"Let your thoughts settle like dust in a sunbeam - soft, silent, and not in a rush..."
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| (A dramatic sky at Masjid al-Ansor, Prachuap Khiri Khan) |
Route: Bangkok – Prachuap Khiri Khan
Hotel: Saan Rak Resort, Prachuap Khiri Khan
We packed our bags in silence, checked out of the hotel, and collected our deposit. This morning, we would be driving southbound - the final leg of our journey.
News reports said that multiple roads in Bangkok were still flooded, although the situation was gradually improving. Floodwaters had receded from many of the central main avenues, but several roads were still badly affected by stagnant water. We plotted our route carefully on Google Maps, avoiding the flooded areas as much as possible and guiding ourselves safely out of Bangkok towards Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Once we were safely out of the city, we made a detour to one of our usual meal stops whenever we drive south from Bangkok. We had discovered this halal food outlet at a PTT station in Samut Songkhram through Google during one of our previous road trips. This was our third time stopping here, and their beef noodles and beef fried rice were just as delicious as we remembered.
Our next stop was at a PTT station in Phetchaburi for a comfort break. We happened to discover several halal food establishments there too, which we made a mental note to try on our next visit. Unfortunately, the men's toilet was under renovation, so after a quick look around, we had to continue on to the next PTT.
We had planned to have lunch at Maream Halal Food near the Prachuap Khiri Khan intersection, but it was closed. So, as usual, Google came to the rescue. We found a roadside halal beef soup restaurant and decided to give it a try.
We ordered beef soup, omelette and white rice, accompanied by our usual drinks - Thai iced tea and teh-O-beng. While waiting for our food to be prepared, we also joined our weekly Saturday Family Video Conference for a short while. Even while travelling, it is nice to stay connected with family back home.
After lunch, we made a U-turn to visit Masjid Al-Ansor, also known as An Ansar Mosque or Ban Ton Ket Mosque. Established in 1959, it is an active and prominent local place of worship conveniently located along Phet Kasem Road. For travellers driving through southern Thailand, it makes a convenient place to stop, rest and perform their prayers. When we arrived, the jema'ah were already preparing for the Asar prayers. It was comforting to see the familiar rhythm of mosque life continuing quietly along this busy southern route.
About 16 kilometres further north, we visited another mosque, Nurus Salihin Mosque, regarded as the main mosque serving the Muslim community in Prachuap Khiri Khan. Established in 1952, the place of worship reflects the faith, unity and enduring presence of the local Muslim community. The place of worship, now a modern structured mosque, functions as a gathering point for the community - a place where faith, friendship and tradition come together.
Tonight, we would be staying at Saan Rak Resort, conveniently located near Nurus Salihin Mosque. Its roadside location makes it a practical stopover for travellers like us, especially after another long day on the road.
After showering, we simply lazed in bed and watched whatever Thai-language movie happened to be showing on television. We were feeling too lazy to go out for dinner and thought we could probably skip it.
But hunger pangs soon reminded us that skipping dinner was not such a good idea! So, our simple dinner was Da Lat bread and peanut butter, washed down with hot Nescafé. Nothing fancy - just enough to keep us going until morning.
After so many weeks of travelling, sometimes the simplest meals and quiet evenings are exactly what we need.
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