A traveller's reflection: 03 Kembara Ramadhan

“Lets not deal with people as if they are perfect. Allah made us humans not angels. We all have shortcomings...”

(The Jamek Central Mosque of Nakhon Si Thammarat)

Day 03: Monday, 3 April 2023
Route: Hat Yai - Phatthalung - Nakhon Si Thammarat
Distance: 330 km
Hotel: Grand Park Hotel, Nakhon Si Thammarat

(Driving out of Hat Yai)

Sahur with nasi and maggi with ikan bilis kacang and sambal daging. After subuh and tadarus, we slept again for an hour. By 8.45 am we checked out and drove towards Phatthalung Provincial Central Mosque located at Pak Phayun town area. We drove on Route 4, then onto Route 4181 and Route 4049. Pak Phayun is a district in Phatthalung. There are many eateries around the mosque area. We performed our dhuha prayers here.

(Passing through small towns on tertiary roads)

(A photo opportunity with a gorilla)

(Arriving at Phatthalung Provincial Central Mosque)

(Located at Pak Phayun by the Thale Luang Lake)

(A beautiful and clean mosque, Musafir-friendly)

(Spacious main prayer hall)

(Internal view of the mosque)

To the east of Pak Phayun is the Thale Luang lake, which through a narrow strait opens into Songkhla Lake south of the district. We crossed the bridge to Ko Mak island but did not explore the island further.

(Crossing the bridge to Ko Mak Island)

(Crossing back to the mainland)

(Looking out for the right direction)

Before we drove out of Pak Phayun, we stopped at two more mosques in Pak Phayun. Masjid Ansor Rus Sunnah is a new modern mosque located at the foot of a hill. It has two floors and quite spacious, peaceful, and clean. A religious School, Madrasah Ansor Rus Sunnah Al-Khiriat is located at the hilltop. From the top you can see a beautiful panoramic view of the Lake. Another mosque visited was a small old Masjid Darul Aman situated at a corner of a busy intersection.

(The empty street of Pak Phayun)

(A new modern mosque of Masjid Ansor Rus Sunnah)

(External and internal view of the mosque)

(Local prayer time, the minaret and the mimbar)

(Madrasah Ansor Rus Sunnah on top of a hill)

(Masjid Darul-Aman)

(Located at a corner of a junction)

From Pak Phayun we drove on the alternative coastal road towards Nakhon Si Thammarat. We stopped for solat jamak zohor/Asar at Masjid Quwatal Islam in Singha Nakhon. This was our second time here. We made brief detours to the Muang Nam beach and the windmill farms along the way.

(Navigating around the lake towards the coastal road)

(Masjid Quwatul Islam in Singar Nakhon)

(This mosque is formerly known as Masjid Yamal)

(Jemaah waiting for Zohor prayers)

(Muang Nam Beach and a lone windmill)

We reached Nakhon town about 4.00 pm and visited the Pasar Ramadhan located next to the Jamek Central Mosque and bought food for iftar. It was nice to see the Muslim community in Nakhon coming together to celebrate the month of Ramadhan.

(Decorated pedestrian crossing at a busy junctions)

(A beautiful mosque located in city centre)

(The history of two prominent mosque in town)

(A brief description of the building)

(Pasar Ramadhan next to the Jamek Central Mosque)

(Mouth-watering food at the Pasar Ramadhan)

Checked in Grand Park Hotel at B600/night around 5.15 pm. Iftar was in the room. After Maghrib/Isya' jamak prayers we walked about a kilometer to Jamek Central mosque for Tarawih. The 8 rakaat prayers were fast and without selawat. Completed our prayers by 8.40 pm.

Walked back to our hotel, sweating profusely and rested well for the night.