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| Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery | |||||
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Map: Map 3 I found out some time ago that many Singaporeans come to Hat Yai to have nips, tucks, and other cosmetic surgery procedures performed. Why Hat Yai and not one of the fancy private hospitals in Bangkok? It's cheap. But is it safe? I don't have a clue but some of the procedures involve major surgery, and personally I might feel better about being in a large hospital with lots of nurses instead of a tiny Hat Yai clinic. In fairness to the surgeon mentioned below, I have seen lots of positive comments from Singaporeans on Internet forums about his work and his prices. They say his results are very natural-looking, and his prices are the lowest available. I didn't see one negative comment. Looking at the information on his web site, he is very well-qualified. What operations and procedures are available? Pretty much anything, from what I can work out. I love the way the list below includes 'sex change' somewhere between 'chin implant' and 'botox injections' as if having a sex change is the most natural thing in the world. I also love the way the list ends with etc.! Only in Thailand. Dr Nara MD (whose business card says 'Board of Plastic Surgery' and 'Board of General Surgery'). Here are the details for Dr Nara's clinic.
Address: 112 Thamanoonvithi Road (next to the Indra Hotel) Appointments are necessary. The clinic opening hours are 10am to 8pm (Monday to Friday), 9am to 4pm (Saturday), and 9am to noon (Sunday). Procedures available include:
There is another plastic surgery clinic located very close to Wat Chiaew Chaang (the large, unfinished Chinese temple on Suphasarnrangsan Road Map 1). Phi Beauty Clinic
Address: 109 Suphasarnrangsan Road This place advertises various cosmetic surgery procedures but seems to specialise in hair (as well as beard and moustache) transplants. This should be quite popular with the majority of farangs living in Thailand. The doctor is Dr Chirayut Tolertmongkhol MD (Certified Board of General Surgery; Certified Board of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery). The opening hours for Phi Beauty Clinic are:
Monday to Friday: 5pm to 7pm
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| Politics | |||||
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Whatever your view of fugitive ex-Prime Minister Thaksin, his lasting legacy was that he divided Thailand politically. In the north and northeast most Thais are red-shirted Thaksin supporters who vote for which ever party Thaksin is funding at the moment from his base outside of Thailand.
Bangkok is divided. The middle classes and academics tend to disagree with Thaksin's policies but if you take a taxi in Bangkok never say anything bad about Thaksin to a Bangkok taxi driver (who probably originates from Isaan anyway). Bangkok taxi drivers love him. Yellow-shirted Thais in the southern provinces fiercely support the Democrat party. Southern Thais hate Thaksin and Samak with a passion but love Prem Tinsulanonda (ex-Prime Minister, born in Songkhla, and now head of the King's Privy Council), Chuan Leekpai (Democrat ex-Prime Minister twice, born in Trang, and still very active politically), and the current Democrat Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva (born in Newcastle!). In the picture to the left are Abhisit Vejjajiva, Chuan Leekpai, and Prai Pattano - the current mayor of Hat Yai. I doubt that easy-going Thais would get violent if you disagreed with their political beliefs but you are much more likely to gain friends in the south by wearing a yellow shirt, supporting the PAD, and disliking Thaksin. A few years ago when Sondhi Limthongkul started his crusade to get rid of Thaksin he came to speak to a packed house at the Prince of Songkla University. The hall where he gave his speech was so full that many people had to stand outside and watch the speech via CCTV. I bought one of his anti-Thaksin yellow T-Shirts which has written on it in Thai 'We will fight for the King'. This goes down very well in the south and I always get complimentary comments whenever I wear it. However, next time I take a trip up north I think I will leave it at home.
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| Prince of Songkla University/Hospital | |||||
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Map: Map 2 I could simply say this is a university and hospital but it is actually much more than that. The complex is known locally as either PSU or Mor Or. The university has several campuses in southern Thailand but the one in Hat Yai is the largest. It is open to students from everywhere but provincial universities in Thailand are intended mainly for local students who, it is hoped, will qualify and then serve people in the same region. This is particularly the case for medical and dental students. The hospital takes care of patients from all over the south of Thailand and is well equipped. When smaller hospitals elsewhere in southern Thailand don't have adequate skills or facilities, they send patients here. Medical research is also carried out at the hospital. Many poor rural Thais go to Mor Or for treatment and some are in a bad way. Visiting the hospital can be quite a humbling experience. If you are having one of those days when you think life isn't fair, just take a visit and see what some other people have to endure. At the temple across the road are lodgings for the relatives of poor patients who don't live locally and for an extremely small amount of money they can stay nearby their sick relative. The university and hospital is a big part of the local community and becomes a focal point at certain times of the year. For example, Mor Or is a good place to experience the Thai festival of Loy Gratong in November. Some time around August each year the university opens its doors for Science Week and tens of thousands of students from the 14 southern provinces visit to get a taste of university life. This coincides with the start of the agricultural fair which is another big annual event at Mor Or. As you would expect at a university, there are sports facilities and good libraries. The main library has a lot of English books but I'm not sure if people not studying or working there can borrow books. I have borrowed many books but I was an employee for several years. In downtown Hat Yai there is a serious lack of trees and green spaces but the grounds of Mor Or are lush and quite pleasant. There is a large reservoir around which people jog in the evening and a wildlife area with lots of lotus flowers and wild birds. Watch out though because there are snakes too, and I have seen some large examples at Mor Or. The campus is open to the public. If you drive in you may need to pass a security checkpoint but anyone can walk in. The public are quite welcome to eat at the various cafeterias where you will find the food is good and cheap.
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| Shoe Doctor | |||||
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Map: Map 4 Shoes get an extra lease of life in Thailand compared to many other countries. Thai shoe repairers will carry out all kinds of repairs that repairers in Western countries wouldn't even be willing to do. Shoe repairers often have roadside stalls. In Hat Yai there are several located under the railway bridge near the police station. Alternatively, you could visit the Whiteroom. The owner, Bpui, (who is a very sweet girl) tells me this is the only business of its kind in the whole of Thailand. They bill themselves as shoe cleaning experts but the owner tells me it is a 'one-stop service' for any kind of shoe problem. Give them your shoes and they will take responsibility for getting any repairs done that need doing, and then they will clean the shoes. When finished, your shoes come back in a nice storage bag and there is even a photo of your newly renovated footwear attached. Charges vary from Bt10 to Bt200 depending on what needs doing, what type of footwear, and whether you require the express service or not. Whiteroom Shoe Cleaning Expert
Address: 9 Prachathipat Road (near Wiriyathien school) Open every day from 9am until 7pm.
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| Songkhla Baby Home | |||||
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The sign outside says that visitors are welcome. After having passed the home several times I decided to visit. It was a moving experience and a few months later I visited again. Whether you do so or not is a personal decision of course.
The home looks after orphaned children from the 14 southern Thai provinces and also from Bangkok. They range in age from new-born infants to teenagers but the majority are aged 0-3 years. The total number of children varies from week to week of course, as children arrive and leave. The circumstances under which you can meet the children seem to vary. On my first visit I was told I could wander around the grounds and I didn't have to sign anything. On my second visit I was accompanied by my Thai girlfriend and she had to fill in an official visitors form. As is the case when visiting children anywhere be conscious of your actions and always try to involve a member of staff. On my second visit we were told we couldn't go inside any of the buildings but could just say hello from outside. However, a very kind nurse working at the home acted as our guide and took us inside. The kids are just great. Many Thai people don't have the easiest of lives even when they have the support of their families but these children have nothing. The home provides them with the basics of life. They have shelter, clothes and food but not a lot more. Don't expect to see sad and pathetic children. Seeing them playing so happily on my first visit was quite upsetting. They just get on with life. After meeting these kids the only people who seemed sad and pathetic were those who have a lot already but are greedy for more and let money control their lives. The very young babies just do what very young babies do. It is the three and four year-olds that really get to me. These are the ones who just want affection and the protection of an adult. As I sat down on the steps to talk to them I had two little girls sit on my lap. One of them took my hand and folded my arm around her waist. The poor little mite just wanted a hug. Some of the older children are a bit more reserved and a little wary of strangers which is hardly surprising after the start in life they have had. They are given basic education at the home and some children go to a school outside. The home is quite well supported by the local community. An important aspect of Buddhism is merit making and I can't think of a better way to make merit than to help these children. Some people only 'make merit' by participating in high-profile, very visible merit making ceremonies but a low key visit to the home is, in my opinion, much more in line with the true meaning of merit making. What can you give? The easiest option is money and a donation box is situated at the front office. With a majority of young babies at the home, people give items suitable for them e.g. disposable nappies (diapers), baby food and baby milk. A lot of chocolate and sweet snacks are also given but the kids seem to overdose on sweet stuff. The nurse we met said what the children really need more of are clothes and shoes. Thais, being Thais, think first of food and everything else is secondary. What is the first thing a Thai asks you? "Have you eaten yet?" It's a cultural thing. I have donated money and also some books and coloured pens. The books were for writing practice (English and Thai) and join-the-dots. I hope they kept some of the older children amused for a while. A visit to the home isn't for everyone but for some it will be very rewarding. It's not easy though for over-sensitive people. Walking away from children who have so little when all they want to do is hug you is difficult, to say the least. Foreigners do adopt children from the home. There are photos on display of parents with their adopted children. However, I have no idea about the process. The home can help with providing information though if this is something you would like to find out more about. The home is located on the road going to Ko Yo (from Songkhla) before the bridge and before the Songkhla Hospital. From Hat Yai take a minivan or bus to Songkhla and tell the driver, the conductor or another passenger that you want to go to Ko Yo (Kaw Yaw). After you get off take a sawng-thaew towards Ko Yo and keep an eye out for the home on the left.
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| Tourist Police | |||||
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Map: Map 3 Hat Yai, being a big tourist destination, has its own branch of tourist police. Yes, there are policemen around whose job it is just to look after you. I have never called on their services so can't tell you personally how effective they are but it's worth keeping in mind. I have heard some very good things about the Hat Yai tourist police. A Malaysian guy I met said he had once got himself into a very bad state as a result of drink. He collapsed in the street, unable to do anything, and it was the tourist police who got him back safely to his hotel. On another occasion I was waiting at Cathay Guesthouse for a minivan down to Penang and the tourist police arrived to pick up a farang staying there to assist him with something or other. The tourist police station is no longer opposite the Florida Hotel, as some guide books will tell you. It is now on Niphat Uthit 3 Road at the end near to Sripoovanart Road. The location is inside the building which is fronted by the large Aeon credit company office. Walking along Niphat Uthit 3 Road away from central Hat Yai, it is just past the police station which is located at the junction of Niphat Uthit 3 Soi 2, on the left hand side. The special phone number to call is 1155.
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| Travel Agents | |||||
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Hat Yai has a plethora of travel agents but I have found some to be better than others. Visiting farang tourists tend to use two of these more than others - Konsortium on Prachathipat Road opposite Lee Gardens Plaza, and the small travel desk below the Cathay Guest House which is popular with backpackers.
Although Cathay Guest House is not my choice of accommodation, I have used the travel desk downstairs quite a lot. The staff are helpful and because of the number of farangs they deal with they understand what farangs want. Other travel agents that deal predominantly with Chinese Malaysians and Singaporeans don't always understand farang requests because culturally there is a big difference. The other advantage with travel agents who deal with a lot of farangs is that their English is better. The Cathay travel agency is located under the Cathay guest house at 93/1 Niphat Uthit 2 Road (Map 3). Telephone 074 235044.
Among Malaysian visitors, Davis Tour & Travel Service is very well known. Not only do they organise travel to Malaysia and Singapore from Hat Yai but their office (Map 3) is where many Malaysians arrive and depart from Hat Yai by coach. Davis Tour & Travel Service
Address: 9 Chee Uthit Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
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| Working Out and Swimming | |||||
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Address: 29 Prachathipat Road, Songkhla, Hat Yai, 90110 Map: Map 3 Telephone: +66 (0)74 261111 Fax: +66 (0)74 353555 There are plenty of opportunities for horizontal gymnastics in Hat Yai but if you want a more conventional method of working out the Lee Gardens Plaza Hotel has a well equipped gym. There is also a sauna and outdoor swimming pool. Everything is located on the 12th floor of the hotel. For hotel guests use of the swimming pool is free but to use the sauna and fitness centre costs Bt200. For non-guests, use of all three costs Bt200 per session or Bt1,000 for a month (Bt900 a month if you sign up for three months and there is a further Bt100 discount on the monthly and three-monthly rates if two or three people sign up together at the same time). Rates are inclusive of tax and service charge. Lockers and towels are available which require payment of a Bt500 deposit. The facility is open from 7am to 9pm Mondays to Fridays and from 8am to 8pm on weekends and public holidays.
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