Newby in Songkhla - Help Needed

[steveb47]

Just retired from UK and living Singha Nakhon just outside of Songkhla town. Some advice needed please -

1. where to get hand rolling tobacco - not the local variety but preferably Cutters Choice or at worst GV - if nowhere stocks it down here is there anywhere sells it on line say in BKK

2. any recommendations for English speaking doctors in either Songkhla or Hat Yai

3. if anyone fancies a pint or if there is a farang regular meeting place then give me a shout

4. Oh nearly forgot - any one know English speaking lawyer in the area as I will need to sort out usufruct soon as we (Thai wife) are having house built soon

Thanks in advance for any advice/suggestions

Cheers

Steve

[impulse]

Google Singora Hotel. Draw a 100 meter circle around it.

In that circle, look for the Buzz Stop.

All your questions can be answered there just about any time of day and day of week, by one or more of your countrymen no less.

Same circle, stop by Da Zorro for great pizza. Several other expat hangouts on the same corner, largely oilfield people.

Edited June 25, 2013 by impulse

[steveb47]

Google Singora Hotel. Draw a 100 meter circle around it.

In that circle, look for the Buzz Stop.

All your questions can be answered there just about any time of day and day of week, by one or more of your countrymen no less.

Same circle, stop by Da Zorro for great pizza. Several other expat hangouts on the same corner, largely oilfield people.

Thanks I will certainly drop in there,

[impulse]

Say hi to George at Buzz Stop.

[steveb47]

Say hi to George at Buzz Stop.

I did yesterday

[impulse]

May have seen me if you were there around supper. Hope he was able to steer you toward what you need.

I live in BKK but spend a few days every month or so in Songkhla. Keep trying to get transferred down here, but no luck yet.

Edited June 26, 2013 by impulse

[steveb47]

May have seen me if you were there around supper. Hope he was able to steer you toward what you need.

I live in BKK but spend a few days every month or so in Songkhla. Keep trying to get transferred down here, but no luck yet.

No I was in lunch time for a couple of Leo and pie and chips ha ha ha. George was talking to a guy from London called Gareth and he left me with him. He was friendly enough but I couldn't get a word in as he talked the hind leg off a donkey lol. I think George bailed out when I joined the company TBH as a relief from Gareth's non stop chat. Hope you are not him ha ha ha! I know you are not as Garteh works at PTT Singhanakon not too far from where I am living.

Maybe catch you in there Sunday lunch time?

[jackr]

Op, for backy, head to Aek's store, here: 7.203203,100.590227. Defo has GV, dunno about CC, but many other backies there and cigars etc.

For doc, Somsak rings a bell at Songkhla Pharmacy, here: 7.202747,100.588307.

You could also try the Office Bar on Sadao Rd (north of Buzz Stop), near where the totty is at, here: 7.20758,100.592418.

These numbers are map co-ord strings that you copy and paste into Google Maps. Could pin it all to a map for you but that'd be too easy.

[steveb47]

Cheers most helpful

[andrew]

Where are you in Singha Nakhon?

Here is a thread I started: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/643141-cannons-chelsea-edinburgh-pattani/

And here's a photo:

And next ............. a video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_Pnh-OhFT4

Ask your wife how to visit this tomb.

I wonder if you know that you're living in one of the most interesting places in Thailand.

Have a nice day!

[steveb47]

Andrew

Thanks for the fascinating read - very interesting stuff and I must take a walk to the fort where the sultan's tomb is.

At present I am renting a room on the 408 close to the traffic lights where you would take a left for Kuang Nean. That is if you are heading away from Singha Nakhon towards Nakhon St Thammarat. It's the left turn if you were heading for the frozen sea food factory.

We, Thai wife and me, are having a house built at Pa Khat about 5/6 kilometres away from where we are now ( about 3 k from said factory) but that will not be ready until October.

Thanks again for info especially as my wife is from Kampheang Phet and does not know this neck of the woods that well, apart from Big C in Hat Yai ha ha ha.

Cheers

[steveb47]

Op, for backy, head to Aek's store, here: 7.203203,100.590227. Defo has GV, dunno about CC, but many other backies there and cigars etc.

For doc, Somsak rings a bell at Songkhla Pharmacy, here: 7.202747,100.588307.

You could also try the Office Bar on Sadao Rd (north of Buzz Stop), near where the totty is at, here: 7.20758,100.592418.

These numbers are map co-ord strings that you copy and paste into Google Maps. Could pin it all to a map for you but that'd be too easy.

Thanks jackr - put coordinates into my GPS and hey presto

AEK was closed so I will have to go back another day but thanks - much appreciated

[andrew]

Andrew

Thanks for the fascinating read - very interesting stuff and I must take a walk to the fort where the sultan's tomb is.

Yep -- I must say I was pretty amazed when I learned about the Sultan's cannon. It could have been lost or destroyed, and yet it somehow managed to end up at the home of the Chelsea Pensioners.

Here's another in situ photo: The cannon sits in front of the flagpole.

If you're looking for a bit of adventure this weekend, try this ..................

1. go to where the ferry departs for Songkhla (but don't take the ferry)

2. turn around so that you're facing back towards Singha Nakhon

3. walk back towards to Singha Nakhon

4. after about 3-4 minutes, the road will bend 90 degrees to the left

5. keep walking

6. after about 1 minute you'll see a flight of steps leading up into the mountain

7. only the bottom few steps are visible -- the rest are enshrouded by the forest (there is no sign to indicate where these steps lead)

8. go up the steps!

9. be careful as the steps are very steep and there is no handrail

Eventually you'll come to a fork and will see this sign:

Notice how Singora is sometimes spelled Singkhora. Notice too how the word FORT has been spelled FROT.

Keep climbing and soon you'll reach fort number 8.

The views from here are superb.

One of the problems (or blessings) with Singha Nakhon is that although in some many it's a fascinating archaeological site, very little is signposted. You either have to seek directions from the locals or just go out there and find it.

If you ever get to visit the above fort, for example, you'll be going somewhere that very few other farangs have ever been.

Edited July 12, 2013 by andrew

[impulse]

Andrew, walked up to the fort today.

Great info and thanks for it!

Got the sense that if I had a heart attack on the stairs, nobody would find the body for weeks....

[steveb47]

Andrew, walked up to the fort today.

Great info and thanks for it!

Got the sense that if I had a heart attack on the stairs, nobody would find the body for weeks....

You beat me to it! Now when I do it nobody will find my body for weeks after the heart attack

[impulse]

Well worth the climb! Enjoy.

Take a picture if you go all the way up to the Victory "Something" on the Top of the Hill.\

I walked another 100 meters or so into the brush, but then I thought I heard the faint sound of a banjo and a guitar... Oops, wrong country...

[dekestone]

If you ever get to visit the above fort, for example, you'll be going somewhere that very few other farangs have ever been.

Really?! Is that what's become of Songkhla? When i ran the hash there in the early 90's we were up there every other month!

[andrew]

If you ever get to visit the above fort, for example, you'll be going somewhere that very few other farangs have ever been.

Really?! Is that what's become of Songkhla? When i ran the hash there in the early 90's we were up there every other month!

Okay -- so you know Singha Nakhon. Great!

In which case, where is this gun tower? The photo isn't mine. All I know is that this gun tower is in Singha Nakhon.

It's obviously on the mountain, but where?

[dekestone]

Any idea when that pic was taken? I'd guess it was before I got there in 1989. Doesn't look familiar to me. I know that some parts of the fort were torn down to widen the road and build the deep sea port (although that looks pretty far from the road and the port).

Where did you find the pic and how do you know it was Singha Nakorn?

[andrew]

Any idea when that pic was taken? I'd guess it was before I got there in 1989. Doesn't look familiar to me. I know that some parts of the fort were torn down to widen the road and build the deep sea port (although that looks pretty far from the road and the port).

Where did you find the pic and how do you know it was Singha Nakorn?

Some of my earlier photos were deleted. This is because I scrapped the FLICKR account they were hosted on.

Here again is the lookout post or gun tower.

I've discussed this with my GF (who comes from Singora / Singa Nakhon) and we know exactly where it is.

Look at that building just right of center. These days it's the small museum (which is usually closed). To the right of the building is part of what remains of the city moat.

Out of frame -- over on the left -- is the island.

Out of frame -- over on the right -- is the port.

=====================================

The Sultans's tomb (and my Gf's house) is out of frame at top right. The tomb is about a mile from the museum.

I hope this helps!

[tygerstar]

Is there a shared minibus service from Hat Yai to Songkhla? I seem to remember a few of the travel agencies in town offering this service some years ago.

If not, what is the best way to get from Hat Yai to Songkhla by public transport for a day trip?

[recom273]

I could be wrong as i have never had to take it, people tell me the mini van goes from the clocktower / Plaza as its known, im sure i have seen the big green buses, stop there too ( for the full on local experience ). To get to 'thalad plaza' take a tuk-tuk, i have seen locals paying 50B from the bus station > plaza, you could walk it from Lee gardens / train station - Just ask a local, they say 'plazaaa' lifting the tone in the end.

You dont need to pay a travel agent to get you a van. I think the white vans have a yellow and green horizontal stripe ( sorry i see them everyday, seems like i dont take much notice )

The mini van will drop you at Anuban Songkhla which is the last stop, you could take a long walk to the beach from there, just continue walking and turn right at the big X-road.

Here is a gmap link

[beammeup]

Did you ever find a good real estate lawyer in Songkhla? I am looking myself

[steveb47]

Did you ever find a good real estate lawyer in Songkhla? I am looking myself

No I didn't. Sorry can't really help.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app