|
|
|
 |
| |
 |
Hat Yai Places To See |
 |
|
| |
Whether coming from
Malaysia or continuing your travels in that direction, Hat Yai is an
ideal stopover. Hat Yai, is in effect the south's major city, its
commercial, shopping and entertainment center. Located in Songkhla
province, 947km from Bangkok and about 50km north of the Malaysian
border, Hat Yai is also the region's communication hub and is well
served by road, rail and air access.
Best known as a fun city, it has ample opportunities for sporting
activities and entertainment abound. Children will enjoy the
Bhasawang Big Splash, a 15m slide in the middle of a lagoon-like
swimming pool, while a different type of recreation is to be enjoyed
at the city's two shooting ranges. For a spectator sport, there is
bull fighting, a traditional southern entertainment in which two
beast lock horn in a trial of strength.
Shopping is another big attraction and Hat Yai offers many good buys
in Thai handicrafts - especially local cotton products and cut-out
leather shadow puppets - leisure and sportswear, and a large variety
of preserved Thai fruits, dried seafood and other culinary
delicacies. Such is the fun of shopping among both Thai and foreign
visitors that browsing and people-watching can be as much fun as
bargain hunting.
Being somewhat of a cultural crossroads, Hat Yai affords ample
opportunity for dining on a variety of cuisine. In additions to
spicy Thai cooking and seafood for which the South is famed, Chinese
and Muslim specialties are to be enjoyed at a number of excellent
restaurants. To further enhance your trip here, Hat Yai has an
excellent nightlife in the form of its numerous nightclubs.
|
 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Wat Hat Yai Nai
(Reclining Buddha Image) |
The third largest
reclining Buddha image of the world reposes at Wat Hat Yai Nai on
Phetkhasem Road near Ou-Tapao Bridge. The statue, named Phra Buddha
hatmongkhol, is 35 meters long, 15 meters high and 10 meters wide.
This is considered one of the most revered statues in the region.
|
|
|
Tone Nga Chang
Waterfalls (Elephant Tusk Falls) |
Located 24km west
of the city, this picturesque falls cascades spectacularly over
seven tiers and splits into two streams, resembling elephant tusks,
thus its given name. Best seen after the rainy season from October
through December when the water is most abundant, this is a
particularly scenic spot, ideal for
|
|
|
Doves of Chana |
Chana District,
some 40km southwest of Hat Yai, is famous for its cooing doves,
which are especially popular with the villagers. Here, singing
contest are held annually between January and July among dove lovers
in Chana and nearby, Trang, Pattani and Narathiwat. The competitions
are taken seriously and with the caged doves raised on poles 3 - 6
meters tall, judges listen to the songs and award points according
to pitch, melody and volume. Winning doves are valued as much as
US$12,000!
|
|
|
Tham Khao Rup
Chang (Cave of the Elephant Fountain) |
A different
natural attraction, this Cave of the Elephant Fountain is situate
about 10km from Padang Besar market. There are three large caverns,
with curious stalactite and stalagmite formations, which enshrine
Mahayana Buddha images.
|
|
|
Khao Nam Khang
National Park |
Located in Nathawi
District, 60km from Hat Yai, this park provides tourist with some
accommodation and beautiful waterfalls as well as a maze tunnel dug
by Communist terrorists about 20 years ago. The tunnel has since
been turned into a tourist attraction by the Thai Government.
|
|
|
Sporting
Recreation |
For recreation
there is the nine-hole Kho Hong Golf Course on the city's outskirts.
The course, situated in the compound of the Army Camp, is open to
public and has some challenging fairways. Alternatively, there are
the two shooting ranges which are also open to public. The first is
the Rujirawong Shooting Range, and the other, the Royal Navy
Songkhla Shooting Range. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thailand
