A traveller's reflection: Day 18: Year-end Trip: Ratchaburi

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…

Thursday 5 January 2023

Day 18: Year-end Trip: Ratchaburi - Chumphon

"One of the secrets of a happy life is continuous small treats." - Iris Murdoch

(Meeting an old friend in Khun Sarai)

Day 18: Sunday, 01 January 2023
Route: Ratchaburi to Chumphon
Distance: 465 km
Hotel: Nana Buri Hotel, Chumphon

We had half-boiled eggs and bread for breakfast. By 8.00 am we were out of Tai-Shan Suites Ratchaburi and on our way south towards Chumphon. Today we planned to visit three mosques located between Chaam and Hua Hin.

A short distance after Chaam we detoured to a Muslim village in Hua Hin and visited three mosques serving the Muslim community of Cha Am and Hua Hin, Masjid Nurul Ehsan, Masjid Darul Muhajirin and Masjid Darus Soleeheen which were located quite close to each other. Each has its own unique architectural design.

1. Masjid Nurul Ehsan

(Detouring to visit the mosques in Chaam)

(A big and beautiful mosque)

(The green domes and two iconic minarets)

(Quiet tranquil place for solace)

(Meeting with the locals)

(The mosque interior)

2. Masjid Darul Muhajirin

(A mosque for the Muslim village Baan Yai)

(A large yellow dome with two minarets)

(The mosque was under renovation and expansion)

3. Masjid Darus Soleeheen

(Another new mosque built next to the old one)

(The new mosque was still under construction)

(The old mosque will be used as a Madrasah)

(Spacious mosque with full amenities)

After visiting the three mosques we drove a short distance to Rajabhakti Park. The main attraction of the park is the 30 m tall bronze statues of the seven kings of Thailand. The eight King Bhumibol statue is yet to be erected. This was our third visit here so we just took some photo shots from afar.

(Some statues were under maintenance)

By noon we arrived at Thap Sakae R&R and had nasi ayam goreng for lunch. We had to purchase a prepaid cash card to pay for our food. The balance will be refunded. Before we continued our journey, we performed our solat jamak at the clean and well-maintained surau.

(Our usual stop in Thap Sakae)

(A Muslim dining area)

(Nasi ayam with ayam goreng)

(Clean washrooms and a spacious musolla)

(Beautifully decorated)

(Spacious parking area for cars and buses)

From Thap Sakae we drove to Chumphon and stopped for an early dinner at Khun Sarai R&R. The nasi telur dadar and mixed soup still taste the same. The ulam2an with sambal belacan was as usual, a complimentary side dish. From the OTOP we bought ikan masin, telur masin and kekacang to bring home.

(Khun Sarai R&R before Chumphon)

(A separate Muslim eateries and dining area)

(Nasi telur dadar and hot steaming soup)

(Shopping at OTOP centre in Khun Sarai)

(Our two friends overly tanned)

It was already late in the afternoon when we checked in Nana Buri Hotel Chumphon at the same rate of B800/night. After an hour of foot massage we had supper at Fareda Roti.