to 
TonyT's 10th Thailand blog
6 weeks in and around the country:
July - August 2026
Page 14
Return to BANGKOK
Panoramic view of the city from our apartment
MONDAY 24th August:
The 420km (5-hour+) journey to the capital was uneventful and we made our apartment mid afternoon. We swapped drivers mid way and Joe did the tricky bit in the city centre,
We were surprised by a lovely greeting written in leaves on the bed in our apartment [see photo]. It's nice to be recognised; mind you, we have been using the same apartment for several years now.
Settled in quickly and when everybody was showered we were out for some drinks in a local bar followed by dinner at our usual spot, Hilary1 in Soi4. I've had burgers there before and I have to say they're probably amongst the best burgers I've tasted; they really are superb.
Below is a short movie of Hilary1 showing what must be the biggest ceiling fan in Thailand:
We had planned to show Joe a bit of Nana nightlife but following the long drive followed by too many early drinks put paid to our plans. We were back in the apartment before 10pm.
TUESDAY 25th:
Breakfast at 8am. I'm not going to see much of my wife today as she's got a heavy itinerary.
She and brother, Joe, were off to some Sushi joint (not that keen on sushi, myself) for a few hours. When they get back Joe will leave and disappear back home with my car.
Aom will then be off to her cousin's hairdressing business for a lengthy session (part hairdo and mostly chatting I think). I don't think I'll see her until at least 9-10pm.
Went with Jack to the Viva restaurant in Soi8 for lunch around 2pm
Surprise, surprise.... Aom appeared at 8:30 sporting her new hair do and hungry.
In spite of my eating some 7-11 microwave bits earlier I accompanied to a Thai-food resturant off Soi8. Back in the apartment by 10:30.
WEDNESDAY 26th:
Jumped onto the BTS (Skytrain) to get to the shopping malls around Siam. Short walk to the huge MBK Centre.
Bought some odds and ends; a pair of shorts and a T-shirt for me, trousers for Jack and loads of cosmetics for Aom. Ate a small lunch around 2pm then stopped of at the Tops Supermarket where we stocked up on Ros Dee (RosDee is a popular Thai brand of all-in-one flavor seasoning powder). We get through huge amounts of the stuff back in UK where it's expensive. We import as much as our flight weight allowance will permit.
Shopping done we caught a taxi back to the apartment
Photos above show the vast MBK Centre and the best selling food flavour enhancing Ros Dee. We use the stuff daily.
Our selected airline this time was Etihad. The outbound flights were OK but we had severe issues on the first leg of the return flight to Abu Dhabi.
Firstly, the extra-legroom seats I bought were not availabe on this particular plane. I got a refund but we were not at happy about it.
Secondly, the flight was delayed by over 2 hours and when we did finally board it was clear that this aircraft was ancient. The entertainment screen only partly worked and the cabin crew, although friendly, didn't seem to know what to do. It was some 2 hours into the flight before any drinks were offered. Really poor Etihad!
The second leg into Manchester was totally different.
Anyway, that's the end of this trip on which I’ve driven a touch under 3000 kms and we’ve seen and done so many things.
Different places; some manic some utterly tranquil.
Different climates; from the cool rainy mountains to the tropical rainforests to the white coral beaches.
Places so remote I don’t think they’ve ever seen a farang (Westerner/non Thai).
Thailand is far removed from being a 3rd world nation, for sure. In many ways it’s technology (eg it’s traffic control systems) is way ahead of UK’s outdated and sometimes clumsy ones.
Cell phones: even in the most remote places you get full 5G coverage. Back home it’s hit and miss; lots of 5G dead spots if you’re lucky enough to get 5G at all..
It’s a land of CAN DO. If someone cannot do it for you, they invariably find or know someone who can.
I’m proud to be a member of a Thai family.
If, perchance, you enjoyed reading this blog, you just might wish to take a look at my original ones written over many years from 2013 which details, amongst other things, the trials and tribulations of applying for a visa so as my wife can stay and eventually live in the UK and achieve citizenship. If so, take a look at our original 3-month visit around Thailand which can be viewed at:-
TonyT's 1st Thailand blog, 2013
The other blogs of our Thai escapades which can be viewed at:
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
TonyT's 9th Thailand blog, Christmas 2025
All photographs and contents
© Tony Tollitt January 2026
Feedback? ...email me at tony.tollitt@gmail.com
Page 14
Panoramic view of the city from our apartment
MONDAY 24th August:
Settled in quickly and when everybody was showered we were out for some drinks in a local bar followed by dinner at our usual spot, Hilary1 in Soi4. I've had burgers there before and I have to say they're probably amongst the best burgers I've tasted; they really are superb.
We had planned to show Joe a bit of Nana nightlife but following the long drive followed by too many early drinks put paid to our plans. We were back in the apartment before 10pm. Photos above show the vast MBK Centre and the best selling food flavour enhancing Ros Dee. We use the stuff daily.
Our selected airline this time was Etihad. The outbound flights were OK but we had severe issues on the first leg of the return flight to Abu Dhabi. Anyway, that's the end of this trip on which I’ve driven a touch under 3000 kms and we’ve seen and done so many things. Different places; some manic some utterly tranquil. Different climates; from the cool rainy mountains to the tropical rainforests to the white coral beaches. Places so remote I don’t think they’ve ever seen a farang (Westerner/non Thai).
Thailand is far removed from being a 3rd world nation, for sure. In many ways it’s technology (eg it’s traffic control systems) is way ahead of UK’s outdated and sometimes clumsy ones.
Cell phones: even in the most remote places you get full 5G coverage. Back home it’s hit and miss; lots of 5G dead spots if you’re lucky enough to get 5G at all..
It’s a land of CAN DO. If someone cannot do it for you, they invariably find or know someone who can.
I’m proud to be a member of a Thai family.
If, perchance, you enjoyed reading this blog, you just might wish to take a look at my original ones written over many years from 2013 which details, amongst other things, the trials and tribulations of applying for a visa so as my wife can stay and eventually live in the UK and achieve citizenship. If so, take a look at our original 3-month visit around Thailand which can be viewed at:-
All photographs and contents
Return to BANGKOK
The 420km (5-hour+) journey to the capital was uneventful and we made our apartment mid afternoon. We swapped drivers mid way and Joe did the tricky bit in the city centre,
We were surprised by a lovely greeting written in leaves on the bed in our apartment [see photo]. It's nice to be recognised; mind you, we have been using the same apartment for several years now.
Below is a short movie of Hilary1 showing what must be the biggest ceiling fan in Thailand:
TUESDAY 25th:
Breakfast at 8am. I'm not going to see much of my wife today as she's got a heavy itinerary.
She and brother, Joe, were off to some Sushi joint (not that keen on sushi, myself) for a few hours. When they get back Joe will leave and disappear back home with my car.
Aom will then be off to her cousin's hairdressing business for a lengthy session (part hairdo and mostly chatting I think). I don't think I'll see her until at least 9-10pm.
Went with Jack to the Viva restaurant in Soi8 for lunch around 2pm
Surprise, surprise.... Aom appeared at 8:30 sporting her new hair do and hungry.
In spite of my eating some 7-11 microwave bits earlier I accompanied to a Thai-food resturant off Soi8. Back in the apartment by 10:30.
WEDNESDAY 26th:
Jumped onto the BTS (Skytrain) to get to the shopping malls around Siam. Short walk to the huge MBK Centre.
Bought some odds and ends; a pair of shorts and a T-shirt for me, trousers for Jack and loads of cosmetics for Aom. Ate a small lunch around 2pm then stopped of at the Tops Supermarket where we stocked up on Ros Dee (RosDee is a popular Thai brand of all-in-one flavor seasoning powder). We get through huge amounts of the stuff back in UK where it's expensive. We import as much as our flight weight allowance will permit.
Shopping done we caught a taxi back to the apartment
Firstly, the extra-legroom seats I bought were not availabe on this particular plane. I got a refund but we were not at happy about it.
Secondly, the flight was delayed by over 2 hours and when we did finally board it was clear that this aircraft was ancient. The entertainment screen only partly worked and the cabin crew, although friendly, didn't seem to know what to do. It was some 2 hours into the flight before any drinks were offered. Really poor Etihad!
TonyT's 1st Thailand blog, 2013
The other blogs of our Thai escapades which can be viewed at:
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
TonyT's 9th Thailand blog, Christmas 2025
© Tony Tollitt January 2026
Feedback? ...email me at tony.tollitt@gmail.com