Narathiwat, Thailand

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number of the population speak the language of their neighboring country. Alongside Buddhist temples muezzins call people to prayers, markets sell both pork and lamb. The population of the town have come to an arrangement, even if there are conflicts every now and then, with those who claim a connection with Malaysia. As well as Muslims, many Chinese live in Narathiwat, Thailand's most southerly province. The Thai royal family had a palace built for themselves here, at which they would stay on their yearly tour of southern Thailand (no visits).

By car: from Songkhla highways 408/43/42 (200 km (124 mi.)).

By bus: from Pattani, Betong and Songkhla.

By rail: nearest station Songkhla.

By air: nearest airport Hat Yai (200 km (124 mi.)).

It was not until this century that the southern provinces approached the rulers of Thailand to inform them that many of the local population felt more kinship with Thailand's neighbor than with Thailand itself. Cultural links, developed over centuries, did not weaken even after the drawing up of a border between Thailand and Malaysia in 1786 or as a result of the extensive economic help given by the Thai government. Certainly the Malaysian government had little interest in any union. Young people, in particular, are banding together into a separatist movement. Visitors will see little evidence of all this.