Hat Yai - Talay Noi

Today's route is the last leg of our journey around Songkhla Lake. We'll start from Hat Yai, the business centre of Songkhla Province, 30 kilometres or so southwest of the provincial capital where we stopped last week.

Suppose that you're done visiting Hat Yai, leave the busy city via Phetkasem Highway (No. 4) and reset your odometer at Khuan Lang intersection, about five kilometres from the town. Nine and a half kilometres from the intersection, you'll arrive at Ban Hu Rae where, on the left-hand side, there's a 14.5-km road to Tone Nga Chang Waterfall, our Point B.

After dropping by at the waterfall, drive back to Ban Hu Rae and continue along Highway 4 until it meets with Highway 406 at a T-intersection. Here, turn right toward Rattaphum, and then go on straight through the Khu Ha intersection to Khuan Niang.

From Khuan Niang on we'll be travelling on the western side of Songkhla Lake. Along the way, you'll have to shift from one back road to another at several intersections which, sorry, are too detailed to be shown on our tiny map.

But don't worry, all you have to do is pull over and ask the locals every now and then using the given place names as keywords.

To reach Pak Payoon, today's Point C, first ask for Ban Pak Ja and then Ban Huai Luek.

To get from Point C to Point D, Lampam Beach, find your way to these places, respectively: Ban Fa Lamee, Ban Laem Kai Phu, Ban Bang Khuan, Laem Jong Thanon, Jong Kae Beach, Wat Khian, Ban Sa Khang, Ban Klong Khut and Ban Pak Wa.

Less than six kilometres from Ban Pak Wa, your road (Rural Highway 4018) will run into Highway 4047 which comes from Phatthalung. Lampam Beach is at the eastern end of Highway 4047.

From Lampam, retract along Highway 4047 for less than a kilometre and you'll find a side road on your right. It's Rural Highway 4007. The mouth of Klong Pak Pra, today's Point E1, is about 12.5 kilometres up this rural highway. And Phatthalung Peninsular Botanical Garden, Point E2, is just nearby.

Nine kilometres from the botanical garden, the 4007 will meet with Highway 4048 at a T-intersection. Now turn right, and Talay Noi - our last stop - is just a couple of minutes down the road.
Bangkok Post Apr 2006 www.bangkokpost.com