Thailand Borders 20: Chumphon

“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer...” – Albert Camus

(Thai/Myanmar Border Check-point)

Day 20: Friday, 29 Nov 2024
Route: Cha-am - Chumphon
Distance: 300 km (4:00)
Hotel: Nana Buri Hotel Chumphon

We had complimentary breakfast of toast, fried eggs, fruits and coffee at the hotel coffee shop.

(Cha-am Beach Coffee Shop)

(A simple complimentary breakfast)

Checked out and claimed our B500 deposit. Drove along the beach front road and found another halal restaurant near the beach area.

(Driving along the Cha-am Beach)

(We used to stay here, a cheap hotel by the beach)

Drove out of Cha-am around 8.30 am. In Prachuap Khiri Khan we made a detour to Dan Singkhon, the Thai/Myanmar Border Checkpoint. Singkhon Pass is also referred to as Maw Daung after the name of the Burmese town west of the border. It is a pass across the Tenasserim Hills on the border between Thailand and Myanmar. 

(Driving out of Cha-am on a cool cloudy day)

(Beware of overloaded vehicles)

(A halal hub of Thailand Islamic Committee Office)

(Detouring to Myanmar border at Prachuap Khiri Khan)

(Heading to Ban Dan Singkhon border)

(A good road towards the Tenasserim Hills)

The pass is near to the narrowest point of Thailand in Khlong Wan in Prachuap Khiri Khan Province. Singkhon pass was important during the wars between Siam and the Burmese, and also during World War II, when the Mergui Road was constructed by the Japanese. For the time being, foreigners are not allowed to cross to Myanmar at this border.

(The entrance gate to Singkhon Pass)

(Parking our Bigfoot near the border)

(A closed border only for Thais and Burmese)

(We have been here several times before)

(The Ban Dan Singkhon border crossing)

(The Thailand Immigration and custom office)

(One for the album)

(An empty and quiet road)

(A row of shops at the border)

(Big bikers heading south of Thailand)

From the border we headed towards Chumphon and stopped for a late lunch at Khun Sarai R&R. Bought telur asin and ikan masin from the OTOP.

(Khun Sarai R&R, popular stop for frequent travelers)

(Our usual dishes for lunch in Khun Sara)

(A small motor accident on a busy road)

Checked in Nana Buri Hotel at RM109/night. After a short nap, we walked to Fareda Roti but to our disappointment, the restaurant was closed and will only be opened in December.

(Our favorite hotel in Chumphon)

(Brass figurines at the hotel lobby)

(A comfortable spacious room)

Went to have an hour of foot massage at the massage parlor in front of our hotel. We used to frequent the place during our previous kembara trips. Our friendly masseur informed us of the flood situation and road closures in Hatyai.

(An hour of foot massage to relief tired muscles)

Back in the hotel, we called Hotel Meridien Hatyai to cancel our booking and requested a refund from Trip.com. There were news on the local TV about the flood situations and the closure of the road leading to the border. Meanwhile, we booked another night stay here and will monitor the flood situation from here.