09 Route 12: Nakhon Ratchasima

 “If you set your goals ridiculously high and it‘s a failure, you will fail above everyone else’s success...” – James Cameron

(A monk and a 5-storey giant toad in Yasothon

Day 09: 26 April 2025 (Saturday)
Route: Mukdahan - Nakhon Ratchasima
Distance: 362 km
Hotel: B2 Korat Night Market Boutique & Budget Hotel

Checked-out by 7.30 am and drove on AH 121 towards Nakhon Ratchasima. The highway was good and the traffic was smooth.

(Driving on AH121 for 150km)

(Looking out for signages)

( Smooth traffic all the way)

On the way we passed the town of Yasothon.  In Yasothon, frogs and particularly toads hold significant cultural and symbolic importance. We visited the Phaya Khan Khak Toad Museum also known as the Giant Toad Museum situated by the Lam Thuan Reservoir. The 5-storey museum, shaped like a giant sitting toad, educates visitors about the various species of toads, their ecological role, and the legend of Phraya Khan Khak, the toad prince who ended a drought in the region.

( The Toad Prince greeted us at the ticket counter)

(Phraya Khan Khak Museum)

(The legend of the Toad Prince)

On the top floor, in the toad's mouth, there is a footbridge where you can observe the Chi River and the nearby great naga that houses a 3D museum. The Phraya Naga Museum which is located right next to the Toad Museum features exhibitions about Phaya Naga and other serpents, as well as beliefs and traditions related to Naga in the Northeast region of Thailand.

(The Phya Naga Museum)

(The Naga Museum by the Chi River)

(Nagas and serpents exhibition)

Behind the toad museum, there is a group of model dancers who are acting out a parade at the Bun Bang Fair Rocket Festival. There is also a row of food and drink stalls along the road for a nice refreshment.

(A group of dancers at the Rocket Festival)

(The dancers leading the Royal chariot)

In Yasothon, we visited the Masjid Qudrotul Islam also known as Yasothon Pakistan Mosque. It is located in the middle of town along the busy street of the town central market. Met a couple of the local Muslim community. Typically Thai, we were invited to have lunch with them. Unfortunately, we had to politely decline their gracious invitation since we still had a long way to go to reach Nakhon Ratchasima. There's also a halal food outlet near the entrance road to the Mosque.

(A small road leading to Yasothon Pakistan Mosque)

(Also known as Masjid Qudrotul Islam)

(A beautiful house in the mosque compond)

(With Mr. Kushar and friend)

We arrived at Nakhon Ratchasima in late afternoon. We only had coffee and some snacks along the way as we could not find any halal food outlet. Feeling tired and famished, we tried to locate Korat Halal Restaurant but the eatery was closed and the halal signage was no longer there. This eatery used to be the favorite among Malaysian riders. We drove to B2 Korat Night Market Boutique and Budget Hotel and checked in for Rm112/night.

(Sharing parking lot with Grand Residence Hotel)

( A very spacious room)

After we freshened up and performed our jamak prayers, we drove a short distance away to the Bombay Indian Cuisine Korat. We had shrimp beriyani, shrimp malbari with naan garlic with mango lassi and cold masala for drinks.

(Bombay Indian Cuisine Korat)

(Located within a residential area)

(Spacious outer and inner dining areas)

(A cozy nice ambiance)

(Delicious Northen Indian cuisines)

After the sumptuous dinner, we walked to the Pavilion Save One Night Market of Nakhon Ratchasima located about 500m behind our hotel. The night market, is renowned for its large size, diverse food options, and variety of goods, making it a popular tourist spot. As the night market is huge, free buggy rides are available to ferry visitors from end to end.

(Pavillion Safe Night Market)

(A free buggy ride around the night market)

(Variety of local and exortic food)

Tonight I slept early as the zyrtec pill made me drowsy.

👈RT 08: Khon Kaen - Mukdahan

RT10: Nakhon Ratchasima - Hua Hin👉

10 Route12: Hua Hin

 “Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail...” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

(The search for Halal food)

Day 10: 27 April 2025 (Sunday)
Route: Nakhon Ratchasima - Hua Hin
Distance: 450 km
Hotel: Baan Manthana Hotel Hua Hin

We started driving out of Nakhon Ratchasima early this morning. First stop was at Thanon Mittraphap PTT for refueling. Bought some fruits and provisions from the 7-eleven.

(Refuelling before leaving Korat)

Today we were on a very long tiring drive. We took the fastest route to Hua Hin and will try to bypass Bangkok, a city notorious for its heavy traffic particularly during rush hours.

(The start of the Motorway 6 elevated highway)

(A straight new Motorway 6 to Bangkok)

Motorway 6 is part of a nationwide network expansion to create better transport links between Bangkok and the northeastern region. The project features an elevated road that will help improve logistics and transport.

(A malnourished monk blessing the commuters)

The highway also connects with the northern segment of the existing Outer Ring Road,  Kanchanaphisek Road at Bang Pa-In district of Ayutthaya and the western Nakhon Ratchasima bypass road in Muang district.

(A covered part of the motorway)

(A windmill farm harvesting energy)

(196km motorway, 92% completed)

(Passing through Bangkok)

(Bangkok skyline from the elevated highway)

(Driving on the Rama IX Bridge)

(Paid a total of THB180 for toll)

(Heavy on-going construction works)

Once we exited the elevated highway we made a stop at Na Khok Long PTT in Samut Sakhon for comfort break. Samut Sakhon is popular for its Maeklong Railway Market and Amphawa Floating Market.

(A beautiful water feature next to the Cafè Amazon)

(A poster of Maeklong Railway Market)

(A model of a small plane at the R&R)

It was time for lunch. We found this halal food outlet in our Google search for halal food near me. The eatery is located in the R&R PTT Tambon Khlong Khon, Samut Songkram. We had delicious fried rice and chicken briyani for lunch.

(A Pattani halal restaurant)

(Bang Yup choices of dishes)

(A hungry customer waiting for her order)

(Nasi goreng and briyani Ayam)

Along Route 4 to Hua Hin, we located another halal eatery by the highway. The Muslim Restaurant Farida Pattani is rated as one of the popular halal restaurants along Route 4.

(Halal restaurant in Ratchaburi)

(A green restaurant along the highway)

Arrived in Hua Hin around 3.30 pm. Hua Hin is one of the top tourist destinations of Thailand. The city has many beautiful beaches, mountains, viewpoints, temples, night markets and water parks. We checked in the Baan Manthana Hotel at Rm110/night. The hotel is located very near the Hua Hin night market.

(The beach town of Hua Hin)

(The Baan Manthana Hotel)

(The reception desk)

(A ckean comfortable hotel)

At night we walked to the Hua Hin Night Market. There is one muslim kebab stall selling kebab and roti. We ordered and ate two plates of roti pisang at the makeshift seats along the alley. The couple owners speaks fluent Malay. We strolled in the night market and bought fridge magnets for souvenirs.

(Selling the usual Thai souvenirs)

👈RT 09: Mukdahan - Nakhon Ratchasima

RT 11: Hua Hin - Chumphon👉

11 Route 12: Chumphon

 “Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier...” – Mother Teresa

(The first King of Thailand)

Day 11: 28 April 2025 (Monday)
Route: Hua Hin - Chumphon
Distance: 270 km
Hotel: Nana Buri Hotel, Chumphon

We had breakfast of bread and chilli tuna in the room. We checked out by 8.00 am and headed towards Rajabhakti Park. Rajabhakti Park is a historically themed park honouring past Thai kings from the Sukhothai period to the current royal house of Chakri.

(The entrance to Rajabhakti Park)

(The monuments of past Kings of Thailand)

(King Ramkhamhaeng, King Naresuan and King Narai)

(King Taksin, King Buddha Yodfa Chulalok, King Mongkut and King Chulalongkorn)

Rajabhakti Park was built by the Royal Thai Army, on Thai Army property, with approximately US$28 mil in funds donated by the public and private sectors. King Bhumibol Adulyadej gave the historical park the name "Rajabhakti Park", which means 'the park that has been built with people's loyalty to the monarchs'.

(A shuttle bus ferrying visitors to the statues)

( A couple photo at the park)

From Hua Hin, we drove on highway 4 direct to Chumphon with a few rest breaks in between. At Rai Kao PTT, met a couple of Singaporean riders on their way to Chumphon. They will be staying at the Europe Boutique Hotel across Farida Roti Restaurant of Chumphon.

(Display of robots at one of the R&R)

In Chumphon, we detoured to Khun Sarai R&R to have our lunch of nasi, telur dadar, soup and ulam-ulam. Bought salted eggs and fish from the OTOP.

(Khun Sarai Halal Zone 2)

(Many gazebos at the far end)

(Stone carving reflecting Thai art and culture)

(The usual dishes in Khun Sarai)

We checked in Nana Buri Hotel at Rm110/night. This hotel is our regular accommodation whenever we are in Chumphon.

(Our favorite accommodation in Chumphon)

(Spacious room of Nana Buri Hotel)

The whole afternoon was spent in the room, resting and napping. After maghrib/Isya prayers we walked quite a distance to Farida Roti Restaurant for dinner. As usual the eatery was full of locals and foreigners. Their business seems to be good, Alhamdulillah...

(A popular halal eatery in town)

(Roti telur and roti chocolate)

(Full house at night)

After dinner we had an hour of strong foot massage at our regular massage parlor in front of our hotel. We were lucky, they still accomodate us eventhough it was already closing time when we arrived!

(The regular customers)

(Happy Day Thai Massage)

👈RT10: Nakhon Ratchasima - Hua Hin

        RT12: Chumphon - Hatyai👉