THE screech of metal grinding incessantly against the tracks wakes me up with a start as the conventional brake system propagates through the wheels on my carriage while working its way to the rear. Peering out into the semi-darkness, I’m in time to see the train slow to a crawl alongside a well-lit building.
An announcement in a foreign tongue comes on air moments before the string of carriages arrives to a complete stop. Amongst the jumble of words, the mention of "Hat Yai" twice confirms my arrival at the largest city in Songkhla Province known widely as the Gateway to south Thailand.
At the information counter, located just after the pedestrian underpass which connects the main building to the platforms, the petite lady breaks into a smile when I stop to ask for directions to Centara Hotel Hat Yai.
Speaking in near flawless English, she gestures towards the exit, saying: "Walk down Thumnoonvithi Road and turn left at the fifth junction. The hotel is at the end of the street. It’s not very far — just about 8 minutes walk."
Apparently, dusk comes sooner than expected here in the Land of a Thousand Smiles. In contrast with the brightly lit train station interior, the quiet surrounding streets outside look like they just came out of an old photograph. Nearly every object in sight is in a familiar shade of grey.
Turning towards the western horizon, the faint glow outlining the plumes of soft grey clouds that closely hug the distant mountain range is a clear indicator that I best be on my way before the last few remaining splashes of sunlight disappear to make way for darkness which is already starting to creep in.
REUNION IN THAILAND
Along the way, recollections of the events leading to this rather rushed trip begin to surface. It was only last week that I received news from one of my former classmates in Kuala Lumpur about the planned reunion. Four decades have passed since we left school and the organising committee decided that the venue should be in one of our neighbouring countries in order for the celebrations to be extra special.
Apparently, someone suggested Thailand during the brainstorming session and gave rave reviews based on her experience while staying at Centara Hotel Hat Yai. Everyone present immediately went for the idea. The thought of tantalising Thai cuisine and back-to-back shopping sprees, coupled with exquisite Thai hospitality, appealed greatly to the committee members and the decision was set in stone there and then.
The only glitch to the well laid plans was that nearly all my classmates have moved to larger cities in search of greener pastures while I still remain firmly rooted in our hometown. Left to my own devices, I start to consider my options to get to Hat Yai.
Driving is definitely out of the question as it has been nearly two decades since I last took the car across the border at Bukit Kayu Hitam. After much deliberation, i decide to opt for the reliable rail service. After all, the Hat Yai Railway Station is strategically located right in the heart of the city.
"Watch out!" a Caucasian man calls out to his female companion in front of me, warning her to steer clear of the busy traffic. His call jolts me out of my reverie. The navigation app on my phone indicates my location in Saneha Nusorn Road and the hotel, just a short distance away.
Apart from the busy foot traffic and an endless stream of vehicles, this popular part of Hat Yai is filled with makeshift stalls selling a large variety of items. It’s quite a challenge trying to ignore the tantalising smells wafting in the air. My immediate aim is to have a nice hot shower to wash off the travel weariness in me. Everything else can wait.
At first glance, there’s nothing particularly outstanding on the facade that sets Centara Hotel Hat Yai apart from the other high rise buildings nearby that loom in the darkness like silent sentinels hovering over the bustling activity on the brightly lit streets down below.
ARRIVAL AT CENTARA
Things, however, change dramatically the moment the lift doors open up to the impressive lobby area on the sixth floor. Almost immediately, an attentive help staff steps forward to voluntarily mind my luggage and at the same time hand me a refreshing welcome drink. Checking in is a breeze and once again, the reception desk staff's warmth puts me at ease. This place is definitely starting to feel like it’s home away from home.
Before heading off to the service elevators, the duty manager promptly hands over a message from my friends. Arriving earlier in the day by flight at the Hat Yai International Airport, a quick 20-minute drive away from the hotel, they’ve gone out for the rest of the evening to check out the nightlife and will only catch up with me during breakfast.
Suddenly faced with the prospect of having the entire evening to myself, I turn to the helpful duty manager for suggestions. Her assistance opens up a myriad of options. After careful consideration, I decide to spend my time in the hotel and use the opportunity to check out its many interesting facilities. There’ll surely be ample opportunities to explore the rest of the city with my friends tomorrow.
My superior deluxe room on the 15th floor is spacious and tastefully decorated with subtle hints of traditional Thai handicraft. The wall to wall windows offer sweeping views of the cityscape while floor space is maximised to keep everything in perfect balance and encourage optimal relaxation.
The best part is the ample-sized in room desk which offers a quiet space for digital nomads like me to get any pending work completed in comfort. Coupled with complimentary high speed Internet connection and coffee and tea-making facilities, busy executives will find it a comfort should working late into the night become a necessity.
JAPANESE AT GINGER
After a refreshing shower, I head back down to the lobby area for dinner. Mindful that there’ll be a lot of Thai food to sample during the reunion dinner tomorrow, I opt for Centara Hotel Hat Yai's highly acclaimed Japanese buffet dinner at Ginger Restaurant, located near the lift landing.
Apart from excellent service, the food selection here is truly delectable. There are generous servings of sushi, sashimi, teriyaki, garlic fried rice, stir-fried meat, chawanmushi and even tender roasted leg of lamb. Right from the first bite, it’s obvious that the chef places emphasis on quality and freshness.
Fully satiated after the hearty dinner, I decide to take a relaxing walk by the spacious poolside area. Apart from serene surroundings, this private enclave on the 7th floor offers views of Hat Yai that are entirely different from those from my room. Time passes by quickly when there’s so much to see. Before long, it’s time to head back to get a good night's rest.
BREAKFAST BANTER
There’s not a dull moment during breakfast the next morning at the hotel's Saneha Cafe as my friends and I exchange stories and reminisce about our carefree school days. We laugh until tears roll down our cheeks while recalling past incidences with our strict discipline master.
Aside from the incessant banter, we also take time to enjoy the excellent buffet spread. The one that proves most popular is the make-it-yourself southern Thai rice salad. Also known as Khao Yum, this favourite traditional dish features a variety of raw chopped up vegetables and local aromatic herbs.
Among the ingredients used are dried shrimp, lightly grilled grated coconut, long beans, fresh bean sprouts, thinly sliced fresh lemongrass and fresh kaffir lime leaves. When tossed with steamed rice and a generous dash of fish sauce, this easy-to-prepare dish, which contains a rich source of fibre and nutrients, is a heaven-sent for those who are health conscious.
Immediately after breakfast, we pile into several chartered vehicles and embark on Centara Hotel Hat Yai's half-day tour of the city. We chose this personalised service for its flexibility and in-depth knowledge of the drivers. Despite the slightly higher cost, we’re bound to cover more ground compared to taking the normal songthaew, a form of public transport that derives its name from the two rows of fixed benches for passengers on either side of the back of a modified truck.
EXPLORING HAT YAI
Our first stop is the Hat Yai Municipal Park which is located on Kanchanawanit Road and is about six kilometres to the east from the city centre on the Hat Yai-Songkhla Highway. A popular recreational spot for local residents as well as tourists, the park is filled with many beautiful flowering plants and boasts floating pavilions, aviaries and food stalls selling local delicacies.
People usually throng the park in the evenings when it’s relatively cooler. Those without their own transport arrangements have to take a public shuttle to access the Goddess of Mercy complex. From there, it’s a 300-step climb to reach Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj, the tallest standing Buddha statue in southern Thailand.
After a thrilling cable car ride, which offered scenic views of the area surrounding the Hat Yai Municipal Park, our tour continued further eastwards to the Phra Maha Chedi Tripob Trimongkol, the first stainless steel Buddhist temple in the world.
Located at the top of a small hill on Poonakan Road, the temple is home to a gleaming stainless steel pagoda that’s made up of circular-shaped chambers depicting the days of the week. Each room is filled with statues of Buddhist deities and colourful wall murals.
Before returning to the hotel to prepare for our reunion dinner, which is the highlight of our trip, we head to southern Thailand's largest and newest mall, Central Festival for some shopping. With more than 250 international and local brands spread over five floors, we had a whale of a time browsing for souvenirs and snacks to bring back to our loved ones.
SPA PAMPER
We arrive back at Centara Hotel Hat Yai with ample time to spare before dinner. Some of us decide to pamper ourselves by trying out the various wellness treatments and therapies offered at the in-house spa.
Cense by Spa Cenvaree offers separate treatment rooms for Thai massage and aromatherapy oil treatments with the facilities including a sauna and Jacuzzi. I opt for a body scrub followed by a traditional oil massage. A full hour of relaxing bliss in luxurious surroundings is more than enough to soothe my weary muscles. Completely rejuvenated, I’m more than ready to party the rest of the evening away.
My short trip to southern Thailand's largest city has been nothing short of amazing. All the apprehensions that I had of this place when I first arrived have all but disappeared. Coupled with the warm hospitality of Centara Hotel Hat Yai, I’ve fallen in love with this city and will definitely start planning another trip here as soon as I get home.
Centara Hotel Hat Yai
3 Saneha Nusorn Road
Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand 90110.
