Hat Yai

On the day we leave for Hat Yai, Bev's rash has developed further and it turns out it could be a nasty reaction to some medication she has recently taken and today's journey is clearly one from hell for her.
Thankfully, after the depression that has recently hit Thailand, the sea looks like a mill pond and our journey down to the ferry is also clear of water on the roads. Back on mainland after our hot, hazy and humid crossing we board our latest bus. A super groovy Karaoke model, complete with disco lights upstairs and what seems like an old English pub snug on the lower deck – well that would be the case if the décor was a little more subtle – you certainly wouldn't want to be travelling on the bus today with a hangover. As we travel on towards Hat Yai, we are advised to stock up with supplies on the way. We see the aftermath of the recent flooding and there's still standing water on the way to the City. We arrive at the hotel to debris on the streets of peoples former belongings heaped up and awaiting removal, we can also see that the flood waters at the hotel were above head height from the marks left outside the hotel. We take a short walk around the block and see that the local 7-eleven store has been looted – 2 guys are sitting outside the smashed door trying to protect the remainder of the building now that the storm has subsided. Walking around it's clear to see that the people are already moving on with their lives. Obviously the hotel is open, but many of the staff are at home attending to their immediate clean up. It's therefore unsure whether it's too early for us to be here as tourists whilst the resources might still be best directed at the clear up operation rather than passers by. Sure, life goes on and tourism is a valuable industry but at the present time you cant help question whether this is responsible tourism?
As we are preparing to leave the following morning, Bev is worse still and a decision is made to call a doctor. An ambulance turns up and she is admitted to hospital for treatment. Lisa decides to take a noble decision to stay with her as the bus moves onto it's next destination.