20:10 LOL what on earth is that cute pink golf cart car 😂, it's sooo cute!! Love that you went to the fruit wholesale & Moontri market part. There was a very nice newly built long stay there called Banteera Mansion ( near the railway track at the west end of Cheumrat Uthit Rd, or from the south side of Hatyai Plaza 3, the next road south. ) where we stayed in 2016 & it was an absolute dream come true, as Dad loves to shop for all the yummy ready cooked food early in the morning at Moontri. 😋
To be honest, I never noticed it before your comment! I'm not sure. A Smart car, possibly? I don't know Banteera Mansion. As you're familiar with my website, you'll know that I listed several pages of accommodation options. It was a lot of work and when tourists stopped coming to Hat Yai I gave up because it simply wasn't worth the effort. If I ever get around to updating the information there will be lots of additions and deletions. Sadly, it seems that quite a few places have closed for business in the last couple of years.
Phil remind me of the good old days while I use to visit HATYAI annually since 2000 - 2016 as a Singaporean looking forward to visiting once borders open
Hello Francis, I first visited Hat Yai in 2002 and was smitten. When I left the UK for Thailand in 2003 my first stop was Hat Yai and I soon put down roots and stayed. I never liked the big tourist resorts and many other places were too boring or undeveloped. Hat Yai in the early 2000's had exactly the right balance of everything, as you will have seen when you started visiting. Well, it has now changed considerably. The big catalyst for change was Central Festival opening at the end of 2013. When this happened Lee Gardens Plaza fell out of favour and the central downtown area started to go very quiet. After that, lots of big stores and hotels started opening away from the town centre. That was the start of the decline, but the nail in the coffin was Covid in 2020. I'm not sure what will happen in the future, but so many places have closed for good that I can't ever imagine it being the way it was. Just hang on to those memories because HY will never be the same place as it was. Eventually, tourists will be welcomed back but it will be a very different experience. BTW, I first visited Singapore in 1990 and nowadays it is a completely different place! The only constant in life is change.
So incredibly sad to see this. I was a regular visitor to Hat yai and it felt like my second home from 2017-2019. The city was so busy with life everywhere and now hardly anything. When I was there I always went to a temple called Wat Thawon Wararam. It is a hidden gem but you can see the top of it from far away but it is tricky to actually find it walking the streets. The rooftop garden is so serene and I could just sit there for hours. It is both a school and a temple and the people over there are so gentle and nice. Well worth a visit. I wish I will be able to go there at least one more time in my life time.
Hat Yai has been my first home since 2003. What's going on now should be temporary, hopefully. What's sadder, I think, is the permanent change that happened when Central Festival opened in December 2013. The Lee Gardens Plaza area was so incredibly vibrant up until then, but all of the retail and service businesses moved out and relocated to Festival. Central Hat Yai will never be the same. Interestingly, that temple was the first temple I visited in Hat Yai when I visited the town as a tourist in 2002. One of the monks gave me a book about Buddhism, which I think I still have - Buddhism In A Nutshell. I have been back many times and taken the elevator to the rooftop garden. There can't be too many temples that have their own elevators! The temple is close to the school that both of my children used to attend and I would often relax at the temple before picking them up. It's a huge place.
I was there just before the pandemic and twice before. I know people there who are suffering now. Thanks for the video. It showed every place I had been to. Can't wait till things open up again.
My feelings are that it will take a long time and when it does eventually open up it won't be the same as before. I guess that a lot of Thais now think tourism is too risky - all it will take is another outbreak for borders to be closed and lockdowns to be introduced. This has been unprecedented and quite a few people who have been affected will be reassessing the tourism industry. But sooner or later we will return to some degree of normality.
Hello Sham, long time no hear! Just recently quite a few of my old blog readers have discovered me here. There's nowhere to hide! Hope you're well. As someone who used to visit Thailand every month, I guess that the closed borders are really hurting you. Hat Yai isn't the same without all the Malaysian and Singaporean tourists.
Very sad to see Hatyai go down so badly. I spend every weekend in Hatyai. I was working in Malaysia .Had some great moment and many memories. Lee Garden I used to stay and some time it was hard to get a room and now it is all gone.
That's right. For many years the area around Lee Gardens Center was so busy it could be difficult to find a room. Now, nothing. I don't go to that area very often now, but on my last few visits McDonalds was closed, as was 7-Eleven. All we have now is memories.
Oh wow Phil, so happy to see that you went up to the second floor of Kim Yong because that used to be my fav place coming as a Malaysian teen obsessed with Hifi audio things. Such a Aladdin's cave, a shadow of its former self now 😢. Basically no other video has featured the 2nd floor, even the local vlogs don't go up. I'd like to recommend if you happen to be buying a Mosquito swatter in the future, do buy the ones that charge via USB port, instead of the "plug into wall" ones, because the battery is lithium with lasts much longer & is more powerful 😊. I was interested to hear you say that some things in KY were imported from Malaysia? I struggle to imagine anything worth importing from here, the Nuts, fruit, dried seafood, textiles and electronics are so much higher quality for less, and such variety, & so exquisitely presented. It's no wonder tourists get into a shopping frenzy on arrival 😁.
Whenever I go up to the 2nd floor there are very few people! Normally just a few vendors and no customers. Thanks for the tip on mosquito swatters! Those things are actually good fun. Unfortunately, there are now many places in Hat Yai that are shadows of their former selves. It's sad to see. I buy Lipton tea bags from Gim Yong. These are from Malaysia and half the price compared to TOPS for exactly the same thing. The chocolates and cookies are also from Malaysia and a lot cheaper than Thai supermarkets. Also, cleaning supplies, toiletries, etc. In recent years the strong Baht and weak Ringgit has made these things even cheaper. Price differences between Thailand and Malaysia are strange. Things like kids' toys and bicycles are cheaper in Malaysia. When Thai friends worked in Malaysia they returned to Thailand periodically to buy things like furniture, fruit and seafood because of high prices in Malaysia. There are no Thai brands of household bleach as far as I'm aware. The Depex brand of bleach we buy to clean drains and toilets comes in from over the border. There's an enormous cross border trade between the two countries.
@@LearnToReadThai @Learn To Read Thai Thank you Phil! You're truly a fountain of information 😊. I hv periodically seen Thailand num plates here in Penang & wondered what they could possibly be buying here... Malaysia is truly now reaping what they sow after years of neglecting food security in favor of pretty infrastructure vanity projects & corruption. Insane hyper inflation hell on daily fresh food here... I was last in Hatyai Jul 2016, Kim Yong was already downhill, probably online shopping... 😁 The things we buy from each country is so fascinating!
@@penangtv6108 Before Covid there were a lot of minivan services going down to Malaysia and back. In Malaysia the drivers stock up on goods that they will be able to sell in Thailand. This is how the bleach that I mentioned earlier gets into Thailand. Thais buy cheap goods in Malaysia at the same time that Malaysian tourists buy cheap goods in Thailand, except that they are different goods! Unfortunately, corruption goes on everywhere, and that certainly includes the US and UK. The 1MDB scandal showed just how extensive the corruption network is in Malaysia. People have been predicting huge inflation for a long time, but when countries close down their economies, pay people to stay at home doing nothing, and borrow insane amounts of money or turn the central bank printing presses on it's really not surprising. Prices are rising in Thailand too and I suspect that there is a lot worse to come. The world will be feeling the effects of the last couple of years for many years to come.
my wife and I absolutely loved this video. thank you for taking us along your walk around of Gim Yong, Santisuk, Robin-San and the Plaza markets. devastated as it was by the pandemic we were glad to see signs of life there. again, thank you Phil for taking the time, we truly appreciate it!
My pleasure, thanks for the suggestion! I walked a lot further than I had intended. The signs of life are all local Thais. There are virtually no tourists and very few expats these days. Life is always busy, but more videos soon!
@@LearnToReadThai During our initial visits to Hat Yai we were inclined to book hotels in and around the Lee Gardens area. We later found it too 'touristy' (a case of the pot calling the kettle black!) and started seeking accommodations in the Thung Sao area near Central Festival and Makro. Maybe a future video could feature the Asean and Greenway Night Markets? We absolutely loved Greenway Food Station and had our dinner there practically every night.
@@haveperutwilltravel OK Harry! I normally do my videos in the daytime, but these areas are best at night. I'll work on it. The Thung Sao area is still quite undeveloped, apart from a few new hotels, and is still like the Thailand of old. I often walk around that area while I'm waiting to pick up my son.
@@haveperutwilltravel Thung Sao area has some good eats and from a mix of old and new restaurants. I love the laidback vibe of it. The ‘new market’ (ตลาดใหม่) area too makes an interesting day of F&B for me.
@@fuzagi I'm really into Japanese curries at the moment and there's a good place in Thung Sao called Mali where I've been eating. Prices are really low around that area and there's a few places that I eat at regularly.
Thanks for the suggestion A G! I'll be totally honest here. Even when things were normal, back in my single days, I was never a big 'nightlife' person. I gave up drinking booze after I arrived in Thailand and the nightlife scene has never really interested me. These days, with a young family, we all go to bed early I read books! Boring, eh? Anyway, I was thinking about going out after dark sometime to take a look at the current street food scene in Hat Yai. The reason I haven't so far is that I'm not sure if there is still a curfew in place. If I do that, I can take a stroll along Thamnoonvithee Road to see what's happening. Back in the old days there were a lot of expat bars at the western end and Thai bars at the eastern end. I suspect the only action these days will be where the local Thais hang out.
Hi Phil, I'm enjoying your old vids😊. Oh it's definitely not a smart car from Daimler benz, if it was I wouldn't bother to comment😁. It's more likely an electric car from China maybe? Intriguing! Yes this Banteera was really new when we stayed there & it's really quite an odd building 😁, on that street of 2 & 3 storey houses, suddenly in the middle of the row is this incredibly narrow 6 or 7 storey building sticking out like a middle finger 😁, It was so interesting to watch the bustle of the market at all hours of the day from the balcony, great views. Is your website page with all the long stay reviews still accessible? I'd love to read them again, but couldn't quite find them 😊.
Thank you! Maybe I will get an opportunity to get out to do another video next week? You are probably right about the car coming from China. China is producing a huge number of cars now and whereas electric vehicles from Europe and the States tend to be very expensive, the Chinese electric cars are quite affordable. When electric cars really take off in a few years' time China will probably dominate the market. I have some concerns about quality, but I'm old enough to remember when Japanese cars were low quality. Things change, and they change quickly. I made a page of ten long stay options in Hat Yai some time ago. I could spend all my time updating the website, but when the border closed it became a waste of time. I have so little free time with looking after my house and family that I have to decide what is the most effective way to use any free time that I may have. Unfortunately, my website and this particular TH-cam channel are not effective ways of using my time. I'm not abandoning either, but they aren't high on my list of priorities right now. Edit: Forgot to add the link! phil.uk.net/hatyai/ten-long-term-accommodation-options-in-hat-yai.html
@@LearnToReadThai Hi Phil, Recently I watched a video from Rides4Kicks from Pattaya and he featured one of these exact cars, this company called BanpuNext EV is renting them out over there for 3 Dollars an hour. You can also buy them but the price seems rather steep for a golf cart at 660 thousand bath.....😁
@@penangtv6108 Thanks for the info. Three dollars an hour seems fine but, as you say, Bt660,000 sounds a bit steep for a toy car! I think we shall see a lot of interesting, small electric cars from China in the coming years.
Nice one. I love that market, the outdoor area especially. But year great you're sharing this with us. I saw you had a long episode so i saved it for in the evening :Hey .. i just see there is an upper floor there?! Never been there, nice one !!
Yep, it was a bit of a long one! Hat Yai is actually quite a big place and there is a lot to cover. Not many people go to the upstairs part of Gim Yong, but it exists. More soon ...
Hello Judinmat. All the fruit is seasonal. There are times of the year (I can't remember when exactly) when there is durian everywhere, but recently I haven't seen any. I hate it, but my wife, kids and neighbours love it. Whenever it is durian season my wife always brings a lot home. I make her eat it outside! When any particular fruit is in season there is so much that it is normally sold very cheaply before it rots. The huge abundance of tropical fruit is definitely one of the big bonuses of living in Thailand!
33:02 LOL There are so many entertaining moments, this scene of an army of people cleaning cobwebs seems straight out of Monty python 😂, & I love Phil's comment about being arrested for videoing the Robinson bra section 😂, Thailands bra sections are another level from Malaysia & just might be the hottest in asia😁!
Hi again, and thanks again for watching my vids! This one is almost a year old now and I'm starting to forget what's in these old videos. I can remember the underwear department, but I can't remember the cobwebs! Quick status update. I run another channel which actually pays me money - unlike this one. I'm currently working on some videos for the other channel, but I haven't forgotten this one and plan to do some videos soon. I thought that my son was going back to school on Monday, but he will now be continuing to study on-line for the rest of the school year. Having the kids at home all the time has been one of the biggest factors with me not having time to make videos. It has been a busy year.
Nice one. Phil. Interesting to see dta-laat Kim Yong (still well stocked) and hear your comments on tourism effect on Pattaya, Phuket etc. I first.. discovered .. Thailand around 1996. Wow you have been there a very long time. And makes for very interesting stories from you. Khop Khun Krap. Khun Marv. Video better ..
Hello Marv. Gim Yong has a lot of local customers so it is surviving. I have also been told that Thais from Bangkok go to Hat Yai to shop at places like Gim Yong. Thanks for your comments. More videos soon!
Allow me to correct you on the train routes: the route to Sungai Kolok goes through Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces and terminates at the Kelantan border, where the Islamic city of Kota Bharu is located. I used to go there for shopping before Covid happened. The route towards Butterworth goes directly south from Hat Yai, towards Sadao District and the Padang Besar border crossing.
Thank you for your correction! I haven't actually taken the train myself. Before Covid we got into the habit of visiting friends in KL every Christmas. On one occasion we seriously considered taking the train, but with two children and luggage it was easier to fly. I have also taken the bus from Hat Yai down to Singapore a few times. I therefore wasn't quite sure about the train so thanks again for the info.
@@LearnToReadThai Keep on flying if it is possible. Me and my friend came back from beautiful Penang unfortunately too late so there was no train back to Hat yai and the border was closed on the station. We had to cross by walking over the border at Padang Besar and take a bus from the city center. It was no problem leaving Malaysia. The staff in the border booths was very polite and nice. When we entered the office conected to Thailand we where in for a rugh time. Shouting and rude officers, no order what so ever. So a small tip, do fly or arrive before the trainborder closes.
@@st.patrik4325 I don't think I'll be leaving Thailand until the situation gets better. It's too much hassle! I say 'gets better' because I don't think it will return to how it was.
Thanks for the video. My last trip to hatyai was Feb 2020 (before S'pore closed its border), my favorite PUB is Westside and wonder whether are they still operating
I don't go past the Westside Saloon in my usual daily life so I just gave them a call to find out. The number (074 354833) doesn't even try to connect - it is completely dead. I then checked the information on Google Maps and it says 'Permanently Closed'. It therefore doesn't look good. Covid has closed many businesses in Hat Yai for good. If I get any more information I will give you an update, but for the time being it looks to be closed. www.google.co.th/maps/place/Westside+Saloon+Hatyai+Pub+%26+Restaurant/@7.00439,100.4708364,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x304d284f7ca3ba43:0x483ee3798d714818!8m2!3d7.00439!4d100.4730251?hl=en There is a link to their FB page, but it isn't clear of the current status. The last update was in September. en-gb.facebook.com/westside.hatyai/
@@LearnToReadThai Thanks for the effort but may not be necessary for the time being as we ourselves are not sure when can we ever set foot on Hatyai again. The latest news is that 24 celebrities had COVID and did not seek immediate medical assistance and now look like spreading again. SAD
@@aloysiusmak1240 I spoke to a friend in KL yesterday who was saying something like 5,000 new cases in Malaysia every day. Southeast Asia is not looking good. Up until recently it seemed to be quite well contained in Thailand, but the Samut Sakhon outbreak has made things a lot worse. The Thais are very nervous about what is happening in other countries, so I don't think they will be hurrying to open borders. As I said in my videos, this has been going on so long now and has been so devastating that I think many small businesses will close for good and never reopen. I won't go out of my way to check Westside, but if I'm passing and can get any information I'll update you. One day I will need to update my website, but so much has changed in the last year that it will be a massive job.
hi Phil, love all your videos,I've watched everyone,i, ll be writing to you soon to explain what's been happening, after my double hip replacement,I've now got a full metal jacket.i can,t wait for the aeroplanes to start operating,to allow me to come there,i owe you a coffee, keep up with your videos there the best, your kid,s are growing up fast,ive got a photo you sent me of when they were small,not any more, take care my friend aussie john
G'Day John, great to hear from you! I know you've had health problems for a while, so hope the hip replacements have done the trick. Of course, now we have other problems. I haven't spoken to Toy for a long time, but her business won't be doing well. I need to send you another photo of the kids as they are now. Hopefully, that coffee won't be too far away! Take care.
I think everyone does, I certainly do. However, I have a feeling that life will never quite return to how it used to be. I also believe this is no accident. Have you heard about the Great Reset?
Someone suggested a video on Dannok recently. I'm a bit tied up at the moment because the kids are on their summer break. It's something I'd like to do when I get an opportunity, but I think you are correct. I suspect that many hotels are closed there too. Covid has devastated the Thai tourism industry.
Thanks for the walk-around video, Phil. So much memories came back from watching this vid and it is sad to see them struggling and closing down one by one. I heard that Hatyai has good deals on Zebra containers, do you or your wife happen to know of which place give the best discounts on Zebra products?
Thanks for your comment! Yes, it is is sad to see but the Thais are resilient and will bounce back eventually. I discovered some years ago that many visitors to Hat Yai are interested in buying Zebra pots and pans. They are sold in many places, but I don't know where is cheapest. There is a big place in the market area next to Hat Yai Plaza, which was included in my walk. As you look at the Plaza from the front, it's in the road on the left. You can also buy Zebra at Robinson and the other department stores. The advantage with large places like Robinson is that they offer a solid guarantee. Some of the smaller shops aren't interested if you have problems afterwards.
@@LearnToReadThai I’m sure they will. I am one of those who was fascinated by the amount of Zebra products i could get from Hatyai and had bought quite a few of them from Robinsons and the shop on the road that you mentioned as well 😂 lucky for me they all have been serving me well without any biggies. That keeps me a fan of the value of their products. P.S. It will be nice to watch a walk-around of places where locals usually go to for things such as food, daily necessities, the Thai stuff and things they would need living in Hatyai. Cheers
@@fuzagi Thanks for the suggestion! I'm slowly figuring out what people want and will keep your suggestions in mind for future videos. What people don't want, apparently, is anything to do with language!
@@LearnToReadThai 😂 i used to watch all sorts of Thai language videos on youtube and have quite gotten the hang of the basics. Now i prefer looking for signs and speeches and use dictionary for any new words i come across.
I'm afraid I can't. I have my own house now, but when I was looking for a rental property several years ago they were quite difficult to find. I could never find any agents or central sources of information. Thais with properties to let will often just put signs on electricity poles. I found our old rented house by walking around looking for signs. Of course, these are written in Thai. Also, ask around. Lots of information is passed on by word of mouth in Thailand. It's better in Bangkok where there are websites advertising places for rent. I found a few websites for classified ads in Hat Yai, but they aren't very good and show properties for other places. There may be better on-line resources, but I don't know what they are. My suggestion is just to book a hotel for a few days and during that time walk around a lot looking for signs. If the language is a problem try to find a Thai to help you. Good luck!
Hi Thanks for quick reply. If and when we can travel and make it to Hat Yai, might look you up and have a coffee...do you have LINE ? We are staying in K Samui at the moment. Cheers Corey
The nearest beach is in Songkhla. I have some information about Hat Yai hotels on my website. phil.uk.net/hatyai/ten-comfortable-places-to-stay-in-hat-yai.html
Is that the branch of Watson near Lee Gardens Plaza? There is a restaurant opposite that sells sea food. I'm not sure of the name but it seems only to be used by tourists, not locals.
It's very strange that you should say that! Driving back from the school run today I was thinking about videos and I thought about Dannok. I'm interested myself because I haven't been there for quite a while. I'll see if I can schedule a trip.
@@saddq1 I haven't been there for a long time. If I can find some spare time I will take a look. Most visitors to Dannok are Malaysian and with the border closed I would imagine it is very quiet at the moment.
That's right. The whole Hat Yai tourism infrastructure is geared towards Malaysians and Singaporeans. Farang tourists who visit Thailand want to go to beaches and islands or to places like Bangkok and Chiang Mai. They have no interest in Hat Yai. When Malaysian and Singaporean tourists stop coming to Hat Yai everything grinds to a halt.
Dengar cerita semua hotel di selatan Thai mengalami kerugian yg sangat besar akibat covid 19.sebahagian besar daripadanya telah ditutup untuk selama lamanya.
"Listen to the story of all the hotels in southern Thailand suffering enormous losses due to covid 19.most of them have been closed for good." I have a feeling you are right and that quite a few won't reopen. Some of the regional airlines are also in big trouble, as are many other businesses that rely on tourism. Before Covid the tourism industry just kept growing year after year and even just a couple of years ago it would have been unimaginable that anything like this could happen. The speed and severity of the situation has caused intense and unexpected hardship for many people.
= HAT YAI LAST 40 YEARS AGO VERY VERY HAPPY PLACE .... NOW TOO ADVANCE EVERYWHERE IS THE HIGH RISE BUILDINGS .... & NOT TOO MUCH TOURIST FROM S'PORE & M'SIA & EU-COUNTRIES = SINGAPORE IS THE BURMESE SEAMEN'S FIRST HOME & THAILAND IS THE SECOND HOME ..... WHY RANGOON & MANDALAY IS NOT OUR FIRST HOME ????? YOU PLEASE ANSWER ..... = M M M =
Thailand changes very quickly. It's a completely different country to the one I first visited in 1987. Hat Yai now is very different to the Hat Yai I first saw in 2002.
20:10 LOL what on earth is that cute pink golf cart car 😂, it's sooo cute!! Love that you went to the fruit wholesale & Moontri market part.
There was a very nice newly built long stay there called Banteera Mansion ( near the railway track at the west end of Cheumrat Uthit Rd, or from the south side of Hatyai Plaza 3, the next road south. )
where we stayed in 2016 & it was an absolute dream come true, as Dad loves to shop for all the yummy ready cooked food early in the morning at Moontri. 😋
To be honest, I never noticed it before your comment! I'm not sure. A Smart car, possibly? I don't know Banteera Mansion. As you're familiar with my website, you'll know that I listed several pages of accommodation options. It was a lot of work and when tourists stopped coming to Hat Yai I gave up because it simply wasn't worth the effort. If I ever get around to updating the information there will be lots of additions and deletions. Sadly, it seems that quite a few places have closed for business in the last couple of years.
Phil remind me of the good old days while I use to visit HATYAI annually since 2000 - 2016 as a Singaporean looking forward to visiting once borders open
Hello Francis, I first visited Hat Yai in 2002 and was smitten. When I left the UK for Thailand in 2003 my first stop was Hat Yai and I soon put down roots and stayed. I never liked the big tourist resorts and many other places were too boring or undeveloped. Hat Yai in the early 2000's had exactly the right balance of everything, as you will have seen when you started visiting.
Well, it has now changed considerably. The big catalyst for change was Central Festival opening at the end of 2013. When this happened Lee Gardens Plaza fell out of favour and the central downtown area started to go very quiet. After that, lots of big stores and hotels started opening away from the town centre. That was the start of the decline, but the nail in the coffin was Covid in 2020.
I'm not sure what will happen in the future, but so many places have closed for good that I can't ever imagine it being the way it was. Just hang on to those memories because HY will never be the same place as it was. Eventually, tourists will be welcomed back but it will be a very different experience. BTW, I first visited Singapore in 1990 and nowadays it is a completely different place! The only constant in life is change.
So incredibly sad to see this. I was a regular visitor to Hat yai and it felt like my second home from 2017-2019. The city was so busy with life everywhere and now hardly anything. When I was there I always went to a temple called Wat Thawon Wararam. It is a hidden gem but you can see the top of it from far away but it is tricky to actually find it walking the streets. The rooftop garden is so serene and I could just sit there for hours. It is both a school and a temple and the people over there are so gentle and nice. Well worth a visit. I wish I will be able to go there at least one more time in my life time.
Hat Yai has been my first home since 2003. What's going on now should be temporary, hopefully. What's sadder, I think, is the permanent change that happened when Central Festival opened in December 2013. The Lee Gardens Plaza area was so incredibly vibrant up until then, but all of the retail and service businesses moved out and relocated to Festival. Central Hat Yai will never be the same.
Interestingly, that temple was the first temple I visited in Hat Yai when I visited the town as a tourist in 2002. One of the monks gave me a book about Buddhism, which I think I still have - Buddhism In A Nutshell. I have been back many times and taken the elevator to the rooftop garden. There can't be too many temples that have their own elevators! The temple is close to the school that both of my children used to attend and I would often relax at the temple before picking them up. It's a huge place.
I was there just before the pandemic and twice before. I know people there who are suffering now. Thanks for the video. It showed every place I had been to. Can't wait till things open up again.
My feelings are that it will take a long time and when it does eventually open up it won't be the same as before. I guess that a lot of Thais now think tourism is too risky - all it will take is another outbreak for borders to be closed and lockdowns to be introduced. This has been unprecedented and quite a few people who have been affected will be reassessing the tourism industry. But sooner or later we will return to some degree of normality.
Nice to watch your walk around Phil.
Hello Sham, long time no hear! Just recently quite a few of my old blog readers have discovered me here. There's nowhere to hide! Hope you're well. As someone who used to visit Thailand every month, I guess that the closed borders are really hurting you. Hat Yai isn't the same without all the Malaysian and Singaporean tourists.
Very sad to see Hatyai go down so badly. I spend every weekend in Hatyai. I was working in Malaysia .Had some great moment and many memories. Lee Garden I used to stay and some time it was hard to get a room and now it is all gone.
That's right. For many years the area around Lee Gardens Center was so busy it could be difficult to find a room. Now, nothing. I don't go to that area very often now, but on my last few visits McDonalds was closed, as was 7-Eleven. All we have now is memories.
Oh wow Phil, so happy to see that you went up to the second floor of Kim Yong because that used to be my fav place coming as a Malaysian teen obsessed with Hifi audio things. Such a Aladdin's cave, a shadow of its former self now 😢. Basically no other video has featured the 2nd floor, even the local vlogs don't go up.
I'd like to recommend if you happen to be buying a Mosquito swatter in the future, do buy the ones that charge via USB port, instead of the "plug into wall" ones, because the battery is lithium with lasts much longer & is more powerful 😊.
I was interested to hear you say that some things in KY were imported from Malaysia? I struggle to imagine anything worth importing from here, the Nuts, fruit, dried seafood, textiles and electronics are so much higher quality for less, and such variety, & so exquisitely presented. It's no wonder tourists get into a shopping frenzy on arrival 😁.
Whenever I go up to the 2nd floor there are very few people! Normally just a few vendors and no customers. Thanks for the tip on mosquito swatters! Those things are actually good fun.
Unfortunately, there are now many places in Hat Yai that are shadows of their former selves. It's sad to see.
I buy Lipton tea bags from Gim Yong. These are from Malaysia and half the price compared to TOPS for exactly the same thing. The chocolates and cookies are also from Malaysia and a lot cheaper than Thai supermarkets. Also, cleaning supplies, toiletries, etc. In recent years the strong Baht and weak Ringgit has made these things even cheaper.
Price differences between Thailand and Malaysia are strange. Things like kids' toys and bicycles are cheaper in Malaysia. When Thai friends worked in Malaysia they returned to Thailand periodically to buy things like furniture, fruit and seafood because of high prices in Malaysia.
There are no Thai brands of household bleach as far as I'm aware. The Depex brand of bleach we buy to clean drains and toilets comes in from over the border. There's an enormous cross border trade between the two countries.
@@LearnToReadThai @Learn To Read Thai Thank you Phil! You're truly a fountain of information 😊.
I hv periodically seen Thailand num plates here in Penang & wondered what they could possibly be buying here...
Malaysia is truly now reaping what they sow after years of neglecting food security in favor of pretty infrastructure vanity projects & corruption.
Insane hyper inflation hell on daily fresh food here...
I was last in Hatyai Jul 2016, Kim Yong was already downhill, probably online shopping... 😁
The things we buy from each country is so fascinating!
@@penangtv6108 Before Covid there were a lot of minivan services going down to Malaysia and back. In Malaysia the drivers stock up on goods that they will be able to sell in Thailand. This is how the bleach that I mentioned earlier gets into Thailand. Thais buy cheap goods in Malaysia at the same time that Malaysian tourists buy cheap goods in Thailand, except that they are different goods!
Unfortunately, corruption goes on everywhere, and that certainly includes the US and UK. The 1MDB scandal showed just how extensive the corruption network is in Malaysia. People have been predicting huge inflation for a long time, but when countries close down their economies, pay people to stay at home doing nothing, and borrow insane amounts of money or turn the central bank printing presses on it's really not surprising. Prices are rising in Thailand too and I suspect that there is a lot worse to come. The world will be feeling the effects of the last couple of years for many years to come.
my wife and I absolutely loved this video. thank you for taking us along your walk around of Gim Yong, Santisuk, Robin-San and the Plaza markets. devastated as it was by the pandemic we were glad to see signs of life there. again, thank you Phil for taking the time, we truly appreciate it!
My pleasure, thanks for the suggestion! I walked a lot further than I had intended. The signs of life are all local Thais. There are virtually no tourists and very few expats these days. Life is always busy, but more videos soon!
@@LearnToReadThai During our initial visits to Hat Yai we were inclined to book hotels in and around the Lee Gardens area. We later found it too 'touristy' (a case of the pot calling the kettle black!) and started seeking accommodations in the Thung Sao area near Central Festival and Makro. Maybe a future video could feature the Asean and Greenway Night Markets? We absolutely loved Greenway Food Station and had our dinner there practically every night.
@@haveperutwilltravel OK Harry! I normally do my videos in the daytime, but these areas are best at night. I'll work on it. The Thung Sao area is still quite undeveloped, apart from a few new hotels, and is still like the Thailand of old. I often walk around that area while I'm waiting to pick up my son.
@@haveperutwilltravel Thung Sao area has some good eats and from a mix of old and new restaurants. I love the laidback vibe of it. The ‘new market’ (ตลาดใหม่) area too makes an interesting day of F&B for me.
@@fuzagi I'm really into Japanese curries at the moment and there's a good place in Thung Sao called Mali where I've been eating. Prices are really low around that area and there's a few places that I eat at regularly.
Hi Phil..would be great if you can take a video of the nightlife at hatyai now ..used to go there frequently before the pandemic
Thanks for the suggestion A G! I'll be totally honest here. Even when things were normal, back in my single days, I was never a big 'nightlife' person. I gave up drinking booze after I arrived in Thailand and the nightlife scene has never really interested me. These days, with a young family, we all go to bed early I read books! Boring, eh?
Anyway, I was thinking about going out after dark sometime to take a look at the current street food scene in Hat Yai. The reason I haven't so far is that I'm not sure if there is still a curfew in place. If I do that, I can take a stroll along Thamnoonvithee Road to see what's happening. Back in the old days there were a lot of expat bars at the western end and Thai bars at the eastern end. I suspect the only action these days will be where the local Thais hang out.
Thank you for very insightful comment. It took 20 years to make these comments. Very valuable.
Thanks!
@@LearnToReadThai ⁵⁵⁵6
Good information well done bro..
Thanks!
Hi Phil, I'm enjoying your old vids😊.
Oh it's definitely not a smart car from Daimler benz, if it was I wouldn't bother to comment😁.
It's more likely an electric car from China maybe? Intriguing!
Yes this Banteera was really new when we stayed there & it's really quite an odd building 😁, on that street of 2 & 3 storey houses, suddenly in the middle of the row is this incredibly narrow 6 or 7 storey building sticking out like a middle finger 😁,
It was so interesting to watch the bustle of the market at all hours of the day from the balcony, great views.
Is your website page with all the long stay reviews still accessible? I'd love to read them again, but couldn't quite find them 😊.
Thank you! Maybe I will get an opportunity to get out to do another video next week? You are probably right about the car coming from China. China is producing a huge number of cars now and whereas electric vehicles from Europe and the States tend to be very expensive, the Chinese electric cars are quite affordable. When electric cars really take off in a few years' time China will probably dominate the market. I have some concerns about quality, but I'm old enough to remember when Japanese cars were low quality. Things change, and they change quickly.
I made a page of ten long stay options in Hat Yai some time ago. I could spend all my time updating the website, but when the border closed it became a waste of time. I have so little free time with looking after my house and family that I have to decide what is the most effective way to use any free time that I may have. Unfortunately, my website and this particular TH-cam channel are not effective ways of using my time. I'm not abandoning either, but they aren't high on my list of priorities right now.
Edit: Forgot to add the link!
phil.uk.net/hatyai/ten-long-term-accommodation-options-in-hat-yai.html
@@LearnToReadThai Hi Phil, Recently I watched a video from Rides4Kicks from Pattaya and he featured one of these exact cars, this company called BanpuNext EV is renting them out over there for 3 Dollars an hour. You can also buy them but the price seems rather steep for a golf cart at 660 thousand bath.....😁
@@penangtv6108 Thanks for the info. Three dollars an hour seems fine but, as you say, Bt660,000 sounds a bit steep for a toy car! I think we shall see a lot of interesting, small electric cars from China in the coming years.
Nice one. I love that market, the outdoor area especially. But year great you're sharing this with us. I saw you had a long episode so i saved it for in the evening :Hey .. i just see there is an upper floor there?! Never been there, nice one !!
Yep, it was a bit of a long one! Hat Yai is actually quite a big place and there is a lot to cover. Not many people go to the upstairs part of Gim Yong, but it exists. More soon ...
Hi Phil thank for your video show all at markets of hatyai but I saw no durians sold there may be not the season yet..ok
Hello Judinmat. All the fruit is seasonal. There are times of the year (I can't remember when exactly) when there is durian everywhere, but recently I haven't seen any. I hate it, but my wife, kids and neighbours love it. Whenever it is durian season my wife always brings a lot home. I make her eat it outside! When any particular fruit is in season there is so much that it is normally sold very cheaply before it rots. The huge abundance of tropical fruit is definitely one of the big bonuses of living in Thailand!
33:02 LOL There are so many entertaining moments, this scene of an army of people cleaning cobwebs seems straight out of Monty python 😂, & I love Phil's comment about being arrested for videoing the Robinson bra section 😂, Thailands bra sections are another level from Malaysia & just might be the hottest in asia😁!
Hi again, and thanks again for watching my vids! This one is almost a year old now and I'm starting to forget what's in these old videos. I can remember the underwear department, but I can't remember the cobwebs!
Quick status update. I run another channel which actually pays me money - unlike this one. I'm currently working on some videos for the other channel, but I haven't forgotten this one and plan to do some videos soon.
I thought that my son was going back to school on Monday, but he will now be continuing to study on-line for the rest of the school year. Having the kids at home all the time has been one of the biggest factors with me not having time to make videos. It has been a busy year.
Nice one. Phil. Interesting to see dta-laat Kim Yong (still well stocked) and hear your comments on tourism effect on Pattaya, Phuket etc. I first.. discovered .. Thailand around 1996. Wow you have been there a very long time. And makes for very interesting stories from you. Khop Khun Krap. Khun Marv. Video better ..
Hello Marv. Gim Yong has a lot of local customers so it is surviving. I have also been told that Thais from Bangkok go to Hat Yai to shop at places like Gim Yong. Thanks for your comments. More videos soon!
I look forward to your next video. Thanks ..@@LearnToReadThai
Allow me to correct you on the train routes: the route to Sungai Kolok goes through Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces and terminates at the Kelantan border, where the Islamic city of Kota Bharu is located. I used to go there for shopping before Covid happened.
The route towards Butterworth goes directly south from Hat Yai, towards Sadao District and the Padang Besar border crossing.
Thank you for your correction! I haven't actually taken the train myself. Before Covid we got into the habit of visiting friends in KL every Christmas. On one occasion we seriously considered taking the train, but with two children and luggage it was easier to fly. I have also taken the bus from Hat Yai down to Singapore a few times. I therefore wasn't quite sure about the train so thanks again for the info.
@@LearnToReadThai Keep on flying if it is possible. Me and my friend came back from beautiful Penang unfortunately too late so there was no train back to Hat yai and the border was closed on the station. We had to cross by walking over the border at Padang Besar and take a bus from the city center. It was no problem leaving Malaysia. The staff in the border booths was very polite and nice. When we entered the office conected to Thailand we where in for a rugh time. Shouting and rude officers, no order what so ever. So a small tip, do fly or arrive before the trainborder closes.
@@st.patrik4325 I don't think I'll be leaving Thailand until the situation gets better. It's too much hassle! I say 'gets better' because I don't think it will return to how it was.
Thanks for the video. My last trip to hatyai was Feb 2020 (before S'pore closed its border), my favorite PUB is Westside and wonder whether are they still operating
I don't go past the Westside Saloon in my usual daily life so I just gave them a call to find out. The number (074 354833) doesn't even try to connect - it is completely dead.
I then checked the information on Google Maps and it says 'Permanently Closed'. It therefore doesn't look good. Covid has closed many businesses in Hat Yai for good. If I get any more information I will give you an update, but for the time being it looks to be closed.
www.google.co.th/maps/place/Westside+Saloon+Hatyai+Pub+%26+Restaurant/@7.00439,100.4708364,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x304d284f7ca3ba43:0x483ee3798d714818!8m2!3d7.00439!4d100.4730251?hl=en
There is a link to their FB page, but it isn't clear of the current status. The last update was in September.
en-gb.facebook.com/westside.hatyai/
@@LearnToReadThai Thanks for the effort but may not be necessary for the time being as we ourselves are not sure when can we ever set foot on Hatyai again. The latest news is that 24 celebrities had COVID and did not seek immediate medical assistance and now look like spreading again. SAD
@@aloysiusmak1240 I spoke to a friend in KL yesterday who was saying something like 5,000 new cases in Malaysia every day. Southeast Asia is not looking good. Up until recently it seemed to be quite well contained in Thailand, but the Samut Sakhon outbreak has made things a lot worse. The Thais are very nervous about what is happening in other countries, so I don't think they will be hurrying to open borders. As I said in my videos, this has been going on so long now and has been so devastating that I think many small businesses will close for good and never reopen. I won't go out of my way to check Westside, but if I'm passing and can get any information I'll update you. One day I will need to update my website, but so much has changed in the last year that it will be a massive job.
hi Phil, love all your videos,I've watched everyone,i, ll be writing to you soon to explain what's been happening, after my double hip replacement,I've now got a full metal jacket.i can,t wait for the aeroplanes to start operating,to allow me to come there,i owe you a coffee, keep up with your videos there the best, your kid,s are growing up fast,ive got a photo you sent me of when they were small,not any more, take care my friend aussie john
G'Day John, great to hear from you! I know you've had health problems for a while, so hope the hip replacements have done the trick. Of course, now we have other problems. I haven't spoken to Toy for a long time, but her business won't be doing well. I need to send you another photo of the kids as they are now. Hopefully, that coffee won't be too far away! Take care.
miss the old day...
I think everyone does, I certainly do. However, I have a feeling that life will never quite return to how it used to be. I also believe this is no accident. Have you heard about the Great Reset?
I guess many hotels in Dannok are closed too.
Someone suggested a video on Dannok recently. I'm a bit tied up at the moment because the kids are on their summer break. It's something I'd like to do when I get an opportunity, but I think you are correct. I suspect that many hotels are closed there too. Covid has devastated the Thai tourism industry.
I went to Dannok today and just uploaded a video about what I found.
Thanks for the walk-around video, Phil. So much memories came back from watching this vid and it is sad to see them struggling and closing down one by one. I heard that Hatyai has good deals on Zebra containers, do you or your wife happen to know of which place give the best discounts on Zebra products?
Thanks for your comment! Yes, it is is sad to see but the Thais are resilient and will bounce back eventually. I discovered some years ago that many visitors to Hat Yai are interested in buying Zebra pots and pans. They are sold in many places, but I don't know where is cheapest. There is a big place in the market area next to Hat Yai Plaza, which was included in my walk. As you look at the Plaza from the front, it's in the road on the left. You can also buy Zebra at Robinson and the other department stores. The advantage with large places like Robinson is that they offer a solid guarantee. Some of the smaller shops aren't interested if you have problems afterwards.
@@LearnToReadThai I’m sure they will. I am one of those who was fascinated by the amount of Zebra products i could get from Hatyai and had bought quite a few of them from Robinsons and the shop on the road that you mentioned as well 😂 lucky for me they all have been serving me well without any biggies. That keeps me a fan of the value of their products.
P.S. It will be nice to watch a walk-around of places where locals usually go to for things such as food, daily necessities, the Thai stuff and things they would need living in Hatyai. Cheers
@@fuzagi Thanks for the suggestion! I'm slowly figuring out what people want and will keep your suggestions in mind for future videos. What people don't want, apparently, is anything to do with language!
@@LearnToReadThai 😂 i used to watch all sorts of Thai language videos on youtube and have quite gotten the hang of the basics. Now i prefer looking for signs and speeches and use dictionary for any new words i come across.
@@fuzagi It was a general comment, not you in particular! I know your language skills are already good.
Nice video ..
Thanks!
Hi. Thanks for informative videos. Can you recommend any local agent that I can discuss property rentals? Cheers
I'm afraid I can't. I have my own house now, but when I was looking for a rental property several years ago they were quite difficult to find. I could never find any agents or central sources of information.
Thais with properties to let will often just put signs on electricity poles. I found our old rented house by walking around looking for signs. Of course, these are written in Thai. Also, ask around. Lots of information is passed on by word of mouth in Thailand.
It's better in Bangkok where there are websites advertising places for rent. I found a few websites for classified ads in Hat Yai, but they aren't very good and show properties for other places. There may be better on-line resources, but I don't know what they are.
My suggestion is just to book a hotel for a few days and during that time walk around a lot looking for signs. If the language is a problem try to find a Thai to help you. Good luck!
Hi
Thanks for quick reply. If and when we can travel and make it to Hat Yai, might look you up and have a coffee...do you have LINE ?
We are staying in K Samui at the moment.
Cheers
Corey
@@razuu Hello Corey, I do but I don't really want to publish it here. My e-mail address is one my website.
Could you recommend some Hotels, not far from the beach, and prices?
The nearest beach is in Songkhla. I have some information about Hat Yai hotels on my website. phil.uk.net/hatyai/ten-comfortable-places-to-stay-in-hat-yai.html
Can I make a request to walk at the restaurant opposite of watson?
Is that the branch of Watson near Lee Gardens Plaza? There is a restaurant opposite that sells sea food. I'm not sure of the name but it seems only to be used by tourists, not locals.
Hatyai is the tourist destination for Malaysian and Singaporean only. No farang.
A few pass through on their way up and down the peninsula, but they don't tend to stay for very long.
Back then not even prc... first visit 2002..888km from SG 8hrs cruise ride.. quick solo 6hrs plus..
Nice video.. hope you can go Dannok to take this type of video...thx
It's very strange that you should say that! Driving back from the school run today I was thinking about videos and I thought about Dannok. I'm interested myself because I haven't been there for quite a while. I'll see if I can schedule a trip.
@@LearnToReadThai Is Dannok dead now? I'd think so.
@@saddq1 I haven't been there for a long time. If I can find some spare time I will take a look. Most visitors to Dannok are Malaysian and with the border closed I would imagine it is very quiet at the moment.
Without Malaysian tourists Hatyai like ghost city..
That's right. The whole Hat Yai tourism infrastructure is geared towards Malaysians and Singaporeans. Farang tourists who visit Thailand want to go to beaches and islands or to places like Bangkok and Chiang Mai. They have no interest in Hat Yai. When Malaysian and Singaporean tourists stop coming to Hat Yai everything grinds to a halt.
Dengar cerita semua hotel di selatan Thai mengalami kerugian yg sangat besar akibat covid 19.sebahagian besar daripadanya telah ditutup untuk selama lamanya.
"Listen to the story of all the hotels in southern Thailand suffering enormous losses due to covid 19.most of them have been closed for good."
I have a feeling you are right and that quite a few won't reopen. Some of the regional airlines are also in big trouble, as are many other businesses that rely on tourism. Before Covid the tourism industry just kept growing year after year and even just a couple of years ago it would have been unimaginable that anything like this could happen. The speed and severity of the situation has caused intense and unexpected hardship for many people.
เก่งมากอ่านภาษาไทยได้ด้วย👍👍
ขอบคุณมากครับ อ่านไม่ยาก ง่ายกว่าพูด ! 🙏
@@LearnToReadThai อยู่หาดใหญ่หรอครับ พาเที่ยวเหมือนคนในพื้นที่เลย
@@farn1223 อยู่ครับ ตำบลควนลัง
= HAT YAI LAST 40 YEARS AGO VERY VERY HAPPY PLACE .... NOW TOO ADVANCE EVERYWHERE IS THE HIGH RISE BUILDINGS .... & NOT TOO MUCH TOURIST FROM S'PORE & M'SIA & EU-COUNTRIES
= SINGAPORE IS THE BURMESE SEAMEN'S FIRST HOME & THAILAND IS THE SECOND HOME ..... WHY RANGOON & MANDALAY IS NOT OUR FIRST HOME ????? YOU PLEASE ANSWER .....
= M M M =
Thailand changes very quickly. It's a completely different country to the one I first visited in 1987. Hat Yai now is very different to the Hat Yai I first saw in 2002.
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