Appointments in the week have ensured there has been nothing exciting to report, but now it's the weekend and that means football. However, Saturday has come and gone with opportunities lost. Today is different though, as we booked some game tickets a week ago.
To make the day more interesting, after lunch we head for an interesting business more or less on our doorstep. I came across it through casual searches, unaware of it all these years. I have to check it out regardless. It's only around 2:30 PM as we arrive at Papaya Studio.
Papaya Studio (also known as Papaya Design Furniture & Studio) is Thailand's largest antique and vintage furniture warehouse, located in Bangkok. It's a massive 4-story 'museum-like' space packed with millions of vintage items, antiques, retro furniture, collectibles, decorations, and quirky pieces from various eras and styles.
There was a time when collecting and hoarding was an eager pastime for me, but I'm too old now to go rummaging through antique shops. Still, it's fascinating to see so many collectables under one roof. In terms of prices, it's hard to judge. Few items have prices on them, and the plan is to take a photo of items you are interested in and ask at the counter for a valuation. As I said, I've just come to browse. Now let's plan our evening.
We're heading again to True BG Stadium, but we're going to try something different and use the Park & Ride from near Ku Khot Station on the Green Line. The question is, will it make things easier for access and parking at the stadium?
The P&R is in the forecourt of a PTT filling station, and a bus is parked there, but it's over an hour before it departs. There's plenty of time for an early dinner. At least things are quite relaxing so far. Reaching the stadium, we have just a half hour before kickoff, but that's enough. It won't be too busy today.
Having seen both BG Pathum and Uthai Thani playing recently, I am interested in how this game works out. The visitors today won their recent away game, while BG Pathum lost that dramatic game at home, losing two players red carded. However, the form book shows that BG are favourites.
The game kicks off on time, and BG are keen to make amends. The rabbit supporters are in good voice, and they soon have more reason to cheer. On 6 minutes they win a free kick in a perfect position. Japanese Yoshiaki Takagi stands over the ball, then fires in a wicked shot, which flies into the top right corner of the net, giving the goalkeeper no chance. The rabbits have come flying out of the blocks, and they are in no mood to rest on their laurels. On 13 minutes they win a corner on the left. The corner is perfect; finding the head of centre back, Georgia's Nika Sandokhadze lurking at the far post. He beats the goalie to the ball, sending a lovely header over the goalie's head. At 2 : 0 Uthai are stunned so early in the game. They just can't get a foothold into it, and things don't improve. In the 24th minute, BG wins another corner on the left, and it's another header that defeats the Uthai keeper. Again, he is slow to meet the cross, and it's Ikhsan Fandi scoring this time from close range. It's 3 : 0 at half-time.
So far the goals have been at the far end of my position. Now let's see more goals at the away supporter's end in the second half. However, Uthai have recovered somewhat from their 1st-half drubbing and start playing the football they're capable of, moving the ball well and creating chances. They are more than surviving now, but after a patient half so far, BG pop up again with a late goal in the 86th minute. It's another free kick as #6 puts in another searching ball to the far post, and it's that man again, Sandokhadze, who is there using his height to head the ball over the keeper into the net, winning man of the match in the process. It's remarkable that Uthai have been undone by set pieces, which BG have obviously worked on while there was no threat from open play. Coaching and execution have won this game. The result doesn't improve BG's position in the league table due to their loss to Bangkok United the previous week, but they close the gap. Uthai Thani never realistically has a chance to bag points here but remain relatively safe. It's time to return to the bus stop in front of the stadium.
The journey here was an experiment that hasn't improved matters. I actually found it harder to walk all the way round the stadium than to the car park. The only thing achieved was a saving in tollway charges. We did, however, still reach the residence at a reasonable time, just after 10:00 PM. Tomorrow, we have plans to go travelling again after a week of appointments.

Source: Visit