Recently I was obliged to do the Ex Pat visa shuffle and decided to go south
to Songkhla for a few days peace and quiet. I could have gone and stayed in
Hat Yai city but I prefer the quieter, sleepy places to recharge my batteries.
The actual visa stamp in and out went quickly using a local taxi guide and I
made it to my hotel before lunchtime. I have not been down to Songkhla for over
a year and wanted a good look around. I stayed at the Royal Crown Hotel, as
it is closest to the small collection of Ex Pat bars. The rooms are a little
run down and shabby but are clean and tidy and only 450 Baht per night. If you
prefer amore modern hotel then go to the Asia Pavilion, which is only two blocks
away. It is of a high standard and has a massage centre on the third floor.
I found that most of the Ex Pat bars and restaurants are located on the Sri
Suda Road, which runs between both hotels. There is a secondary strip of seven
bars nicknamed "The Darkside" situated on the Sadao Road junction
with the Sri Suda Road.
The Royal Crown has its own bar called "The Rose and Crown" which
has been recently refurbished but I found it to be too dimly lit. I like to
see what I am eating or drinking - a few more lights would make all the difference
and keep the staff awake. Directly across the road is the Parlang Bar, which
has a very good Thai food menu and is where the local Hash House Harriers Branch
meets on weekends. There I picked up a copy of the "Songkhla Soundings"
which is a locally produced guidebook and was useful for pub information. On
Sri Suda Road there are the Angel Bar, Auntie Bar, the Buzz stop Irish pub and
Fat Boys, along with several Thai style Karaoke bars. The staff of theAngel
Bar are great fun and used to be the owners of the Sugar Bar. The Buzz stop
boasts to be a real Irish Bar but is relatively new and needs some more Irish
decor. They do, as they claim, serve their beer ice cold and have a full supply
of Guinness. The jewel of the crown is Auntie Bar. It is a very well run Ex
Pat restaurant with attentive staff and a great menu. I noticed that if you
go there for a Sunday breakfast you get given a complimentary Bloody Mary -
bargain!! The dearest item I could find on their menu was a T Bone steak meal
that will cost a mere 300 Baht. It is no wonder that I witnessed so many Ex
Pats in the place.
The alternate bar strip called "The "Darkside" still has The On
and Off Shore Bar, The Lodge and the Red Star Bar all doing a lively trade in
the later part of the evening. The Office Bar boasts to have the rudest owner
in town but at least he serves up a great big
fry up for late breakfast. (I didn't find him that rude either).All in all Songkhla
is still a quiet but pleasant place for a few days. I only hung out in a small
area and it has a lot more to offer if I had stayed longer. Nearby Hat Yai is
where the fleshpots are.
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