.

After inspecting the room and making sure that everything is (not) in order, we swiftly hopped onto a tuktuk headed for the night market around Lee Gardens.

One of my aims for this Hat Yai trip is to have the Samurai Burger from McDonalds. Woe is me that I could only have a taste of this divine burger once a year!

Seriously, can we not have even one non-halal outlet in Singapore that serves all things porky? 

President Hotel, Hat Yai

 

*Recycled pic

While booking this trip, we were told by the travel agent that we would be staying at Lee Gardens Hotel. 

We could not be any happier as all who had been to Hat Yai before would know that the said hotel is situated at a centralised location surrounded by all the major shopping centres and night market.

Thus, imagine our bewilderment when the coach drove past Lee Gardens and all we could do is watch on in horror as we got driven further and further away until the hotel was out of sight

Tang Kuan Hill, Songkhla

link

Leaving Samila Beach, the coach made a few turns and before we knew it, we were already at the foot of Tang Kuan Hill. 

Remember the legend about the Mouse and Cat Island? 

This is the hill which the Dog turned into.

Where we are visiting is located right on the top of this hill and to get up there, we had to take a 3 minutes, 170m inclined-lift ride up where a breathtaking 360° panoramic view of Songkhla City awaits.

Samila Beach, Songkhla

link

Our first destination upon reaching Songkhla - a province in southern Thailand, was Samila Beach.

Residing here was one of the more famous landmarks in Songkhla - the bronze Mermaid. On this particular day, tonnes of tourists were waiting in line just to have a picture taken with her.

Pre-Mother's Day Dinner At First Thai Food Purvis Street

The Menu

With a sibling in the service industry, we would often have to accomodate his schedule which is often quite the opposite from everybody else. 

Therefore, whenever there are any birthdays or celebratory events in the family, we would often have to hold it earlier.