Tops is Tops

On Saturday night, a descision was made. Tops at Central has been designated as most appealing place to go shopping for food in Hatyai. This is for the following reasons:

• Hummous
  
• Celary
  
• Reasonably priced Emmental cheese
  
• Cottage Cheese
  
• French Raspberry Cordial Syrup
  
• Wild Turkey Bourbon
  
• Really Nice Fresh Meat
  
• Bakery in particular the Fruit Cream Tarts
  
• Tinned Black Cherries
  

Beats Tesco Lotus in a big way.

I have also had in the past week:

• A really nice Lamb and Mint Pasty
• Danish Havarti Cheese
• Gapefruit Juice.

Such exotic eating for this place.

My wants list is as follows.

• A large jar of Bovril
• A pint of Draught Theakstons (in a can if you must!)
• A Ginsters Mexican Cheese Wrap
• A can of Woodpecker
• Walkers Cheese and Onion
• Large jar of Tahini
• Pitta Bread
• Bagels
• Smoked Salmon
• Jahrlsberg Cheese
• Sundried Tomatos

Mmmm...that made me hungry.

LDMA's New Toy

You may recall a month or so ago, I mentioned that I was lusting over a new piece of DJing kit called the Hercules DJ Console, a widget that plugs into your USB port for hands-on mixing MP3's.

Well, 2 days ago it arrived, and I've been joyously mixing music as much as possible. This is the first piece of proper DJ gear I've owned since I left the UK. Well, to give it a little trial run I took it down to Coffee Mar, and hooking it up to Naurus's laptop, we had a little mix session over Aey's Soundsystem. Works very nicely.

I'm looking forward to doing some proper parties, and one is coming up in 10 days so stay tuned.

'Avin It In 'Atyai

Went out last night to Hatyai. A whole bunch of us went to this new nightclub called Brass Monkey.

I must say that on the whole night-time venues in this part of the world leave me somewhat underwhelmed, but this place was totally awesome, from the decor to the atmosphere, it was spot on.

The DJ was a guy from Bankok's Lunar Bar, and he rocked the place with mash up of house, trance, hip hop and R+B. Wicked! Had a right old groove for a change.

I even saw a hint of an afterparty at a location that I won't repeat on here, but it was a bit crappy and there was nowhere to sit and the music was too quiet.

Got in at 5am this morning. Big up to Kan who I've never seen stay up so late! Top night out!

Skeletor

Looking disturbingly like a youngish Jimmy Saville, 41 year old Kev AKA Vino AKA Skeletor is Songkhla's dancing geriatric, but oh no his talents don't stop there. He also plays sax down the Sea of Love Bar on Chalatas Beach. He lives in a mansion surrounded by buxom playboyesque beauties (well...Simon actually), and his greatest wish is for world peace and hoummus (and possibly to REALLY be surrounded by buxom playboyesque beauties.)

Thieving Songkhla Locals Caught Mugging Women and Children On Camera

Tourist Warning: There have been a spate of muggings in the Songkhla area. Tourists and other animals are advised to avoid all non-essential travel around the perimeter of Khao Tang Kuwan in Songkhla at around 5pm-6pm if carrying shopping or other edibles. These thieves are known to mill about in their hundreds usually begging for food, but sometimes resort to bagsnatching if spurned.

Reports of a mass breakout from Songkhla's San Dek (childrens prison) have been denied by authorities.

Ko Yo

Ko Yo is a small islands near the mouth of Songkhla's Thalesap Lake. These days it serves as a conduit between the two sides of the mainland since the Tinsulanonda bridges were built in 1984. Spanning 2.4km they are the longest bridges in Thailand. It is all to easy to miss what this Island has to offer as you sweep by on the increasingly busy road that runs from east to west along the southern edge of the island.

One of it's biggest attractions is the Institute for Southern Thai Studies, a museum devoted to Southern Thai culture. Set on one of Koyo's Highest points, it provides a good lookout point even if the museum itself is not really THAT interesting or inspiring.

Ko Yo is also famous for it's silk weaving which may not sound that exciting either, but when your sister wants a traditional outfit for your traditional Thai wedding, knowing where to get the cheapest and best quality Thai silk in the region comes in handy. You just have to find a decent dressmaker to make the dress after that...

Exploring the edges of the island, you will find the best reason to go to Ko Yo, its seafood restaurants. Built on platforms extending out past the mangroves surrounding the island, these beautifully set restaurants do some of the best seafood in Songkhla. The west-facing restaurants are more pricey, but then you do get a spectacular sunset with your meal if you go at the right time.

Songkhla Sunday Market

I've had this pics for quite a while but I've never blogged them before. This is the Songkhla Sunday market which runs from 5am til about 1pm every Sunday morning, in the area surrounding the old train station.

There is a permenant fresh market there everyday, but on Sunday it quadruples in size to take in the sides of the main roads surrounding it.
They sell everything from fruit and veg, to cooked food, to haberdashery, to second-hand clothing. Sadly it's very rare that I am ever conscious enough to see it for myself these days as Sunday mornings is usually my only lie in of the week.

Pretty Piccies

Ok, ok anything for a gratuitous excuse to stick some of my photos up. Y'know, just want to try out what this thing can do.

These are pictures taken of and from Khao Tang Kuwan the big hill by Samila beach with the Chedi (and a lot of tourists since the shit cable car was built) on top.

It's really nice to climb up at around sunset when you get some awesome light effects on the west facing lake.

This place is also about 2 minutes walk from my house which makes it an ideal way to get some exercise by walking up the 200 odd steps to the top. You can also see it from my front balcony.

The Songkhla Bullet

The Songkhla Bullet

I don't usually have much time for trainspotters but this is interesting

This is a fascinating and rare English account of the now defunct Hat Yai to Songkhla "Bullet" Train. I drive past these now derelict tracks so regularly, that it amuses me that the nowheresville bus stop that is Ban Nam Noi once had its own railways station. The central railway station in Songkhla is now a fairly derelict nightmarket selling cheapy fried rice and currys.

Bars and Nightlife in Songkhla

Bars and Nightlife in Songkhla

Well, here's an interesting post. Songkhla's getting reviews at last, and on such auspicious sites as erm... BaronBonk.com.

It also bears a striking resemblence of the style of one Markoinbangkok, one of the admins on Ajarn.com

It's reasonably uptodate in that it mentions the Buzzstop, but I'm not buying the shite about Aunties bar, it stuffers too much from bargirlitis for it to appeal to me.

Otherwise yep it sounds like the average passing thru fallang's experience. Though have to mention Lek's Place at the end of SiSuda near the Darkside. Run by Kevin from Nottingham's wife, it now does a breakfast to easily rival both the Office and the Buzzstop as Songkhla's best. Plum tomatoes are a great touch. Down side is that you don't get toast included or a drink, though it's surroundings are much more relaxed than the mostly bar dwelling Office. Did I not mention the German's place? Ooops!

Urgent message from the Buzzstop:

Beautiful Jit makes the best sausages in Songkhla.

Coffee Mar

Today, me sending a big shout out to my man Ae AKA Rice Pouch AKA Uncle Ben, proprieter of Songkhla's finest coffee drinking establishment, Coffee Mar. I particularly recommend the Cafe Con Parma, a double expresso topped with whipped cream and cinnamon. Also worthy of mention is the strwberry cheese cake (good ones being soo rare in this part of the world.), and his near legendary Croissant Puddings. Also is the man behind all the Thaiphoon design, decor and all-round Thai-speaking that needed doing.