Day 11: Bangkok - The hustle and bustle...

"I love the hustle and bustle. Everything is sort of mad right before a take, and then it just settles..." - Saoirse Ronan

(The view from our room at Nasa Hotel)

Date: 23 September 2026 (Wednesday)

Route: Nakhon Sawan – Bangkok

Hotel: Nasa Bangkok Hotel

This morning, we checked out a little later than usual. Today’s drive to Bangkok would take only about three hours, so there was no need for our usual early start. We were also grateful to the hotel staff who kindly helped us make copies of our flight tickets, free of charge.

Before leaving Nakhon Sawan, we stopped at a PTT station to refuel and have breakfast. We started with Ovaltine and cappuccino hazelnut coffee, followed by a more substantial halal meal of rice with spicy basil squid and soupy shrimp wontons. The hazelnut cappuccino, with its double shot of bold espresso and sweet hazelnut syrup, made for a warm and nutty start to the morning.

Our next stop was in Hantra Subdistrict, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, an area with deep historical roots dating back to before the main Ayutthaya Kingdom. Known for its ancient temple sites and its connection to King Taksin the Great’s historic military escape, the area offered an interesting glimpse into Thailand’s long and layered history.

We stopped at a PTT station here for a comfort break and bought bottled coconut drinks and some fresh pineapple before continuing our journey towards Bangkok.

As we approached Bangkok, navigating the city became quite a challenge. Bangkok has an extensive network of national highways, elevated toll expressways and intercity motorways, and choosing the right route can make a significant difference. The elevated expressways and motorways generally allow motorists to bypass the chaotic surface streets and countless traffic lights. However, they are not immune to congestion either, particularly around toll plazas and during busy periods.

We were staying once again at Nasa Bangkok Hotel, formerly known as Nasa Vegas. It remains our budget hotel of choice in Bangkok, mainly because of its strategic location directly opposite the Ramkhamhaeng Airport Rail Link station. From here, it is an inexpensive and convenient train ride to Suvarnabhumi Airport, which is particularly useful for our Vietnam Airlines flight to Da Lat later this week.

The hotel also offers 24-hour check-in, free parking and simple, clean rooms - just what we need for a short stopover. Most importantly, they allow us to leave our Hi-Lux securely parked here while we spend a week in Da Lat. It is also very convenient for our early morning journey to the airport.

After checking in, we walked a short distance to the Al-Mubarak/NASA Food Court at the Ramkhamhaeng ARL station for lunch. We had nasi lemak and nasi beriani from Roti John and Friends, which serves Malay-inspired favourites such as roti John, murtabak Johor and various egg- and meat-filled flatbreads prepared with their own blend of spices. It was comforting to find familiar flavours so easily in the middle of Bangkok.

The rest of the afternoon was spent catching up on some much-needed sleep. By the time we woke up, it was already late and the food court was closing. Unfortunately, we missed the chance to get our usual roti from Roti John and Friends.

Instead, we headed to the 7-Eleven at the Ramkhamhaeng ARL station to stock up on some provisions. The outlet was bustling with teenagers and office workers. Thailand’s 7-Eleven stores are immensely popular and often function as convenient neighbourhood hubs, offering everything from ready-to-eat meals and drinks to groceries, personal-care items and everyday essentials.

Tonight, we turned in early. However, I am still not used to the sound of the trains passing nearby. I woke several times during the night, reminded that our convenient location comes with a little background soundtrack of its own!

And so ended another day of our road journey - from Nakhon Sawan to Bangkok, our transit city. We will be staying for three nights in Bangkok before leaving the Hi-Lux behind for a week and flying on to our next adventure in Vietnam.