Southern Thailand : Mad about Mundok

Mad about Mundok
2009/03/02
By Sharifah Mahsinah Abdullah

MUNDOK (THAILAND): It is but a small village on the Thai side of Golok river but Mundok is already outshining the established towns of Sungai Golok and Takbai.

Mundok is the latest shopping haven, and has been drawing thousands of Malaysians each week over the past two years.

Lying just a few minutes by boat from the village of Bukit Lata near Rantau Panjang, Mundok consists of several rows of shophouses and wooden huts. There are also stalls selling various products.

The village was established more than 10 years ago but has only recently gained popularity.

The daily market, which opens from at 8am to 5pm, stocks almost everything, including fish, meat, vegetables, clothes, cooking utensils, blankets and pet birds.

The busiest days are Fridays and Saturdays, the weekend for Kelantan, and during the school holidays.

Many Malaysians prefer going to Mundok as it is relatively safe compared with Sungai Golok, which has been rocked by several bomb attacks since the unrest in the southern provinces of Thailand began in 2004.

"It is very near, and travelling there is cheap. The most important thing is it is safer than Sungai Golok. Takbai is a bit far," said housewife Salamah Mamat, 49, from Rantau Panjang.

The daily market can be reached in less than five minutes by boat and there are more than 10 passenger boats plying the route. Each passenger pays RM1 for a trip.

Another Malaysian, who declined to be named, said: "The goods sold here are RM3 to RM5 cheaper than in Sungai Golok and Takbai. There is also a wide variety of goods."

Security sources said there were no vice activities, such as prostitution, in the area

nst.com.my

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Mid

Security sources said there were no vice activities, such as prostitution, in the area

---

Surprise, surprise . . . prostitution is not the only thing that brings tourists

Malaysians barred from Thai market
Sulaiman Jaafar
Tuesday, Jul 02, 2013

https://teakdoor.com/images/imported/2013/07/160.jpg

RANTAU PANJANG - The popular day market at Kampung Mundok, just across the border in Thailand, has been off limits to Malaysians again for the past several weeks.

Entry to the market, which is separated from the Malaysian side by Sungai Golok, has been closed and reopened several times over the years for security reasons.

Malaysian soldiers are now stationed at the Kampung Bukit Lata illegal jetty, which is less than 10m from Kampung Mundok, to deter locals from crossing over to the market which is held every Saturday and Monday.

Visitor Rohana Abdullah, 38, was taken aback when told by the soldiers the area had been closed to the public.

"I have heard from friends and relatives that the items sold at the market were cheap.

"I have come with a few friends and we had travelled more than 70km only to be told we couldn't cross the border.

"I am disappointed as I had planned to buy clothes and other items in preparation for Ramadan," she said at Kampung Bukit Lata here yesterday.

Her friend Zainun Nordin, 42, was also surprised by the closure.

"This is also my first time here. It is frustrating after coming all the way and being told that we are not allowed to cross over by boat.

"I hope the authorities will consider reopening the place especially with Hari Raya Aidilfitri just a month away."

news.asiaone.com