Day 05: Year-end Trip: Bangkok - Khon Kaen

 "Weaknesses are just strengths in the wrong environment." - Marianne Cantwell

(Seafood restaurants along Lam Takhong Lake)

Day 05: Monday, 19 December 2022
Route: Bangkok to Khon Kaen
Distance: 435km
Hotel: Hop Inn Hotel, Khon Kaen

(Scrambled eggs and toast)

(Ready for the long road trip)

(Maps.me to complement the Garmin)

We started driving out of Bangkok via route 1 towards Saraburi. The traffic was bearable but a few times we took wrong turns and needed to make u-turns. We drove leisurely on the highway with care, maintaining the speed limits.

(Early morning traffic towards Saraburi)

(Passing through Saraburi cement factories)

After more than two hours of driving, we stopped at a PTT Muak Lek to stretch our legs and get some snacks. The weather was sunny but a little chilly.

(Souvenir shopping at Pak Chong PTT)

(Highway by-passing Khao Yai)

Along the way we made a photo stop at Lam Takhong Dam. It is off Highway 2 located between Nakhon Ratchasima and Saraburi. The dam is an earth-filled dam across the Lam Takhong River that flows through a crevasse. Its primary purpose is to divert water from the dam for irrigation. Visitors can walk on the dam to enjoy the view of the Reservoir with a beautiful background of the mountains. There are lake-side resorts and plenty of seafood restaurants along the dam.

(Seafood restaurants and resorts)

(The reservoir and seafood market)

(A restaurant with a beautiful view of the lake)

We reached Nakhon Ratchasima around lunch time and headed to Masjid At-Rit Wan for solat jamak. This mosque brought back fond memories. During our Kembara Qurban Dana Madrasah Kemboja in 2012, our bikers gang of seven motorbikes stopped here for solat break and were served with sumptuous meals by the qariah masjid. 

(We were here in 2012)

(Fond memories of Kembara Dana Madrasah Kemboja)

(Spacious upper level prayer hall)

(Spacious lower ground prayer area for Muslimat)

After performing our prayers, the caretaker of the mosque and his wife sent us to a nearby halal restaurant on their tuk-tuk. After a delicious nasi goreng lunch, we walked back to the mosque where we parked our bigfoot. Nana Halal restoran was only 400m from the mosque.

(Riding the tuk-tuk to a Halal restaurant)

(A row of Muslim eateries)

(Tasty nasi goreng for lunch)

(A tall glass of smoothies on a hot day)

We took a short break at a PTT before reaching Khon Kaen. It was already dark when we arrived. We drove on narrow busy lanes to Masjid Khon Kaen but solat Maghrib was already over. We met with Imam Khuzaifah and a jemaah Harun from Myanmar who was very fluent in Malay and took some photos of the mosque.

(Khon Kaen Central Moslem Mosque)

(Imam Khuzaifah of Masjid Khon Kaen)

Later we continued driving to look for halal restaurants in town but Karo Halal Food was closed, even the Roti House was not a halal eatery.

(McD double fillet for dinner)

(One of the many Hop Inn in Khon Kaen)

(Our lodging for the night)

We decided to check in a hotel first before we look for dinner later. The first Hop Inn hotel was fully booked. We went to another Hop Inn hotel located along the highway and got a room for the night for B750/night. Later we had double fillet-o-fish with fries at the McDonald's located in front of the hotel.

The weather was too cold to stay long outdoor.

    Day 06: Year-end Trip: Khon Kaen - Phu Thap Berk👉

👈Day 04: Year-end Trip - Chatuchak, Bangkok