A traveller's reflection: Day 20: Year-end Trip: Krabi

"Be careful what you say. You can say something hurtful in ten seconds, but ten years later, the wounds are still there..." - Joel Osteen

(A cowboy boot at Phatthalung)

Day 20: Tuesday, 03 January 2023
Route: Krabi to Hatyai
Distance: 278 km
Hotel: Golden Crown Hotel, Hatyai

We checked out of J Mansion at 7.00 am and headed to Ao Nang Mosque where most of the Halal restaurants are located .

(One of the many Halal restaurants near the mosque)

(Nasi Lemak and ayam goreng for breakfast)

Had Nasi Lemak breakfast at one of the Pattani restaurant around the Ao Nang Muslim Street. Bought a few packs of sweet pulut pagi for the road. Met Mr. Raqib Yakob, a postman in Krabi. With his help we entered the compound of Masjid Ao Nang al-Munuawarah and took some photo shots.

(Masjid Ao Nang Al-Munuawarah)

(Ao Nang Muslim Street, busy only at night)

(With Mr. Raqib Yakob)

(Driving towards the beach)

(Morning sceneries along the Ao Nang beach)

(The long boats loaded with tourists for islands hopping)

(Another mosque in Krabi)

(Driving out of Krabi)

Drove on Route 4 towards Phatthalung bypassing the town of Trang. Stopped at Andaman Gateway located halfway between Trang and Phatthalung. It is one of a popular tourist attractions in Trang. There are life-size statues of elephants and indigenous people. There used to be no admission charge but now foreigners are charged B100 to enter the park. We normally stop here on our trip to Krabi for a cup of hot coffee but the coffee shop was no longer there.

(Crossing the railway lines of Trang)

(Driving on Petchkasem Road)

(A brief stop at Trang Andaman Gateway)

(Another attraction along Highway 4)

(Elephants at the Andaman Gateway)

We made another stop at a PTT in Phatthalung then continued our journey to Hatyai. Along the Phetkasem route 4 highway there is a Nora Sculpture Park with colourful sculptures of Manorah dancers lined up in a row in different dance moves. Manorah or Norah is a traditional dance that has been inherited for a long time in the southern provincial area of Thailand.

(Looking out for signages)

(Light traffic all the way south bound)

(A rest stop at one of Phatthalung PTT)

(Nora Sculpture Park by the highway)

(Statues of Manora dances)

(The various poses of Manora dancers)

(The many characters in Manorah Dance)

(Pok Dogol character in Manora Dance)

We arrived at Golden Crown Hotel about 2.15 pm and checked in for B780/night, B30 higher than three weeks ago. We had a late lunch of nasi dagang at Khaled's next door.