PATTANI TO SONGKHLA

They journey to Songkhla took 2 hours over flat highway. Traffic was modest. The mini bus was full, most of the passengers were Muslim teenagers. The bus terminated at the Songkhla bus terminal. Again I took a motorbike taxi to my booked hotel. I have booked for 2 nights.

I have read a fair bit about the rich history of Songkhla. Its early name was Singora. Geographically it sat on an important trade route between the Europeans, Middle Eastern Arab an Middle Kingdom. It handled a lots of trade in the earlier days and the city grew to become a great port.



The earlier Chinese had a great influence in the development of the city. Today, most of the older parts of the city where Chinese style shop houses still exists. Many signboards in Chinese characters as in any Chinatowns are still visible. There are still many Chinese temples around.

The Muslims presence in Songkhla is still there, but it's thinning out as compared to Pattani and the south. I visited the Songkhla Museum. Written there was its proud heritage of racial harmony.

Songkhla has miles of beautiful beaches on the east along the Gulf of Thailand. Sadly, it did not leverage the beautiful beaches to be like Phuket or Krabi. Perhaps one day she will.

 

This is the most beautiful beach call Samila Beach in Songkhla.

The icon here is the bronze mermaid. Bigger in size as compared to the one in Copenhagen.