2026 - Another Road Adventure...

"When goods do not cross borders, soldiers will..." - Frédéric Bastiat

(Our trusty Toyota Hi-Lux)

This year, we did not waste much time between journeys. Barely a week after returning from our wonderful trip to Labuan Bajo, we were already back on the road again - this time in our trusty Hi-Lux pickup.

Our plan is rather ambitious: crossing into Thailand and travelling along the borders of Cambodia, Laos and probabaly travelling into Vietnam, moving from place to place until sometime in early October 2026. Another long road adventure awaits, and as always, we are looking forward to discovering what lies beyond the next bend.

With Malaysia behind us now and Cambodia, Laos and maybe, Vietnam waiting ahead, we wondered what stories this journey would bring.

Our 4x4 Road Trip itinerary:

(13/09/26 - 07/10/26)

Day 01: Hat Yai - Ready For The Road...

Day 02: Chumphon - Another Route, A New Plan...

Day 03: Samut Sakhon - Soaking Wet On Arrival...

Day 04: Nakhon Ratchasima - A Night Market Visit...

Day 05: Nakhon Phanom - Moments Of Uncertainties 

Day 06: Udon Thani - A Chapter Ended Before It Began...

Day 07: Phitsanulok - Landslides And Flooding...

Day 08: Chiang Mai - Time To Pause...

Day 09: Chiang Mai - Free And Easy...

Day 10: Nakhon Sawan - A Long Monotonous Drive...

Day 11: Bangkok - The Hustle And Bustle...

Day 12: Bangkok - Every Street Tells A Story...

Day 13: Bangkok - A Lazy, Rainy Day...

Day 14: Da Lat - Unexpected Challenges...

Day 15: Da Lat - Cool Highland Charms...

Day 16: Da Lat - Quirky Attractions...

Day 17: Da Lat - Markets, Murals And Coffee...

Day 18: Da Lat - Cable Cars, Monastery  & Lake...

Day 19: Bangkok - Flight Delays & Baggage Chaos...

Day 20: Bangkok - A Rest & Recovery Day...

Day 21: Prachuap Khiri Khan - A Quiet Calm Evening...

Day 22: Thung Song - The Long Drive South

Day 23: Hat Yai - The Good Old Days...

Day 24: Hat Yai - Time To Unwind...

Day 25 : Kuala Lumpur - The Journey Ends.. 

Day 01: Hat Yai - Ready For The Road...

“Every journey begins with a single turn of the wheel - and a heart ready for the road...”

(Sadao new Custom House)

Date: 13 September 2026, Sunday
Route: Kuala Lumpur - Hat Yai
Hotel: Golden Crown Hotel, Hat Yai

We left Bidara House early, stopping for breakfast at D’Maju Restaurant before continuing north towards the Malaysia–Thailand border at Bukit Kayu Hitam. The journey was relaxed, with a few short breaks along the way.

(Fruit hunting at R&R Bukit Gantang)

(First refuelling for the trip in Changlun)

 
We stopped in Changlun for lunch at Cik Jah Nasi Ayam Bakar. It was a welcome break before the final stretch towards the border.

(Restoran Cik Jah Nasi Ayam Bakar)

(Lunch break in Changlun)

(Cik Jah's signature meal)

We crossed through the new Sadao CIQ. Thankfully, the border formalities were smooth and we were soon on Thai roads once again.

(Goodbye Malaysia)

(A clear blue sky, on the way to Hat Yai)

 
We reached Hat Yai late afternoon and checked into Golden Crown Hotel. After a long day behind the wheel, there was little desire to venture far for dinner. We simply walked next door to Ayutthaya Halal Noodles and settled for a comforting plate of roti pisang.

(The Golden Crown Hotel, Hatyai)

 

And then came the perfect ending to our first day - a good one-hour foot massage. After nearly 550 kilometres on the road, our tired feet certainly deserved it!

By nightfall, we were ready for bed.

Day 02: Chumphon - Another Route, A New Plan...

"Sometimes the road changes our plans; sometimes our plans change because of the road...”

(Lunch break at Paju Pattani Restaurant, Thung Song)

Date: 14 September 2026, Monday
Route: Hat Yai - Chumphon
Hotel: Euro Boutique Hotel, Chumphon

We started our second day with breakfast at Khaled Restaurant, conveniently located next door to our hotel. After breakfast we checked out, loaded our bags into the Hi-Lux and were once again heading north.

(Leaving Hat Yai early in the morning)

(Stretches of road works along the way}

We stopped at Route 41 cafe for a few photographs. A group of motorcyclists had also pulled over for a short break. They were heading towards Krabi, while we continued our journey north towards Chumphon.

(A brief stop at Route 41 Cafe)

(Rooms for rent)

(A favorite pit stop for bikers)

Before noon, hunger called for another stop. We had lunch at Paju Pattani Restaurant, a halal eatery at the Tung Song PTT station. It was another simple but convenient stop along our long drive.

(Nasi lauk lunch at Paju Pattani Restaurant)

The weather became rather unpredictable as we continued towards Chumphon. There were intermittent showers along the way, and with the roads becoming wet and slippery, we took things more slowly and drove with extra care.

By late afternoon, we arrived in Chumphon and checked into Euro Boutique Hotel, our home for the night.

For dinner, we did not have to venture far. Fareeda Restaurant, within easy walking distance from our hotel, served us chicken murtabak and roti Nutella, a simple dinner after another 500 kilometres on the road.

(Fareeda Restaurant new location)

(Having Thai roti for dinner)

(A more spacious dining area at Fareeda's)

Tonight, however, our thoughts were not entirely about food or rest. We spent part of the evening reviewing our itinerary. The situation along the Thailand–Cambodia border had changed, with border crossings affected by renewed tensions and security concerns. Our original plan to travel through Cambodia was therefore no longer straightforward.

For us, this meant one thing: the route would have to be revised. We sat down and started looking at alternative possibilities. After all, one of the realities of travelling by road is that an itinerary is never written in stone. Borders, weather, road conditions and circumstances beyond our control can all change the journey.

 

(The Euro Boutique Hotel, Chumphon)

(A clean spacious room)

For tonight, the revised itinerary was put on hold. There would be time to think about it tomorrow. With the maps, routes and possibilities temporarily set aside, we finally called it a night, and slept soundly.

Day 03: Samut Sakhon - Soaking Wet On Arrival...

"The journey is not always about the places we see; sometimes, it is simply about making it through the day together...”

(A wet night at Arunsakhon Luxury Condo, Samut Sakhon)

Date: 15 September 2026, Tuesday
Route: Chumphon - Samut Sakhon
Hotel: Arunsakhon Luxury Condo, Samut Sakhon

We started the morning with breakfast on Level 6, where we enjoyed a pleasant view from above. There was quite a spread of local dishes at the buffet, but as usual, when travelling, we decided to play safe and kept to toast, fried eggs and some salad.

(Buffet breakfast on the 6th floor)

(A filling breakfast, enough to last me till lunch)

 
After breakfast, we checked out and continued our journey northbound. With no particular rush, we settled into a leisurely drive, keeping within the speed limit and enjoying the changing scenery along the way.

(A comfort break at Thap Sakae R&R)

(By-passing Dansingkhon, Thailand-Myanmar border crossing) 

By lunchtime, we stopped at Kedai Makan Abang Mana in Cha-am. The restaurant was a hive of activity, preparing food for four busloads of guests who were expected to arrive. We considered ourselves rather lucky to have arrived just in time and managed to get our lunch before the crowd descended!

(A hurried lunch to beat the crowd)

(A full-tank refill at Cha-am PTT)

After lunch, we made a prayer stop at the Bang Chak Surau in Phetchaburi, taking a short break before continuing our journey.

(A spacious surau at Bang Chak R&R northbound)

(Performed our jamak prayers here)

Knowing that halal food might be difficult to find near our accommodation, we made a detour to N&J Thai Muslim Restaurant in Samut Sakhon to pick up some food for dinner. It was a practical decision, and one that we would be grateful for later.

  

(A wet day in Samut Sakhon)

(N&J Thai Muslim Restaurant)

(Variety of mouth-watering dishes)

As we approached our destination, the weather suddenly took a turn for the worse. Heavy rain began pouring down, accompanied by strong winds. By the time we reached Arunsakhon Luxury Condo, situated some distance away in the suburbs, the rain was coming down so heavily that the parking area was already flooded to almost ankle depth, and the water was still rising.

(Driving in the heavy rain)

(Crossing the Mahachai-Sanam Chai Canal)

 
We arrived looking rather like we had just completed a mini water adventure! Thankfully, the friendly hotel staff came out with umbrellas to help us unload our luggage. Despite the rain and the rather dramatic arrival, our room turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It was spacious, modern and well equipped, with a kitchenette and other amenities that made it more suitable for longer stays than just an overnight stop.

(The waiting area at Arunsakhon Luxury Condo)

(A neat room complete with amenities)

After the long drive and the wet arrival, nothing felt more luxurious than a lingering hot shower. It was just what we needed to soothe our tired muscles.

Dinner was simple that evening. We shared a packet of fried rice and an omelette, the food we had wisely bought earlier in Samut Sakhon.

(Sharing a pack of seafood fried rice)

And then, finally, it was time to surrender to the bed. After another 450 kilometres on the road, there was nothing more comforting than stretching out our backs, resting our weary legs and listening to the rain outside.

Some travel days are filled with spectacular sights and memorable experiences. Others are simply about getting from one place to another, finding food, staying dry - or trying to - and giving our tired bodies a little time to recover.

Day 04: Nakhon Ratchasima - The Night Market Visit...

“Some days on the road are about the places we discover; others are simply about finding a little comfort along the way...”

(Korat Night Market)

Date: 16 September 2026, Wednesday
Route: Samut Sakhon - Nakhon Ratchasima
Hotel: B2 Korat Boutique & Budget Hotel, Nakhon Ratchasima

Arunsakhon Luxury Condo provides a simple, complimentary takeaway breakfast, usually consisting of coffee, tea and sandwiches. Weather permitting, guests can enjoy it in the little front garden. This morning, however, the tables and chairs were still soaked from last night’s heavy downpour. So, we brought our egg and tuna-mayo sandwiches back to our room and had a quiet breakfast there.

(A clearer sky in the morning)

(Egg and tuna sandwiches for breakfast)

After collecting our deposit, we checked out and continued our journey north-east towards Nakhon Ratchasima. The drive was fairly easy, with a few comfort stops along the way.

(Driving out of Samut Sakhon)

(Watching out for the signages)

(The familiar landmark of Pak Chong)

Around lunchtime, we stopped at Ayah Muslim Restaurant, conveniently located along Mittraphap Road. It makes a good pit stop for Muslim travellers passing through the Pak Chong area. The restaurant has a cosy, simple setting, with non-air-conditioned indoor seating overlooking a pleasant view. We ordered salmon fish and chips, together with beef green curry and roti canai. The prices were a little on the high side, but the food was tasty and satisfying.

(Lunch break at Ayah Halal Restaurant)

(A calm ambience by the lake)

(The dining area and surau at the back)

(Our lunch at Abah Restaurant)

By the time we reached Nakhon Ratchasima, the skies opened up again. We were caught in another heavy downpour just as we arrived. We checked into B2 Korat Boutique & Budget Hotel, a modern and minimalist budget hotel located conveniently close to SaveOne Night Market. This is actually our second stay here, and its location remains one of the main reasons we like it. After several hours on the road, we were more than ready for a rest. We took a much-needed nap that lasted until almost dark.

(SaveOne Night Market in Korat)

(The open air night bazaar is bustling with visitors)

Later in the evening, we walked over to Korat Night Market, one of the largest night and flea markets in Northeast Thailand. Being a weekday, the market was relatively quiet and not as crowded as we had expected. There were plenty of stalls selling clothes, shoes, food and all sorts of odds and ends.

(A halal stall selling Thai roti)

(Another stall selling nasi khao mok)

(Having our dinner at the open foodcourt)

For dinner, we found two halal stalls in the market and settled for a simple banana pancakes. Hubby managed to find himself a pair of shoes, while I had nothing particular in mind to buy. After all, not every night market visit has to end with a shopping bag!

 

(B2 Korat Boutique and Budget Hotel)

(Our lodging for the night)

By then, our legs were already complaining after the long drive and evening walk. Rather than walk all the way back, we decided to take a buggy ride to the hotel.

A simple dinner, a little shopping, a good nap and another wet evening on the road - another day completed on our long drive through Thailand.