to 
|  |
TonyT's 7th Thailand blog:
A month in and around the country:
March - April 2024.
Page 1
This seventh journal or blog was written whilst in Thailand in March and April 2024 Although it's called the "7th", I've actually traveled Thailand firstly in 2007, twice in 2011 and three times in 2012 which are not documented on-line, so this is visit to Thailand No.12.
The main reason for my being in Thailand principally was to to give my Thai wife and our 9-year old son, an opportunity to catch up with her family (my in-laws) and for both of us to meet up with old friends as well as sneaking in a genuine holiday.
However, this visit will be EXTRA SPECIAL as we are going to be married... again!
We originally married in 2013 in the UK. However, getting married in the UK meant none of her Thai family could attend and in any case she has always wanted a traditional Thai wedding and, more importantly, a wedding her family can actually attend. The pressure for us to marry in Thailand from that side of the family over the years has been very considerable, so we’ve finally yielded to the pressure.
We need a minimum of 4 weeks in-country to make our visit worthwhile; lots of family members to go visit and old friends to catch up with as well as taking a genuine holiday somewhere, and, of course a certain wedding to perform.
To anyone who has stumbled across my original blog pages they will note that the occasional photo may be repeated on these pages. This is purely because at times we have visited the same places again and I've seen fit to make use of some of the photos and movies again.
For anyone interested, the original 3-month visit in 2013 around Thailand can be viewed here:-
TonyT's 1st 3-month Thailand blog
Additionally, there are four more blogs which can be found via the links here:-
TonyT's 2nd Thailand blog, early 2015
TonyT's 3rd Thailand blog, late 2015
TonyT's 4th Thailand blog, 2017
TonyT's 5th Thailand blog, 2018
TonyT's 6th Thailand blog, 2022
TonyT's 7th Thailand blog, 2024
TonyT's 8th Thailand blog, 2025
Anyway, here’s the journal/blog:-
Our mixed itinerary on this trip was:.....
19th March: fly Emirates from Manchester, UK via Dubai to arrive in Bangkok on 20th.
Taxi fron Suvarnabhumi Airport, BKK to our appartment in Khlong Toei off fthe Sukhumvit Road near Nana.
3 night stay in Bangkok.
6-hour drive up to Surin in our friend's mini-bus.
24th March: we'll have a pre-wedding photo session with us both in traditional Thai dress.
28th March is Wedding Day
April 1st: leave Surin and drive 450km down to Trat Province to a small stop-over hotel 100mts from Leamsok Pier.
April 2nd catch the 10:45 Boonsiri Ferry to Ko Kood from Leamsok Pier.
9 nights stay in the luxurious "High Season" Resort on Ko Kood.
Ferry back to Leamsok Pier.
Drive 450km back to Surin and to the Songkran festival celebrations.
3 days with our family in Surin.
Mini-bus to Bangkok for our 2nd Songkran celebration in the capital.
3 days in Bangkok.
Disasterous flights back to UK with 5 and then 24 hour delays in getting back to Manchester, UK.
BANGKOK
WEDNESDAY APRIL 20th, 2024:
03:30: Rise and shine and got some (strong) coffees on the go.
04:15: Airport taxi picked us up and off we go .......
05:00: Airport check-in at the Emirates desk and we were airborne by 07:50.
First leg of 7 hours to Dubai OK; 2.5 hours at Dubai for our flight to BKK. This was an overnight flight getting into Bangkok at 07:30 with a baggage reclaim at 08:30. Taxi to our apartment the usual pain due to the usual and expected Bangkok traffic deadlock, but still too early to check-in which was 11:00.
Strolled down to Soi 8 for some breakfast and coffee to bide the time.
Apartment huge and well-appointed. After an hour or so's sleep, it was a case of showers and a change of clothes which then saw us walking down to the Sukhunvit Road to an exchange booth to replenish our stash of THB.
By this time it was 3pm and a couple of icy Chang beers were called for. I must confess these beers went to our heads somewhat as we were so weary and jet-lagged.
Back at the apartment young Jack was up on the 10th floor pool.
THURSDAY 21st:
Oh dear! The lack of sleep, jetlag and alcohol all combined to us waking up at an crazy 10:30 am... too late for breakfast! This was a first for me as I'm normally an early riser.
Sauntered out to Soi-8 and did what most Bangkok people do treated ourselves to street food. Absolutely delicious with a hefty bill of 120THB for 3 people!. That's £2.60 (GBP).
After brunch we popped over the Soi to our favourite massage place. A lovely 1-hour relaxing foot massage was in order followed by a swim with Jack in the apartment's pool.
Quick dry-off and out again. By this time it was around 3pm so we stopped off in a new bar (to us) called Tipsy Tap in Soi 8. which, like other bars, had a happy-hour until 7pm. Down the Soi to Sukhumvit Road and into Soi 4. We had to be careful here as many bars here don't allow kids but we did gain entrance to what is now called "Bunny" and had a few here. Our preferred place to eat was Hilary-1 further up the Soi. Food pretty good here.
TOP LEFT: One our favourite bars in Soi 4. Good food and classier than most Soi 4 bars.
TOP RIGHT: Aom quaffing a beer in a Soi-8 bar.
BOTTOM LEFT: The author and his son, Jack at the Tipsy Tap bar in Soi-8.
BOTTOM RIGHT: All aboard the Tuk-tuk.
FRIDAY 22nd:
Up at the 'proper' time this morning to grab breakfasts.
The THB/GBP exchange rate today was the highest I've seen in at least 4 years at 46-THB to £1 (GBP). Thus I converted in a grands worth while it was riding high.
Just for our young son, Jack we opted for a Tuk-Tuk to the MBK Centre to buy some items. Took Jack up to the 7th floor and let him loose in the huge amusement arcade. No Tuk-Tuk back; a taxi seemed a better mode of travel.
Later we opted for another foot massage followed by a few beers and food. Back to the apartment early as this is our last night in the capital until mid April when we're back for a 3 night stay. Early because our mini-bus will pick us up at 10 tomorrow and we have to endure the tedious packing cases thing.
Tuk-tuk movie below.
Later we opted for another foot massage followed by a few beers and food. Back to the apartment early as this is our last night in the capital until mid April when we're back for a 3 night stay. Early because our mini-bus will pick us up at 10 tomorrow and we have to endure the tedious packing cases thing.
SATURDAY 23rd:
Early-ish wake up and down for breakfast at 09:00. Packing all done the night before so it was an easy exit from our apartment.
Our driver, Sa, had arrived a few hours previous so we were on the road north out of Bangkok an hour earlier than the intended 10:00.
Sa was a fast driver. Just under 5 hours from Bangkok to Phanom Dong Rak is pretty good going. Only a 15 minute stop for some Amazon coffee (no not that Amazon) arriving home at around 15:30. Good to see the family again.
My wife left shortly after arrival to take her brother Joe to the bus terminal in Prasat as he needs to return to University.... he'll be back for our wedding on the 28th. Whilst she's in Prasat, our young son, Jack, will be taken for a haircut.
LEFT: The mini bus that sped us up to Surin in record time.
RIGHT: Aom reclining in said mini-bus.
Page 1
This seventh journal or blog was written whilst in Thailand in March and April 2024 Although it's called the "7th", I've actually traveled Thailand firstly in 2007, twice in 2011 and three times in 2012 which are not documented on-line, so this is visit to Thailand No.12.
The main reason for my being in Thailand principally was to to give my Thai wife and our 9-year old son, an opportunity to catch up with her family (my in-laws) and for both of us to meet up with old friends as well as sneaking in a genuine holiday.
However, this visit will be EXTRA SPECIAL as we are going to be married... again!
We originally married in 2013 in the UK. However, getting married in the UK meant none of her Thai family could attend and in any case she has always wanted a traditional Thai wedding and, more importantly, a wedding her family can actually attend. The pressure for us to marry in Thailand from that side of the family over the years has been very considerable, so we’ve finally yielded to the pressure.
We need a minimum of 4 weeks in-country to make our visit worthwhile; lots of family members to go visit and old friends to catch up with as well as taking a genuine holiday somewhere, and, of course a certain wedding to perform.
To anyone who has stumbled across my original blog pages they will note that the occasional photo may be repeated on these pages. This is purely because at times we have visited the same places again and I've seen fit to make use of some of the photos and movies again.
For anyone interested, the original 3-month visit in 2013 around Thailand can be viewed here:-
TonyT's 1st 3-month Thailand blog
Additionally, there are four more blogs which can be found via the links here:-
TonyT's 2nd Thailand blog, early 2015
TonyT's 3rd Thailand blog, late 2015
TonyT's 4th Thailand blog, 2017
TonyT's 5th Thailand blog, 2018
TonyT's 6th Thailand blog, 2022
TonyT's 7th Thailand blog, 2024
TonyT's 8th Thailand blog, 2025
Anyway, here’s the journal/blog:- 19th March: fly Emirates from Manchester, UK via Dubai to arrive in Bangkok on 20th. Taxi fron Suvarnabhumi Airport, BKK to our appartment in Khlong Toei off fthe Sukhumvit Road near Nana. 3 night stay in Bangkok. 6-hour drive up to Surin in our friend's mini-bus. 24th March: we'll have a pre-wedding photo session with us both in traditional Thai dress. 28th March is Wedding Day April 1st: leave Surin and drive 450km down to Trat Province to a small stop-over hotel 100mts from Leamsok Pier. April 2nd catch the 10:45 Boonsiri Ferry to Ko Kood from Leamsok Pier. 9 nights stay in the luxurious "High Season" Resort on Ko Kood. Ferry back to Leamsok Pier. Drive 450km back to Surin and to the Songkran festival celebrations. 3 days with our family in Surin. Mini-bus to Bangkok for our 2nd Songkran celebration in the capital. 3 days in Bangkok. Disasterous flights back to UK with 5 and then 24 hour delays in getting back to Manchester, UK.
WEDNESDAY APRIL 20th, 2024: TOP LEFT: One our favourite bars in Soi 4. Good food and classier than most Soi 4 bars. TOP RIGHT: Aom quaffing a beer in a Soi-8 bar. BOTTOM LEFT: The author and his son, Jack at the Tipsy Tap bar in Soi-8. BOTTOM RIGHT: All aboard the Tuk-tuk.
FRIDAY 22nd:
Later we opted for another foot massage followed by a few beers and food. Back to the apartment early as this is our last night in the capital until mid April when we're back for a 3 night stay. Early because our mini-bus will pick us up at 10 tomorrow and we have to endure the tedious packing cases thing. LEFT: The mini bus that sped us up to Surin in record time. RIGHT: Aom reclining in said mini-bus.
Our mixed itinerary on this trip was:.....
BANGKOK
03:30: Rise and shine and got some (strong) coffees on the go.
04:15: Airport taxi picked us up and off we go .......
05:00: Airport check-in at the Emirates desk and we were airborne by 07:50.
First leg of 7 hours to Dubai OK; 2.5 hours at Dubai for our flight to BKK. This was an overnight flight getting into Bangkok at 07:30 with a baggage reclaim at 08:30. Taxi to our apartment the usual pain due to the usual and expected Bangkok traffic deadlock, but still too early to check-in which was 11:00.
Strolled down to Soi 8 for some breakfast and coffee to bide the time.
Apartment huge and well-appointed. After an hour or so's sleep, it was a case of showers and a change of clothes which then saw us walking down to the Sukhunvit Road to an exchange booth to replenish our stash of THB.
By this time it was 3pm and a couple of icy Chang beers were called for. I must confess these beers went to our heads somewhat as we were so weary and jet-lagged.
Back at the apartment young Jack was up on the 10th floor pool.
THURSDAY 21st:
Oh dear! The lack of sleep, jetlag and alcohol all combined to us waking up at an crazy 10:30 am... too late for breakfast! This was a first for me as I'm normally an early riser.
Sauntered out to Soi-8 and did what most Bangkok people do treated ourselves to street food. Absolutely delicious with a hefty bill of 120THB for 3 people!. That's £2.60 (GBP).
After brunch we popped over the Soi to our favourite massage place. A lovely 1-hour relaxing foot massage was in order followed by a swim with Jack in the apartment's pool.
Quick dry-off and out again. By this time it was around 3pm so we stopped off in a new bar (to us) called Tipsy Tap in Soi 8. which, like other bars, had a happy-hour until 7pm. Down the Soi to Sukhumvit Road and into Soi 4. We had to be careful here as many bars here don't allow kids but we did gain entrance to what is now called "Bunny" and had a few here. Our preferred place to eat was Hilary-1 further up the Soi. Food pretty good here.
Up at the 'proper' time this morning to grab breakfasts.
The THB/GBP exchange rate today was the highest I've seen in at least 4 years at 46-THB to £1 (GBP). Thus I converted in a grands worth while it was riding high.
Just for our young son, Jack we opted for a Tuk-Tuk to the MBK Centre to buy some items. Took Jack up to the 7th floor and let him loose in the huge amusement arcade. No Tuk-Tuk back; a taxi seemed a better mode of travel.
Later we opted for another foot massage followed by a few beers and food. Back to the apartment early as this is our last night in the capital until mid April when we're back for a 3 night stay. Early because our mini-bus will pick us up at 10 tomorrow and we have to endure the tedious packing cases thing.
Tuk-tuk movie below.
SATURDAY 23rd:
Early-ish wake up and down for breakfast at 09:00. Packing all done the night before so it was an easy exit from our apartment.
Our driver, Sa, had arrived a few hours previous so we were on the road north out of Bangkok an hour earlier than the intended 10:00.
Sa was a fast driver. Just under 5 hours from Bangkok to Phanom Dong Rak is pretty good going. Only a 15 minute stop for some Amazon coffee (no not that Amazon) arriving home at around 15:30. Good to see the family again.
My wife left shortly after arrival to take her brother Joe to the bus terminal in Prasat as he needs to return to University.... he'll be back for our wedding on the 28th. Whilst she's in Prasat, our young son, Jack, will be taken for a haircut.