Hatyai - The gang 55-year Anniversary Reunion...

"With old friends, you can pick up right where you left off, no matter how much time has passed..."

(Big Five: 1970 - 2025)

Date: 24 - 26 July 2025

Activity: Big 5 and the gang Reunion

Hotel: The Regency Hotel, Hat Yai

When they invited me to join our 55-year comradeship reunion in Hat Yai, I hesitated. We’d barely been back from our Central American trip for two weeks, and I was still recovering from both the jet lag and the mountain of laundry. My Muslimah classes had just resumed, and I was determined to catch up. But then I thought, fifty-five years! That’s not just a reunion, that’s a historic summit. Who knows if we’d all still be able to make it to the 60th? My sensible side told me to stay home; my heart and maybe my curiosity told me to go.

 

(The gang from Kota Bharu)

(Big Five - 55 years of comradeship)

So hubby and I packed our bags, tucked in a packet of panadols and a bottle of yoko-yoko for emergencies, and drove to Hat Yai via Bukit Kayu Hitam. The rest of the gang came in a van from Kota Bharu via Tak Bai. When we reached the Regency Hotel Hat Yai, the rest had already checked-in.

(Breakfast at Chabura Dimsum Restaurant)

The hotel is situated very near Lee Garden Night Market. The moment we stepped off, the air hit us, a heady mix of sizzling satay smoke, sweet mangoes, and the occasional waft of grilled squid. Street vendors called out cheerfully, motorbikes zipped past, and the whole area hummed with energy.

When the gang met at the lobby, it was like stepping into a time machine. The young faces I remembered had been replaced with older, wiser ones though the mischievous smiles were exactly the same. We swapped stories, compared medical prescriptions, and laughed until our sides hurt.

 

(Kayson Souvenir Shop - One Stop Centre)

(Leather goods and souvenirs at Nora Plaza)

(A stop for fresh honey and delicious ice-cream)

We thronged the crowd in the markets and plazas, pretending not to be tempted by the fried chicken stalls and roadside souvenir shops. And later wandered through the night bazaar under strings of glowing lights. The years melted away in between the jokes, the food, and the shared silences only old friends can enjoy. We had a whole day to ourselves, wondering in and out of eateries and shopped till we drop!

(Khlong Hae Buffet Seafood Restaurant)

(BBQ and Shabu2 style buffet, eat as much as you can!)

(A visit at the Khlong Hae Floating Market)

I came home tired, but my heart felt light. Sometimes, catching up with friends is worth pausing the rest of life for. Even if it means a recurring backaches and an extra pile of laundry waiting when we get back.