Xmas 2009 @ Hat Yai Day 1

Yes! As we've vowed last year, we're going back in Hat Yai for Xmas.

This year we made reservations directly with Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel and was quoted 1149Bt per night for a Superior Room and 490Bt per night for an extra bed. We booked for four nights and the total came up to 6556Bt.

Last year we booked through a travel agent's website (http://www.hotels2thailand.com/) and although the room rate was cheaper (1037Bt) we inccurred VAT. The total last year was 7241Bt.

So I guess its cheaper overall to book directly with the hotel. As far as transportation goes, we bought our bus tickets from Konsortium Bas Express Semenanjung (KBES) again and paid RM50 for a ticket. We booked the 11:00PM double decker bus.

Our adventure begins at the check point.

Malaysian check point

Brendan's excited to cross the border

We took KBES's double decker, same as last year

Border crossed, Hat Yai here we come!

Checked into the same hotel (Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel, Coordinates: 7.005694, 100.471597). Rested awhile, then took the tuk-tuk to hunt for our lunch.

Still a bit groggy, but he'll soon recover

He's been waiting a year to ride the tuk-tuk again

Haha, yet again we head to our favourite restaurant for lunch... Rose-E Son (Coordinates: 7.000486, 100.475764) beckons!

Feels like home

Brendan has longer hair this year

ooh lala

Brendan had a huge appetite

I don't blame him, waited a whole year for this

Just look at the tom yam

Later while walking around we found this very cute looking scooter.

Later that night we found a little foodstall selling mee hoon soup (located behind Pink Lady, Coordinates: 7.005556, 100.472569). Very reasonably priced at 25Bt per bowl.

Very simple and unassuming

Serving authentic thai soup

And very cheap!