22 OCTOBER 2012 - HAT YAI, THAILAND: Old Chinese "shophouses" in Hat Yai. Most of these old buildings in Hat Yai have been torn down to make way for, relatively featureless, concrete block construction. Hat Yai is the largest city in southern Thailand. It is an important commercial center and tourist destination. It is especially popular with Malaysian, Singaporean and Chinese tourists. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ