Songkhla
A couple of months ago, Fatt's dad came to Thailand. Fatt's dad had only got his passport at the age of 50 and the extent of his out-of-England experience was a very recent trip to France. Thus it was with some trepidation that we welcomed him to Thailand. Would he be able to take the heat (true Yorkshireman here!)? Would he be able to take the food (a chicken korma is too spicy!)? What would he think of all the hustle and bustle of Bangkok?
As it happens, Fatt's dad took to Thailand like a duck to water. When Fatt takes guests around, he'll take them to places he thinks are interesting, i.e. places that Fatt has personally never been before! Or, places that are way off the tourist trail. Usually a visit to a bustling market and a canal-taxi ride is in store. In terms of food, Fatt was keen to give his dad a wide variety - not just Thai, but also seafood and Ethiopian. Fatt's dad hoovered it all up, even the spicy stuff. He drank either coffee or Chang beer throughout the day and didn't seem to suffer any undue effects from the heavy intake of caffiene and alcohol.
We went down to see Fatt's brother in Songkhla. We were a little worried because of all the unrest and bombings in the South, but Fatt's brother said it wasn't such a problem there and they hadn't seen any trouble. Songkhla has a beach but you don't really see much sunbathing or swimming going on. There are fishing villages around, and some great seafood. It's a small town with very straight roads. It seemed very relaxing.
We drove around the town to Koh Yai (more incredible seafood), past alternating Muslim villages (sudden presence of goats) and Thai villages (yellow Buddhist flags fluttering). We stopped off at a temple and there was some kind of festival happening and people were getting quite tipsy.
Other temples hosted the obligatory wat dog.
Other's preferred playing host to mischievous troops of monkeys:
Fatt's dad stayed on in Songkhla and later told us how he be-friended the locals, just striking up 'conversation' with anybody, thereby managing to get taken on a fishing trip, and being zoomed up and down road on the back of a bike at the local motorcycle meet.
He's already planning his next trip here!
As it happens, Fatt's dad took to Thailand like a duck to water. When Fatt takes guests around, he'll take them to places he thinks are interesting, i.e. places that Fatt has personally never been before! Or, places that are way off the tourist trail. Usually a visit to a bustling market and a canal-taxi ride is in store. In terms of food, Fatt was keen to give his dad a wide variety - not just Thai, but also seafood and Ethiopian. Fatt's dad hoovered it all up, even the spicy stuff. He drank either coffee or Chang beer throughout the day and didn't seem to suffer any undue effects from the heavy intake of caffiene and alcohol.
We went down to see Fatt's brother in Songkhla. We were a little worried because of all the unrest and bombings in the South, but Fatt's brother said it wasn't such a problem there and they hadn't seen any trouble. Songkhla has a beach but you don't really see much sunbathing or swimming going on. There are fishing villages around, and some great seafood. It's a small town with very straight roads. It seemed very relaxing.
We drove around the town to Koh Yai (more incredible seafood), past alternating Muslim villages (sudden presence of goats) and Thai villages (yellow Buddhist flags fluttering). We stopped off at a temple and there was some kind of festival happening and people were getting quite tipsy.
Other temples hosted the obligatory wat dog.
Other's preferred playing host to mischievous troops of monkeys:
Fatt's dad stayed on in Songkhla and later told us how he be-friended the locals, just striking up 'conversation' with anybody, thereby managing to get taken on a fishing trip, and being zoomed up and down road on the back of a bike at the local motorcycle meet.
He's already planning his next trip here!
posted by sylv at 2:51 pm
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home