The Thai side of Padang Besar

Continued from Walking with the family in Hatyai.

After some time spent in Hatyai it's time to return back to Malaysia.

But instead of returning via Bukit Kayu Hitam in Kedah where we came from we decided to exit through Padang Besar in Perlis.

However Perlis is not the only province with a town called Padang Besar. There's also a Padang Besar in Thailand and since we haven't crossed the border might as well check it out.

So here we were going around the streets of Padang Besar in Thailand.



Now this would have been a real novelty if we had come into Thailand from Perlis.

After all this side of Padang Besar has its own attractions and is known to be some sort of shopping paradise for people coming from Malaysia.

But having seen the colours of the much bigger Hatyai, Padang Besar pales very much in comparison.

Still it is good to a have a quick look around. At least we know what it feels like to be here and not just dismiss it just because we have seen the biggest city in Thailand out of Bangkok.

Walking with the family in Hatyai

Peace be upon you all. Enough with the Chinese New Year holiday. Time to continue from where we left off in First time in Hatyai with the family.

After parking our car we set off to our first destination on foot, the Hatyai train station.

Parking is easier nearby the station and I wanted the wife and baby to see the first place I arrived at when reaching Hatyai for the first time almost 8 months ago. Refer to the old article The station at Hatyai.

I also took them to see the inside of the Thai trains. It is interesting how people here have to climb and pass through trains to get to platforms across...

Next I took them down the same route I used when stepping out of the station to get to the city centre.



Of course I have to carry baby Al-Rasyid around.




Basically I wanted to show them the colours of Hatyai I've seen.















Again I took them to the places I've been at in my first trip here. Refer The colours of Hatyai.

First time in Hatyai with the family

More than 7 months ago I went to the Thailand city of Hatyai for the first time ever in my life. Look at the old articles The station at Hatyai and The colours of Hatyai. Since then I've pledged to one day bring the wife and baby Al-Rasyid here. The northern trip during the month of Ramadhan was exactly planned for that, among others. So continued from The town of Sadao...

More than an hour after leaving Sadao we finally arrived at the city of Hatyai. Well, we made a number of stops along the way and traffic was slow when we approached the city. And some time (and money too) were wasted when I was caught in a road-block just before the overhead bridge to the city. For what? Because I forgot to buy the insurance necessary to enter Thailand at the border. Anyway at least we arrived here safely. Seen in the background is what I surmise must be the tallest building in Hatyai.

I've read somewhere that Hatyai is the fourth biggest city in Thailand. In fact it is the largest city after the capital Bangkok as the two larger cities in-between are actually suburbs of the capital.

Whatever I wanted to show the wife and baby the places I've been to 7 months ago. So we immediately headed for the city centre.



Without a map and clear direction I relied only on instinct and landmarks, mainly tall buildings. Thank God I took the right path and arrived straight to the centre.



So here we were passing through the streets and places I've been at...




In fact after weaving through some streets at the centre I headed for the train station.

The station was the point I started getting to known Hatyai 7 months ago and it is also a place I want to show the wife and baby. Besides I need to park the car someplace not so busy. From here we could walk and explore some more...

The town of Sadao

Continued from Around the national border at Bukit Kayu Hitam.

Some half-an-hour later we arrived at the town of Sadao.

This is where the junction to Padang Besar lies. This means those entering Thailand from the Malaysian state of Perlis would have to pass through this town to get to Hatyai.

As for me this is just another landmark as we went further up north.

However a signboard showing the existence of a mosque ahead made me want to check it out.

I followed this car to find the next right turn.

It turns out the mosque is not directly ahead nor directly to the right. I have to figure my way around before finding out it should be not far from a part which is clearly designated as a Muslim area.

There. Finally found the mosque. Will feature it afterwards in my bilingual blogspot SENI LAMA MELAYU (MALAY OLDEN ART).

Around the national border at Bukit Kayu Hitam

Time to get on with the stories on the trip up north made during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadhan, or rather end of August 2010. Continuing from Night visit to Masjid (mosque of) Zahir.

After that visit to Masjid Zahir we slept at a surau or small praying hall outside Alor Setar. Next day early morning we went further up north and reached the national border at Bukit Kayu Hitam.

The scene as we got closer to the border...

Have to pass this checkpoint...

Then only you could get out of Malaysia.

Entering the nation of Thailand.

Funnily I managed to get through without being checked by the authorities.

However that does not mean I should just go on. Parking the car inside Thailand I walked by to the checkpoint to get our papers in order...

There. We are officially in Thailand. Can't remember the name of this border town but while the immigration checkpoint is said to be in Sadao, this doesn't mean this town is called Sadao. The actual town of Sadao is still 13-14 km ahead. This is like entering the state of Melaka from Johor via the old trunk road where there is a border town. It is not called Melaka but rather Sungai Rambai, the city of Melaka itself is still some 27km ahead...