Date :27 September – 2 October 2025 ( 6D5N)

No of Entourage :12

Names :
1. Ven. Zhen Ru （Head of entourage)
2. Sayalay Obhasi (IBC student)
3. Ven. Long Jie (IBC student)
4. Ven. Hui Xin (IBC student)
5. Dr Ooi Eng Jin (IBC Faculty Dean)
6. Sis Lim Lay Hong(overall coordinator)
7. Sis Chan Chooi Pheng
8. Sis Yew Foo Guat
9. Sis Yew Poh Choo
10.Bro Teoh Hock Siew
11.Sis Tang Poh Yee
12.Sis Teh Loo Meng

Tour fares :
RM1300 (from Penang)
RM1100 (from IBC)

Details of Tour

Day 1(27/9/25)
At 7.45am, 8 members gathered at Than Hsiang canteen parking area, we took a group photo at the back of the van with our luggage then started our journey to Hat Yai.

Ven. Zhen Ru led us in performing the morning prayers to have a safe and blessed journey. Our van driver Ah Beng is a very experienced traveler to Thailand, he chose to use the Durian Burung Kota Putra Custom to avoid long queue at immigration office as it was a week end.

We passed through the border very smoothly and reach Hat Yai around 11am.

We visited Hat Yai Municipal Park, took some photos of the golden standing Buddha and Guan Yin statue. The standing Buddha was constructed on the occasion of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej The Great’s 72nd birthday anniversary, the height of the image is 19.90m. In front of the Buddha image is a viewpoint overlooking the city of Hat Yai.

After the Municipal Park, we had our lunch at Num Heng vegetarian restaurant which located within walking distance to Grand Pink Hotel that we stayed for one night. This was really an ideal lodging place because surrounded by shops and restaurants. Rest of the day was free time for members to do their shopping.

Day 2 (28/9/25)
Next morning, we had free and easy slot for members to continue their shopping and enjoy local breakfast. We checked out from hotel at 10am and started our journey to International Buddhist College (IBC) at Sadao.

During the journey, we performed our morning prayers led by Ven Zhen Ru。

Upon reaching IBC， Ven. Zhen Ru guided our group to conduct a campus tour because majority of our members were first time here. After the campus tour, Ven. Zhen Shen invited us to have lunch, the dishes were so delicious and healthy, all of us had a very satisfied and authentic vegetarian meal.

By 12.30pm, we were all seated in the convocation hall, this year is The 18th Convocation for IBC. The venue hall was decorated to be both formal and celebratory, emphasizing the academic prestige of the event. The ceremony started promptly at 1pm and went on smoothly for one and half hour. Again majority of our members were first time attending this grand convocation event. Tea and snacks were served after the ceremony, we enjoyed for another round.

By 3.30pm, we started our journey to Nakhon Si Thammarat which took about 4 hours driving distance. 4 members from IBC namely Sayalay Obhasi, Ven. LongJie, Ven. HuiXin and Dr Ooi Eng Jin joined us from here. We had a total of 12 passengers, 1 Thailand tour guide Ah Tee and driver Ah Beng in our tour van which was fully load.

During the long journey, we had time to perform our evening prayers for the day.

Day 3 (29/9/25)
The first itinerary for that day was Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan. After our buffet breakfast at hotel, we checked out and took about 15 minutes’ drive to reach the destination.

This is the main Buddhist temple of Nakhon Si Thammarat Province in southern Thailand.

The main stupa of the temple, Phra Borommathat Chedi (great noble relics stupa), was built by King Sri Dhammasokaraja in the early-13th century CE to establish a symbol for the Theravada Buddhism sect in the province. The temple is believed to house a tooth of Gautama Buddha. We performed that morning prayers in front of the great stupa and recited name of The Buddha by walking 3 rounds the stupa.

We also visited the temple’s museum called Wihan Kien containing historical objects, including images of Buddha, auspicious objects and offerings, photography was not allowed.

Ven. Zhen Ru recited the verses for each one of us to strike the bell 3 times, symbolized wisdom, compassion, and the call to enlightenment, with its sound cleansing negativity and fostering a peaceful environment.

The second destination for that morning was San Lak Mueang, also known as Nakhon Si Thammarat City Pillar Shrine. Lak Mueang are city pillars found in most cities of Thailand. Usually housed in a shrine which is also believed to house Chao Pho Lak Mueang, the city spirit deity; it is held in high esteem by citizens.

We had our lunch at 17 Vegetarian Restaurant and found a surprisingly nice place for coffee just next door, the UPR Factory Café. After the coffee break, we started our journey to Khanom, On the way, we passed by Ban Kriang Village and stopped for some photos taking on Kriwang Bridge.

Our tour guide suggested for us to drop by a tourist attraction spot on the way, i.e. Wat Yang Yai. It is a captivating temple that radiates spiritual energy and charm. Known for its striking pink and purple hues, this sacred site attracts many visitors who come to pay homage to Ta Phran Boon, a revered object believed to bring wealth and fortune.

We reached our destination by evening, had our dinner at Raan Sam Tam Yam Le Restaurant then checked in to Khanom Golden Beach Hotel. Since the night is still early, our members relaxingly walked along the beach, listen to the rhythmic sound of the waves. Later at night at hotel lobby, Sayalay Obhasi did some Dharma sharing with a few members interested in meditation.

Day 4 (30/9/25)
Next morning, for members who were interested, we gathered by the beach to watch sun rise then took our breakfast served vegetarian and non-vegetarian sets.

The attraction for that morning was pink dolphin watching, it took 30minutes drive to Laem Prathap Pier. We were in time to perform the morning service and listen to the Sanskrit version of Heart Sutra chanting shared by Dr Ooi Eng Jin.

Upon reaching the pier, we took a group photo then started our motor boat ride to spot for dolphins. The boat ride costed 300baht per head for one and half hour to and fro journey, 6 passengers in each boat. All of us were so excited, besides grey common dolphin, we were really lucky to spot rare pink dolphins.

The boat ride also inclusive of the stop at Koh Nui Nok island where at low tide, a freshwater pond appears in a footprint-shaped on the island, linked to the legend of the revered monk Luang Pu Thuad. We pay respects to Luang Pu Thuad statue and enjoy the panoramic views on top of the island. All the members were satisfied with the boat ride exploring the coast and saw interesting natural rock formations, we also spotted a few wild boars.

After leaving the pier, we headed for our lunch at Tian Fu vegetarian restaurant. After lunch, we started our journey to Chaiya, Surat Thani.

Upon reaching Chaiya, our most important destination was Wat Phra Borommathat, a first-class royal temple in Chaiya. It stands as the most elaborate example of Srivijaya influence remaining in Thailand today. Built around an eye-catching Javanese-style chedi, the site is thought to have been established when Chaiya was an important regional center of the Srivijaya kingdom around the eighth century CE. We performed prayers by recitation of Buddha name 3 rounds the main chedi.

Next itinerary was Wat Than Nam Lai Suan Mokkhaphalaram, also known as Wat Suan Mokkh, is a famous Theravada Buddhist monastery and meditation center in Chaiya. Founded in 1932 by the monk Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, it is a retreat and educational center which include a spiritual theater, art, and natural areas for meditation.

Before reaching our lodging hotel, we were in time to perform evening prayers in the van. We checked in to Diamond Plaza Hotel and had our dinner at Khai Mook restaurant in the hotel.

Day 5 (1/10/25)
After breakfast at hotel, our itinerary was Chaiya National Museum. Again we performed morning prayers and followed Sanskrit Heart Sutra from our handphones.

The Chaiya National Museum is a historical and archaeological museum located in Chaiya, within the Wat Phra Borommathat Chaiya temple compound. It features exhibits on the art and history of the region, with a focus on artifacts from prehistoric times to ancient eras. We let members to have enough time to look at the exhibits on their own.

Next itinerary was suggested by Dr Ooi to visit Wat Samuhanimit, the main shrine hall is undergoing renovation, his aim was brought us to see the palm leaf manuscripts. Sutra script was historically written on palm leaves, often called "ora leaves," as a common method for preserving and disseminating Buddhist texts. The palm leaf scriptures were kept in a special cabinet, we were so blessed to see and had opportunities to worship these precious Dharma gems one by one.

For lunch that day, we were brought to Surat Thani Lotus food court and also enjoyed some shopping there after lunch. We continued our journey to Phattalung province which took about 4 hours’ drive.

We had ample time to perform evening prayers before reaching our destination. Ven. Zhen Ru took this opportunity to share Ven.Wei Wu's Dharma teaching "The Wonderful Method of Escaping Suffering and Obtaining Happiness" (focusing on teaching by Khejok Rinpoche).

We reached Phattalung by the evening and checked in to The Centris Hotel. That was a night market nearby the hotel, we were attracted and also took the opportunity to pack some local food for our dinner.

Day 6 (2/10/25)
After taken set breakfast served at hotel, we departed for our first itinerary to Thale Noi Waterbird Park. As usual, we performed the morning prayers and followed Dharma sharing by Ven. Zhen Ru on the three resources of "faith, aspiration and action" as taught by Master Yin Guang.

Upon reaching the pier, we quickly snap a group photo at the entrance then boarded two long tail boat, the cost was 200baht per pax for about one and half hour boat tour.

The boat cruise took us through narrow waterways into wide-open wetlands, the main draw was the "sea of lotus," a vast expanse of pink lotus flowers that bloom in the morning, creating a stunning "pink carpet" on the water's surface, we also spotted blooming white lotus. Thale Noi is a major bird sanctuary and a must-do for birdwatchers. We spotted various bird species, including migratory birds, herons, and other species. We really enjoyed the stunning views and peaceful surroundings.

Next tourist spot we visited was Sampaothai, which was noted for its beautiful design, featuring large, "Instagram able" installations like a giant buffalo, a dragon-like creature, a ship replica, and a "King Kong" figure. We took quite a number of photos here.

On our way to the restaurant for lunch, we stopped by the Phattalung colorful large sign to snap a group photo. The name of the restaurant was Sam Kuk Thalay Noi Restaurant, quite a nice and relax with natural atmosphere place.

Our last itinerary at Phattalung was Wat Khao Hor, this is one of the old temples at Phatthalung, established more than 900 years. This temple has many caves, there also have Buddha footprint, Pagoda. and Buddha statues. We took a group photo in front of the main shrine hall, that marked the end of our Southern Thailand trip for this time.

On our way back, we stopped at Central Hat Yai to drop Dr Ooi and continued to IBC, we bid farewell to 3 Sangha participants. Finally left with 8 participants to travel back to Than Hsiang Temple. Again, not forgetting to perform our last evening prayers to thank the blessings all the way from Triple Gems.

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More photos:https://thanhsiang.org/ch/node/6708
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