Hat Yai - Growing City in the Southern Thailand

Hat Yai is one of Thailand's southernmost cities, located in the province of Songkhla. It is only 30 km from the Malaysian border. The city began as primarily a railroad hub between Thailand and Malaysia. It is one of the lesser known tourist spots in Thailand and is attractive to those who wish to 'get away from it all,' but still have the features of a city available.

The city is becoming increasingly popular among gays. There are at least 3 gay bars now and a gay sauna called GL Sauna as well. Admission is 250 baht and includes a drink.

The gay bars are within easy walking distance of each other, the most popular being the G-Men bar.

The city was a small village until the coming of the railroad in 1922 and has slowly, but surely increased in size ever since. The population is now about 160,000. The official name of the city is Ma Hat Yai. Ma Hat is the Thai word for a fruit tree relative of the popular Jackfruit. Yai means large or big.

Getting to the city and the area is no problem. There are buses, airline service, and obviously railroad service. Within Hat Yai there are plenty of mini buses, tuk-tuks, and motorcycle taxis.

Accommodations are relatively in expensive in Hat Yai as it is not a beach town or resort city. Food in Hat Yai is mostly Thai, but some of the shopping malls have restaurants that feature 'farang food' and there are a few 'farang food' restaurants. It is best to book a room via a travel agent. You will almost always get a better rate from a travel agent than booking directly through a hotel in Hat Yai.

Night life in Hat Yai includes a surprising number of bars for a small city, several of which include live music. A popular place to go is Oceana, and entertainment complex just outside of Hat Yai. There you will find a very nice open air restaurant and bar that covers two floors and is in a beautifully romantic landscaped setting, open until about 2:00am. There is a disco nearby and it seems to remain open until about 4:00am.

The Lee Garden Plaza features fast food restaurants including McDonald's, KFC, and Sizzler. There is also a modern multiplex cinema at Lee Garden.

There is not very much in the way of sightseeing in the Hat Yai vicinity, but the three most popular attractions are:

Wat Hat Yai Nai - Features a 35 meter long reclining Buddha, the third largest in the world.

Hat Yai Municipal Park - This park is quite popular among the Thais and includes an abundance of flowering plants and a very good aviary.

Ton Nga Chang Waterfall - Considered by many to be one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Thailand. It is a 7-tiered waterfall, the most popular being the third level, known as the "Elephant Tusk" waterfall. Here the falls separate into two streams, resembling elephant tusks. You can easily hire transportation to and from the park for about 400 baht.

Many farang doing visa runs go to Hat Yai due to its close proximity to the Malaysian border. The run takes you to Dannok. From there you simply cross over the border on foot, take care of your visa renewal, and return, although there are plenty of motorcycle taxis to take you, if you wish, 20 baht each way. Mini vans are available to take you back to Hat Yai for about 60 baht, but they do not depart until they are full. The trip takes approximately 90 minutes.

To keep up with the latest info on this great city, go to http://thailandvisa.com

For all the information you need to know about Thailand Visa and Immigration issues and about living and working in Thailand, go to http://www.thailandvisa.com The Thailand Visa website is a free resource for expats living in Thailand and for travelers who want to visit the country. Michael A. Allen lives abroad and loves travel and adventure.

By Michael A. Allen

Cheap Flight, Then Train to Thailand

Here is an idea for travelers from Australia taking the train from Kuala Lumpur to Thailand. I used this travel plan and saved about $500 on my normal fare. You do need to be a little flexible with your travel dates, and be prepared for a little waiting at times.

My trip started in Adelaide. Having such a limited choice of carriers here encouraged me to do some PC work. OK, first I went to the Airasia site and looked up return flights from the Gold Coast to Kuala Lumpur. I was looking at going around November time and the price was around $600 to $700 return. So I started checking day before and day after, you know how it works. Anyway to my amazement I found a return fare for $220, yes $220 return. First thing I did was hit the button, got out my stretched credit card and booked and paid for it. This was in July, so I thought plenty of time to recoup the money. My normal fare from Adelaide on Singapore Airways is around $1200 return, sometimes $1000.

Next thing was to book a return from Adelaide to Gold Coast. Being a little governed now by the Airasia flight, I managed to find a flight for $200 return on Jetstar. Ridiculous I know, Adelaide to Gold Coast = 2 hours = $200 and Gold Coast to KL = 8 hours = $220, takes a bit of understanding I know. Anyway, my flight to KL was leaving at 09.30 which meant I had to be in the Gold Coast the day before. As a traveler, I didn't mind having to sleep in the airport, I have done it before as I am sure many of you have.

What I did not realize was that the Gold Coast airport is NOT 24 hours, oop's hahaha. The backpackers just a mile down the road was full, so I found a bench just outside the main building and got a few hours sleep there.

The good thing was that the airport actually opens at 04.00, so it was not so bad. So to carry on with my journey, I then flew on to KL with no problems. Once on the ground I went straight through immigration and on to a waiting Airasia shuttle bus, which I had prepaid for to the KL Sentral Station.

I then booked a 2nd class sleeper which would take me to Hat Yai and all the way to Bangkok if I wanted. I was going to Hat Yai as I have a good friend there that I always visit on my trips. Cost of this train was $18. Which also served as a night's accommodation. So doing the figures, I got into Thailand for well under $500. Now that is a good deal from Adelaide of course.

Now the train journey was great as usual, takes about 12 to 14 hours to get to Hat Yai. About an hour and a half before getting to Hat Yai you will reach the border crossing. This is really easy to complete, the train stops at the border station and you all get off. Some travelers take their belongings some don't, but remember it is a border crossing and they may want to look through your cases or bags.

Anyway once all people are off the train it leaves the station to uncouple the Malaysian carriages which go back to KL and then the train comes back with just the Thailand carriages on it. Inside the station you will be directed where to go to sign out of Malaysia and then go to the next section to sign in to Thailand.

Make sure you check your visa before leaving the counter. TAKE NOTE that entering Thailand overland will only give you a 14 days visa, so if your planning to spend more time then you will need to do a visa run or pay a visit to the Thai Consulate.

I enjoyed traveling this way and will certainly do it again.

http://www.thailand-cheap.com

By James D Jones

Top 5 Beach Experiences in Thailand

Australia is reputed to have one of the strongest beach cultures in the world, but many Australians still choose to travel to Thailand to experience their beaches. Although there have been some suggestions that Thai beaches are not as safe as Australia's, and many tourists suggesting that ordinary travel insurance will not be sufficient, this is largely an exaggeration.

Of course, the main difference is that Thai beaches do not offer the same rolling surf that can be expected in Australia. Instead, you can look forward to peaceful tree-lined tropical beaches, with pure white sand and friendly locals that will make your stay a magical one.

As with all tourist destinations, choosing the top five beaches in Thailand is a near impossible task, but we will try to narrow it down so you can plan your holiday with at least a little more certainty. And you won't have to worry about your travel insurance being in adequate!

• Phuket. This is possibly the most famous Thai beach destination for Australians attracting tens of thousands every year. Despite its popularity however it is not the most peaceful destination but it is certainly the most developed. Some tourists appreciate the choice of accommodation and the nightlife but if this is not your scene you can give it a miss. Nevertheless it needs to be included in the top five list because of its reputation and popularity.
• Songkhla. This is a virtually unknown beach destination located in the deep south. It consists of a beautiful beach punctuated by rocky outcrops and tropical jungle. And lack of tourists is the main attraction in this area but there is limited accommodation. As far as other attractions are concerned you can visit nearby temples and still enjoy the wonderful food distributed by the many street vendors. If you're looking for peace, serenity and quiet then this is the destination for you.
• Lamai Beach. Located just south of Chaweng, this sparsely populated area is attractive to those in the know. It is not quite as remote as Songkhla, and has a much wider choice of accommodation and nightlife. The beach is beautiful and relaxing making Lamai a great choice for those wanting a beach without the crowds, but still with a semi-tourists feel to make your stay a comfortable one.
• Maya Bay, Ko Phi Phi Ley.This beautiful beach is often described as the most picturesque in Thailand. Surrounded by limestone cliffs and nestled in a small bay, the beach is the perfect place to completely unwind in natural surroundings. Although it is a little remote, you won't have to worry about your holiday insurance being inadequate!
• Ko Chang. A long-time popular destination for backpackers, many other tourists have now joined in the throng of tourists who visit the west side of the island. With beautiful white sand and gentle sloping hills, all set against a backdrop of coconut palms, this is a quiet haven for tourists who are not afraid to get off the beaten track.

So, from the many hundreds of choices, we have narrowed your search down to five Thai beaches any tourist will enjoy.

Save money on your travel insurance today. For a free quote, visit Cheap Travel Insurance.

By Josh J Harrison