Thursday 16th:
Buying the car has played havoc with our plans to get away on a holiday or two.
The original plan was to stay in Phanom Dong Rak for 5 to 7 days but delays in getting cash transferred over a weekend lost us 3 days and other complications put further delays in the way of progress. Today was no exception, problems accessing the www meant an intended break to Koh Tao island starting from Bangkok meant I couldn't book anything; hotels and internal flights... bummer!
So, after 12 days we're still here.
The morning and into the early afternoon was spent travelling to Surin city to meet up with Aom's eldest brother, James who was receiving his tech college award.
OK, decision time. if we intend getting away on a holiday it had to be arranged NOW. A vacation to Koh Tao was always at the top of our list of places.
After trawling through numerous internal flight sites, we decided on Nok Air, Don Mueang Airport, Bangkok to Chumphon Airport in Tambon Chum Kho, Pathio District. This is considered a gateway to several islands such as Koh Samui and Koh Tao. We decided against a direct flight by Bangkok Airwways to Koh Samui as it's so much more expensive. Nok Air (Air Asia also) do a package which includes coach transfer to Thung Makham Noi Pier and catamaran ferry to Koh Tao.
The flights, hotel on Ko Tao and two overnight stays in Bangkok at either end of the holiday were all done at around 21:00. The only bad news is the Nok Air flight leaves at the ungodly hour of 05:40..... so no drinking sessions in Bangkok the night before.
Friday 17th:
An overnight electrical storm left things very muddy again around the perimeter of the house. The reader may recall me hiring a digger/dozer to level out the ground which turns to a mud bath with a view of laying gravel.
Big rethink. We're now going to go for concrete and do the job properly.
So, off to a builders merchants with Chet (Aom's dad) and I bought a load of wire reinforcing mesh for the concrete. The sand, gravel & cement arrived later in the day.
Midday found Aom, Jack, Joe (Aom's younger brother) and I on the road to Surin city (yet again) to Suran Water Park. A bit of fun couple of hours on the water chutes and pools.
Big problem on the way back as the wagon had a blow-out puncture to a rear tyre. Huge hole in the side wall. The car was new to me and it took a while to locate the tools, jack & wheel-brace. Once located it seemed easy enough; I've change dozens of wheels on vehicles over the years. Only hitch was I couldn't fathom how to detach the spare wheel which was slung under the rear chassis. A quick phone call to cousin Mee told me what I needed to know. Once I'd sussed it all, along came a couple of local guys who got stuck-in to help out. Anyway, we were back on the road soonish.
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Saturday 18th:
Needs must. After a swift breakfast it was off to Prasat to get a new tyre. 5800Baht for a decent one... ouch!
The mix for the concreting job was delivered and Chet & Co got stuck in mixing by hand (laborious). Finished job looks good though.
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Afternoon was spent on going on a jaunt in the truck to an ancient site right on the border with Cambodia. Anyone brave enough to have read these blogs may just recall our visiting here back in 2015 with a friend of Aom's. Things haven't changed much with two security checks before we even get near the site and once at the site we're very closely watched by Cambodian military. Photographs of the car and of ourselves were taken for security reasons. These soldiers look severe but respond to a "hello" and a smile; frankly, they look bored stiff with very little to do but watch out for visitors straying over the border which is literally a few feet away; the site is actually shared by both Thailand and Cambodia. There have been recent skirmishes with actual hostilities firing shells at each others positions. My wife tells me that as recent as 2010, her family had to be evacuated from the farm as shells were zooming over the house and exploding not far away.
The photos below show that all is still not relaxed between the two countries.
Because this entire site is in dispute, neither side can take responsibility for maintaining this treasure so it's gradually falling apart... crazy.
One oddity is the road to the site on the Thai side just stops dead; yellow lines down the centre and all, just stop at the border. Beyond on the Cambodian side there's nothing more than a flight of rough steps and a single track.
TOP ROW: The two border check points on the Thai side of the border with Cambodia.
SECOND ROW: The end of the road! Where Thailand ends; Cambodia is the track beyond.
THIRD ROW: Razor wire in the jungle states all is still not well between the two countries.
FOURTH LEFT: Cambodian military supposedly on guard. Cambodia is down the track behind them.
FOURTH RiGHT: Sandbagged emplacement deep in the jungle on the Thai side.
FIFTH ROW: The remaining upright bit of the site.
BOTTOM RIGHT: Inside the remaining structure with Aom giving her blessing.
Sunday 19th:
Popped out to buy an extra 250kg of cement (5x50kg bags) so the concreting job around the house can be extended, and also to buy bus tickets to Bangkok this evening. Bloody hard work in the tropical sun.
Rest of the day spent packing for our holiday to Koh Tao on Tuesday morning.
Left Nhong Rad at 8pm to bus stop. Just arrived at the bus stop when the heavens opened...mega style; it absolutely hammered it down. The road was flooded within minutes. When the bus did arrive iI had to take my shoes off to paddle out to the bus with the cases. Bus a bit of a bone-shaker but it got us to Bangkok Central Bus Station by 04:00. Joined the queue for a taxi (25 mins) and ended up with a taxi driver who couldn't find his way to Soi 8 Nana, Aom had to use her Google Maps to help him out, dozy sod.
Monday 20th:
Got to our apartment in Nana at daybreak and dropped off the cases; too early to check-in.
Took a walk down Sukhumvit Road and against my better judgement, we popped into a McDonalds for coffee and a bite to eat.
Still had time to kill so we opted for a foot massage in Soi 8; we were first customers. Opted for a 90 minute session, extremely relaxing.
This followed by getting into the apartment and showering (a change from our usual in Soi 4 which, frankly, was getting a bit tired) Adelphi Suites is much better). Changed some dosh for the trip and had lunch and a couple of beers whilst Aom beetled off to do some shopping.
VERY early start tomorrow; up at 3am to taxi to Don Muang Airport for our 05:40 flight.
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