Varni Homestay Phatthalung 27 Dec 2019

After our visit from SampaoThai and Wat Khao Aor, we headed to Varni Homestay. We followed the Maps App to go there.

Initially we were driving along the normal highway then we started to turn into small roads, further in the small roads lead us drive into the rubber trees plantations with some wooden villages homes along both sides of the roads.

We were quite worry and anxious and wondered if we did follow on the right track that the Maps App shown. Alvin double confirmed with me the name of the homestay which I booked is that the correct one.

Finally we turned to the homestay. From far Alvin and I saw the village style of house. After we parked our car in front of the home stay, what appeared in front of us totally changed our perception of it.

We can see a group of village ladies were sitting on a platform and weaving the handicrafts or the baskets. It was kind of joyful for us to see them at work.

The beautiful decorated open lobby are filled with nicely handmade handicraft bags. Besides a cozy homestay in Phatthalung, Varni Homestay better knows as Varni Craft.

It is a Krajood handicraft learning centre. “Krajood” is a plant in sedge species, which commonly found in Thai southern region.

The villagers here use these Krajood weave as household goods like baskets or mats.

We walked towards the counter and asked for check-in for our room. We found out that all the staffs here are only speak little English.

Fortunately for us there is a guy could speak and understand us. After that only I came to realize that he is the owner of the Varni Craft and Homestay.

Initially I was thinking that the room I booked is Standard Twin Room with 2 single beds as the Agoda website stated. After the guy passed us our room key.

Alvin and I were surprised with the spacious room and the Twin Room is comes with 1 King bed and 1 Single bed. It is just nice and enough to fit for 4 of us!

After Alvin and I putting down our luggage from our rental car, we told both Issac and Annabelle about the homestay which would be a surprise for them.

They really enjoyed the environment of the homestay after we came back from our late lunch from the small town.

There is a pool outside of the room we stayed. And it is so cozy! There is a garden with a terrace and garden views.

Every unit is providing a patio, air-conditioned and provides a dining area and a seating area with a satellite flat-screen TV.

There is a fully equipped private bathroom with shower and free toiletries. Varni Homestay provides complimentary free Wifi for its guests during their stay.

Another thing we like about Varni Homestay is their breakfast! After we came back from our Thale Noi Lake trip, the guy just walked up to us and asked if we would like our breakfast to be served.

We were served with generous Thai rice vermicelli eaten with red and green curry together with seasonal vegetables such as boiled banana stalk, morning glory and bean sprouts.

We had been served with fried chickens as well. The real southern style fried chicken is not covered by flour. There's no dipping sauce, only crispy fried onion on top.

Chicken porridge or congee, hard boiled eggs and fried fish roe and some sweet sticky rice wrapped in coconut leaves too.

Our breakfast is so satifying and delicious after a half morning trip came back from Thale Noi Lake. It is so yummy!

Here is a photo taken by a friendly staff of us at the dining area, after we had our breakfast. And this photo actually was posted at the Varni Craft Facebook page.

There was a surprise - that we have a complimentary Krajood bag from the homestay! I did visit Varni Handicraft Center.

The handicrafts center itself is actually connected to the homestay and it is just located next to the lobby area.

It is filled with beautiful and nicely weaved handbags, purses and small decorative items.

I did get myself a handbag and a matching purse. Both costs about RM125.00. I think is really worth it as compared if I get this in Malaysia. It looks trendy as well and not old fashion.

Overall we are indeed enjoyed our stay here even though is only one night! It is a really relaxing and cozy place to stay.

We will definitely come again if we have chance to travel Phatthalung again!

Afternoon at Phanang Tung Town Phatthalung 27 Dec 2019

After we checked in to Varni Homestay, Alvin asked some information about the location of how to get the boat ride to the Thale Noi.

We headed out again to the town and see the areas. We walked at the Phanang Tung small town that near the Thale Noi.

There are a lot of handicrafts shops at the road side. All the bags and baskets there are more or less the same designs.

And a row of small stalls which selling local snacks or dried fish there. We did bought some snacks from the shops.

It was the fried fish eggs snacks. We did not see this type of snacks during we were at Hat Yai.

And we found that here too, also got sell the fish curry that we never seen in Hat Yai too, but we do not dare to taste.

Then we found a shop at the road side and had our lunch. Thailand style of Wontan Mee.

and having some green papaya salad together with sticky rice and vegetables.

We back to Varni Homestay after our late lunch around 3.45pm. We called a day off for the day and rest at the relaxing homestay.

RSY Music Concert 19 Jan 2020

Today is Annabelle’s violin concert day. It is at Malaysian Ceylonese National Community Center (MCNCC) which is located at Petaling Jaya area.

We did not go to Church today as all of us have a good sleep. We were advised to be there at 11.30am.

Teacher Yaalliny have enough time to arrange her students in right order and tune their instruments.

She participated in the Quarter – Can’t Help Falling in Love by Elvis Presly. Whereby her own solo is Minuet 3.

The concert time was from 12.30pm to 1.30pm. There is no fix attire or dress code. This is the 2nd time we saw her on the stage play violin again.

It is good to see her on stage and play violin again. Hope she can continue till grade 8!

Sampaothai Phatthalung 27 Dec 2019

After 20 minutes of driving, we reached Sampaothai. "Sampaothai" is viewpoint and home stay in more than 10 acres of rice field and organic vegetables farm.

Prior enter to Sampaothai, there are some stalls both side on the way to the entrance selling various of things from handicrafts, fruits, and foods.

We need to pay certain fees to enter into Sampaothai. There are a lot of places that worth for taking photos.

Sampaothai is actually a homestay but the owner of the place took it one more step further to make it become a tourist attraction.

There are colourful Thailand map which indicate where Phatthalung is, made by lots of colourful Legos shorts of bricks.

There is a fish pond just beside the cafeteria area which is surrounded by greenery and trees.

An Orang Utan sculpture sitting at a bench, waiting people to sit together with it and have a free kiss!

There are a lot of fun and things which one can do here.

“Sampao” is ancient Thai word which means “cargo vessel”. It is very huge and had beautiful design.

“Sampaothai” is the ancient cargo vessel of Thailand that was normally used for the delivery of various shipments from one place to another.

Giant King Kong is one of popular characters that most people (including me) love. Especially children, they would enjoy this giant King Kong, for sure.

It is very creative idea that the owner of this place created both huge “Sampao” and the popular giant King Kong standing among the green rice field.

The giant King Kong is trying to drag the huge Sampao. This Sampao was made of woods and the King Kong was made of straws.

Alvin, Issac and Annabelle climbed up the giant King Kong to see beautiful view of the green rice field from high and the wonderful mountains at the background.

Apart from enjoying the two amazing things, we walked along the wooden bridge and surrounding the rice green field and nature closely.

It is certainly relaxing and peaceful moment…but the weather is really hot and we were tanning under the hot sun!

There are wooden houses with Thai style, I believe the homestay here can be rent for a stay and to experience the life and culture of Phatthalung province.

We spend roughly nearly 45 minutes here, after which it is time for us to check in to our hotel.

Wat Wang Phatthalung 27 Dec 2019

After around 10 minutes, we arrived at Wat Wang. Located in Lam Pam Sub-District, Wat Wang is an important historical site of Phatthalung.

The temple is currently undergoing restoration since 1969. All the things in the temple were placed properly for the restoration work.

The temple was built in the reign of King Rama III by Phraya Phatthalung (Thongkhao).

It was once Phattalung’s most important temple, where local rulers pledge allegiances to the kings up in Bangkok.

But it fell into disrepair when Phattalung’s capital was moved further west in the early 20th century.

Wat means temple while Wang means palace. The temple is named as such since it is only a stone’s throw away from the palace.

The major highlight of Wat Wang is the 108 Buddha statues which lines the balcony around the temple.

These Buddha statues encircle a striking ordination hall, with glittering chofa finials and a golden image of Erawan, the three-headed elephant of Hindu mythology.

Inside the hall, are series of Central Thai-style murals said to have been painted by the same artist who decorated Bangkok’s Wat Phra Kaew.

The murals depict important scenes from the Buddha’s enlightenment, when a twisted army of Mara’s demons unsuccessfully tried to disturb his meditation.

We left Wat Wang after wondering about 20 minutes and headed to our destination – Sampaothai.

We saw a Bodhi tree just out of the temple and this is the first time children saw the Bodhi leaf.