Wknd 1

My first weekend alone in my entire life was a daunting thought. However, my second mom (Lori McGoldrick) is always looking out for me and knows a couple who lives just outside of Hat Yai. What a small world it is, John McGoldrick worked and skydived with Owen decades ago before he moved to Thailand. He's been living here for sixteen years because he met a Thai girl (isn't that always the story?) Kag who is a master chef. Lucky me to have contacts before I even moved to this new city, and they are wonderful people. After meeting briefly for lunch at a noodle shop on Saturday, we went to the airport to pick up Owen's neice, Kim, who he hasn't seen in twenty years. Kim and James got married last week and came to Thailand for their honeymoon, stopping in Hat Yai to visit Owen before heading up to Phuket. The whole bunch picked me up on Sunday morning to go to the nearby Tone Nga Chang Waterfall. There were blue skies and brilliant sunshine during our entire drive, but the minute we stepped out of the car it started to pour. With all of us being used to the rain, we hiked up to a few of the look-outs and snapped a few photos instead of going swimming as planned. 

Being damp but still warm, we stopped for lunch at a hole-in-the-wall on the side of the street, and I've never been so skeptical. Kag eventually assured us it was okay and we suprisingly enjoyed a delicious, much needed meal. Arriving at Owen and Kag's beautiful house a short while later, we were greeted by their cats and dogs. In heaven, I played with them until we ventured out again, but to Songkhla this time.

After meeting Kag's sisters at their separate but side-by-side restaurants (family conflict), Kag stayed to prepare our dinner while Owen took us to Monkey Hill. There were hundreds of little rascals just wandering or hanging around and eating the snacks that tourists buy from the strategically placed "monkey food" vendors.

 

We then took a tram up to the top of the hill, which overlooks all of Songkhla city. You can even see Hat Yai in the distance. The view was breathtaking to say the least and the monkeys enjoy it too, one in particular venturing all the way up to the top of the highest tower, King Kong style. 

Then a short drive led us to the pier where all of the fishing boats were heading out for their evening catch. Having worked up another appetite, Kag brought out dish by dish by dish, all mouthwatering and leaving us wanting more even though we were stuffed. It takes a lot to beat my all-time favourite, Pad Thai, but her massaman curry rotis took first place. It was likely I was drooling the whole cab-ride home, but I'll definitely be craving those for days haha.