Robinson Departmental Store Haadyai

Robinson Departmental Store in Haadyai,Songkhla is just a stone throw from the Hatyai Junction main rail terminal.

 This departmental store is slightly off the main tourist belt of the Haadyai Walk street where most of the hotels and guesthouses were located.

 Tourists should not miss this secluded departmental store which has big savings and very popular among the locals.

Having 32 branches all over Thailand,the operating hours are from 10:30am till 9:00pm At the basement,were the supermarket and the food court.

Usually,I just give this supermarket a miss but this time around after buying my 3:30pm rail ticket to Bangkok,my attention was driven to the early morning sound of drum beatings.

 My eagerness to check it out was worth the effort.Interestingly the employees were having some fun activities before the department store open for the day's business.

The sweltering morning heat did not deter me from taking photos and recording their fun activities and uploading them on you tube.

 It's really fun to be with the Thai people.

All good things have to come to a close and it's back to work for the employees. I proceeded to the supermarket section and got hold of a 5 litres SINGHA brand mineral water that cost 33Baht which will last me for three days while in Bangkok.

Loy krathong flower crafts design 2013

Getting local buses to Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal.

How to go to Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal(Bor-kor-Sor Sai Tai Mai) by local buses.

This is the cheapest option to travel extensively and stretch your budget.
Every local buses heading to Sai Tai Mai has to pass through the Somdet Phra Pin Klao Road Bridge across the Chao Phraya River.So ensure you wait for the bus at the right direction as some came inbound whereas you are heading out.But don't worry,just say 'Sai Tai Mai'when you hopped into the bus.

Bus 19:Sanam Luang near the Grand Palace
Bus 28:Morchit (Northern Bus Terminal)-Chatuchak Park-Victory Monument.
Bus 30:Thammasat University Sanam Luang
Bus 40:Ekkamai(Eastern Bus Station)-ThongLor-Nana-Asoke-Ploencit-Hualampong-Yaowarat(Chinatown)
Bus 79:Democarcy Monument
Bus 124:Thammasat University Sanam Luang 
Bus 146:Future Park Mall bang Khae
Bus 149:Ekkamai-Klong Toei-Lumpini-Embassy Australia
Bus 159:MorChit-Victory Monument-HuaLampong(Train station)-Yaaworat(Chinatown)-Democray Monument-sanam Luang
Bus 170:Morchit(Northern Bus terminal)
Bus 174:The Mall Ramkamhaeng
Bus 201:Victory-Democracy-Sanam Luang-Ratchadamnoen Road
Bus 511:On Nut-Ekkamai-Nana-Thonglor-Ploenchit-Central World-Panthip Plaza-Democray
Bus 542:Victory Monument-Suan Chitralada
Bus 507:Paknam-On Nut-Samsen-Rama IV Road-across the road from Hua Lampong Train Sation-Yaowarat(Chinatown)-Grand Palace

Bangkok-Pattalung-Hatyai-Padang Besar.

Padang Besar is near the Malaysian border which is nearest to the jetty to Langkawi Island.

The following rows of ticketing booth were at the section near an escalator to the upper level food court,

Bang Phli Yai-Bang Pakang-Amata Chaloem Thai-Chon Buri

 

Big C Nakhon Pathom-Nong Pho-Bang Phae-Ban Singh

Bangkok-Kamphaeng Saen-Dan Chang-Ban Rai

Nong Mom-Sriracha-laem Chabang

Bangkok-Sri Prachan-Sam chuk-Tha Chang

Bangkok-Kui Buri-Prachuap Khiri Khan

Bangkok-Cha'am-Hua Hin-Pranburi

















Bangkok-Phetchaburi






















Bangkok-Pattaya




















Bangkok-Rayong




















Bangkok-Bang Sapan
This is a government bus--blue stripes lining.


Also available Buses To: Kanchanaburi---Baht110 (2hours)
Buy ticket near the open air entrance platform.

Took this bus to Betong near the Malaysia Border.
My plan was to head for Haadyai but since the bus only leave at 4:00pm took this Yala-Betong Route at 2:30pm instead.
This is a private company bus with the orange body.

YALA SITUATION:many security barriers along the  stretch with army personnells in full gear manning the area including schools.

BETONG:songteaw(jeepney) to immigration border 30Baht standard rate.
Malaysian bus Betong to Ipoh waiting inside the border,time 11:30am Fares:RM19.00 stopped at new Ipoh bus terminal and continue to old bus terminal.
Bus name:Perak Roadways Bhd,maroon colour bus Daily bus schedule:From Ipoh 08:00 and 10:00am ,return from Betong border 12:30noon and 15:30hrs only.
Travelers heading for Cameron Highlands will have to get buses at the old terminal beside the Ipoh Railway Station.

Bangkok-Chumphon Bus with the bus drivers and conductors dressed in uniform similar to airline flight staff.

The fares Bangkok-Betong was Baht745 and from this travel experience,realized that passengers could disembark at any point along the travel route.Foreigners required to present passport while booking.
Stations where they stop to pick passengers to fill empty seats:HuaHin,Chumphon,Hatyai.
At Haadyai stopover which was bout 6:00am the next day most of the passengers disembark.Just wonder why the counter in Bangkok reluctant to sell me this option and require me to wait for the 4:00pm departure bus.Bangkok To Haadyai fares is Baht747

Thai Transport Company also has long distance cross border route to

1)Vientiane(Laos)-depart20:00 return18:00 10 hours(Baht900)
2)Pakse (Laos)-depart 21:00 return:16:00  11half hour(Baht900)

Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal timetable

Bangkok Southern Bus Terminal is locally called "Sai Tai Mai" (สายใต้ใหม่)

The bus terminal distances are:
1)Pratunam(14km)
2)Khao San Road(10km)
3)Victory Monument(13km)
4)Silom(18km)
5)Sukhumvit(18km)
6)Yaowarat-Chinatown(13km)
7)Don Mueang (30km)
8)Survanabhumi Int'l Airport(42km)
9)Paknam(23km)

The shopping mall beside the terminal is known as SC Plaza and travelers need to go by escalator to the 3rd floor where the ticketing booth of various companies were located.

The SC Plaza has been recently refurbished and hardly can one loiter around to spend an overnight within the vicinity.

The first ticketing counter that you'll see at the first corner is operated by the Thai Transport Company Limited(Call Center Number:1490)
Bus Ticket Online

There were about eight categories of  buses from high premium(24 seater) to the low end(55 seater)
Long distance buses in Thailand are very comfortable with their efficient drivers and service orientated bus conductors.Buses were most mostly new and being replaced upon expiry of  certain time period of service.
One important note here is you need to carry along a neck rest  as the ergonmics of the bus seat support more for the head.

 VIP.-1st: class- 24 seats.with reclination 135 degrees.
 Food and soft drink included.

VIP.-1st class lower+upper floor  32 seats 135 degrees.reclination.
Food and drink included,


Aircond 1st class 32 seats.125 degrees. reclination 
Food and drink  included.


Aircond  1st class  40 seats. reclination 125 degrees
 Food and drink included.

Aircond upper +lower floor 40 seats. reclination 125 degrees.

 Air-conditioned first floor (second floor): 50 seats. reclineation 125 degrees.
. 
 Aircond , 55 seats.reclineation 125 degrees.

Air, 2nd. class 46 seats. and  32 seats. with reclineation 125 degrees..