Day 10 - Friday 04 December 2015

Palm Sweet Hotel........To say something about Palm Sweet Hotel is repeating my earlier review. Nothing has changed since I was here in March earlier this year. I still give it a high rating. It is one of those places that is really homely yet has wonderfully decorated rooms and a self service breakfast in the morning. The one reservation I had last time I was here concerned the internet connection. I can’t comment on that now as I’ve had no time to use it. After the hard day’s driving yesterday I wake late. There nothing I can do but get going as soon as possible. The target time for arrival in Bangkok is 3pm.
Prachuap Kiri Khan to Bangkok.......We’re away by 10.30am, heading through Kuiburi and Pranburi then taking the bypass around Hua Hin. Lunch is taken at leisure in Cha-am then I hand the driving to Katoon while I take my afternoon nap. She prods me awake nearing the intersection for the Rama II highway 35. It feels like I’ve been in a time warp. The road is clear and I know this is the final run in to Bangkok. There is a sense of sadness that this tour will soon be over. I can only say that means that the tour has been amazing. Nothing can spoil it now can it? Katoon hands the driving back to me and obviously the traffic builds up as we near the metropolis but progress is fine until we hit the Rama IX Bridge. For the second time I question why Katoon feels it better to enter the city by this route as we could use the outer ring road to the south and east. It’s her city and I find it hard to challenge her judgement but most unfortunately we get wrapped up in Friday evening traffic on the toll roads the likes of which I’ve never seen before in Bangkok. When I was in Cha-Am I revised the target time to the city to 4pm but I never expected to spend 3 hours in traffic. By the time we reach Kubon it’s nearly 6.30pm. We still need to eat and do some shopping. It wasn’t what I expected, to arrive at the residence at around 8pm but ok I arrive back safely and I guess that’s all that matters and well, the feeling of sadness has disappeared also as my feet are well and truly planted back on the ground. Next Page.