AhPek Biker - Old Dog Rides Again: August 2025

Saturday, August 23, 2025

Penang-Hat Yai 2025 Day 3: Penang To Hat Yai

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Penang-Hat Yai 2025 Day 3: Penang To Hat Yai

Penang-Hat Yai 2025 Days 3: 3rd August (Sunday)

Small Group (Road Trip) Tour of George Town, Penang, Malaysia, and Hat Yai, Thailand.

Day 3 - George Town (Penang Island) to Hat Yai (Thailand):
Tanjung Bungah>George Town (Penang Island)>Penang Bridge>Butterworth>Changlun>Malaysian Immigration (Bukit Kayu Hitam)>Thai Immigration (Sadao)>Hat Yai>Golden Crown Grand Hotel>big tuk-tuk>Krua Pa-Yad>Grab>Lee Garden Night Market>walk>Golden Crown Grand Hotel.

This is page 2 of a 4-page blog. Click Here To Go To The Title Page.

< D1&2: KL-Penang | Go to Other Days | D4: Around Hat Yai >

Route recommendations, here are some tips on travelling to and around Morocco:

1. Driving & Traffic Directions!

Driving in Malaysia and Driving in Thailand is right-hand drive, and driving is on the left side of the road. Do look to the correct side when crossing roads. A valid international driving licence is required for both countries. Those with a driving licence from ASEAN countries can drive in both countries, subject to conditions. Short-term car insurance is also required.

We drove around in Thailand, but where we expected difficulty in parking, we either took a tuk-tuk or hailed a Grab Car, comparing prices first.
Malaysians driving their car into Thailand will require a temporary import permit. This form can be obtained at several highway-side shops around Changlun. At the Thailand Immigration/Customs side, passengers will have to alight and go through the pedestrian lanes, while the driver drives through a different lane to have the form processed. There is no need for the passengers to alight when leaving Thailand. A copy of the approved form will be returned to the driver. This COPY HAS TO BE RETURNED to the Thai Immigration/Customs; otherwise, one is considered to have imported a car to Thailand, and on the subsequent entry into Thailand, one may have to pay a hefty fine!

We did the car import permit and comprehensive Thai car insurance at Mini Travel 1982, which has a large car park, a duty-free shop and a food court. They also helped fill in tourist entry forms and sell Thai DTAC Happy Tourist phone SIM cards. This also includes tow truck services, which can be contacted via WhatsApp call/message to +6012-4971068.
Speed limits in Malaysia:
Expressways: 110 km/h, 80 or 90 km/h at dangerous mountainous stretches, crosswind areas and urban areas with high traffic capacity.
Federal roads: 90 km/h, 80 km/h during festive seasons, 60 km/h in town areas.
State roads: 90 km/h, 80 km/h during festive seasons, 60 km/h in town areas.
Do adhere to these limits, as speed detection cameras are along the expressways. Install the Waze App, and run it while driving, as it highlights if one drives above the speed limit, and will warn of impending speed traps.

Speed limits in Thailand:

Expressways: 110 km/h, 80 or 90 km/h at dangerous mountainous stretches, crosswind areas and urban areas with high traffic capacity.
Federal roads: 90 km/h, 80 km/h during festive seasons, 60 km/h in town areas.
State roads: 90 km/h, 80 km/h during festive seasons, 60 km/h in town areas.
60 km/h within urban areas, 100 km/h outside urban areas, including expressways, and 120 km/h on highways. Do adhere to these limits, as often police are monitoring with radars; our driver-guide was careful about this.

2. Immigration & Customs Requirements

Those from ASEAN countries (except Myanmar) can enter member countries without a visa for periods between 14 to 30 days. Click here for Malaysian visa requirements for other countries. Click here for Thai visa requirements for other countries.

3. Getting to and around Malaysia.

Both Malaysia and Thailand are well served by many international airlines. Click here for airlines serving Malaysia, and click here for airlines serving Thailand.

Highway and local roads in Malaysia are excellent, while those in Thailand are good. Many expressways in Malaysia are tolled, while Thailand only have tolled roads in some cities.

Petrol is cheaper in Malaysia, with RON95 at RM2.05 (USD0.48) per litre. While in Thailand RON95 costs more than double at THB32.55 (USD1.01) per litre. So, do fill up just before crossing the border into Thailand.

Thai time is an hour behind Malaysia's.

4. Places & Things of Interest

Enroute were several places of interest, some of which we visited and others we did not for lack of time (Note: click on GPS coordinates for a directional map to respective places):
a. George Town (UNESCO Heritage Site) (GPS: 5.41409, 100.32852).

b. Streets & Alleys of George Town (GPS: 5.41700, 100.33797).
c. Street Art of George Town (GPS: 5.41555, 100.33726).

d. Pulau Tikus Wet Market (GPS: 5.43052, 100.31196).

e. Gurney Bay Park (GPS: 5.43262, 100.31882).

f. Penang Esplanade Walkway (GPS: 5.42206, 100.342301).

g. Fort Cornwallis (GPS: 5.42041, 100.34454).

h. Penang Bridge (GPS: 5.35840, 100.31802).

i. "Mini Travel 1982" (GPS: 6.45451, 100.42841) travel assistance office at Changlun; for Thai car insurance, Thai immigration entry forms, DTAC Happy Tourist physical Thai phone SIM cards.

j. BhP Petrol Station Bukit Kayu Hitam (GPS: 6.49004, 100.42418) at Bukit Kayu Hitam, to fill up petrol before crossing over to Thailand.
k. Wat Santi Worakhun (วัดสันติวรคุณ) (GPS: 6.61298, 100.42022) at Sadao.
l. Lee Garden Night Market (ลีการ์เดนส์ ไนท์มาร์เก็ต) (GPS: 7.00604, 100.47133).
m. Por Usanon Shopping Alley (GPS: 7.00486, 100.47138).

n. Mohya Pharmacy (ร้านหมอยา) (GPS: 7.00757, 100.47019), purchase Siangpure Thai medicated oil, Thai JAM Rice Milk Soap, Rhinobun Pain Relief Plaster, Mosquito Repellant Spray, etc.

5. Food

a. Breakfast

- Penang Char Koay Teow from 2025 Champion Char Koay Teow,
- Ravi's Michelin Bib Apom,

- Pat Poh Guleng Peng,

all the above at Swee Kong Coffee Shop (GPS: 5.43050, 100.31260) in Pulau Tikus.

b. Lunch

- Thai Teochew Fare including Or Nee dumplings at Pakmornalo Naisuan (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวปากหม้อน่าล่อในสวน หาดใหญ่) (GPS: 7.00631, 100.4747) in Hat Yai.

c. Dinner

Thai Food (including Thai Crab Omelette) at Krua Pa-Yad (GPS: 6.99810, 100.48111) in Hat Yai.

6. Accommodations

First of two nights at the Golden Crown Grand Hotel (GPS: 7.00728, 100.47039) in Hat Yai, Thailand, queen room at RM120 per night.

7. Communicating with Each Other

When travelling in a group, it's important to be able to communicate with each other, especially if one gets lost from the rest.

Physical sim cards can be ordered online or purchased upon arrival at international airports, OR one can order Malaysian e-SIM online.
Some of us bought DTAC Happy Tourist physical Thai phone SIM cards at the "Mini Travel 1982" travel assistance office at Changlun. We got the 7-Days unlimited data physical SIM at RM25.
Others subscribed for the Touch-n-Go e-SIM directly through the Touch-n-Go e-Wallet App in their phone, getting a 7-Day 1-GB plan for RM9. A 15-Day 2-GB plan is available for RM15. This e-SIM has to be activated and set up just before entering Thailand, or if in Thailand then activate it where there is WiFi.

9. Communicating with Locals

Although Bahasa Malaysia is the official language of Malaysia, most Malaysians speak fairly good English; even in smaller towns or villages, locals speak some rudimentary English. One can warm up to locals by conversing in some basic Bahasa Malaysia. Failing which, Google Translate, should one get stuck vocally.
The official language of Thailand is Thai. At the tourist areas, many locals can speak basic English. One can warm up to locals by conversing in some basic Thai. Failing that, Google Translate should be used if one gets stuck vocally.

10. Weather

The average day and night temperatures in George Town were 32°C, partly cloudy with no rain.
The average day and night temperatures in Hat Yai were 34°C and 24°C, partly cloudy with a short shower around noon..

A useful weather forecast site for George Town and Hat Yai is AccuWeather. For more detailed weather, including cloud cover and wind speed, use Weatherspark and Ventusky.

11. Navigation

Geo-tagging of places of interest was via FaceBook or Google Maps.

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PRELUDE

Two days earlier, we had driven up from Kuala Lumpur to George Town (Penang Island). And what do one do when in Penang?
EAT!

What else? 😂

We had very good Penang Char Koay Teow at Perak Road Night Char Koay Teow stall, and also bought some renown Kong Thng/Kacang Tumbuk (Peanut Candy) from Ang Seng Heong. Later in the evening we went to sample Green Tomyam Noodles at the Michelin Bib Ghee Lian (義蓮鱼头米粉) (GPS: 5.42292, 100.34071) stall located at the Medan Renong Food Court.

The following day, we were down at Four Hands, to scout out the place for a future event. Since they served very good Dim Sum there, we had them for a good brunch.
Later in the afternoon, we met some relatives for tea at Genki Canteen.
Eat again? Yup, they serve pretty good Penang Hokkien Mee and Lor Bak there!

Tummies suitably sated, we are ready to head to Hat Yai, Thailand..... OR so we thought.

Our tummies proved us wrong ..... again!

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DAY 3: PENANG- HAT YAI

Small Group (Road Trip) Tour of George Town, Penang, Malaysia, and Hat Yai, Thailand.

(Click here for the Penang-Hat Yai Day 3: Penang to Hat Yai Route Map)

Most of the posts below are linked to my Facebook postings during the trip and are embedded here with some comments. (NOTE: Click on respective posts to link to the FB post to read more details. If you can't see the posts, please log out of your Facebook first.)

Kicked off the day by heading to Swee Kong Coffee Shop for breakfast, starting with this crispy Indian Apom from Michelin Bib Ravi's.

Penang's Apom is an appam, somewhat similar to Sri Lanka's hoppers, except it is thinner and crispy, and often sold tri-folded. Ravi's one is special as he is one of the few who use small curry claypots over charcoal embers. Most use mini aluminium kualis over a gas stove.

For dirnks it's Pat Poh Guleng Peng.

Pat Poh (translated as "Eight Treasures") is a refreshing herbal drink made from eight herbs, including summer mushroom grass, chrysanthemum, etc.

Since we are at Swee Kong, we had to try Winny Ong's 2025 Champion Char Koay Teow; today being a Sunday, it will be an hour's wait. We took turns waiting while the others went to the nearby Pulau Tikus Market.

Was it worth the wait? I would say no. My son, who has been eating Winny's Penang Char Koay Teow even before she won the championship, says it is not up to par, as the wok hei was not strong enough. Perhaps we shouldn't have come on a Sunday!

Tummies sated, we are ready to head north for Thailand, leaving the island via the Penang Bridge for Butterworth.

About a year ago, a row of thirty-one monopole pylons was erected, running parallel to the bridge. These streamlined design pylons carry cables bringing 2,000 megawatts of electricity to Penang Island. Apparently, they are lit up at night in light blue, white and yellow - the colours of the Penang Flag.

12:30pm - Arrived at Changlun and stopped at Mini Travel 1982. They provide services of filling Thai Immigration Forms, car import permits and comprehensive Thai car insurance. We found them convenient as they have a large car park, with an adjacent duty-free shop and a food court. One can also buy Thai DTAC Happy Tourist phone SIM cards from them; they will help set it up. There's a small service charge with includes a free cup of coffee.

My wife subscribed for the Touch-n-Go e-SIM directly through the Touch-n-Go e-Wallet App on her phone, getting a 7-Day 1-GB plan for RM9. This e-SIM has to be activated and set up just before entering Thailand, or if in Thailand, then activate it where there is WiFi.

Above is a photo of Thai car insurance Table Form.

This also includes tow truck services which cover the Songkhla, Satun and Phatthalung provinces. They can be contacted via WhatsApp call/message to +6012-4971068.

S̄awạdī (สวัสดี ). Welcome to Thailand!

We are into Sadao, passing by Wat Santi Worakhun (วัดสันติวรคุณ) with its golden pagodas and giant statues of monks.

Lunch at Pakmornalo Naisuan (ก๋วยเตี๋ยวปากหม้อน่าล่อในสวน หาดใหญ่) This place is patronised by locals, we're the only tourists there. They serve very delicious Thai Teochew Fare, and good dumplings too, especially the Or Nee dumpling is superb and should not be missed. Another good dish is the bamboo prawns, which are served on dry ice.

Checking into our hotel, the Golden Crown Grand Hotel. It's not one of the newer hotels, but it is conveniently located just across the Kim Yong Market and within easy walking distance to the Lee Garden Night Market. Hotel car parking is in the basement or at an adjacent lot.

Our room at the fifth floor. Nice and clean... should have asked for a higher floor for a better view 😎.

Just outside the hotel are these tuk-tuks, which can sit up to six. But check ride-hailing Grab Car, and compare prices and negotiate with the tuk-tuk driver first. Since there were four of us, often it was cheaper to Grab.

But for our trip to dinner at Krua Pa-Yad, the tuk-tuk was cheaper, and an added bonus was good views from the back, catching this nice sunset.

We arrived at Krua Pa-Yad, only to see a long queue there, so the food must be good!

But no worries, service here is fast. We joined the queue, and a captain took our food order even before we went in. While waiting, one can sit at the high kerb outside the restaurant or on a couple of stone benches nearby. But we didn't have to wait long, perhaps fifteen minutes.

The place was recommended by our friend Paul and serves very localised Thai Food with most dishes priced between 100 to 200 Bahts.

We ordered several dishes, including the Thai Crab Omelette) which was very good, and so was their tom yum.

20:30 Hailed a Grab to fetch us to the Lee Garden Night Market, the place was brightly lit and already bustling with activity.

It's a street market with an assortment of stalls lining the side of the Prachathipat Road, with the first section selling clothing, shoes, and clothing accessories like rings, bangles, etc.

As one walks further along, the stalls slowly blend with food stalls. Interesting ones sold deep-fried mini crabs, huge freshwater prawns, blended fruit juices, and even big fresh oysters.

Here's an Interactive Google Street View of the Lee Garden Night Street Market.

While the main road is the heart of the activity, do explore the side alleys like Por Usanon Shopping Alley, where one may find interesting bargains.

Wanted to go to the loo, but then..... er… seeing this huge green fellow, I will hold it… Hopefully, don’t turn green too.

One odd stall selling Thai durians.

Which raises the question: which is the better durian - Thai durians or Malaysian durians?

Back at the hotel, we laid out the Siangpure Thai medicated oil, Thai JAM Rice Milk Soap, Rhinobun Pain Relief Plaster, Mosquito Repellant Spray, etc. that the missus had bought. While I was resting in the afternoon, she, like most ladies, had gone out to start her Thai shopping spree. The above was her haul from Mohya Pharmacy (ร้านหมอยา).

ราตรีสวัสดิ์!

(That's "Rātrī s̄wạs̄di̒!" - "Good Night!" in Thai)

(For more photos of Day 3 Click Here)

This is page 2 of a 4-page blog. Click Here To Go To The Title Page.

< D1&2: KL-Penang | Go to Other Days | D4: Around Hat Yai >

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