I was finally dropped off at about 12:30pm. I checked in as quickly as I could. The receptionist was very sweet and nervous that she could hardly speak English. I smiled patiently and eventually helped her find my reservation. I chucked out a clumsy "Kup kum Krup", clapped praying hands together and nodded. The receptionist gasped a wide-eyed grin and acknowledged "Ka!".
I snapped a few pictures of the hotel and then made my way for a Ancient Thai Massage. Having had a few in Phuket, I knew I did NOT want to have one with a full belly!
I had done my research and knew that the going rate for a massage was Bt240 for 90 minutes. The hotel lobby looked like they were giving wimpy versions for about Bt500.
I made my way to the Lee Garden Plaza 7th Floor. There, I selected a 2 hour Massage for Bt300 (about RM30 or US$10).
What followed felt much more like a Physical Therapy Session. It did not hurt except on a few pressure points, but it did not feel nice either. It felt more like a workout. After kneading an area of my body, the masseuse would drive an elbow, then a knee into your muscle to grind out the knots. Finally, she finishes with limb stretching using leverage from stepping and leaning off your body! My masseuse politely mentioned again, that I was "big-sized" not to offend, but to apologize for not performing as she prefers. I assured her that she was plenty strong enough!
I offered her a well-earned tip of Bt100 after. She looked ready to go home!
I was very good and ate Kway Teow Thng after to rinse my body internally. The first bowl at a coffeeshop opposite my hotel was Bt45. It had a good broth and a nice assortment of meatballs. I left feeling a bit peckish and followed my gut to the next stop. This coffeeshop was quaint, and the proprietor very gregarious. She immediately welcomed me into her coffeeshop even though it was clearly close to closing time.
She told me to take my time as I ate. I really enjoyed the looks of this "dive" and brought back fond memories of my childhood.
Soon, the husband returned and reached over auntie to drop various ingredients into my bowl as she cooked.
She asked if I wanted a regular bowl or "gelai" which was her super. I had asked her how much for the super bowl. She said Bt40. Here is what she delivered!
A separate bowl of dry Kway Teow containing Char Siu, Fish Cake, Green Onion and Crunchy Fried Garlic bits, and a steaming bowl of broth with 2 fish balls, 2 meatballs, wanton, sesame marinated pork slice, crispy roasted pork slice, and melt in your mouth pork-ribs.
The uncle and auntie sat down with me to ask how I liked the food, and how it compared with what I ate in Penang. I told them there was no comparison in styles, but the price here was similar if not better.
I made sure to thank them profusely and take lots of reference pictures to find this place again as I left.
I walked on and passed by this jewel. The lady said she closed at 3pm. sadly, I was full and it was not wisdom to eat any more. :( I asked if anyone served goose in Hatyai. She said that most people including herself only had duck.
I was disappointed until I saw the tub of braised Pig Trotters...
I made a note to self to score some before I left. And I did later.
A bit further down the street on my trot around the block, I was strangely drawn to this ramshackle salon.
It looked nothing like the Lee Garden Hotel set up which was swanky in comparison. But something compelled me to enter, and I was wanting my feet rubbed.
This cheery woman scrubbed my feet in soapy water, then inspected my toenails and exclaimed: "Wah, so long!" Then she said cheerfully: "I cut?!" Clips of Angela Johnson and the Vietnamese Nail Salon ran through my head as I realized that this lady just up-sold me from a relatively pricey Reflexology (Bt250) to add a Pedicure for Bt150.
The woman paused and called in reinforcements. Soon, I had two women applying torture... one grinding my feet it a blunt but very hard stick and the other cutting my nails to the nub and filing them. Then she nipped away the dry skin. Once again, both the pedicure and manicure (for no additional charge) and the reflexology did not hurt (happy to say I was well since it usually hurts when something is wrong) but neither was fun. It felt like having a dentist clean my teeth.
The reflexology included more arm and back rubbing, which I wanted as well.
I padded off content (and a tad sore) that I had a 3 hour spa treatment for Bt800 (US$27). I was thirsty, so I downed a few liters of water as I explored the immediate area more thoroughly. I ended up walking for about 4 hours with a short rest in my hotel room.
~ Shien
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