04 Kembara Ramadhan - Surat Thani

“Jobs fill your pockets, adventures fill your soul...”

(Surat Thani Central Mosque)

Day 04: Tuesday, 4 April 2023
Route: Nakhon Si Thammarat - Tha Sala - Surat Thani
Distance: 155 km
Hotel: Harbour Front Hotel, Surat Thani

We had nasi and sambal sotong for sahur. After subuh prayers and tadarus we continued sleeping.

Checked out around 9.00 am. We stopped at Masjid Salahuddin for photo shoot. Fronted by the huge black-and-white picture of a young King Rama IX sat atop the mosque's ornate wooden mimbar, this mosque is distinctly Moghul in design and features several onion domes. Green colour is widely used. The original mehrab points slightly off Mecca.

(A large signage of the mosque) 

(Masjid Salahuddin, Nakhon Si Thammarat)

(The green domes could be seen from far)

(The Roman columns along the corridors)

(Vibrant Mihrab area)

(Moghul design green domes)

(External and internal views)

(Painting on the wall depicting the King in the mosque)

Drove out of town towards Surat Thani and stopped at the Nakhon Si Thammarat Islamic Council for photo shoot. This huge, golden-domed mosque is located on the outskirts of Nakhon Si Thammarat. It is aesthetically beautiful structure with two gold-rimmed minarets loom overhead. Stained glass decorated the windows. A beautiful tri-domed dark wood mimbar sits in a modern spacious central hall. The mosque was quiet and empty but the mosque really comes alive during Friday prayers.

(Driving out of Nakhon Si Thammarat)

(Nakhon Si Thammarat Islamic Council)

(A huge, golden-domed mosque)

(The golden domes and the minarets)

(Staircase to the upper level)

(The mimbar and the prayer area)

(Colourful stained glass decorating the windows)

We later drove towards Tha Sala and stopped at Sheiaruddeen Mosque for Dhuha prayers. The mosque is situated on the road side and convenient for travellers to stop and rest. There is ample parking space around the mosque.

(Sheiaruddeen Mosque in Tha Sala)

(View from across the road)

(Performing our prayers here)

(Exterior and interior views)

(The graveyard near the mosque)

When we reached Surat Thani we tried to locate the muslim restaurant near Rajabhat University but we were directed to a wrong location. We will try later tonight or tomorrow if time permitted. Drove to Bismillah Haji Restaurant by the Tapi river. They only sell nasi and lauk-pauk and will close at 5.00 pm.

(Driving towards Surat Thani)

(Haji Bismillah restaurant by the Tapi River)

(An island of Tapi River)

Next we drove to Surat Thani Central Mosque to recce the area. Met with a few jemaah there and we were invited to have iftar with the jemaah at the mosque. We went to Halal Street by the river but the stalls only start selling at 3.00 pm and we were early.

Checked in the Harbour Front Hotel for B790/night and took a much needed rest in the room. At 5.00pm we drove to Muslim Ocha located at a food court and bought nasi goreng and Pad Thai. We had our iftar in the hotel room.

(Harbour Front Hotel, Surat Thani)

(A cosy boutique hotel)

(Buying food for iftar at Muslim Ocha)

After maghrib/isya jamak prayer in the room, we drove to Surat Thani Central Mosque for solat Tarawih. After Tarawih we had moreh with the friendly and welcoming locals.

(Day and night views of the Central Mosque)

(The prayer hall and moreh area)

          05 Kembara Ramadhan - Krabi👉

👈03 Kembara Ramadhan - Nakhon Si Thammarat