Stocky

About 250km from Hat Yai, or around 6hrs drive. Though it's probably quicker to drive there via Malaysia (if not for Covid), as the roads are better. I don't really understand the airport, sure the locals will find it very handy (provided there are flights), but 90% of tourists to Betong (before Covid) came from Malaysia. If you really need to fly somewhere it's only 120km and about 2.5hrs from Betong to Penang Airport. I doubt it will attract that many domestic tourists and even fewer foreigners. The exception being Chinese tourists, as suggested in an earlier post, they are quite keen on visiting towns and cities populated by the Chinese diaspora. But until China reopens the borders for its citizens to travel that isn't going to happen. Betong was popular with Malaysians as a weekend destination, both for the nightlife and the food, and it does feel like a Malaysian Chinese town. But for the Anglo-Siam treaty of 1909 it would be part of Malaysia, which is culturally where it belongs. .

Oscar

The Feeling - it's a new restaurant just opened (since New Year) on Nuankaew Uthit Rd, Kho Hong. The photos on the local news outlet showed people sitting at tables outside with food and police standing around. But they had the inside open too, with live music, and plenty of people crowded in for Valentine's. They were just stupid to run the music loud, particularly as they were serving alcohol. All Hat Yai pubs are closed, and alcohol is still banned in restaurants, but there are more than a few that will serve alcohol in coffee mugs or paper cups. But you've got to keep it discreet and socially distanced or you'll get clobbered. .

Killers

Nope, that's a fail. Most Malaysians visiting Hat Yai come up on the Friday and head back on Sunday. Visitors to Danok are usually only spending a night in town. Just shows how little the government understands the dynamics of tourism in the south.

Abba

Hill

(mine's a) Pint

Pharaoh

When things were looking grim early last year, and the general response from local hospitals was 'Thai first, foreigners later' , I jumped at the option in early July of paying for Moderna shots with Bangkok Hospital Hat Yai. As it turned out the Bangkok Hospital Hat Yai managed to get me sorted with a Thai ID number to enable my registration for vaccination on the local Songkhla scheme. I got my first free AZ shot at the end of July and the second in October. Meanwhile my Moderna jabs, originally scheduled for end of year, got pushed back to early 2022. End January I got notification they would be available and sure enough I took one as a booster last week. I bought them as an insurance, as it turns out they've ended up as a booster.

I paid for Moderna jabs too. I took one of them a week ago as a booster to my 2x AstraZeneca shots. Beyond a sore arm and a slight headache it was fine. The pandemic is only coming to end until it isn't, might as well get yourself boosted. .

Bun

Very little.

Tried another new restaurant last night: MongMoon Rooftop Bar & Bistro (Phone: 0621064025) (7.007496, 100.482932) On top of Modern Budget Hotel, Rajyindee Soi 7. Roof terrace on the 6th floor with views eastwards to Kho Hong, so you can look (มอง) at the Moon rise. It was a Valentine's promotion night, so the restaurant was full, we stayed with the regular menu; which was another Italianesque hotch-potch. Various pasta dishes, including some spicy ones, pizzas, meats and fish, plus burgers. There's also a big selection of Khao Pad and Woon Sen dishes if you don't want western. Live music from about 8pm. We had a mix of pasta, fish and meat, the service was good considering how busy they were, food was tasty and well presented, so no complaints. Meal for four with drinks came to less than Bht2,000. Will certainly come again.

Party

Horse

Archaeological

They all seem to leak eventually but I've had the fewest problems with Karat brand

Cream

Still looks like a tea cosy

Pong

That very much depends on the hospital that gave you the jab. My first two AZ jabs at the Bangkok Hospital Hat Yai, I waited until told I could leave but received no certificate. I did however get a message through the Mor Phrom Line App with my jab details and my Mor Phrom online certificate showed vaccinated (one jab yellow) then two jabs green. When I recently had my Moderna jab booster (also Bangkok Hospital Hat Yai) I was given a certificate after waiting. I also received an update on my Mor Phrom app showing the third jab.

Strewth, I'm surprised BitCoin Bob hasn't already hijacked this thread and urged you to put it all on Splodgecoin or whatever. Personally I'd think long and hard, taking in any professional advice you can get. The global economy is in a serious dither at the moment, so ignore anyone saying boats or trains are leaving soon. .

Clangers

Rowlocks