Our ten nights on this tour have ended. After a reasonable night's sleep, we're ready for our return to Bangkok. It's just coffee and cake for breakfast with a little time to reflect on our stay here. I've succeeded in finding a relaxing location for New Year as we're winding down the tour. With final packing complete, we can depart at an earlier time. The journey today could take 6 hours.
We connect with HWY 12 and proceed south through Phetchabun with no planned stops on our way to Bangkok, but that soon changes as Katoon is on the phone to a friend. She's found a Buddhist temple in Nong Phai district, a short distance from the 12. It's OK; we have plenty of time. We arrive at Wat Thammayan, a new temple complex. We pull up in front of what I assume is the Viharn (assembly hall), but by any standard that I'm aware of, it looks more like a warehouse, although richly decorated, of course. The site itself is massive, but the building is not short of the size of a football field and is supported by huge columns with the large decorated Buddha image at the far end. I would not hazard to guess how many worshippers could be accommodated inside.
As we move further around the site, there are huts and other buildings for the faithful to stay. If fully occupied, this would be a decent-sized village. Next we locate the ubosot (ordination hall). This hall at least is more conventional in design. The main structure is white in keeping with the rest of the buildings, while the decorated roof is more of a yellow colour, its three-tiered roof having a slightly concave ridge. Inside is an intricately designed Buddha image in gold. Finally, in view, standing proudly on a hillside is the chedi, in white, with a traditional bell shape. This building is in its final stages of construction. We continue along HWY 12, heading through Lopburi towards Saraburi.
There are no other attractions planned to visit, but we do need lunch and to add fuel. Over a more substantial meal I see we covered about half the distance, yet it's about 2:00 PM and we've been travelling for four and a half hours. This is a snail's pace, so we must get a move on. We seem to be making good progress with no hold-ups, but the time to Bangkok seems static. There's obviously congestion ahead. Now in Lopburi province, I pick up information about an accident on the 12 and a growing delay around the accident spot. There is a way around it with no loss of time, but the detour adds more than 20 kilometres to the distance. We make a bold move and go for it, not knowing if it's the right decision. Initially all seems fine and the roads clear. There is the added bonus of some lovely scenery as we skirt the Pasak Chonlasit reservoir. We will be able to connect to the Mittraphap Highway in Kaeng Khoi, Saraburi. Unfortunately, there is another accident in Kaeng Khoi, which causes additional delay. Finally heading into Saraburi, we're on our home leg towards Bangkok, but we will never know if the detour was the best option. Now on HWY 1 the traffic is at least flowing, but we're not out of the woods yet with more delays as we approach the city. We connect to the Kanchanapisek tollway (9), and again it's free-flowing but not for long. With so many people returning to the city after the New Year, the weight of traffic finally tells. On national holidays it's normal for some toll booths to close, and the Thanyaburi booth is free today, but the issue is traffic volume as vehicles funnel through the tollgates. It's really frustrating losing another half-hour here, but then this congestion was expected. The only thing I can say is that we've arrived in Bangkok before dark, just about. It remains to have dinner at Kanchanpisek Soi 6 and then buy items from 7-Eleven. By the time we reach the residence, it's 7:30 PM. We were on the road for 10 hours, making my 6 hours a bit fanciful. A conclusion to this tour will follow, but I can say that thankfully, there were no more significant medical issues, and a lot more was packed into the Christmas and New Year tour than I ever expected.

Source: Visit