Gim Yong Market & Garden Lee Plaza Hat Yai 23 Dec 2019

Gym Yong Market I can say it is just like the Ben Thanh Market or Binh Tey Market at Saigon that we travelled to 2 years ago. It is located right in the centre of the Hat Yai city.

We walked into the complex and the alleyways are very narrow. we can see with the widest variety of goods that are here.

There are clothes, groceries, imported fruits, dried foods, canned foods, toiletries, toys, appliances, watches, and so much more.

Somewhere nearer to the entrance or exit of the building we saw some fishmongers selling fish and butcher selling pork.

At the outside of the Gym Yong Market complex, there are wet markets along the streets.

Once we set our feet on this busy street, we could find many fruits, vegetables and seafood vendors as well as some local street food vendors. It is practically a local street food paradise with lots of hidden food gems.

Alvin walked to a restaurant just next to the street. I do not know what is the name of the shop. He so eagerly wanted us to try her food. He had been here before during his trip with his ex-collegues and found this shop.

The lady was selling mixed rice and Alvin chose a few dishes,  stir fried minced pork with basils, stir fried chicken with ginger, braised pork knuckles and eggs and the salted vegetable pork ribs soup with white rice.

We have our first meal at Hat Yai officially at 10.15am local time. It is good. The taste is different from our Chinese cooking. I found out that Thais love to eat pork and the way they cook the pork is way different from us but it is nice!

After our meal, we walked towards to the Lee Garden Plaza’s McDonald’s because we are eagerly want to try the McDonald’s pork burger. We wrongly ordered the beef burger but it is very nice too!

We found out that having McDonald’s in Thailand is more expensive than what we have in Malaysia! Any how is our first try here.

After which we went in to the Lee Garden Plaza have a walk. It is considered like Sg. Wang Mall at Kuala Lumpur back in Malaysia for me. There are shops include electronics, clothing, shoes, bags, cell phones and accessories.

There are a lot of small kiosks along the walkways selling souvenirs, handcrafts, artwork and small little cute things which we saw. After awhile walking almost the whole mall, we decided to head for our next destination – Wat Hat Yai Nai.

Hello Hat Yai! 23 Dec 2019

Alvin was planning to go to Hat Yai this year. Initially we were planning for may be 4 days, after did some research we decided go to Phatthalung with this trip too. Thus we planned that we will go to Hat Yai by bus by night and may be come back Kuala Lumpur by train.

The intention is to let the children experience different experiences travelling with the bus and the train. Thus the date was set to go on 22nd and back by 30th December. All together about 7 days.

We had purchased the Alisan Golden Coach tickets departure on 22nd 9.30pm departure at Terminal Bus Selatan (TBS) last Tuesday. Yesterday evening we went to TBS by LRT. We are indeed lucky that there is a LRT station nearby our house – Puchong Prima LRT Station.

The coach is clean and nice. Annabelle and Issac sit together in double seat, Alvin and I sit in front of them in double seat as well. Our coach was delayed till 10.00pm only arrived at the station. It was almost 10.30pm that the coach headed out towards our destination.

The coach was considered fast as we arrived at the Malaysia Bukit Kayu Hitam border immigration building about 4.00am. We were not only the bus that queuing. The immigration building is going to open at 6.00am. We woke up for toilet breaks, and waited for 2 hours. We got off the bus and queuing with others from different bus companies.

As Malaysians, the officer just checked, scanned and chopped on our passport. Foreigners need to have their both index finger to be scanned electronically. Then, we got on the bus again and we across Malaysia-Thailand border and got off at Thailand Sadao Immigration. The queue was considered long but it was considered fast.

This time our fingerprint to scan the both right and left hands 4 fingers and finally both thumbprint and lastly they would snap a photo of your face by asking you to look at the camera. I have difficulties in scanning my fingerprints as usual, but after apply the lotion provided it works.

Outside the immigration building, I saw a counter as that is for the Malaysians whom drive their own cars into Thailand, they need to provide the relevant documents for verification and purchase Thailand local car insurance and fill up the relevant forms and other necessary procedures.

It was an hour drive from the immigration to Hat Yai city. We reached Alisan Golden Coach’s office in central Hat Yai within an hour. It was around 7.35am local time. It would mean 8.35am Malaysia time, as Thailand time is earlier than Malaysia by an hour.

We got down from the bus, taken our luggage. Alvin bought a Thailand sim card for the internet about a week for our usage here.

Then, we hired a TuK Tuk to the Silom Boutique Hotel. the Tuk Tuk is different from what we saw on the TV. I think that it is a modified or new version of Tuk Tuk that we have here at Hat Yai.

After settled the luggage in the hotel. We began our journey by exploring the neighbourhood around the Silom Boutique Hotel which we stays.

It is sort of mixture of residential area and shops. We found a self-service laundry which we intend to come and wash our laundry.

We were heading to the Gym Yong Market which is at the other side of the railway station. We crossed the overhead highway and walked towards to the central of Hat Yai.

After we walked down from the highway, we came under the bridge. There were so many small stalls underneath the bridge, mainly selling second hand shoes, framing the deities statues, and so on.

I do not know that here are also the place to do business as well.

We walked further down then crossed over the main road to have a peep into the famous Gim Yong Market. See what there have inside.

Puchong Branch Christmas Carolling @ Puchong IOI Mall 21 Dec 2019

Yesterday afternoon our family joined for Puchong Branch Christmas Carolling at Puchong IOI Mall.

Our Church’s name is printed and listed on the mall Christmas celebration theme ‘Enchanting Garden of Wonders’ program.

Our performance is at 2.00pm. We were told to be at the mall at 1.00pm. We left the house earlier as Alvin would be meeting us at the mall from his job site. Our family was there around 11.30am.

We still have time for our lunch at the Chicken Rice Shop, then we meet the rest of the carollers at the old wing side of the mall.

For the ladies, all of us changed to red colour blouse with black pants or skirts, and a green glittering scarfs. As for the men, they changed to red T-Shirts as well. All of us were wearing the red Christmas hats.

We were practising the Christmas songs for sometime at church. We have limited time to practice and learning about the steps as well but all of us trying our best to do it.

This is the first year that our family is joining the Christmas carolling. This is the 4th year that Puchong Branch being invited to do the Christmas carolling in IOI Mall.

Initially Alvin has a solo ‘Wonderful Christmas Time’ but unfortunately few days before Saturday, he lost his voice and was unable to sing the solo. Sister Jennifer has to restructure his song for all to sing.

We started with Brother Roger with The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

Rocking Around the Christmas Tree by Miguel

Wonderful Christmas Time by All

Joy to the World by All

Holy Night by Hannah

Mary’s Boy Child by Missionary Sisters

Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Issac

Here Comes Santa Clause by Sister Jennifer

Jingle Bell Rock by All

Feliz Navidad by All

We Wish You a Merry Christmas by All

While we were on stage singing, our Santa Claus, Christmas Tree and Santarina were busy distributing the candies.

Our Santarina Sister Anesha, Christmas Tree Brother Kok Cin and little Hannah.

Sister Jennifer is such a great talented singer and leader to us! We managed to make it through! This year both little Hannah and Issac are their first performance in the public! They are doing great!

I am too little amazed that my son can do well and not afraid when he sings in the public and such a big crowd! We met with Sister Joyce too, as she purposely came to IOI Mall to support us! We were so happy that she came.

Thanks to Sister Jennifer’s guidance and our manager Sister Peggy for coordinating through for this. Like Sister Jennifer said, “The best gift that we can offer to our Savior is to share His Light!”

Finally we had a group photo after our performance! And, Merry Christmas Everyone! Ho…Ho…Ho…