A traveller's reflection: Day 03: Year-end Trip: Chumphon

My Travel Journal

"There isn't much I haven't shared with you along the road and through it all there'd always be tomorrow's episode" - Elton John

I started traveling around the world since early 80s when I had the opportunity to combine business trips with vacations. Then later when my rezeki is in abundance, there were numerous other trips along the way for vacations, most of the time with hubby and the kids when the timing is right. I have also started to compile the journal and photo-pages covering almost more than 45 years of world wide travel. Some destinations I visited just once, others many times. Many of those places are the obvious famous places people would like to visit but some, the casual traveler doesn't even think to try. I have placed links to my travel at the side bar of my personal page, My Life Reflections, and will be updating them from time to time.

My wish is to continue my travel and complete circumnavigate the globe, insyaAllah…

Saturday, 31 December 2022

Day 03: Year-end Trip: Chumphon - Bangkok

"The bad news is time flies. The good news is you're the pilot..." - Michael Altshuler

(A boutique resort near Chaam)

Day 03: Saturday, 17 December 2022
Route: Chumphon to Chatuchak
Distance: 471 km
Hotel: Justice Hotel, Chatuchak

We had early breakfast of eggs and toast at the hotel restaurant. By 7.50 am we checked out and drove out of town crossing the railway lines heading north on Phetkasem Road.

(Breakfast for two)

(The familiar Big Yellow Bird)

(Clear traffic towards Prachuap Khiri Khan)

Around 11.00 am we took a short rest at Thap Sakae R&R. There were bus loads of tourists taking a break here too. The rest area is quite large and there is a section allocated for Muslims.

(Thap Sakae R&R)

(Clean washrooms)

(Showers are also available)

(A muslim prayer room)

(Spacious halal food area)

About 11.30 am we stopped for lunch at Restoran Mariem along the highway at Prachuap Khiri Khan, our usual lunch stop. On our last visit to this restaurant a few years ago, the restaurant was closed after it was hit by a storm and was badly damaged. The restaurant has been newly renovated and expanded. For lunch we had itik masak kari and daging goreng with ulam and sambal belacan. We packed sup daging, ikan kering and rice for dinner.

(Mariem Muslim Food Restaurant)

(Varieties of local dishes)

About 2.00 pm arrived in Chaam and made a u-turn to a PTT for refuelling and solat jamak at the surau. There is a halal Restoran Kedai Makan Abang Mana here. Met with the bikers gang again. Today they will be riding to Kanchanaburi.

(Solat jamak at a surau in Chaam)

(A boutique resort along the main road)

(Cute little chalets)

(One of the halal eateries)

(moai statues at Chaam)

From Chaam we drove direct to Bangkok amidst constructions and roadworks causing the massive traffic jam. We drove to Chatuchak Weekend Market to recce the place. It was already closing time but the area was congested with local and foreign tourists.

(On-going constructions enroute Bangkok)

(Clear traffic so far)

(Watching out for road signages)

(The start of the traffic congestion)

We drove to the nearest hotel in our list, but it was fully booked. We made a few calls to some hotels around Chatuchak but they were all full. We finally managed to book a room at Justice Hotel which is about 3km away. We booked for two nights at B1240/night complete with breakfast for two.

(Our first time staying in Justice Hotel, Bangkok)

(A beautiful modern hotel)

(A cozy hotel at the suburb of Bangkok)

Tonight we had packed dinner of rice, sup daging and sambal kacang ikan bilis in our hotel room while watching the World Cup, Croatia against Morocco. Croatia won 3rd place!