GOLDEN MERMAID OF SONGKLA

 

CNY is the next agenda for 2021 February. 

I never missed Hatyai – it is my only hide out for CNY.

The C 19 pandemic may not be so kind to me. 

Come this CNY, I will never get to visit my favourite Golden Mermaid in Songkla.

 

2018

 

My family always make it a point to take a photograph with this beautiful Mermaid, at least once a year.

There was one year - ‘She’ was destroyed partially by a bomb placed near the vicinity.

Last year, when I visited the government had given ‘Her’ a new touch of paint.

 

2019

 

Golden Mermaid sits coming her long hair for years at Simila Beach, Songkla.

It was created in 1966 by Jitr Buahus (Director of the Art & Craft College in Bangkok).

The idea of the mermaid comes from an epic 30,000-line saga about Prince Phra Aphai Mani by Soothorn Phu.

 

2017

 

The statue is based on the story, which tells a mermaid, who combed her hair with a golden comb, on the beach one starry night.

She was frightened away by a young fisherman. Smitten by her beauty and wanting to return her comb to her, he waited every day for her return, but she never came back.

 

 

SONGKLA

GOLDEN SONGKLA 

I never missed Songkla Province when in Hatyai.

Obviously, I love the beaches, they have very “entertaining” beaches!

It's called the Samila Beach.

GOLDEN MERMAID STATUE

Samila Beach is characterized by soft white sand and beach side pine trees – a good place to take a stroll down the Ratchadamnurn Road.

The most prominent landmark is the Golden Mermaid Statue sitting gracefully along Samila Beach.

'She' is the main attraction for tourists who have to climb up some steps of rocky stones, just to pose with the Mermaid.

WAT LAEM SAI TEMPLE

There is also a variety of activities taking place along the beaches such as souvenir shops, food, donkey ride, flying kites and photo session with the many man-made statues found, here.

ANCIENT TOWN WALL

Tourist can also take a one-day walk around the town to view places namely Songkla National Museum, Wat Laem Sai Temple, Central Market and Sunday Market, Ancient Town Wall & Fortress, Songkla City Pillar, Wat Matchimawat, Wat Chaimongkhon (Relic of Buddha), Songkla Zoo and Songkla Golf Course (Thong Yai Golf Course).

SONGKLA NATIONAL MUSEUM

EAT THAILAND!

EAT THAILAND!

The tag “Amazing Thailand” fits perfectly for this country – one that is rich in history, culture and exotic experiences. Southern Thailand is nevertheless one of my favourite country to travel in South East Asia.

In a year, I travel more than three times to Thailand, as I enjoy “what” the country can offer to me – food, massage, music, liveband and a shopping haven.

Food is definitely “top” in my list which is one of the reasons that attracts me to visit Thailand.

Originated from a Hokkien background, I share a similar taste bud as the Thais, craving for something - hot and spicy, sour, sweet, salty and bitter flavour.

I also find that Thai cuisine is rich in 'vegetables' which reflects a 'healthy' diet, and there are some dishes that are 'medical' in nature due to the presence of herbs.

NAIWAN RESTAURANT

I would like to share a few of my favourite local restaurants in Hatyai and Songkla.

KANENG RESTAURANT

In Hatyai, I never missed the 59 Restaurant and Kaneng Restaurant while in Songkla  I go for Naiwan Restaurant.

NEXT TO SIAM CITY

The recommended dishes are - tom yam soup (red or white), sambal petai, baked crab, milky glass noddle crab, oyster omelet, sweet-sour fish, steam fish Thai style, beancurd Thai style, fishball soup, fried fish with towfoo, fried kucai leaves and sliced mango dipped in sugar.

59 RESTAURANT

Not to be missed is the chicken rice dish which comes with a choice of either steamed or roasted chicken, sliced char siew or siew york (pork) and a bowl of vegetable soup, and it can be found at every corner of Hatyai.

CHICKEN RICE

Strangely, one could also be surprised to find the more unusual food meant for the adventurous foodie. There are the well-known fried chicken wings, baby chicken, pigeon, cockroaches, crabs and roasted cuttlefish sold by traders in central of Hatyai city.

Titbit is another favourite items sold by the locals here mainly soft groundnuts, sliced mango, coconut sweets, almond, and raisins. One can find a wide variety of titbit at the wet market, Samila Beach (Songkla) and Hatyai town centre.

TITBIT

Anyone craving for English breakfast or supper in Hatyai. There are many hotels' coffee house offering western dishes. Popular dishes are - ham, sausage and eggs breakfast, chicken in basket, fried seafood beehoon and salads.

SCRAMBLE EGGS AND BACON

 

 

ENGLISH BREAKFAST

CHICKEN IN A BASKET

Lastly, one must not missed its wide range of desserts - sold by streets hawkers in Hatyai namely tow foo fah, ling chee kang, ice kacang, birdnests and bubur cha cha among others.

LING CHEE KANG

Writing this article made me say “I just can't wait for my next trip to Thailand”.

WRITER (RIGHT) THUMBS UP FOR THAI CUISINE