For a few days I've suffered from swollen legs, which is surprising given the cool weather at the moment. The situation is annoying, but I have to live with it on the present tour.
For breakfast I walk across to 7-Eleven, just 3 minutes away, to buy something to eat in the room. With that done, it's time to check out. I have to say there's nothing wrong with Your Place for the price, and I considered it for a stopover on the way back to Bangkok. However, a week today, there is another game on at Sam Ao Stadium, which would be great to see. Accordingly, I noticed a resort within walking distance of the stadium. It offers another advantage in that there is breakfast included, and I waste no time in securing it. Now, rather late in the morning, it's time to check out and head for a lovely part of Thailand.
As we head on down through Prachuap Khiri Khan province and cross into Chumphon province, we know that we could reach the next booked accommodation by around 2.00 PM. Accordingly, we have a shortlist of attractions we could visit, most of them natural. Around 12:30 PM we start looking around for a quick meal, and there are plenty of choices. We order something from a local roadside restaurant, but I'm getting irritable. The swelling in my leg is becoming unmanageable, and I conclude that there is something developing that requires treatment. I can't take the chance with it. It's inconvenient while travelling, but I have time on my side. We're not much more than an hour from our accommodation tonight and less from the city of Chumphon. I can get treatment there.
We arrive at Chumphon Hospital, a government-run facility, and find parking close to the entrance. I now have to register and then check in with a nurse and check my blood pressure. That's on the high side, and I'm told to wait for a doctor. Then, sooner than expected, I'm in the consulting room with, not for the first time on my travels, a female junior doctor. Katoon helps with the translation, and the doctor comes up with a diagnosis. It appears that I'm having mild cellulitis, and I've had plenty of experience with that in the past, but not for many years. The only treatment is with antibiotics, and this will start today with an intravenous injection. The issue is that I need to repeat this over the next couple of days. With great relief, I'm told that I can go to any hospital for this, meaning my travels need not be unduly interrupted. It will take just 20 minutes for the injection. Obviously, plans are on hold. While I've lost not much more than 2 hours, it's enough to kill them for the rest of the day. Around 3.00 PM we're heading out of the city and onto HWY 4.
We make good time and soon reach Thung Tako in Chumphon province, where we find Baan Bua Riverview Resort. We waste no time in settling in to one of the resort bungalows, and my first impression is that it will be good enough for an overnight stay, which includes a modest breakfast.
Fortunately, it's not been a long day, and with well over an hour available before dark, I decide to head out trainspotting, an opportunity afforded by a train station just a couple of kilometres away. According to the information I have, a train is due within the next half hour. Arriving at Khao Pip railway station is like travelling back in time to a bygone age. All there is at this station is a rather derelict shelter on a single-track line. Having witnessed state-of-the-art upgrades in a number of Thailand's regions, this station is an enigma until you realise these upgrades haven't reached this far south yet. It will take a few more years to build dual-track and new station infrastructure all the way to the Malaysian border. In the meantime, let's witness some history.
The train due is a service from Thonburi in Bangkok to Lang Suan, not far south from here. I wait for this service and then learn from a local there is another train due. I'm confused but assured there is a northbound train due once the Lang Suan service has cleared the section. I soon learn that this northbound train is two hours late, and I'm surprised it's running at all. The origin of the train is Hat Yai, where floodwater from the tragic situation affecting the South has only just receded, with a cleanup in operation. I wait patiently for this local service for Chumphon to arrive. Recording something here is quite some consolation after earlier troubles.
It remains to take a simple dinner next to HWY 4 and retire to Baan Bua Resort. In the bungalow I see it suffers from a perennial problem of not providing suitable counter space and plug sockets placed in the most inconvenient places. There is a counter, but you can't sit by it unless you have a high stool. As I'm coming to the end of these notes, it's clear I've managed, so we just need to make ourselves comfortable for the night.

Source: Visit