Actually, this is a very long overdue post for my bacpacker trip with my bagpacker's buddies. This is the first train exploration and long journey outside from my country using ETS system (Electric Train Service) which is know as high speed intercity rail service in Malaysia. It's offering fast travel between major cities like Kuala Lumpur, Ipoh, Butterworth and Padang Besar. Currently, the train have extended to Johor Bahru. I am so excited for this trip. We planned to go to Hatyai for 3 days 2 nights. Just to experience the long train journey to other country. Of course to explore the Hatyai city, cultures, foods and enjoy the vibes there. We booked the train ticket like a last minute because we kinda not sure which date to go. Luckily we got the tickets which is just a few more left. The journey from KL Sentral to Padang Besar was 4 hours 30 minutes. And another 20 minutes from Padang Besar to Hatyai by old school train vibes.
The first experience to use electric train service pretty excited. The train's interior is neat, clean and modern. It also provides comfortable toilets, canteen and spacious walkway with wide seats and windows. The speed is 140km/hr. These speeds are designed for a balance of efficiency and safety. The adventure began before dawn in Kuala Lumpur, where the quiet hum of the city was just beginning to wake up. With a backpack and a heart full of excitement, I boarded the ETS train heading north. The smooth ride, the soft rattle of the tracks and the scenery sliding past the window made the journey feel like the beginning of something magical. The train stop at few main district stations before stop at Padang Besar. After reached there, we need to change to another train which more interesting train. It reminds me of Harry Potter movie. After hours of comfortable travel, the train finally arrived at Padang Besar—the border town where Malaysia meets Thailand. That’s when the real charm began.
From Padang Besar, I boarded the classic Thai train to Hatyai. It was old-school, vintage, full of character—its wooden panels and open windows made it look like something out of Harry Potter. It felt like stepping into the Hogwarts Express, with the wind brushing through the cabin and the rhythmic clacking of the train carrying me deeper into Thailand. I'm basically just enjoy the train ride and couldn't sit on my seat. I'm standing near the train open door to feel the breeze, wind and view. It was a bit drizzle when we arrive at Hatyai. Soon, I arrived in Hatyai, bustling and alive. Outside the station, rows of colorful tuktuks waited. I hopped on one, holding onto the side rail as the driver zipped through the busy streets. We bargained The tuktuk ride to get the reasonable price. The train station is near to a mall, just opposite a mall. The sound of the engine, the honks, and the laughter of street vendors made it feel like I had stepped right into the heart of Thailand. We told the tuktuk driver to send us to our bike rental shop that we have booked earlier. It is much easier and faster to ride a bike to explore Hatyai then using any tuktuk or car. We rented a bike to explore the city more freely. With every turn, I discovered new snack stalls, hidden shops, and glimpses of daily local life. Then, we went to our hotel to checked in and rest a bit before continue other activity. The hotel was nice and comfortable. It is located near to Hatyai town centre. We were happy with our hotel. We found many Malaysian tourist stayed here too. After settling in, I headed straight to the ASEAN Night Bazaar. There are a lot of shops at this area. Starts from food, clothes, snacks, stuffs and souvenirs. We strolled around to see interesting stuffs and food. After done with the shoppings, we planned to get back to hotel when suddenly the raining cats and dogs came by. Heavy rain that night and we were riding a bike. What a feeling! We just rode our bike and stop at 7Eleven to grab some snack and for tomorrow breakfast. When you are in Thailand, a visit to 7E is a must. We were so wet and cold but we managed to buy some food at 7E. The night end with us went to our hotel with wets.
The next morning, we started our day with the food that we bought yesterday for breakfast. We hope that the weather is doing well and better than yesterday. Today we have so many places to visit. Lets follow with me what we've done for the second day at Hatyai. After settling in, I wasted no time—Dimsum Chabura was calling. That restaurant is so popular that you have to long que to eat. So do come early. Their famous dim sum, steaming hot bamboo basket and bursting with flavor, was the perfect welcome. This is a must place to visit for anyone in Hatyai. The flavorful dumplings with endless choices. We ordered a lot that we could build 2 towers of dimsum basket. Too delicious. I also tried lupchup, the adorable Thai fruit-shaped snack made from mung beans—sweet, chewy and almost too cute to eat. Too damn cute! We ate to the fullest. Done with our brunch. We wanted to go to Phra Maha Chedi Tripob Trimongkol. But the weather is raining today. We stopped by to a small shop to buy a raincoat each. Then we ride our bike and continued our journey to that famous stainless steel temple. One of the highlights was visiting the stunning Phra Maha Chedi Tripob Trimongkol—the world’s first stainless-steel temple. Under the sun, the entire structure sparkled like thousands of stars, reflecting light in every direction. It’s modern, mesmerizing and incredibly serene. Standing beneath it felt surreal—modern yet sacred, shimmering with peace. We did a tour at the temple and climbed it. Only us that time and no one else there.
Next was Wat Phranon Laempho, home to the impressive reclining Buddha. Calm, golden and enormous, the statue seemed to lie in eternal tranquility. The statue is massive and you can side just by the roadway. Then we went to a nearby waterfront to take a bite (coconut ice cream) and rest for awhile before headed to Samila Beach. We never expected that we need to take a ferry to cross to the Samila Beach. We just follow the maps that leads us to take a ferry ride. Samila Beach is located at Songkhla City. With the sea breeze brushing against my face, I watched the shoreline slowly drift away as we crossed into this quieter, scenic town. My first stop was Songkhla Beach, home to the iconic Golden Mermaid Statue. Shimmering under the sunlight, she sat on a rock facing the ocean—mysterious and captivating. Like a glimmering guardian watching over the shore. A short ride away was Samila Beach, peaceful and perfect for slow walks on the soft sand where the sea met the sky in a calm embrace. I watched locals relaxing, children flying kites and fishermen preparing their boats. There also have many shops along the beach. Therefore we took this opportunity to shop souvenirs and clothes to bring back to hometown. It was cheap to shop here. Then, we went back to Hatyai town by using normal road this time. As evening came, I rode to Hatyai Municipal Park where famous massive golden Buddha stand tall and to catch the sunset. The view from the hill was breathtaking—the entire city glowing below while the sun dipped into the horizon. The hilltop views of the city were absolutely worth the climb. We could see the entire Hatyai city. As usual, after the daytime activities, we will come back to our hotel to fresh up and rest before went out for night activities. We planned to watch Aquaman movie at the mall. We already paid the ticket. Guess what?? The movie was in Thai language. We already sit in the theater and the movie was playing in Thai language. We sit there for 10 minutes to try to adapt with the movie but we couldn't. Finally we gave up and we walked out the door..LOLLL! We were browsing some shops at the mall and we went back to our hotel. The rest of the final night was spent strolling around the city, soaking in its charm, flavors and energy.
On my final day, I visited Wat Hat Yai Nai, known for its giant reclining Buddha—one of the largest in Thailand. It was drizzled in the morning but we still continue our visiting activity. Its size alone was awe-inspiring, and the calm atmosphere made it a perfect place to reflect on the journey so far. We took several photos and straight to our final place. Before heading back, I made a final stop at Central Festival Hatyai for some well-deserved shopping. From fashion to snacks to souvenirs, this mall had everything. The purpose to this mall was to go to Boots and ToroFries. I bought several body cares and skincares at Boots. Love them all! To top it off, I tried Torofries, a trendy snack that was crispy, cheesy and unforgettable. A trendy snack loved by both locals and tourists. I also tried Kerabu Magi and Jeruk Mangga at the foodcourt there. Naturally, I bought more lupchup to take home. With shopping bags in hand, I hopped on a tuktuk for one last ride through the buzzing streets of Hatyai before returning to Padang Besar and catching the ETS back to Kuala Lumpur.
My 3D2N Hatyai adventure was the perfect blend of nostalgia, exploration, culture and food. From the Hogwarts-like train ride to the golden mermaid, from peaceful temples to lively tuktuk rides, every moment felt like a story worth telling. Nothing beats cruising through a Thai city with the wind at your back by rental bike. If you’re looking for a trip that’s budget-friendly, adventurous, and full of character—Hatyai should definitely be on your list.
Do visit to my travel photos in my Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/LIMIPHOTOGRAPHY) to see my journey to Train to Hatyai.
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