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This province has
the odd distinction of its administrative
capital, not being the major town. Big bustling
Hat Yai is the commercial hub of it all, but
capital status belongs to the small, laid-back
coastal town of Songkhla, a place altogether
much more interesting for the traveler.
Today a relaxed-and-relaxing beach resort, charming for its total
lack of pretensions, Songkhla dates back to the
8th century and has a long history as a trading
port, the legacy of which survives in traces of
old architecture and a population mix of Thai,
Chinese and ethnic Malays. The most popular
beach here is Hat Samila beach, which is located in
the northeast corner of tow, and it is known for
its seafood restaurants.
The beach is not the
finest in Thailand, but it does afford the
simple pleasure of taking it easy and absorbing
the atmosphere of what is an unusually appealing
resort. North of the town is Songkhla Lake, the
country's largest body of inland water and home
to a wide variety of waterfowl. For those who
prefer non-water activity, then you can visit
the National Museum which houses a collection of
artifacts from the Srivijaya empire, climb up
the Khao Tang Kuan or take a walk to Wat
Matchimawat temple.
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