Memory
Door: Herman
Blijf op de hoogte en volg Herman en Mieke
21 Januari 2009 | Thailand, Songkhla
Memory
Historically, Songkhla was an important regional port, located where a narrow channel allows the sea to run into a large lagoon, now called Songkhla Lake. The city was founded more than 1000 years ago during the Sri Vijaya Kingdom and developed itself as Indians, Persians and Arabs came to trade in this region. Malay and Chinese people settled in Songkhla and created the old city, as known today. The Dutch establish themselves in this area in 1609 with a trading post.
To be back here is special. Last year I have been here twice; on holiday in January and for business in April. Due to the actual economical situation the second option is put on hold.
Being back here is somewhere strange, a lot of things have changed in the past year; old pictures are passing.
Songkhla has no (western) tourist scene, only Thai but this is not visible for me. Here you find Thai as they are, in an international setting used to foreigners but not showing the adapted behaviour; lots of Chinese, Malaysian and Thai influences. This is really interesting, the local people all their diversity.
From the balcony of our hotel we have a nice view over the port; the oil-, the fishing-, the navy- and the container vessels are presenting a picture much bigger than local Songkhla.
In the monastery we are approached by a (Korean) monk; in the church he explains us the wall paintings; the life of Buddha.
In the Chinese wat is every day and evening a performance of acting and signing, festivities of the New Year. Sometimes nobody is looking but the scenery is perfect.
On Samilla beach, the panorama is again different; Islam people take here a bath with their clothes on. As farang we are interesting objects for them; our question was: who is looking to whom?
The hill Khan Tang Kuan gives a nice outlook over the city, the ocean and the lake. It’s a nice place for the sunset and for making pictures. We were approached by other tourists for making pictures of them. One lady, Korean, is asking if we are Christians.
Passing the lake with the ferry, a Thai woman is offering fruit to us.
On different places we saw “old friends”; on the market, in the zoo and in the city.
A fruit seller approached us; he remembers us from last year and we had a chat.
In the zoo we saw the same tiger from last year and again I made a nice picture of him.
Songkhla, 950 km south of Bangkok, is a pleasant city and being here was again good. This small story (above) is not finished yet. So there are possibilities for a new visit and further development
Historically, Songkhla was an important regional port, located where a narrow channel allows the sea to run into a large lagoon, now called Songkhla Lake. The city was founded more than 1000 years ago during the Sri Vijaya Kingdom and developed itself as Indians, Persians and Arabs came to trade in this region. Malay and Chinese people settled in Songkhla and created the old city, as known today. The Dutch establish themselves in this area in 1609 with a trading post.
To be back here is special. Last year I have been here twice; on holiday in January and for business in April. Due to the actual economical situation the second option is put on hold.
Being back here is somewhere strange, a lot of things have changed in the past year; old pictures are passing.
Songkhla has no (western) tourist scene, only Thai but this is not visible for me. Here you find Thai as they are, in an international setting used to foreigners but not showing the adapted behaviour; lots of Chinese, Malaysian and Thai influences. This is really interesting, the local people all their diversity.
From the balcony of our hotel we have a nice view over the port; the oil-, the fishing-, the navy- and the container vessels are presenting a picture much bigger than local Songkhla.
In the monastery we are approached by a (Korean) monk; in the church he explains us the wall paintings; the life of Buddha.
In the Chinese wat is every day and evening a performance of acting and signing, festivities of the New Year. Sometimes nobody is looking but the scenery is perfect.
On Samilla beach, the panorama is again different; Islam people take here a bath with their clothes on. As farang we are interesting objects for them; our question was: who is looking to whom?
The hill Khan Tang Kuan gives a nice outlook over the city, the ocean and the lake. It’s a nice place for the sunset and for making pictures. We were approached by other tourists for making pictures of them. One lady, Korean, is asking if we are Christians.
Passing the lake with the ferry, a Thai woman is offering fruit to us.
On different places we saw “old friends”; on the market, in the zoo and in the city.
A fruit seller approached us; he remembers us from last year and we had a chat.
In the zoo we saw the same tiger from last year and again I made a nice picture of him.
Songkhla, 950 km south of Bangkok, is a pleasant city and being here was again good. This small story (above) is not finished yet. So there are possibilities for a new visit and further development
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Je kunt nu ook Smileys gebruiken. Via de toolbar, toetsenbord of door eerst : te typen en dan een woord bijvoorbeeld :smiley
