Phra Maha Chedi Tripob Trimongkol Hat Yai 26 Dec 2019

After our Big C Supermarket trip, we straight way headed to our next destionation – Phra Maha Chedi Tripob Trimongkol or better known as Stainless Steel Temple.

It is a good idea that we went there by driving ourselves as it is located on the summit of a hill and if we chartering grab car, it will cost a lot!

It is not easy to make one’s way to Phra Maha Chedi Tripob Trimongkol, located off Punnakan Road, without private transport. It is considered far from the city and the winding and narrow road to go up the hill.

Although Phra Maha Chedi Tripob Trimongkol is one of Hat Yai’s top tourist attractions, we felt surprised when locals give us a blank stare when we ask them for directions to this temple

After that, literally that we know that they would call it Stainless Steel Temple. This is world’s first Buddhist stainless steel temple and it is interesting to visitors.

It is said that the temple looks more alluring at night. We were there during the day.

I wondered how the driver can go during night time to see the alluring temple but from the photos from internet, it is indeed beautiful.

Once we were there, we visited the left side of the temple ground. There are 12 Chinese animals zodiac statues and a few Buddha statues.

The base of the stainless steel pagoda (or stupa) is made up of circular-shaped chambers that depict the days of the week.

Each circular has been installed with one or two Buddhist deities and framed murals on the wall. The murals that seems to tell different tales of Buddha.

On ground level, you can see two circular stairs to the top of the pagoda which lead to the upper level of the pagoda.

On the upper level within the bowls of the pagoda are more stainless steel structures.

Similar to the ground level, these too indicate time, in the form of Year and Month.

The upper level has wind chimes installed, the sound it made when the wind blows is so tranquil and serene. We really enjoyed the peacefulness from the wind chimes.

Even though the whole upper level is open and it’s under the hot sun, but we do not really feel the heat at all.

A visit to Phra Maha Chedi Tripob Trimongkol does not require too much time, except the journey to it.

However, once you are there, you would want to stay longer to enjoy its tranquility, especially on the upper level of the pagoda.

We would like to stay longer, but we need to continue to our next destination as we need to be at Phatthalung town by end of the day. There are still some places that we need to go before we check-in to the City Park Hotel.

Chue Chang Temple Hat Yai & Big C Supermarket 26 Dec 2019

After our breakfast, we walked around the wet market outside Gim Yong market. There were already a lot of people at the market already.

I can see a monk was giving blessings to the believers or followers.

We can see many vendors already out for their daily routine in the market, selling all types of local food.

Suddenly the street just turn to a breakfast street or food street.

Then we just wondering around and came to a huge big temple called Chue Chang Temple.

Inside the centre court of the ground floor alter hall, sits the golden Buddha, and both side of the wall sits 30 statues each wall.

At the side hall there is a golden image of Avalokitesvara with multiple arms and heads.

It is remarkable for being the male embodiment of this bodhisattva rather than the far more common female version, Kuan Yin.

The temple is well crafted with chinese ornaments and architecture. We left the temple around 7.30am and walked back to our hotel as we need to pack up and prepare to check out.

We checked out from Asian Hotel around 9.30am and leave both children at the hotel lobby to wait for us. Alvin and I were walking towards Lee Garden Plaza and we waited at the Regency Hotel for easy parking.

We rent a Toyota Yaris Ativ model year 2018 for 4 days from Yuri Car Rental. We actually get a really good bargain and deal. We paid for 3000 Baht for 4 days.

What required are the copy of driving license and the passport, and deposit equivalent 3000 Baht or Ringgit Malaysia 400.00.

After we got the car, we just drove back to Asian Hotel picked up both Issac and Annabelle and we started our journey up to north.

After we got the car, we went to Big C Supermarket. It is actually on our way towards the north. Big C Supermarket is just like our local Tesco or Aeon Big Hypermarket.

We just shop at the instant noodles section and to check out the instant noodles which we cannot find in Malaysia. Mainly we are looking for Tom yam flavour and some other flavours. We bought Pringles potatoes chips too!

Lee Koh Fook Dim Sum Hat Yai 26 Dec 2019

We woke up early today because we had a good sleep last night. Alvin is well rest last night too. All of us are fully recharged.

We walked out from the hotel and looked for our breakfast at 6.30am. We were looking for Dim Sum. We just walked towards the Gim Yong wet market area, then we came across a shop at a big house compound.

The shop is run by a Chinese couple, they are really friendly and nice people. The shop was just opened and we are their first customers. The uncle was so eagerly wants us to try every dish of their dim sum.

We ordered each type from so many varieties of the dim sums, such as:

Steamed Siau Mai

Stir-Fried Radish Cake

Braised Pork Ribs

Steamed Chee Cheong Fun

Congee

and my favourite Braised Chicken Feet

We ordered the Penang Char Keow Teow from outside the shop and soya bean drink too, but the taste is so so only. I think still our original Penang Char Kuew Teow nicer.

The dim sum is a little bit different from the usually Hong Kong dim sum that we eat back in Malaysia, but the meat itself is nice and soft.

I think it is because all these dim sum are homemade by the aunty. At least is is not taste like frozen dim sum that just steamed.

Alvin said the dim sum at Lee Koh Fook is better than the 108 dim sum which he ate during his Hat Yai trip previously.

We had a photo with the aunty before we left to have a morning walk at the nearby area before we go collect the car that we rent for the coming 4 days.

Asian Hotel Hat Yai 25 Dec 2019

We booked this hotel due to close to Lee Garden Plaza and we can get our car rental from Yuri Car Rental faster and easier. This is the cheapest among all hotels which closest to the Lee Garden Plaza by the time we booked the hotel at Agoda.

I believe this is a very old hotel by looking at the interior design and decorations of the room, but I considered the hotel still trying their best in keeping it clean and neat and maintain it well and decent to stay.

We booked a Twin Room, thinking of we might put together both single bed together so that able to accommodate the 4 of us in the bed! Haha… That is how we planned to travel as we able to save a lot on the accommodation on our tight budget.

Asian Hotel’s location is just nice and it is in the middle of the the city centre, and it puts its guests close to the business and commercial districts of the city. Public transportation is easily available, therefore making it hassle free for its guests to navigate the city and surrounding areas.

The rooms are simple, but equipped with all the basic amenities required for a pleasant stay. We have the complimentary 2 bottles of drinking water, coffee and tea, complimentary wireless internet access, towels and toiletries.

Alvin and I noticed that Asian Hotel sure indeed an exclusive hotel once upon a time by looking at the details of the interior design and the joinery works that involved in the room.

We can see the amounts of timber panelling and built-ins that in the room – the dressing table and chair, the wardrobe, the dry pantry area and the small TV cabinet even though the TV is an old fashion of box type. The bathroom too, they try to keep it clean and dry.

The children think that it is a bit old and small room as we just changed from Silom Boutique Hotel a triple room. I still think it is descent for us to have a sleep and good bath.

Whether you are here for business or a quick visa run, guests are sure to appreciate the central location of Asian Hotel.