georgegeorgia Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 Just wondered who lives in a Muslim area such as Pattani ? is it ok for me to travel these areas? if you live in these areas and are not of the Muslim religion do you take precautions for your safety ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nyezhov Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 For Americans, there is a travel advisory, so I dont go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
onlycw Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 I do. No, I don't. But it's Songkhla, not Yala, Pattani or Narathiwat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OneMoreFarang Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 I was in Pattani many years ago for about a month. The main rule was, and as far as I know still is: don't travel at night! Busses will make sure they never arrive anywhere after dark. When I was there everybody, including all the Muslims, were friendly. And everybody warned me: Don't go out at night! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammieuk1 Posted January 22, 2019 Share Posted January 22, 2019 After a 10 stretch in a Muslim country swiftly followed by a 10 stretch in a Buddhist one its defiantly unsafe for pigs here is the only thing I'm totally sure of???? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stocky Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 I don't think we have any regular posters who live in the three southern states of Pattani, Yala or Narathiwat. As with the US, the UK Government advisory is avoid travel in all three provinces plus Southern Songkhla province (south of the A43 road). The times I have ventured south either down the coast a bit toward Pattani, there are some nice beaches and good food, or to some of the national parks, it's during day light hours. The locals always seem friendly and happy to see you. But neither I nor the wife fancy any extended tours of the south, and wouldn't want to stay after dark - not much night life anyway, at least not any you'd wish to witness. We live in an area of Hat Yai with a large Muslim community, many being refugees from the south, and we all get along fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mavideol Posted January 23, 2019 Share Posted January 23, 2019 like Mercury, the planet, are good with good, bad with bad. When they are at Rome, they do there as they see done, puritans with puritans, papists with papists When in Rome, do as the Romans do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phuketsub Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 I've been down there many times and also reported on the incidents there for several media outlets. I never worry about my personal safety, or that of my family who accompany me. In fact, there are far more threats to personal safety in a place like Phuket, and that has been statistically proven by the government. In more than ten years of living and working in the South and Deep South, I have only heard of a single instance of a foreigner getting killed, that was of a Chinese tourist. I forget the exact details of that case, but presume he was mistaken as a member of the target group. As for the lack of nightlife (take note Stocky), the border town of Betong (Yala) has lots of it and also has a 60s James Bond feel that is hard to beat IMHO. The city is so remote that it has only really had one major spate of insurgent attacks over the years. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to get a full picture of the Deep South. Other than that, there are little pockets of nightlife, but nothing like you might find in Hat Yai or the major tourist destinations further north. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tifino Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 cowboy town aka padang besar used to, years back, and considering being such a small town then, a great one for nightlife. There was really only the two nightclubs that ran, bu there was plenty going on inside to keep one occupied! used to drive up from Penang every 2nd weekend... all under the premise of 'weekly type shopping' which really meant an almost sobering drive over to HatYai too!... pity it's not safe to venture... but there's that fantastic temple complex built into the cave WSW of town... (pix in the temple around thailand photos thread) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stocky Posted January 24, 2019 Share Posted January 24, 2019 8 hours ago, phuketsub said: As for the lack of nightlife (take note Stocky), the border town of Betong (Yala) has lots of it and also has a 60s James Bond feel that is hard to beat IMHO. OK, excluding the border towns, Sungai Golok is pretty lively too though it's a few years since I was there last Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
poohy Posted January 25, 2019 Share Posted January 25, 2019 Had some amazing stays in Sungai Golok a few years back it was certainly a lively place Staying at the Good old Merlin Hotel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcelV Posted January 28, 2019 Share Posted January 28, 2019 I live in Narathiwat Town and don't ever feel unsafe. I heartily recommend the three deep southern provinces for the experienced traveller or longtime Thai expat. Just coming home from a trip to Chiang Rai it feels like being in a different country again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stocky Posted January 29, 2019 Share Posted January 29, 2019 16 hours ago, MarcelV said: I live in Narathiwat Town and don't ever feel unsafe. Glad to hear that, as it happens my daughter and granddaughter are going to Narathiwat at the weekend with a party of girls from where my daughter works; one of the Muslim girls is getting married. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atecom Posted March 15, 2019 Share Posted March 15, 2019 Any recommendations against taking the Jungle route train on the East coast from Johor Bahru to Hat Yai which passes through this region? My understanding is violence can happen with that route but is rare. Thinking about taking that route in the not to distant future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phuketsub Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 15 hours ago, atecom said: Any recommendations against taking the Jungle route train on the East coast from Johor Bahru to Hat Yai which passes through this region? My understanding is violence can happen with that route but is rare. Thinking about taking that route in the not to distant future. Don't worry about it and just enjoy the trip. If you enjoy a drink, it's byob and keep it low key on the train and you'll be fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimmyJ Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 Lots of Muslims in Ao Nang, Krabi. I was looking at the fruit a street vendor was offering and a Muslim woman was having the vendor slice a mango for her. "Give him a slice" the Muslim woman said in English to the vendor, pointing at me. I was caught in a torrential rainstorm in Ao Nang and stepped under the awning of an open air restaurant. The Muslim women invited me in to sit at a table during the storm. Smiles by all including grandmother seated inside. Never tried to sell me anything, never even put a menu on the table. All my interactions with Muslims in Thailand and Malaysia have been fine. Never lived in the south of Thailand though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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