🎨 Songkhla Old Town: A Backpacker’s Guide to Southern Thailand’s Most Colorful Secret!

#hatyaiattractions Why This Town is UNMISSABLE: ✅ Instagram heaven – Rainbow Sino-Portuguese shophouses 🏠 ✅ Living art scene – Murals change yearly (2024’s theme: oceanic myths) 🎨 ✅ Legendary street food – Where Thai & Malay flavors collide 🍜 ✅ Zero mass tourism – Just curious cats & friendly locals 🐈 My Pro Tips (From My 3 Visits): 🕗 8-11AM magic hour – Cool light + breakfast vendors popping 📸 Wide-angle lens – For those dramatic shophouse shots 🚶 Follow the blue line – Painted sidewalk leads to all highlights 🍍 Try satay skewers – Muslim-style with peanut-coconut sauce Must-Capture Spots: 1️⃣ Cat & Mouse Alley – The iconic mural duo 🐈⬛🐭 2️⃣ Indigo House – 150-year-old teak mansion (free entry!) 3️⃣ Ruen Nong Chaeng – Cafe in a vintage pharmacy 4️⃣ Sathing Phra Street – Where fishing nets dry like art installations Secret Local Experiences: • Khao Yam stall – Lady in pink shirt makes legendary Southern rice salad • 3rd-floor antique shop – Hidden above a noodle stall • Sunset at Laem Son On – Where locals fly kites over the sea How to Get There: 🚐 From Hat Yai: 1-hour van (50฿) from Bus Terminal 2 🚗 Grab shortcut: ~600฿ split between 4 Budget: 500฿/day (feast included!) Perfect For: Creatives & slow travelers Pro Tip: Visit during September’s Ghost Festival when the streets turn into an open-air theater! 👻🎭 #oldtownmagic – Tag your artsiest finds! 📸✨ P.S. The green-painted 1920s post office still operates – send yourself a vintage postcard! 💌