Leaving Hat Yai on a Rainy Sunday — Punthai Breakfast, Border Scrutiny & Homecoming

#haveperutwilltravel #malaysiatrulyasia #thailand #sadao #hatyai Bright Start & Smooth Checkout It was time for another border crossing. We were up bright and early at a quarter to eight, the kind of lazy Sunday morning where everything feels slower and softer. Most of the packing was done the night before, so after a quick shower we checked out of Kien’s cosy unit an hour later, ready for the road. Easy Drive Out of Hat Yai The self checkout was effortless, and five minutes later we began our drive toward Sadao Immigration. Hat Yai was already awake but unhurried — shutters lifting slowly, breakfast stalls steaming, motorbikes drifting by without weekday urgency. As we left the city, shophouses gave way to rubber trees and quiet villages, all moving at a relaxed Sunday pace. Punthai Pit Stop Half an hour in, we stopped at a PTT station for breakfast at Punthai Coffee. The place was calm, with only a few travellers passing through. We ordered: • Iced Milk Green Tea • Iced Caramel Coffee • Ham & Cheese Sandwich • Tuna Sandwich All for THB265 (≈ MYR33/USD8/EUR7). After stretching our legs and a quick restroom break, we resumed our drive at 8:45am. Rainy Cruise Toward Sadao The remainder of the drive carried that gentle Sunday calm. Rubber plantations cast soft shadows, villages stirred slowly, and the soundtrack was just the hum of BiBi and distant motorbikes. The weather shifted playfully — soft rain, then heavier bursts, then clear skies again — leaving glistening patches on the highway. Sadao Immigration & A Wrong Turn By late morning, we reached the Sadao Immigration Complex. Immigration was smooth: TM2 and TM3 handed over, stamps done. Customs was equally straightforward with the Temporary Import Permit. But before reaching Bukit Kayu Hitam CIQ, we made a classic border crossing mistake — keeping left instead of right at the final fork. A quick loop back fixed everything. Bukit Kayu Hitam — The Sticky Part Malaysian Immigration was a breeze. Customs, however, was where things got interesting. Our four Makro boxes drew immediate attention. A customs officer inspected every single item — snacks, sauces, toiletries, drinks — the full Hat Yai bounty laid bare. Thorough, not tense, just the kind of scrutiny that comes with a haul big enough to stock a small shop. Cleared & Southbound We finally got a clean bill of health and were on our way by a quarter to ten. Both complexes were busy but organised, with clear hand signals and smooth lanes. Once past Customs, the road opened up again and we continued south without delays. Rainy Fields & Familiar Roads The drive toward Alor Setar was peaceful. Light traffic, shifting rain, wide green fields, and small towns appearing occasionally. Even with the weather changing, the journey stayed calm and open. Arrival in Alor Setar As we reached the outskirts, the rain softened. Familiar shops and neighbourhoods welcomed us back. At 11:50am MY time, we arrived at Grand Alora Hotel, ending another smooth northern crossing. Parting Gift & What’s Next Before signing off, we shared a full showcase of our Hat Yai haul — every box from Makro, every bag from Big C, every snack and find from Odean and beyond. A colourful farewell to our northern shopping spree. There’ll be no filming during our stay in Alor Setar as I’ll be on relief duty at the branch. Stay tuned for the final video of our northern adventures as we drive back to Kuala Lumpur this coming weekend! 📍 Location: Lee Mansion - https://maps.app.goo.gl/YwERzVnV7sSpQ... Sadao Border Checkpoint - https://maps.app.goo.gl/hA46wpkAqFwEw... Bukit Kayu Hitam ICQS - https://maps.app.goo.gl/dh68woS15JTVw... Grand Alora Hotel - https://maps.app.goo.gl/qGrn4YxvbCC5C... Music licensed by Epidemic Sound https://www.epidemicsound.com/ Hello everyone! We are Cat and Harold from Kuala Lumpur. Welcome to our vlog, created to catalogue our memories, life’s events and travels. Why “Have Perut Will Travel”? It’s a play on words from an old Western TV show called “Have Gun - Will Travel”, but we let our tummies lead the way ❣️ 📱 Why not give us a follow on our social channels? »   / haveperutwilltravel   »   / haveperutwilltravel   » @ https://www.threads.com/@haveperutwil... »   / haveperutwilltravel   » http://www.harrycath.com/