Sungai Golok,Thai south

Exiting from the Sungai Golok train station,a map of the district is being displayed and very handy.

This will ensure that you won't deviate to certain areas which are currently under travel advisory.

Towards the eastern side is the Province of Narathiwat with its beautiful beaches facing the Gulf of Thailand.

On the west is Yala Province while on its northern border is Pattani Province.

On the right column of photo (click to enlarge) are the two immigration border checkpoint with neighbouring Malaysia (town call Rantau Panjang).

Going to Malaysian state of Kelantan via Sungai Golok is most common for tourists and foreigners while the other one at Tak Bai exit are normally used by the local people and.... ..I just wonder why some people ask me whether I cross the river!

During the dry season,can easily walk across at all the loopholes but not now with the monsoon and swelling river.

 The river has a span of less than 500 metres similar to what I see at Tajilek(Myanmar) with Mae Sai(Thailand).






North-west of Sungai Golok is Songkhla Province where Haadyai is the third largest city in Thailand.

Surprisingly at the southern tip of Sungai Golok near the Malaysian border is a gold mine.

Must be mineral resources and not name of place or company like Goldmine Garment Co Ltd at Samut Prakan near Bangkok.

This map here is for the Yala District,notice the huge lake there.

Well if you wish to cross over to Malaysia via Thai exit town of Betong,there are minivans from Sungai Golok as well.

While in Betong do visit comrade Chin Peng Piyamit Tunnel similar to that of Cu Chi Tunnel in Vietnam.

Piyamit Tunnel connects right to near Haadyai.The former communist party of Malaya Chinese will bring you inside for a tour.

The Malaysian side town is Gerik.(state of Perak,capital Ipoh)
From Ipoh to Penang Island is another one and half hour drive along the expressway.

This travel billboard is more about Narathiwat Province which is 1,134km from Bangkok.

Narathiwat is one of the four Thai provinces which have a Muslim majority; 82% are Muslim and only 17.9% are Buddhist.

 Also 80.4% speak the Patani Malay as their first language.

Narathiwat Malays are very similar in ethnicity and culture to the Malays of Kelantan, Malaysia. 






 A replica of a temple (wat) entrance on the pedestrian bridge as you are about to go into the town.





The Anglo -Siamese Treaty of 1909 saw Thailand relinquished its claims to sovereignty over Kedah (Thai: ไทรบุรี (Saiburi)), Kelantan (Thai: กลันตัน (Kalantan)), Perlis (Thai: ปะลิส (Palit)) and Terengganu (Thai: ตรังกานู (Trangkanu)) which integrated the British sphere of influence as protectorates.

These four states, along with Johor, later became known as the Unfederated Malay States.



The radio frequency modulation(FM) is 106.50 Mhz.












A small train station waiting platform.

  Train from Bangkok via Haadyai has just arrived,time was around 11:30am when photo taken.

I took a train once from Hualampong in Bangkok at around 12:00 midnight to reach Haadyai at around 9:30am.



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Signboard says "SungaiKolok Keretapi"=SungaiKolok Train.
Thai language for train station:-"sathani rot-fai"
Beside the entrance were some muslim food stalls and sundry stalls.






Coming out from here just walk across the main road is the town centre.
Another signboard says"Beware of Trains".You'll be expected to walk via the railway lines in order to reach the platform.





The busy morning market just across the train station.The market already has its sign of activities as early as 5:00am.
The immigration checkpoint opens at 6:00am.
During that one hour lapse I noticed most of the motorcyclist already making many trips transporting goods to a car park area in Rantau Panjang just beside the immigration checkpoint.

I drove from Kuala Lumpur the day before to drop off my relatives from Melbourne,Australia at Club Med Cherating Beach in Kuantan(Pahang State).

Travelling from Kuala Lumpur via East West Highway is a breeze.
Departing at 11:00am to reach the Jabor Exit at 2:00pm and arrive Club Med at 2:30pm just in time for the check-in.
Subsequently I continued my 3 hours journey to Kota Bharu in Kelantan spending a night there.
 At 5:00am the following day,I drove from Kota Bahru to Rantau Panjang which takes 30 minutes.The private parking lot is owned by a chinese called Charlie Lee charging RM5.00 per day while immigration officers got exemptions.
If you do require any assistance at the border do contact him. Distance from Immigaration checkpoint to market:-1km.


 A local mosque without those glamorous minarets.

 The inner township road.
Armed Thai security personels were manning at strategic points especially around the town centre.









 Thairice International. (http://www.golokthairice.com/)








The Merlin Hotel in the heart of town just opposite the police headquarters.
Police personnels were stationed at all strategic locations around town and is very safe to visit Sungai Golok.
Closed circuit cameras mostly around here.
 
During weekends hotels are nearly full with muslim malays from neighbouring country who were here to enjoy whatever available from woman,beer,entertainment and even polygamy which is rampant here..

While back home they just have to behave religiously.In neighbouring country any close proximity of gender from different sex by muslim in secluded places can be charged by the religious department for "Khalwat"




Nam Tok Chat Warin Forest Park Hala-Bala Wildlife Reserve (เขตรักษาพันธุ์สัตว์ป่าฮาลา – บาลา) is a new conservation area of Thailand.
 It was officially established in 1996.

Sirindhorn Waterfall (น้ำตกสิรินธร) is not a waterfall that falls from a high cliff but is really a stream that comes down from a forest at a higher altitude.
The falls feature a wide rock plateau suitable for relaxation.





Kids playing truant from school.(Thai:rongrian) What's your name?(Khun cher arai) From right the kids names were now,hum,op and kit.

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 View from Hawaii Guesthouse (fan room attached toilet,double bed =Baht220)

Morning breakfast had a bowl of noodle.Baht 35.
Noodle with soup==mee nam
 Noodle only soup separate==mee haeng.

Hotels and guesthouses:

Genting 250 Asia Road 18 (Tel: 0 7361 3231-40) 234 rooms: 550-720 baht (1km from immigration checkpoint)

Grand Garden 66 Soi 3 Prachawiwat (Tel: 0 7361 3600-5, 0 7361 3501-4) 118 rooms: 650-2,000 baht

Krung Thong House 143 Vithiuthok Road (Tel: 0 7361 1511, 0 7361 2662) 23 rooms: 200 baht

Come In 48 Surirong Road (Tel: 0 7361 1187) 20 rooms:200-300baht

Chonun House 43/5-6Soi Phuthon Chareonkhet Road (Tel: 0 7361 1421) 23 rooms: 130-280 baht

Savoy 8/2 Chareonkhet Road (Tel: 0 7361 1093) 27 rooms: 130 baht.

Taksin 1 30 Prachawiwat Road (Tel: 0 7361 1010, 0 7361 1083) 39 rooms: 110-280 baht

Taksin 2 Prachasamran Road (Tel: 0 7361 1088) 49 rooms: 180-430 baht

Thai Laem Thong 193/8 Prachawiwat Road (Tel: 0 7361 1094, 0 7361 2387) 34 rooms: 200-350 baht

Thai Eak 43 Wongwithi Road (Tel: 0 7361 1052, 0 7361 3136) 37 rooms: 220-320 baht

Thani 4/1 Chunmankha (Tel: 0 7361 1241) 52 rooms: 120-220 baht

Tara Regent 45 Soi Phuthon Chareonkhet Road (Tel: 0 7361 1801-2) 119 rooms: 350-450 baht

Nam Thai 2 93-95 Soi Phuthon Chareonkhet Road (Tel: 0 7361 1163) 37 rooms: 120-250 baht.

Parkson 501 Soi Phuthon Chareonkhet Road (Tel: 0 7361 2789-90) 40 rooms: 380-420 baht

Plaza 2 Thetpathom (Tel: 0 7361 3403, 0 7361 1875-6) 94 rooms: 400-650 baht

Phiman 76/4 Chareonkhet Road (Tel: 0 7361 1464) 17 rooms: 200 baht

My House 98/34 Saritwong Road (Tel: 0 7361 1069, 0 7361 3569) 24 rooms: 200-280 baht

Marina 173 Soi Phuthon Chareonkhet Road (Tel: 0 7361 3881-5) 180 rooms: 700-1,500 baht

Madi 19/4 Chunmankha Road (Tel: 0 7361 1214, 0 7361 1122) 27 rooms: 140-250 baht

Merlin 68 Chareonkhet Road (Tel: 0 7361 1003, 0 7361 1431) 96 rooms: 410-550 baht