Day 03: Samut Sakhon - Soaking wet on arrival...

"The journey is not always about the places we see; sometimes, it is simply about making it through the day together...”

(A wet night at Arunsakhon Luxury Condo)

Date: 15 September 2026, Tuesday
Route: Chumphon - Samut Sakhon
Hotel: Arunsakhon Luxury Condo, Samut Sakhon

We started the morning with breakfast on Level 6, where we enjoyed a pleasant view from above. There was quite a spread of local dishes at the buffet, but as usual, when travelling, we decided to play safe and kept to toast, fried eggs and some salad.

After breakfast, we checked out at around 8.30 am and continued our journey northbound. With no particular rush, we settled into a leisurely drive, keeping within the speed limit and enjoying the changing scenery along the way.

By lunchtime, we stopped at Kedai Makan Abang Mana in Cha-am. The restaurant was a hive of activity, preparing food for four busloads of guests who were expected to arrive. We considered ourselves rather lucky to have arrived just in time and managed to get our lunch before the crowd descended!

After lunch, we made a prayer stop at the Bang Chak Surau in Phetchaburi, taking a short break before continuing our journey.

Knowing that halal food might be difficult to find near our accommodation that evening, we made a detour to N&J Thai Muslim Restaurant in Samut Sakhon to pick up some food for dinner. It was a practical decision, and one that we would be grateful for later.

As we approached our destination, the weather suddenly took a turn for the worse. Heavy rain began pouring down, accompanied by strong winds. By the time we reached Arunsakhon Luxury Condo, situated some distance away in the suburbs, the rain was coming down so heavily that the parking area was already flooded to almost ankle depth, and the water was still rising.

We arrived looking rather like we had just completed a mini water adventure! Thankfully, the friendly hotel staff came out with umbrellas to help us unload our luggage. Despite the rain and the rather dramatic arrival, our room turned out to be a pleasant surprise. It was spacious, modern and well equipped, with a kitchenette and other amenities that made it more suitable for longer stays than just an overnight stop.

After the long drive and the wet arrival, nothing felt more luxurious than a lingering hot shower. It was just what we needed to soothe our tired muscles.

Dinner was simple that evening. We shared a packet of fried rice and an omelette, the food we had wisely bought earlier in Samut Sakhon.

And then, finally, it was time to surrender to the bed. After another 450 kilometres on the road, there was nothing more comforting than stretching out our backs, resting our weary legs and listening to the rain outside.

Some travel days are filled with spectacular sights and memorable experiences. Others are simply about getting from one place to another, finding food, staying dry - or trying to - and giving our tired bodies a little time to recover.