Hat Yai(처음 태국)

At last I visited Thailand.
My niece Clair and I had been wanting to visit Penang, missing its rich cuisine. We planned to stay for a couple of days to relax and enjoy the local dishes. I contacted my ex-coworker, who still lives in Penang, and she suggested we visit Hat Yai.
Two years ago, we had talked about crossing the border into Thailand by train, but COVID-19 got in the way. For a Korean, crossing a border by train is a unique experience. South Korea feels like an island, with North Korea to the north-no need for further explanation.
On the first day, we took a flight from KL to Penang. I booked a hotel in Bayan Lepas, the area where I used to live. It felt natural, a light touch of nostalgia. We visited Spice Pisa Cafe, a spot I adored for its pasta, which I once thought was the best in the world. I tasted it again-still good, but not the best anymore. Malaysia has introduced me to many new amazing dishes. After our meal, we walked around the neighborhood. Some things had changed: a new building was going up near Pantai Hospital, and the small Korean grocery store where I used to buy kimchi was gone.
On the second day, we took a bus to Georgetown. After getting off at Downing Street, we headed straight to a Vietnamese restaurant I had visited right after the COVID-19 restrictions lifted, two years ago. Back then, the noodles were delicious. This time? Not so much. The restaurant had changed-or maybe I had. I didn’t even finish my bowl, which is rare for me. Afterward, we took the ferry to Butterworth, my first time doing so. As we disembarked, the exit led directly to the train station, which may also serve as a bus terminal. It seemed like a transportation hub.
We met up with my ex-coworker and her partner and rushed to buy train tickets. We took two trains: the first from Butterworth to Padang Besar, which had air conditioning, and the second from Padang Besar to Hat Yai, which only had fans. Upon arriving at Hat Yai, we went straight to 7-Eleven, as all my coworkers who had visited Thailand insisted it was a must. I bought a local drink and a croissant-both were good. We exchanged some local currency at the booth next to the convenience store, then took a Grab ride in an electric vehicle, a BYD. It was my first time in one, and it was smooth and quiet.
After checking into the hotel, I was surprised by the snacks provided in the room. It even had a capsule coffee machine. Suspicious, I asked the receptionist if the snacks and drinks were free. She assured me they were included in the price. Relieved, I made a cup of coffee.
[Hotel link: bhava-residenc...]
After unpacking, we walked to the night market. It was more like a food court. Interestingly, you had to buy a card and top it up with cash at the entrance, and use the card to pay for food. The papaya salad was the highlight for me. There were also clothes for sale, definitely cheaper than in Malaysia.
[Night market link: www.greenwayni...]
On the third day, we visited Central Hat Yai for some shopping and brunch. Honestly, I just watched my niece shop. She found the local goods interesting and unique.
[Shopping mall link: shoppingcenter...]
Afterward, we went to a massage shop near the train station. I got an hour and a half massage, only the second time in my life. A male practitioner worked on me.
Before heading back to the hotel, we dined at a Halal Thai restaurant built around big trees. I had Tom Yum Goong soup with rice and tried papaya salad again.
On the last day, we walked around the neighborhood and grabbed coffee at Cafe Amazon, located near the bus terminal. I checked the buses and saw one heading to Bangkok.
[Cafe link: www.cafe-amazo...]
During the trip, I saw many Malaysian tourists. Our return flight to KL took just an hour.
I may visit Hat Yai on a regular basis.