Southern Thailand SATUN
Satun is a small province in the south of Thailand that borders Malaysia, facing the Andaman Sea. The province possesses renowned picturesque islands with verdant forests and mountainous land. The majority of the locals is Muslim. It is located 973 kilometres from Bangkok and occupies an area of 2,478 square kilometres with 80 kilometres of coastline.
Most of the area is mountainous, with plains in the centre near the coast. Brooks lie in the east of Satun, mangroves can be found along the coast and there are more than 100 offshore islands. Famous islands are Ko Tarutao Ko Adang and Ko Rawi and Mu Ko Phetra .
Khao To Phaya Wang Park
Khao To Phaya Wang Park is located in Satun metropolitan area on Khuha Prawet Road. Surrounded by a small, limestone hill with a cave and a brook, it is teeming with various kinds of trees, which makes the public park peaceful and suitable for recreation.
Ko Langkawi
Ko Langkawi Tourists who want to visit Langkawi Island in Malaysia can board boats from Tam Ma Lang Pier, which is located 5 kms. from town. For information contact the Thai Ferry company tel: 0-7472-2143, 0-7473-0050-1, fax: 0-7471-1782 or Satun Travel and Ferry Company tel: 0-7471-1453, 0-7472-1960.
Ku Den Museum
Ku Den Museum is situated on Satun Thani Road, opposite the Satun Land Department Office. The two-story building received the influence of western styled architecture; particularly the windows and doors which are of Roman motifs. The roofs were designed in the Thai 's Panya style. The windows were assembled with narrow strips of boards arranged horizontally. The semi - circular clay tiles were used to cover the roofs. The ventilation at the upper-front of the building is decorated with star-shaped designs, imminently influenced by Muslim architecture. Phraya Phuminatphakdi, the former governor of Satun, built it in 1902 as his residence. The building was used as a city hall, though nowadays it serves as a museum housing antiques and artifacts and exhibiting the local art and culture.
Laem Than Yong Po
Laem Than Yong Po and Hat Sai Yao are located at the estuary of Satun Bay and can be reached by boarding a boat for the 1-hour trip from Ko Nok Customs Office or at a pier behind Satun Central Market. Travelling by bus is also possible by riding a bus for 7 kms. to Che Bi Lang Pier, then turn left and continue another 15 kms. to Tan Yong Po. Laem Than Yong Po is a promontory jutting into the Andaman Sea. Tourists are lured here by the fascination of the fishermen’s village and a powdery, white sand beach fringed with a large area of coconut grove.
Old Buildings on Buri Wanich Road
Old Buildings on Buri Wanich Road Located on Buri Wanich Road in Satun municipality area, the 600 meter long row houses provide a pedestrian walkway that is shaded by the upper floor. The front of the concrete walled houses consist of three parts: the Roman styled color glass arch at the top, the wooden board Venetian blinds in the middle, and the solid concrete bottom. These buildings, previously called Phraya Phumin Phakdi's Row houses, were built during the same period as Ku Den Museum. Now some of the houses have been dismantled but most parts still remain.
Satun Central Mosque
Satun Central Mosque (Majid Mambang) is located on Buri Wanit Road and Satun Thani Road in the center of Satun. The mosque was built in modern Islamic architecture style and decorated with marble and colorful glasses. The building is divided into two parts: outside is a corridor that leads to a dome tower where there are picturesque views of Satun and inside is a prayer hall. The library is located in the basement. Previously, Masjid Bambang was a one storey building. Its unique three-tier roofs were arranged in a pyramid shape with the smallest one on the top and the largest at the bottom to cover the whole building. The floors were covered with brown tiles. The interior measured 13 meters both in length and width and the building was supported by four wooden poles. The original Masjid had deteriorated because of its wooden structures and because it was too small to accommodate worshippers performing prayers. It was then uprooted and rebuilt in the same plot of land. The new building was completed in May 1979.
International Kite Festival is held annually in February at Satun Airport, which is 4 kms. to Satun town.
Visit Tarutao Festival is an annual event held from November to April at Tarutao National Park. Floating Boat Festival is held by fishermen living on Lipeh Island, Satun. On the 13th-15th day of the waxing moon in May and October, sea gypsies would gather for the traditional 3 days and 3 nights celebration in the belief that the ceremony scares away bad luck and brings good fortunes for fishing.Tarutao-Adang Fishing Club is held around March annually.
Distance form Amphoe Muang Satun to Neighbouring Districts :
Khuan Don 21 kilometres
Tha Phae 28 kilometres
Khuan Kalong 32 kilometres
La-nga 50 kilometres
Thung Wa 76 kilometres
Distance from Amphoe Mueang Satun to Neighbouring Provinces :
Trang 140 kilometres
Phatthalung 134 kilometres
Songkhla 125 kilometres
Car
From Bangkok, drive on Highway No. 4 past Prachuap Khiri Khan and Chumphon then take Highway No. 41 to Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phatthalung. From Phatthalung, drive on to Amphoe Rattaphum, Songkhla then take Highway No. 4 and turn right to Highway No. 406. It is 973 kilometres from Bangkok.
Bus
The journey from Bangkok to Satun can be made on air-conditioned coaches originating from the Southern Bus Terminal. The coaches, varying in 3 types, depart from Bangkok at the following times:
VIP Bus: 6 p.m.
Standard 1 Bus: 7 a.m., 6.30 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Standard 2 Bus: 6.30 p.m.
The trip takes about 13 hours. For more information, call the Southern Bus Terminal at tel: 0 2435 1199-200 or the Satun Bus Station at tel: 0 7471 1446.
Satun can be reached by van, public bus and taxi from Hat Yai. Taxi is available at the Ratthakan Post Office, van and public bus can be found beside Dr. Somphot’s Clinic near Hat Yai train station. The van leaves every hour form 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Public bus leaves from Hat Yai bus station every 2 hours from 6.30 a.m. to 4.35 p.m.
Train
There is no direct train to Satun. Visitors can take a Bangkok-Hat Yai train, leaving the Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong) at 12.25 p.m., 2.20 p.m.,2.45 p.m. and 3.50 p.m. Getting off at the Hat Yai train station, visitors can take a taxi from Ratthakan Post Office to Satun. Vans and public buses are also available. It is 97 kilometres from Hat Yai to Satun. For more information on trains, contact the State Railways of Thailand, tel: 1690, 0 2223 7010, 0 2223 7020 or visit www.srt.or.th.
Air
There is no direct flight to Satun. The trip by air can be made via Hat Yai airport then taking a taxi or public bus to Satun for 97 kilometres. For more information on flight schedules, contact Thai Airways, tel: 1566, 0 2280 0060, 0 2628 2000 or visit www.thaiairways.com.
Fish and shrimp crisp
Fish and shrimp crisp, a produce of Chebilang Village, this accrues additional income for the villagers aside from fishery
A variety of handicrafts
A variety of handicrafts such as artificial flowers, batik, basketry can be bought from the local products centre in La-ngu district.
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