Khlong Hae Floating Market

I wrote before about how I wish I can visit the floating market in Hat Yai, but trips to Hat Yai has always been a working trip for Mr D, hence not much time to roam around. But I finally managed to slot some time to pay a visit to the floating market in Khlong Hae during last September visit. 

This time around, we stayed at Kosit Hotel, in the middle of Hat Yai. It is a simple budget hotel, Mr D wanted to see how this hotel looks like to consider for the budget trip offer for his clients. Though the time was really tight, we managed to visit the floating market in Khlong Hae. The floating market  is in operation every weekend. Though we drove to Hat Yai, Mr D didn't want to drive to the floating market as the parking in Kosit Hotel is really limited, hence, we opted for Tut Tut instead. It costs us 600 baht (about RM60) to and fro, with the driver waiting for us at the market. The journey was about half an hour from the city centre to the market in Khlong Hae.

The floating market was set at a river in a village, basically the floating perahu are not the only place where they sell things, there are also stalls set nearby which sells many other things other than food. The perahu though, are only selling food. And most of them are muslims, or was it all of them are muslims? 

The river where they set the market is quite dirty though, with the kind of smell you can't stand for long. When I was there, there were not many people, and I wonder what is the kind of income they get per night with this kind of crowd. Doesn't really look promising.

The kind of food sold is simple - snacks, drinks, cakes and such, though some of them are selling rice as well. I tried their dim sum, which is full of coloring, and their mixed kerabu, which La Kasturi can definitely prepare better. We also bought coconut drink, which was sold in those little clay container. 

I wasn't impressed with the kind of things sold, but nonetheless enjoy the way the transactions were done. Each and every seller has a basket tied to a long bamboo, which they used to deliver the food to customers, after which the customers will put their money in it as a payment.

If you ask me what do I think of this place, I would say the concept is interesting, but it needs more improvement in terms of logistic, the kind of thing sold and the cleanliness of the environment. It can be the tourist attraction if there are more things to look at. 

Below is the only food I enjoyed that night - the noodle soup. With lotsa chicken and vegetables. It was served hot and was really satisfying. I paid 30 baht (around RM3.00) per bowl for this. If you see any dim sum, don't buy it. It doesn't have taste, not at all!