My most recent bus travel brought me to the city of Hat Yai in the southern most part of Thailand. Located about 50 kms from the border with Malaysia and a transport hub for bus/minivan routes that cross the border. Upon arrival in Hat Yai last evening, tired, hungry and very hot, I settled for a night in a hotel near the bus station. After paying room rent up-front, realised that room was non air -con, so stepping into the windowless room ($10US/night) was like stepping into an oven---the electric fan merely wafting the hot air around. Just made sure that I consumed lots of water & gritted my teeth. In fact to my surprise, till about 6 am, enjoyed quite a sound & refreshing sleep.
Changed hotels early this morning so as to be nearer the city centre of Hat Yai and provide a more convenient spring-board for a spot of sight-seeing. Disappointingly, not to much to see here.... Lonely Planet describes the city as a gritty border town, popular with Malaysian men crossing for Thai ladies of the night!. Must say, that during the daylight hours, when I was in the town, I did not see anything that could be described as being untoward.
Bus ticket duly purchased at Hat Yai bus station ($12 US) for the 4 hour bus run tomorrow across the border into Malaysia & down the west coast to Butterworth/Georgetown in Penang State.
Scouting for boys and girls in Thailand seems to be enormously popular. There seem to be few bus or railway stations that I have visited in the country that did not have groups of young people decked out in uniforms, covered in badges and waiting to board their transport to camp. The uniforms are the traditional uniform styles that I remember with the wide brimmed hats for the boys. No new new fangled long trousers, or trousers for girls, or other updates to modernise the image of scouting. BP would have been proud.
Changed hotels early this morning so as to be nearer the city centre of Hat Yai and provide a more convenient spring-board for a spot of sight-seeing. Disappointingly, not to much to see here.... Lonely Planet describes the city as a gritty border town, popular with Malaysian men crossing for Thai ladies of the night!. Must say, that during the daylight hours, when I was in the town, I did not see anything that could be described as being untoward.
Bus ticket duly purchased at Hat Yai bus station ($12 US) for the 4 hour bus run tomorrow across the border into Malaysia & down the west coast to Butterworth/Georgetown in Penang State.
Scouting for boys and girls in Thailand seems to be enormously popular. There seem to be few bus or railway stations that I have visited in the country that did not have groups of young people decked out in uniforms, covered in badges and waiting to board their transport to camp. The uniforms are the traditional uniform styles that I remember with the wide brimmed hats for the boys. No new new fangled long trousers, or trousers for girls, or other updates to modernise the image of scouting. BP would have been proud.
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