This is our final day in Hat Yai. Catching the KBES's Super Snoozer back to Kuala Lumpur tomorrow at 10:30AM.
Woke up pretty early again, and as usual Cat and Brendan took their time getting ready. I went down to get some early morning shots.
 |
| Apart from the street signs, this may look like any town in Malaysia |
 |
| The tuk tuk however is a dead giveaway |
 |
| Abundance of food outlets |
 |
| Street view of Novotel Centara facing west |
 |
| Street view of Grand Plaza Hotel facing south |
 |
| Street view from the corner of Lee Gardens facing east |
 |
| Up the elevator to our hotel room, obviously on the 6th floor |
Since it was our last day, we had breakfast at McDonald's again so that Brendan could have his fill of his beloved cheezy fries.
 |
| Cat still a bit groggy fom sleep |
 |
| Its McDonalds, so Brendan's up and about |
 |
| Enjoying his hash browns |
 |
| And his cheezy fries |
 |
| While I had a piping hot cup of McD's own cafe mocha |
 |
| Why don't they have something similar in Malaysia? |
Hopped on the tuk tuk and made our way to the Plaza market for some final shopping. I shot plenty of photos during the tuk tuk ride.
 |
| Cat's finally awake |
 |
| Brendan taking in the sights |
 |
| Thinking of what to buy at the Plaza market |
 |
| Is the tuk tuk a little too fast my dear? |
 |
| A couple of weary but happy travellers |
 |
| My happy boy |
 |
| So young but so adept at self-portrait picture taking |
 |
| The shop was ravaged by the floods but recovered |
 |
| What's Zebra Thailand? |
Got to the Plaza market and walked around looking for a good deal on t-shirts.
 |
| A lot of haggling was invovled |
 |
| Managed to haggle down to 80Bt per t-shirt |
 |
| The trick is in coming early to make sure you're the first customer |
We then proceeded to Robinson (entailing another tuk tuk ride, much to Brendan's delight) and took more photos on the way there.
 |
| Aah, Brendan finally tired of tuk tuks |
 |
| Down a narrow road |
 |
| Brendan's still engrossed with his book |
 |
| Casualties of the recent floods |
 |
| An unfamiliar part of town |
 |
| Not sure if this part of the Plaza market |
 |
| We will need to explore this part of town next year |
 |
| He looks weary |
 |
| The train station |
Got to Robinson and Cat shopped for some shoes.
 |
| Is mom done yet? |
 |
| Brendan looking very bored indeed |
 |
| I got a cheap pair of flip flops myself |
We had lunch at Lee Gardens Plaza's food court at the top floor. You'll need to first purchase token tickets in order for you to pay for your meals later. Brendan was astonished to find a can of soda sold at only 10Bt!
 |
| Brendan had the chicken rice |
 |
| Cat's tom yam with rice was delicious |
 |
| I had the more sensible seafood fried rice |
Lunch cost us only 180Bt. Brendan wanted to spend some time at the video arcade so I allocated him a budget of 50Bt (its 10Bt per game).
 |
| Playing a crash and burn game |
 |
| The game had him totally captivated |
 |
| Hope its not how he'll be driving in years to come |
 |
| Game over! |
Later we spent our tea time at where else? You got it, Chester's Grille..
 |
| Will miss this tremendously when I go back |
 |
| My little slice of heaven |
 |
| More soda, Brendan? |
For our last night, we had dinner at the tom yam shop we first discovered two years ago.
 |
| All that fresh seafood |
 |
| She remembers us well |
 |
| And her prices remain reasonable |
 |
| Its located behind the Regency hotel, if you're interested |
Rice all around, a large bowl of mixed seafood (with huge prawns!) tomyam, a very large omelette (3 eggs) and a large bottle of Beer-Sing (Singha beer) did not cost us more than 250bt.
Later, we found a group of college kids busking in front of Lee Gardens Plaza raising funds for their school. Brendan, ever the philanthropist was eager to chip in.
 |
| Warms my heart to see my son so generous with his pocket money |
 |
| The were doing a very cute jitter bug styled dance |
We popped by Artsmaker Tattoo to bid farewell to my good friend Mhen. I had some additions to my body art but I'll cover that in another post later.
 |
| My good friend Mhen |
 |
| Brendan will be his next customer in a few short years |
We then walked across the street for some final shopping at Central Dept Store. We found a very appealing ensemble of shirt and vest for Brendan that we couldn't resist.
 |
| Doesn't he look adorable? |
 |
| Dashing young man |
Being our last night in Hat Yai, all of us went for a final foot massage at our favourite massage salon (KJ) which is right across from Lee Gardens Plaza.
 |
| Despite the signage, they've reduced their price to 250bt per hour |
 |
| Getting ready |
 |
| Hard at work with my feet (on the left) |
 |
| Cat's feet was easier |
 |
| Feeling a little ticklish |
 |
| Thoroughly enjoyable |
 |
| A good back rub |
 |
| And its all smiles |
After an absolutely lovely foot massage, we walked around the Lee Gardens Plaza one final time. Tried out the local variety of the teh tarik.
 |
| Had a distinctly pandan flavour |
 |
| Merry Xmas! |
We bade a fond farewell to Hat Yai, vowing to return for Xmas next Year!
