One Day in Thailand

Hat Yai. Thailand,  17 November 2018

One day in Thailand, in the city of Hat Yai and in the floating market in Klonghae. 

It is not enough, but really makes me happy. The city reminded me more of Manila than Jakarta or the Malaysian cities. The very beautiful faces, mostly Muslim, sunburned or very white for creams that the women use.

The city is authentic and wild, with the sellers at the traffic lights, the merchants selling their products on the asphalt roads, and cables of the electric power current that are intertwined with dozens, among the buildings. Famous are the tuk-tuk, local transport vehicle which is a mix between the Indonesian angkot and the more famous Filipino jeepney.

Hat Yai is a city in southern Thailand near the Malaysian border. Hat Yai is the largest city of Songkhla Province, the largest metropolitan area in the south, and the third largest metropolitan area of the country. It is often mistaken for being the provincial capital. In fact, Songkhla is the capital and the center of administration and culture while Hat Yai is the business center.

Demographically, Hat Yai is notable for a higher proportion of Malay-Muslim and Thai Chinese citizens than other cities of comparable size in other regions of Thailand. The population of Hat Yai was 157,359 as of 2008, ranked 4th in the country after Bangkok, Nonthaburi, and Pak Kret.

Klonghae Floating Market, located in
Khlong Hae in Hat Yai. 17 November 2018

Klonghae Floating Market is located in Khlong Hae in Hat Yai. The market is nice, but I think it was better at the origins. Now it seems more a tourist attraction, but still gives the idea of Thai culture.

I have not seen elephants, few Buddhist monks, colorful food and friendly people, I still cannot appreciate the music.

Thailand is truly a world to be discovered. Wild, colorful and smiling as I like it. At least here in the south.

Italian version