03 JJCM: Bangkok - Lost in the hustle and bustle...

“Even in the largest cities, we found quiet alcoves - a narrow alley, a shaded café - where the day could be spent leisurely...”

(The Islamic Centre of Thailand)

Day 03: 21 November 2025 (Friday)
Route: Chumphon – Bangkok
Hotel: NASA Bangkok Hotel
 
After a simple breakfast at the 7-Eleven, we continued our long drive toward Bangkok. This would be the longest stretch of the southern leg - nearly 500 kilometres of steady highways and shifting landscapes. As the hours passed, the scenery gradually transformed, from glimpses of coastline to quiet countryside and small provincial towns.

(Euro Boutique Hotel Chumphon)

(Leaving the busy street of Chumphon)

(Fillet fish burger breakfast at 7-Eleven)

(A clear day for a leisure drive)

(A new wider highway of Route 41)

By midday we reached Phetchaburi, where we stopped for lunch at Restoran Fareda Pattani - nasi lauk for both of us. Afterwards, we performed our jamak prayers at a nearby Bangchak petrol station, just a few kilometres down the road. 

(Restoran Fareda Pattani in Petchaburi)

(A simple tasty nasi lauk lunch)

(Bangchak Petrol Station and R&R)

(A brief comfort and prayer break)

(A spacious clean prayer area at the R&R)

Our journey resumed smoothly until an accident at the cloverleaf junction to Samut Songkhram brought traffic to a complete halt. Everyone waited patiently as workers cleared heaps of wooden planks that had spilled across the road from a lorry. Once the debris was removed, the highway opened up again, and the rest of the drive flowed effortlessly.

(A road closure due to an accident)

(The junction to Samut Songkhram)

(The start of heavy traffic to Bangkok)

(The Thotsamarachan Bridge) 

(A glimpse of Chao Phraya River)

By late afternoon, the dense urban sprawl of Bangkok began to unfold before us. Even with the familiar congestion, the city’s energy - vibrant, restless, unmistakably Bangkok - never failed to amaze us. 

(A railway crossing in Bangkok City) 

(A busy junction near NASA Bangkok Hotel) 

We checked in for three nights at NASA Bangkok Hotel at THB590 per night, ideally located just across from the Ramkhamhaeng Station on the Airport Rail Link. A skywalk connects directly to the hotel, making it incredibly convenient to explore the city. The room was spacious, equipped with comfortable amenities, and the hotel offered ample free parking - a blessing after a long day on the road.

(NASA Bangkok Hotel next to Ramkhamhaeng Station)

(A popular hotel for tourists)

( A clean cozy room)

(The view from the 18th floor)

(Watching the sunset from our bed...)

Once we had settled in, we headed out for dinner at Sophia Halal Restaurant, just a ten-minute walk away and well-known for its Thai-Malay favourites.

(A visit to the Islamic Centre of Thailand)

(The main entrance to the centre)

(Rows of date trees lining the path)

(An interesting modern architecture)

The Foundation of the Islamic Centre of Thailand lay along our route, so we made a small detour to capture a few photographs. Date trees lined the entrance in perfect symmetry, their tall silhouettes creating a cool, soothing welcome. By the time we arrived, dusk had settled over Bangkok, and the soft glow of the lights illuminated the elegant complex - the main building and its adjoining mosque standing serenely against the fading sky.

(A nice ambience in the dining area at Sophia's)

(A variety of dishes to choose from)

We didn’t linger. Hunger had begun to nag at us after the long, tiring drive north. Sophia’s was our next stop - and though the à la carte dishes weren’t the finest we’ve tasted, they were warm, hearty, and exactly what our weary bodies needed. Sometimes, after a full day on the road, comfort matters more than perfection.