Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hat Samila
Stroll this beautiful strip of white sand with the giggling local couples and enjoy the kite
flying (a local obsession). A bronze
Mermaid sculpture
, in tribute to Mae Thorani (the
Hindu-Buddhist earth goddess), sits atop some rocks at the northern end of the beach.
Locals treat the figure like a shrine, tying the waist with coloured cloth and rubbing the
breasts for good luck.
Don't expect to sunbathe here - the local dress code is too modest - but it's a whole-
some spot to meet locals and enjoy a distinctly Thai beach scene.
BEACH
Ko Yo
A popular day trip from Songkhla, this island in the middle of Thale Sap is actually con-
nected to the mainland by bridges and is famous for its cotton-weaving industry. There's
a roadside market selling cloth and ready-made clothes at excellent prices.
If you visit Ko Yo, don't miss
Wat Phrahorn Laemphor
, with its giant reclining Buddha,
and check out the
Thaksin Folklore Museum
( 0 7459 1618; admission 100B; 8.30am-4.30pm)
,
which actively aims to promote and preserve the culture of the region, and is a must-see.
The pavilions here are reproductions of southern Thai-style houses and contain folk art,
handicrafts and traditional household implements.
ISLAND
Tours
TRAM TOUR
Singora Tram Tour
( 6 tours daily btwn 9am & 3pm)
These 40-minute tours in an open-air tram leave from
next to the National Museum. You'll be lucky if you get any English narration but you
will get a drive through the old part of town past the Songkhla mosque, a Thai temple,
Chinese shrine and then out to Hat Samila.
Sleeping & Eating
Songkhla's hotels tend to be lower priced than other areas in the gulf, which makes going
up a budget level a relatively cheap splurge.
For quality seafood, head to the street in front of the BP Samila Beach Hotel - the best
spot is the restaurant directly in the roundabout. If market munching is your game, you'll
find a place to sample street food every day of the week. On Sundays try the bustling
