The Satun National Museum is a must visit for the inside scoop on Satun’s history. Like much of Northern Malaysia and other parts of Southern Thailand, Satun’s history is fascinatingly complex. In a nutshell, once upon a time, Satun was part of a Malay state known as the Kingdom of Setul Mambang Segara (Setul) from […]
Songkran Water Festival Hat Yai Style
The truth is I hadn’t planned my trip to Thailand to coincide with the Songkran Water Festival, but travel fate plunged me smack in the middle of it. My own mind was on Malaysia’s Ramadan month and the travel complexities associated with the fasting month; changes in land transportation schedules and hotels booking up. But […]
All Aboard! Riding the Rails from Kuala Lumpur to Perlis and Beyond
Train travel in Malaysia is a marvel. Especially along the west coast of Peninsula Malaysia. For a mere RM100 (about 21usd) you can get all the way from KL Sentral to Padang Besar, Perlis and the border of Thailand in about 5.5 hours. Malaysia train travel is an excellent alternative to over-priced flights or long […]
Satun Ferry to Langkawi in 3 Easy-ish Steps (2024 Edition)
Catching the Satun Ferry to Langkawi may sound like a no-brainer, and for the most part it is, however, there are a few things first timers might want to take note of. As of this initial writing, in December 2022, there is just one ferry a day from Satun to Langkawi and it’s at 11:30am […]
Shop ‘Til You Drop in Hat Yai, Thailand
Shopping in Hat Yai is incredible. Especially for bargain hunters. Hat Yai is the largest city in Thailand’s Songkhla Province, yet despite the numerous things to do in Hat Yai it doesn’t see nearly the western tourist traffic that its sibling cities see. But ask any Malaysian why they go to Hat Yai and the […]
Hat Yai to Padang Besar by Train, What You May Need to Know Before You Go
Padang Besar, Malaysia has been a mystery to me for nearly 10 years. Yet, seeing so many recent social media posts about fun train rides from Hat Yai to Padang Besar and beyond kept gnawing at me, because they look fun and adventurous. To be totally honest, my own experience of traveling through Padang Besar […]
Sri Pakpra Boutique Resort Phatthalung, Coolest Resort in Phatthalung, Thailand
Despite the vastness of the Thai province, finding a hotel in Phatthalung is not difficult; there are many great options. But the Phatthalung accommodation that ticks all the boxes for me is Sri Pakpra Boutique Resort. The family-owned Sri Pakpra Boutique Resort is a charmingly tucked away on the marshy banks of Thale Luang (Upper […]