Today is Valentine's Day, and while there are no special celebrations planned, I can look back on the last few days as a bit special. Today we are returning to Bangkok, and I will take advantage of any opportunity that arises to make it more than just a 2-3 hour car journey. At the very least, though, there is entertainment planned for this evening, and I hope that it lives up to expectations to wrap up a memorable tour.
A welcome lie-in is followed by a less romantic tray of pastries and coffee in the room, but we're happy enough as we prepare to depart at a rather leisurely 11:00 AM. Time is on our side as we begin our journey north. By midday we're into Samut Songkram province and considering where to take lunch. Reaching the city of Samut Songkhram, we cross the Mae Khlong waterway, and beside the river is where we will take lunch. We arrive at Khrua Khru Mu Seafood, a restaurant we're unfamiliar with but having that ambience that stands out. Of course we have to order seafood and settle down totally lost in time, but we soon get a reality check. We still have a couple of hours to go before reaching our destination. Nevertheless, Katoon wants to go exploring, and we find ourselves at Wat Yai a few kilometres away. Wat Yai is a historic royal temple (wat ratcha) dating back to the Ayutthaya period, over 300 years ago. From this temple there are excellent views of the Mae Khlong and the skywalk suspension bridge over the river. The bridge, completed last year (2025), provides a great photo opportunity as an attraction. My partner, by contrast, sees this temple visit as a good opportunity for prayer.
This visit has used up more time, and I'm horrified to find the time to Bangkok has increased, no doubt due to traffic buildup later in the day. The problem at the moment is the closure of a section of the Rama II Road, the easiest route into Bangkok. In any case, our destination is to the north of the city in Pathum Thani. I'm inclined to use the GPS, while Katoon thinks there is a better way. It soon looks as if she was right, as the time to reach our destination keeps expanding. After a couple of hours we hit some of the worst traffic I've experienced in Bangkok. Try as we might, we can't avoid it, constantly revising our plans. Finally reaching the Rangsit Nakhon Nayok Road, the traffic is nose to tail, with progress measured in feet. Options have now dwindled, and we end up parking at Lotus's with a long walk to the stadium. We do have tickets, but there's no time to buy food, only drink. We're in our seats just as the football game kicks off.
The Thai Premier League fixture is between the hosts, BG Pathum United, and Buriram United, played at the renamed True BG Stadium. In terms of the league table, Buriram sits on top and is on course to win the league title again this season, having won it for the last four years and on seven other occasions. Their support and resources are second to none in Thailand, and they are a force to be reckoned with among Southeast Asian teams. They come to Pathum Thani today as favorites, but BG Pathum are no slouches and have a good league record of their own. They will be looking to upset the leaders today. The game kicks off in front of a massive crowd with the home team in familiar white and blue and the visitors in their away kit described as yellow but more of a pink colour. Today I am supporting the home team.
The game kicks off with the sound of chants and drums resonating around the stadium, and it's not long before there's an idea of how this game will go. BG get the first chance on goal, a header over the crossbar, but after just 4 minutes it's Buriram who take the lead. A simple floated cross from the left finds Guilherme Bissoli unmarked in the box, whose neat header back across goal opens the scoring. Will BG have an answer? The game continues at a good tempo with some classy player performances, a credit to this league. BG are looking good on the counter and get men forward quickly, then get their reward in the 32nd minute. A long through ball bisects the Buriram back line, finding Ranial running through on goal. He makes no mistake burying his shot in the right-hand corner of the goal, leaving the keeper flat-footed. Now this is better from the home team, but jubilation is short-lived. Just 4 minutes later, the visitor's lead is restored. This time a cross from the left reaches the head of Suphanat Mueanta first, who guides the ball inside the far post. BG have to dig deep again, but it's Buriram who finishes the half stronger. After a strike against the woodwork, the BG keeper makes some astounding saves as shots come firing back in on goal. It's advantage to the away team at halftime.
Into the second half, the BG rabbits haven't given up as they search for an equaliser. Substitute Surachat Sareepim receives a ball headed on from a long ball down the right-hand byline. He's through on goal as the goalkeeper comes racing out to the edge of his box. An excellent chip sends the ball ballooning over his head into the net. It's amazing skill and contender for goal of the month, but a leveler is not to be, as the referee sees an offside pass. The decisive moment happens within minutes with a Buriram attack. A hopeful flighted ball sees the BG substitute keeper punch the ball away, obstructed by his own player, but only into danger. Supachai Chaided is waiting just inside the box and drives the ball back into an unprotected net. This game is over, and the Buriram machine goes marching on. It's a big disappointment for the home fans, but their support has been fantastic with a gate of 15,094. For us, we'd like to get home quickly after a long day, but there is a Valentine's Day party here after the game, and it wouldn't be right not to soak up some of the atmosphere first. This rather improvised tour is at an end after some quality moments with just a little bit of topping missing in the end.

Source: Visit