Songkhla, Hat Yai and Pattani
Pattani Mosque
The Deep SouthSongkhlaSongkhla is a small sleepy coastal village, located approximately 900 kilometers or 575 miles from Bangkok. It is the gateway to the deep south of Thailand and quite close to the Malaysian border. Here you will find two beaches suitable for swimming and sunbathing. The most popular one is palm-fringed Samila Beach.Set in a beautiful Chinese Mansion is the National Museum where you will find ceramics as well as relics that were recovered from an ancient shipwreck in the Gulf of Thailand. Open Wednesday to Sunday from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm. In contrast there is also a 400 year old dusty museum called Wat Matchimawat. Khu Khut Waterfowl Park is a beautiful sanctuary in the nearby area containing approximately 140 species of bird. Awesome for all enthusiastic bird watchers.
Songkhla Lake
The Deep SouthSongkhla LakeSongkhla Lake is the largest natural lake in Thailand and there are several small islands scattered about the region. The lake is formed from several deep ocean inlets. The southern most part is formed from a 380 meter wide opening coming directly from the Gulf of Thailand and has the salinity of approximately half of that of the ocean. Most of the water here is tan-colored and rather brackish.The water becomes less salty and takes on a much fresher greener colour at the Thale Luang which is situated further north beyond a six kilometer bottleneck. At the northern most end is the Thale Noi settled between a mangrove swamp. The most striking feature is the 75 kilometer long spit which separates the lake from the sea. Unlike most spits, it was probably formed when originally existing islands became interconnected by the silting from the lake precursor.
Fishing Boats near Pattani
The Deep SouthHat YaiHat Yai is the commercial capital of the deep south. This brash modern town has clean air, excellent road and rail access but lacks charm. The town is frequented often by mostly sybaritic Malaysian men who pour over the border to enjoy all the illicit pleasures that are denied in their home country. Shame on you guys.The nightclubs, massage parlours and escort agencies are huge magnets for men while women and families come for the shopping markets and restaurants. For a more cultural interest, why not go and see the third largest Buddha in Thailand. You will find this big Buddha at Wat Hat Yai Nai in the middle of the town. On any given Sunday you could go to one of the bullfighting arenas to watch an alternative form of entertainment. Yeah! Thai-style bullfighting. This is where bulls are pitted one against the other while face to face. These fights last until one of the bulls is kind of bullied to the edge of the arena or the bull simply runs away. Not quite the same atmosphere as that of a Spanish-style-corrida with matadors and picadors but at least in this case, the bulls get to live longer.
Entrance to Pattani Central Mosque
The Deep SouthPattaniPattani is a fishing town situated in the deep south of Thailand. It is also home to a mostly Muslim community. A few kilometers from town you will find you the 400 year old Kreuse Mosque originally built by the Chinese settler To Khieng.Legend says that the structure was never fully completed because Lim Ko Niaw, the sister of To Khieng, sailed to Thailand from China to plead with her brother to renounce Islam and return to their ancestral home. The brother refused the offer. Lim Ko Niaw placed a curse on the mosque, saying it would never be finished. She then hanged herself from a nearby cashew-nut tree. Gee! what a sad tale. Today the mosque remains in it's original state by the faithful few. No attempts to complete her have been undertaken as the local Muslims believe that lightning will strike anyone who dare tries. Today an annual festival is held during the third lunar month in recognition of her esteem honour. Pattani Central Mosque as seen in the photos here, is located on the outskirts of Pattani and approximately 100 kilometers or 60 miles from Songkhla. It is the largest and most beautiful mosque in Thailand and a must see for visitors to the town. This is where local Thai Muslim communities hold their religious ceremonies.
Return from Songkhla to the Southern Thailand page
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