I stayed near Narita Airport the night before and flew to Thailand in the morning.

I stayed near Narita Airport the night before and flew to Thailand in the morning.

I stayed near Narita Airport the night before and flew to Thailand in the morning.

I stayed near Narita Airport the night before and flew to Thailand in the morning.

I stayed near Narita Airport the night before and flew to Thailand in the morning.

I stayed near Narita Airport the night before and flew to Thailand in the morning.

I stayed near Narita Airport the night before and flew to Thailand in the morning.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.


From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.


From Bangkok to Phuket.


From Bangkok to Phuket.


From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.


From Bangkok to Phuket.


From Bangkok to Phuket.


From Bangkok to Phuket.


From Bangkok to Phuket.


From Bangkok to Phuket.


From Bangkok to Phuket.


From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.


From Bangkok to Phuket.


From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.

From Bangkok to Phuket.


From Bangkok to Phuket.


From Bangkok to Phuket.


From Bangkok to Phuket.


From Bangkok to Phuket.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.


Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.


Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Around Phang-nga.

Leaving Ao Luk Nua

In the morning, I woke up as it got brighter. I felt like I wanted to sleep a little more, but I wanted to make progress in the morning, so I woke up at 6:30.

It is not certain whether they are divided by grade level, such as elementary school, junior high school, and high school, but various children wearing school uniforms were packed tightly into a truck taxi, or riding motorcycles, and it was an incredible sight. Almost no cars are coming from outside the town, yet there are many cars and motorcycles running around in the town.

I glanced sideways and walked past, then stopped at a restaurant a few hundred meters away to have breakfast. They served me a dish that looked like porridge mixed with side dishes. It was quite good! There were about 4 or 5 types of seasonings available, so I mixed them together and ate it, which was also delicious. The exquisite taste of mixing a slightly spicy sauce (it doesn't seem to be fish sauce) with sugar was indescribable. I used to think I was weak to spicy food, but since coming to Thailand, I've been eating spicy food without any problems. The spiciness seems to be different from the spiciness in Japan. Perhaps the temperature is different. Maybe eating spicy food in a hot place isn't painful.

At the exit, I bought a fruit that I didn't quite understand. It looks like a very large, palm-like fruit, and it seems to be a fruit that has been cut into pieces. It's cut vertically, and there are seeds inside. In the morning, I ran while eating this as a snack.

The way to Krabi.

The road is basically downhill, so it's quite comfortable to travel on. Although it's a road with continuous ups and downs, it's generally downhill.

Krabi town.

I finished my meal a little ways into the town. Because I had been eating fruit along the way, it was a little difficult to finish everything. A large amount of something like cucumbers for palate cleansing and thinly sliced edamame were served, and I struggled to clear it all. But now that I think about it, maybe I didn't have to eat it all.

In that restaurant, I used a book in six languages to ask about the tourist information center, and it seems that it is located about 500 meters ahead on the left. So, I decided to go there.

　The road was relatively easy to understand, and there were a few tourist shops on the left side after turning at the end of the road. I went into one of them, but English was not widely spoken, and I felt like the shop staff were annoyed with me. So, I decided to leave and go to a different place. Even at that shop, my English was not well understood, but I managed to convey my purpose through gestures and written communication.

I decided to participate in a sea kayaking tour. It seems that we will drive about 20 km to a beach resort, and then another 30 km to a different location. After that, we will paddle sea kayaks towards the island, go around half of the island, and then return.

Basically, they will take me there by car, and I will wait at this store until the appointed time.

Sea kayak tour.

The car arrived at the store on time to pick me up, and I joined the tour. Besides me, there were two American couples who were participating, and they seemed to be from a famous beach nearby.

The sea kayaking tour has few participants, and most people join from the beach. It seems that people from Krabi, like me, are very rare participants. It took 30 minutes by car to reach the beach, and then another 20 minutes by car from the beach to reach the sea kayaking departure point.

The sea kayak is for two people, and since I was participating alone, a local guide got in the back, and we set off.

Only at the time of departure, it was raining heavily. My pants and clothes were completely soaked from the rain.

And then, I got back into the sea kayak and went to the other side of the island.

During the tour, the guide frequently recommended "Taiyaki" (local language?). He said that the prices in town are high, but he can offer it at a lower price. It seems to be a Thai massage. He also asked a female American couple, "Have you already done it?" so it doesn't seem to be related to the "H" industry. I confirmed, and it is indeed a massage.

And, I had a conversation in English to some extent, but my English comprehension is low, so the conversation didn't make sense in some places. There are moments when I think I need to improve a little more.

There was no sense of being forced, but it felt subtle. An American couple took another photo when they reached the goal, and they were given a printed copy of it. However, when they saw my photo of the heavy rain, they said, "We want the one with the rain!" and had a print of the rainy photo made and took it home. They said, "The one without the rain is too normal. The one with the rain is wilder."

Finally, I took a shower, but the water was a little brown. Oh well... I guess it can't be helped.

And, while we went there in a Jeep, we returned in a truck taxi. Whether it was a Jeep or a truck taxi, they drove quite fast, and because the seats in the truck taxi didn't allow you to see forward, it felt a little scary. There's nothing you can do about it, even if it's bumpy.

During the trip, the guide stopped at a pineapple farm that was being talked about. It seems that only one pineapple can grow in one place. And, while it costs 10 baht in the market (I think), it's supposedly sold for twice the price to foreigners.

During the trip, I received information about the hotel where an American couple was staying, but I couldn't go there because I wasn't staying at a hotel near the beach. The couple got off at the beach, and I went to Krabi town. Finally, I had some casual conversation with the guide.

Therefore, after various conversations, I suddenly learned the following three words.

　Hello. Sawasdee krap.
　Thank you. Khop khun khrap/kha.
　Goodbye. Bye-bye.

The conversation book for six languages contains longer words, and I noticed that I was often met with a "huh?" expression whenever I used a word multiple times, so I realized that the words I was using were more common conversational words.

I returned to the travel agency and said "kop khun khrap," which means "thank you," using the phrase I was taught.

At a guest house in Krabi.

After returning from the tour, I thought I would first look for a hotel.

Before joining the tour, the guesthouse I inquired about had a somewhat ambiguous response (which may also be due to my poor language skills), so I decided to look for a different place. The next hotel I visited had a magnificent-looking building, but apparently, there were no outlets in the rooms. I thought, "There are places like that," and continued searching. Then, I suddenly decided to inquire about a guesthouse I had noticed. It was 180 baht per night. A room without a window costs 150 baht. It seems that a room with a window for 180 baht was available, so I chose that one. It's perfectly adequate. It also seems to have an outlet.

After finishing my preparations, I wanted to find a place to buy a replacement pair of pants, as the ones I had gotten wet on the tour. I decided to ask the staff at the entrance. They told me that there were several stores, and they would show me the way. Of the two staff members, one male and one female, both in their early twenties, the female staff member volunteered to show me.

So, first I went to the first place, but there were no items that were easy to move, so I went to the second place. Then, on the way to the second place, I was called out by a group of young local men, "Hey!" I don't know if it was directed at me or at this child, but she is ignoring them. I also ignored them, because I wasn't receiving any particular harm. (I had read a story somewhere about how local women get called out by local men when they are walking with someone.)

And in the second instance, I discovered some nice-looking pants. One was a brand from Colombia... or so it claimed, but it was almost certainly a counterfeit. There were other items as well, but I decided to go with the Colombian imitation. The shop owner emphasized the brand, but I just listened quietly. When I asked the price, he said it was 950 baht, but he would give it to me for 900 baht. I thought it would probably be half the price, but I thought, "Well, it's okay," and decided to buy it. Also, I didn't want to wear dirty pants on the return flight, so I decided to buy another one. Then, the shop owner's wife came from the back and said, "If you're a cyclist, I'll give you this," and she brought out an American military emergency food kit. Inside, there were compressed foods, a bag that warms up when you add water, and about 10 other types of food. He's an interesting guy... I think he's in a good mood because I'm paying, and the girl is also guiding me generously. (Based on pre-research.)

And then, I came back, put down my luggage, and decided to go out for a meal. I wandered around town and discovered a market. I tried various drinks and foods inside. It was delicious again... In particular, something like seafood-flavored omelet was very delicious. I ate a lot of different things, being greedy.

And when I returned, a slightly strange situation occurred. One of the staff members at the entrance, a girl, was missing, and the male staff member looked at me with a slightly sad expression. "Hmmmm???" I thought, and as I went to my room and started climbing the stairs, I was called from behind by the staff girl, "Oh, you're back? Did you enjoy the meal?" I was initially surprised, but I replied a beat late, "It was good." After that, I thought the girl was pointing upwards, and I thought she was telling me that she was going upstairs, so I went back to my room. However, later I thought, maybe she was actually saying "Go Up," and she was inviting me upstairs? The situation where the girl was on the stairs above the stairs I was climbing was also strange, and it's not unnatural to think that she was inviting me based on the gesture of pointing upwards. The male staff member at the entrance may have had a sad expression because it's not a pleasant feeling to have your partner or sibling taken by someone else. Of course, this is just speculation. In the worst case, I might have been drugged and had my belongings taken... but I don't think that would happen with the staff at the inn. If it did happen, it would be a wrongdoing by the inn itself. They wouldn't take that kind of risk. Maybe they wanted me to become a "sugar daddy" in a romantic relationship. By the way, I once read a story about a person who kept delivering money to a remote village in Asia.

I thought, "Because of my own lack of awareness, I didn't accept the invitation, but I wonder what would have happened afterward if that had been an invitation." According to some preliminary research, when Japanese people come to Southeast Asia, they are often treated well for some reason, but many of these cases are motivated by money or the desire to obtain Japanese citizenship. Some people apparently have casual relationships and then quickly end them, and there are also Japanese people who become seriously involved with these types of individuals.

With such imaginations, and concluding, "Well, since nothing happened, let's just leave it at that," he fell into a deep sleep that day...

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.


Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

Leaving Krabi.

The morning in Trang.

This morning, I woke up a little earlier than usual, and it was completely dark. I checked the clock, and it was 5:30. Even when I woke up around 6:10, it was still quite dark. Usually, it's bright outside by 6:30, so I thought, "The sunrise must be quite noticeable today." And, as expected, it was bright enough outside by 6:30.

I was about to get ready and leave when I noticed that the front tire had lost air. It wasn't a puncture... but then I realized that a small amount of air was leaking from the edge of the valve stem. It was so small that I couldn't tell unless I soaked it in water in the bathroom. I wondered if it was a manufacturing defect, but there was no way to confirm it. I'm glad that I was able to use the water immersion method, and that this happened while I was staying at a hotel.

And, for this trip, I decided to try a large restaurant that looks like a general store. As expected, since it's not far from the station, the menu is written in English. However, it's expensive. A piece of bread costs 40 baht, and a set of bread, omelet, and a drink costs around 60 baht. It seems like it's a menu specifically for tourists. It's natural for them to charge tourist prices, but I think some people might find it unpleasant. If you eat at a street stall or a regular restaurant, even if it's a tourist price, it's less than half of this. In general, you can eat breakfast for 20 to 30 baht at those places.

I ran a little, and I thought, "Is this good enough?" So, I started heading towards the next destination, Phatthalung (?). Just after I started, there was a road that seemed to lead up to a small hill, so I decided to go there. Then, while I was looking through a book in six languages to see if there were any places of interest, someone came up to me and spoke. They asked me in English, "What's up?"

So, I asked if there was anything worth seeing, and I mentioned that my next destination was Phatthalung. Then, they told me that I should see the town's clock tower. Clock tower! I thought of a clock tower attached to a church-like building. And regarding Phatthalung, they told me that there are mountains along the way, so it will take time (well, I could see that on the map). They also told me that there are several waterfalls along the way, and I should stop and see them. That's a good tip.

He was a very kind and friendly person. He didn't seem to be interested in money, and it seemed like he was interested in Japan. At the end, he said something like a farewell in Japanese, but I had to ask him to repeat it.

And then, I thanked her and headed towards the clock tower. On the way, I asked one person about the location of the clock tower, and then I asked another person, and finally, I managed to find it.

Suburban fitness park.

And then, I leave the park.

The carving style is a bit rough, but it has a unique characteristic and is quite interesting. I decided to buy a dragon statue. When I asked the price, it was 260 baht. Then, as I was hesitating, the price suddenly dropped to 160 baht. I asked if it could be 100 baht, and they offered 150 baht. Since there was no particular reason to haggle excessively, I decided to buy it for that price. In most cases, the price drops to half, but well, I'll consider this as satisfactory.

When I asked, they said it was not a Thai carving, but an Indonesian one. I see. They also said they came from there.

The only mountain pass.

SUMANO CAVE TEMPLE Part 1.

After crossing the mountain pass, we entered a road that was generally downhill and comfortable.

SUMANO CAVE TEMPLE Part 2.

When I crossed the suspension bridge, I saw several buildings in the distance, so I went back and got my bicycle. Then, I rode further ahead and saw several buildings and a cave.

I was told that the paintings around the room depict the life of the Buddha, but I had difficulty communicating due to the language barrier. I wonder if an offering was required?

There was also a photograph resembling the Dalai Lama.

PHUT THA KHODOM CAVE

And then, I exited the cave temple and started running again. I lightly used my hands for propulsion and moved smoothly.

But, along the way, after eating lunch, I saw a sign for a ZOO (zoo), and I thought, "A zoo in the middle of the countryside? Will anyone come? Can it be profitable? Is it only for tourists from the city?" Nevertheless, I decided to go and see it.

Turn here, and it seems to be about 6 km away. In terms of direction, you need to turn south. (In the photo above, the front is the direction I came from, and the back is the direction you should be going. The sign was ambiguous, so I went a little past it, then looked back at the sign on the other side, and made a U-turn to reach this fork in the road.)

KHAOKRAM OPEN DEER ZOO Part 1.

KHAOKRAM OPEN DEER ZOO Part 2

For now, I think I'll get closer and take a commemorative photo.


But...


When I suddenly approached and looked, I could see a passage for pedestrians on the side.

It seemed quite wide, and it looked like there was still a long way to go, but I returned after about 100 meters. The entrance fence was very high, and I thought it would be terrible if someone closed it and I couldn't get out.


But... When I returned to the entrance, two local young couples, a total of four people, had returned on two motorcycles. I tried to communicate with them, but I couldn't understand them.

I only told them that the door was open, but I decided to leave it up to them to decide what to do, and I started to leave. However, one of them invited me to go with them. I thought, "Maybe it's okay if there are a lot of people," so I decided to go. But, their very relaxed way of walking made me think that this place might be a very safe place.

They walk while making animal sounds, as if saying, "Animals, come!"

And then, I returned to the entrance and said goodbye to the group of four people.

At the entrance, there were many men who appeared to be relatives of the children I had seen earlier, and we had a brief conversation. (Such as, "Where are you from?" etc.)

After looking up the word later, "DEER" means deer, so it seems it was "an open zoo where deer live."

KHAOCRAM WATER FALL

After leaving the zoo, I thought about going back immediately, but since there seems to be a waterfall near the fork in the road where I turned back, I decided to go see it.

Phatthalung.

And then, to the center of Phatthalung.

Among the places I visited in Phatthalung, some of the vendors at the market in front of the station were charging tourist prices, which were almost double the usual price. While charging tourist prices is understandable, some of the vendors had a somewhat rude attitude, which made me wonder if it was because they were in front of the station. Perhaps they are treating foreigners who don't speak the language coldly. For example, when I said "kop khun khrap" (thank you) in Thai after receiving my food for lunch, a woman who had been frowning smiled slightly. Although I sometimes feel offended by being charged tourist prices and the corresponding attitude, I sometimes think that maybe it's just the way things are.

It is possible to reach the very obvious conclusion that "no matter which country you are in, there are kind people and unkind people." However, it is not easily resolved, requires further understanding to resolve, and one feels whether it is truly desirable to simply resolve it.

By the way, tourist prices are not always charged to everyone. For some items, there are times when the price is a tourist price and times when it is not. For example, a 250ml bottle of Pepsi might cost 5 baht sometimes and 10 baht at other times. I'm gradually understanding the prices. Once you understand the prices, you can choose not to buy something, or you can complain. It quickly becomes clear that short-term tourists cannot complain about this.

A little while ago, I did a small experiment. I thought that the small grilled chicken skewers probably cost 5 baht, so I bought one without asking the price. Then, I offered 10 baht, and the old man stared at the money for a moment, didn't say anything, and put it in his pocket, continuing his work. He didn't even look at me. I felt a little bad. I might be overthinking it. If it's a rule to ask the price, then I was the one breaking the rule.

Even so, I have encountered these petty coin-related problems repeatedly, so it is certain that I am somewhat tired of them. It seems to me that Thailand is damaging its reputation over trivial matters. At least, I don't feel like recommending Thailand to others more than necessary. That is because I no longer feel that much appeal in Thailand. This may also depend on individual preferences.

Because I have seen many good and desirable places in the countryside, I wonder why I have to tarnish the image of Thailand for the sake of these boring people.


Actually, I thought about things more than what I have written here, but I will limit myself to writing a part of it. This habit of pondering is a bad habit I've had since a long time ago.



At night, a little after 7:00 PM, fireworks suddenly started. I couldn't see anything from the hotel window. I quickly got ready and rushed outside the hotel, hoping to at least see what kind of fireworks they were. However, at that time, I didn't have my camera with me, and I missed the opportunity to take pictures of the beautiful scene.

The fireworks didn't seem that far away. I started walking towards the direction of the fireworks. While walking, I saw a large, round firework expanding in the sky. It seems that there are hardly any fireworks that go off ten times in a row, like in Japan. Instead, single fireworks or a few fireworks explode at intervals.

Eventually, I probably walked about 1 kilometer, and I saw what appeared to be the memorial I had passed during the day. It was brightly lit, and I could hear something playing loudly. It looked like a sports field, and in the background, there was a huge portrait of what seemed to be a member of the royal family. People were singing, and everyone was listening. From the time I got close enough to the venue, I could no longer see the fireworks. What a perfectly timed moment...

When I looked at the athletic field, I could see that trash was scattered all the way to the back, indicating that many more people had gathered there much earlier. I found an empty seat and decided to listen to the songs for a while. The songs I heard at that time were not the enka-style melodies I had heard before, but rather, songs were sung with different types of melodies for each song.

After about 30 minutes, I thought these songs would be the end, but unexpectedly, dancing started along with the melody. The people around seemed not to know what was happening. A little girl appeared as a fairy, and girls around 10 years old, wearing glittering clothes, danced gracefully with their hands, hips, and feet. There were also women and men, around 15 to 18 years old, who danced skillfully and appropriately for their age. There was no sense that anyone would be criticized for being bad, and people in this area were watching them warmly, as if they were a large family, dancing appropriately for their age and skill. People who seemed to be working were frequently moving around on the stage, but it didn't seem unnatural at all. I felt that they were all familiar with each other and were having fun.

I watched about 4 to 5 songs and 7 to 8 dances. I was particularly captivated by the movements of the dances, especially the hand gestures. The melodies also varied, ranging from upbeat to calm.

This time, I thought it was worth coming just to see this. It was a scene so wonderful and full of familial love. (Overall), it might not be sufficiently refined, but it was a scene that evoked many feelings.

I was captivated by the dance, and I thought, "Is this the end?" But then, I noticed that everyone started moving backward. They seemed to be clearing a space in front of the stage. I wondered what was going to happen. A little later, I heard a rhythmic music, "ton-tok ton-tok," and soon, a person wearing glittering armor appeared. They moved forward slowly, stepping delicately in time with the music, with a slightly bowlegged posture and a slightly lowered waist, holding a triangular flag, as if they were about to lead the charge in battle.

I was watching, thinking, "What is this...?" The melody has a Chinese-style flute mixed in, and the scale-like armor and helmet, along with the mask, are moving delicately. The legs are sturdy, and it's clear from the movement that the waist is strong. "Tata, tar tar, la, la, la, la, la, la, tar ru ra..." That kind of music continues. Someone is talking behind me. Of course, it's Thai, so I don't know what they're saying. However, according to something I read somewhere, this might be a reenactment of an old story. It seems that they create dramas based on ancient stories or real events from the previous century, in order to pass them down as a culture. If it's that kind of situation, then everything makes sense.

What is interesting is the movement and nuance. To briefly explain, first, a group of soldiers wearing slightly scary masks appears and performs, then they withdraw behind the curtain. Next, another group appears, also wearing masks, but this time, only the apparent leader is not wearing a mask. After their performance, the first group re-enters from the direction they had withdrawn. Then, what appears to be a battle begins. However, the "battle" is more of a formal, Kabuki-style performance, which is shown for a while. During this, several impressive techniques are demonstrated, and applause erupts each time. They also show scenes of battle using swords and flags. Finally, there was a performance that suggested that the group led by the masked leader might have lost. However, in the end, both groups of soldiers retreated in an orderly manner, with their leaders riding in vehicles (like carts, which were used as vehicles during battles in that era), so it was not clear which side had won. Perhaps it was a conclusion other than win or lose. Or perhaps it was a pardon.


I was supposed to leave halfway through, but I ended up watching the entire wonderful singing, dancing, and drama, and I was quite late. I think it was probably past 12:00 AM, maybe close to 2:00 AM, when I hurried back to the hotel, but I didn't arrive at the hotel until 10:30 PM. It seems my internal clock is still set to Japan time (a 2-hour time difference).

The hotel was comfortable, and I fell asleep peacefully.


Note: I am not very confident about whether the pronunciation of Phatthalung is correct.

The morning in Phatthalung.

In the morning, I was tired, so I thought I might oversleep, but I woke up at around 6:20, almost on time. I got ready and left. I've become quite accustomed to it, so I was able to leave at 7:00. There were no tire troubles like yesterday.

I went out onto the road and went to see if the market in front of the station, which was held recently, was open, but it was completely closed. It was in a state where cars could pass through.

A little ways away, a breakfast shop had opened in front of what appeared to be a store. I decided to eat breakfast there. They were serving that familiar porridge-like dish that I had eaten a few days ago. I ordered that, and then I was told to choose some shumai or something like fish cake. I chose two. And I think I ordered tea, but coffee came instead.

The rice porridge was delicious, just like the one I ate the other day. However, unlike the one I ate the other day, there was no sugar in the seasonings, and instead, there was pepper. I thought, "It was delicious when I mixed sugar and fish sauce..." and ate my meal while reminiscing. The kamaboko-like food tasted bland. It had a processed food-like taste. I normally don't (can't) drink coffee, but I mixed in one milk stick and one sugar packet and tried it, and for some reason, I was able to drink it without any problems. Is this Thai magic? Since coming here, I've been able to eat spicy food, and another strange thing has happened with my sense of taste.

And after finishing the meal and paying, it was 50 baht. Perhaps the rice porridge was 20 baht, and the two items that looked like fish cakes were 10 baht each, and the coffee was 10 baht. It's a strange price.

A certain temple and a school.

It seems that there is an elementary school for lower grades located next to this place. It feels natural to think that either a temple is part of the school, or the school is located within the temple. The reason for this is that, quite often, the entrance to the school displays photographs of what appear to be members of the royal family. While I was thinking about this, and just as I was about to finish taking pictures and leave, a group of children suddenly approached me.


That round, innocent-looking gaze, and for a moment, I felt dizzy, "kurakurakura."


Some environmental NGOs and NPOs repeatedly engage in missionary activities, claiming "for the sake of these innocent children," and some of these organizations even reach the level of religion. I have only slightly, just a tiny fraction, understood the meaning of "these innocent children."

The purity of these children resonated in my heart to such an extent that everything I had previously thought about the double-pricing merchants near the station disappeared from my mind.

I was shocked. I never thought something like this would happen. No, perhaps I am traveling in search of this. And perhaps I had forgotten about it.

I came to Thailand, and during my travels, I experienced a sense of being an outsider and receiving a distant gaze. However, when I saw the pure, round eyes of these children, I couldn't help but feel that everything had been "saved."

Today was particularly hot, and there was almost no rain. I wonder if the climate is different from around Phuket. That evening, I saw a news report that there was flooding in Chiang Mai, in northern Thailand. I wonder if it's a characteristic of the region, or if I was just lucky.

Hot Springs (Onsen) Part 1.

As for me, I love hot springs. When traveling in Japan, I try to go to a hot spring at least once every two days; I like hot springs that much. Therefore, the moment I saw that sign, I felt like, "How can you travel without going to a hot spring!" and I was almost certain that I would go to the hot spring.

In this city, I bought and drank a juice made from crushed sugarcane from a store set up in the back of a truck. It was also delicious. It costs 5 baht in a cup. It seems to cost 10 baht if it's in a bottle. This is probably the right price, as a roadside vendor's sign also said 10 baht for a bottle.

And, following the signs, I proceeded towards the hot spring, and when I approached a crossroads without any signs, I tried to ask a person at a shop on the corner about the location of the hot spring. However, my English was not understood. I somehow managed to find out the direction, thanked them, and started running. Then, a woman on a scooter came from the right, and she said she was also going there and would guide me. This was a great help.

Hot Springs (Onsen), Part 2.

The aunt who led the way also showed me around inside.

While thinking "I wonder if it's okay...", I told the old lady, "In Japan, onsen are like public bathhouses," and apparently, there is a place where I can go in.

"Ooh," I thought, feeling excited. Then, pointing to a certain ramshackle structure, he said, "You can go in there too, but it's dirty." Then, pointing to a place that looked like a pool where several people were soaking their feet, he said, "There are places like this too, but they're dirty." Next, he pointed to a building over there and said, "That place is clean, so you should go in."

Next, I was shown around the building and given an explanation. Apparently, you can enter the purified hot spring for 120 baht per hour. According to a notice posted there, the hotel rooms start at 500 baht per night. I suppose that's to be expected in a hot spring resort.

And when I decided to soak in the hot spring for 120 baht, the young man who was in charge gave me a bottle of cold mineral water and said, "Please have this." Oh, I think he is considerate and kind.

But, even so, that was enough. I started filling the tub with hot water, intending to soak in it. Soap and shampoo, and a bath towel were also provided, so I washed my hair and body, and then, taking my time, I lay down on my back and immersed myself completely in the tub, enjoying the hot spring. Although it wasn't as deep as a Japanese bathtub, so I couldn't feel the water pressure, I was able to fully enjoy the comfort of the hot spring.

I achieved my first experience of visiting a hot spring overseas, and I was quite satisfied.

However, this was a flavor that made it difficult to finish eating. It was subtle. The Pepsi was also 10 baht, which is a tourist price, so it was a bit disappointing, but since hot spring areas are definitely tourist destinations, I feel that it's unavoidable in such cases.

In Thailand, or perhaps outside of Japan, kindness and gratitude are generally limited to the moment and do not linger for a long time. I felt this when interacting with this aunt. The reason is that when I returned and tried to express my gratitude or was considering doing something in return, the aunt seemed to have a subtle expression and attitude that made me feel like she was wondering, "Why are you still here?" It was an experience where I subtly felt the difference in culture.

PHRA CAVE

Wow, that's amazing! This Buddha statue is the best!

Thailand, your sense of humor is the best! It's so much fun! As expected, it's truly the "Land of Smiles."

COOL POOL (COLD STREAM)

And then, we left that place and started heading towards Hajai.

The road to Hat Yai.

And then, after leaving the hot spring, it's off to HATYAI.

And then, we merged onto the main road. Now, let's go to Hajai.

As for the schedule for today and tomorrow, I considered going to SONGKHLA today and HATYAI tomorrow, but I thought that it might be nice to relax a bit on the last day, so I decided to go directly to HATYAI.

KHONGKHALEAB TEMPLE

It was hot, and the rainy season was ending, and I visited a temple. I couldn't help but feel the great influence of the climate, which affects human thinking, as I was exposed to this intense sunlight.

HATYAI arrival.

As you get closer to the center, there are more cars and motorcycles, so it is dangerous, and I did not take pictures while riding.

This place was truly a large city. As expected, it is the second largest city in Thailand, after Bangkok. When entering intersections, I needed to be more careful than ever. Right in front of me, a motorcycle that was trying to change lanes was suddenly hit from behind by a car. The motorcycle suddenly changed lanes from the left turn lane to the straight lane, and while the left turn lane was in a "go" state, the straight lane was stopped, so the motorcycle was trying to stop and turn left, and a car that was turning left from behind hit it. There was a loud sound, but the motorcycle seemed to just look at the car, and the car quickly drove away. The motorcycle didn't pursue it any further and just drove away. It's a dangerous town...

Because I have a bicycle that is somewhat conspicuous, drivers were somewhat considerate of me. However, basically, it is necessary to drive it like a motorcycle, so I had to repeat sudden starts, sudden accelerations, and sudden stops, which made it feel more tiring than driving on main roads.

Eventually, after reaching what seemed to be the center of town, I tried to ask someone on the side of the road for the location of the train station. However, my English was not understood. It seems that Thailand, which maintained its independence during the Age of Exploration, is not very proficient in English, just like Japan. Eventually, two women who appeared to be acquaintances passed by and helped me. I asked again, but the term "rail station" was still not understood. I tried to show them a map of HATYAI that I had brought with me, hoping to indicate my current location, but they didn't understand my intention. Finally, when I used the Thai translation of "train station" in six different languages, they understood, and they laughed.

And, furthermore, I had a young man who passed by write a map for me, and by following that map, I was able to reach the station. Yay. The street in front of the station had many one-way streets, and I even went the wrong way, but that is within the acceptable range in Thailand.

And, I looked for tourist information centers nearby, but I only found travel agencies. Perhaps there was one inside the station. I went into one of the agencies, and they said there was a room for about 200 baht just two blocks from the station. When I asked about other places, I didn't get any answers. I had planned to stay in a slightly better hotel for the last day of my trip, but I couldn't ask. Even when I said "middle class," they didn't understand. Does "middle class" in Thailand refer to something around 200 baht? Or maybe they just didn't understand. Well, I decided to leave. Then, I went into a shop right next door and asked if they had any tours for just the morning. But they only offered tours that lasted a full day. So, I decided to go back to the street and look for a hotel again.

I walked a little, and there was a large, prominent building, so I decided to go there first. When I tried to go to the front desk, one of the two people at the front desk was Japanese. I looked around, and I saw people who looked like they were Japanese. It seemed like a very luxurious hotel, so perhaps it's a place often used by Japanese people. Even though it's luxurious, I thought I could probably stay there since it's in Thailand, but I didn't want to be in a Japanese environment just for the sake of it. So, without asking about the price, I decided to leave.

Now, I wondered what to do, and the next place I tried was a hotel called GRAND PLAZA HOTEL, which was located nearby. The entrance wasn't that big, but the front desk was quite impressive. It costs 780 baht per night, so it's a decent rank. Since it's the last day of my trip, this is more than enough. In Japanese yen, it's less than 3000 yen, which is a perfectly acceptable level.

I checked in and brought the bicycle inside. I placed the bicycle next to the front desk, and the porter carried my luggage. I didn't know the standard tip amount, so I probably gave too much, but I gave him a $10 bill (because that's all I had). Then, when I went to the front desk, the staff seemed to pay more attention to me. So, this is the effect of tipping.

I entered the room and, before going out, decided to order a Thai massage from room service to relax my tired body. It costs 120 baht per hour, with a minimum of 2 hours for 240 baht.

A woman, who looked to be in her 30s, came to the room, and her impression of the Thai massage was simply "painful." Indeed, it loosened my muscles, but perhaps because my body is stiff, it caused quite a bit of pain. The woman laughed at my reaction.

Two hours felt like it passed in the blink of an eye. In Japan, the average price for a massage is 100 yen per minute, so a 120-minute massage would cost 12,000 yen. However, here, if you can get a massage for 240 baht, which is about 700-800 yen, it's significantly cheaper.

During the massage, it was impressive that the therapist was giving the massage while occasionally glancing at the television. It was also impressive that after the massage, the therapist said, "Let me see it for a moment," and watched television for a few minutes.

And after the massage, I went out into the city.


In the downtown area, the number of open stores had decreased compared to the time I arrived. Just like in the towns I've visited before, I realized that even in this large city, many stores close around 7:00 PM.

And, I decided to have a meal at one of them. I ordered two side dishes, but two bowls of rice came with it. It seems like I made a mistake. And, when I ordered water, it added 90 baht to the bill. That's a bit too expensive. It was a Chinese-style restaurant, so I experienced a little bit of how Chinese businesses operate.

As I said before, if you do things like this, you will be looked down upon by foreign tourists. Unlike before, I don't get as angry about it. That's also thanks to the effect of the "round eyes" I saw this morning.

While I was out, I was thinking about what to do for sightseeing tomorrow, so I went into a travel agency nearby. It seems that the half-day tours only include visiting nearby temples and caves. Also, it's expensive if you go alone, 500 baht. It's cheaper if there are more people. I decided to give up participating in the tour tomorrow. At that store, I was also offered a dance show. There are two options, one for 600 baht and one for 500 baht. When I thought it was expensive, I realized it was a nude show. I see. But the posters weren't to my taste, so I decided to pass.

And, when I tried to look for a market with food stalls, I found that except for the one near the hotel, which was somewhat open, there were hardly any food stalls if you went a little further away from the hotel. So, I ended up buying things near the hotel.

And at this time, I encountered the most interesting situation yet. Previously, I had been ripped off, but I had never been unable to eat something. This time, the fried chicken I bought was so hard and frozen that I couldn't eat it at all. I was completely defeated. If a business operates like this, it is only natural that people would avoid it. In fact, it is my duty to spread information so that people will avoid it. We must eliminate unscrupulous merchants in order to normalize the market.

Even so, there is no information board for backpackers, and all I can do is write about it on the website.

In the end, the chicken I bought from a street vendor for 20 baht was hard and inedible, so I threw it away. I went outside again and bought coffee milk (450ml) for 18 baht, beer for 30 baht, and snacks for 10 baht at a 7-Eleven. I also bought three pieces of Kentucky Fried Chicken for 35 baht. In the end, there were hardly any things I could buy at the street vendors near the hotel, and most of the shops in this area are overpriced, so I didn't feel like buying anything, and I ended up going to a chain store. My current feeling is, "You street vendors, you have strangled yourselves and driven away customers."

Today, I had fewer negative emotions compared to yesterday, and I was also able to use a clear "no" gesture towards vendors trying to overcharge. I was thinking that it was time to learn negotiation skills, but now the day is approaching when I need to return home.

After seeing various things, I feel like I can now focus on this country and understand it more deeply. However, at this point, I don't have any particular interest in anything else. This country, which I feel is not ideal for tourism.


Tomorrow, I plan to go to the zoo (?), visit a temple (WAT), and if I have time, visit a national park before heading to the airport.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.



The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.



The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.


The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.

The morning in Hat Yai.