A traveller's reflection

Saturday, 31 December 2022

19 Year-end Trip: Chumphon - Krabi

"Stay committed to your decisions, but stay flexible in your approach..." - Tony Robbins

(Swordfish of Krabi)

Day 19: Monday, 02 January 2023
Route: Chumphon to Krabi
Distance: 232 km
Hotel: J Mansion, Krabi

As usual, we had our complimentary breakfast in the hotel restaurant.

(The usual breakfast spread)

By 8.00 am we checked out and drove out of Chumphon. At a PTT along the way we refuelled and bought some provisions. The traffic was smooth but the flow was disrupted by two major accidents on the highways. There was a road detour before Surat Thani because of major roadworks.

(Driving south bound towards Lang Suan)

(Masjid At-Tauheed of Lang Suan)

(The limestone hills of Krabi)

From Route 41 we took the junction to Route 44 and drove towards Krabi. On the way we had to reconfirm our hotel reservation as Krabi is swarmed with local and foreign tourists at this time of the year.

(Plenty of halal eateries in Krabi)

(Jamai Halal Seafood Restaurant)

(Seafood fried rice and tomyam for lunch)

(Our lodging in Krabi)

(The room rate has increased during the New Year holidays)

Reached Ao Nang Beach around 1.30 pm and checked in J Mansion at B900/night. Because of the New Year holidays, hotels were fully booked and rates had doubled. J Mansion's rate used to be only B450/night before the pandemic. J Mansion is our favorite place to stay in Krabi as it is near the beach and the shopping streets. There are plenty of Muslim eateries around the area.

(Krabi Walking Street)

(Attractions by the sea)

(Bustling with local and foreign tourists)

(New Year shopping spree for visitors)

(Souvenir shops, vibrant and lively)

(One of the souvenir shops along the main road)

(Shopping for souvenirs)

(Krabi Muay Thai and Island Hoppings)

We had nasi goreng and tomyam for lunch at Jamai Restaurant just next to J Mansion. The weather was hot and humid so we stayed indoor and rested the whole afternoon. At night we strolled the busy shopping streets and bought some souvenirs. Dinner was a set of roti from the sidewalk stall.

(Roti and fruits for dinner)

(Having our dinner at J Mansion)

(Our room in J Mansion)

Day 20: Year-end Trip: Krabi - Hatyai👉

👈Day 18: Year-end Trip: Ratchaburi - Chumphon

20 Year-end Trip: Krabi - Hatyai

"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.

(Nuruddeen Na Khuan Lang Mosque of Hatyai)

Dinner was pad thai and roti telur at Centara Tunnel Market. We later had and hour of thai massage near our hotel before we retired for the night.

(Old men on rickery chairs)

(Centara Tunnel Market)

(Roti telur and Pad Thai for dinner)

(The view from our room)

(Our usual room at the Golden Crown Hotel)

Day 21: Year-end Trip: Hatyai - KL👉

👈Day 19: Year-end Trip: Chumphon - Krabi

21 Year-end Trip: Hatyai - KL

"Be careful who you get on your ship, because some people will sink the whole ship just because they can't be the captain"

(The sky was bright and clear this morning)

Day 21: Wednesday, 04 January 2023
Route: Hat Yai to Kuala Lumpur
Distance: 534 km

Location: Home Sweet Home

We had nasi dagang and roti canai breakfast at Restoran Khaled. There is another Muslim restaurant around the corner but we are yet to try their dishes.

(The nasi dagang is delicious)

By 8.00 am we drove out of Hatyai towards the Thailand/Malaysia border. Immigration and custom clearance were fast at both borders. We paid B30 for Immigration clearance at the Thailand border.

(The morning view of Hatyai from our room)

(Driving on a wet and slippery road)

(The border is already busy)

Traffic was clear when we drove towards south except for a slight jam at Juru. We had bawal goreng for lunch at Restoran Ikan Bawal Kelapa Sawit in Juru. Had our bigfoot cleaned at the automatic car wash nearby and refuelled at the Petronas petrol station.

(Traffic jam and comfort break at Gurun R&R)

(Crispy bawal goreng for lunch, again)

(A visit to an automatic car wash)

We stopped at Simpang Pulai for our jamak prayers. It was raining heavily all the way to Selayang. Had an early dinner of nasi lemak at Restoran Nasi Lemak Ujang at Bandar Baru Selayang before we drove home.