After an important dental appointment yesterday, the weekend is free but there is one more appointment looming. I'm running out of time on my 60-day stay in Thailand visa free. There is a quick fix to that. I can get an extra 30 days stay for 1,900 baht. However, another option is to leave the country, a more expensive option, of course, but one with a holiday built in.
It's been on the cards for some time, but now we are clear to travel with no interruptions. By 10.00 am we are on our way with a 4-hour journey ahead. Unfortunately, that means we start with a tedious journey across the city and do whatever it takes to avoid trouble spots caused by recent accidents during road construction. This means a quarter of our journey will be tied up in this way. Eventually we get clear of traffic congestion and continue along the Rama II Road stopping for lunch in Samut Songkhram.
We connect with the Phetkasem Road HWY 4 and head south. We expect to reach our destination around 4.30 pm and reach Ban Charika right on time. This resort consists of a bungalow block and is not the type we normally use. Most of the newer accommodation consists of apartment blocks. Still my partner chose it and the first impression is it's OK by me, but we've no time to settle in just yet. We need some food and then reach the provincial stadium. The first bit proves easier than expected as we locate the night market and stock up with provisions to see us through the evening.
It's now off to the Sam Ao Stadium where the local team have a TPL fixture against the very team we watched last week at their own stadium in Lamphun. Both PT Prachuap and Lamphun Warriors are at mid-table in the league, so the game should be a real battle for supremacy.
The game kicks off at 6.00 pm and we are in plenty of time to settle in this cosy little stadium. When the game kicks off, it's the hosts who seem to settle best while Lamphun look lackluster, but they have come a long way. When the hosts score in the 26th minute, it seems deserved and into injury time in the first half they double their lead. The visitors go into half-time with a lot to do in the second half.
When the second half kicks off, the game is far more even as the visitors try to get back in the game but to no effect and it looks as if the hosts are on their way to a comfortable win. However, late in the game There is drama. Put through with only the goalkeeper to beat a Lamphun player is upended by him and after a VAR review the keeper is red carded. With the hosts down to ten men this is going to be a tense finish as the visitors pile on the pressure. Still, on 90 minutes the score remains 2 : 0, but there are 9 minutes of added time and Lamphun make use of it pulling a goal back, but there's just not enough time and Prachuap hang on for a famous victory.
Thankfully it's quite easy to exit this little stadium and the day is not over yet as I make my way to the railway station. Here I wait for an overnight train from Bangkok to Thailand's deep south. In the darkness the Express Train ghosts into the station, collects passengers and moves silently off into the gloom. It remains just to collect something for breakfast tomorrow as we settle in at the resort. It's been a useful day overall especially on my birthday.

Source: Visit