Introduction
Roll back to March 2020, I was in Sri Lanka when it became clear that the outbreak of Covid 19 was more serious than I could have imagined. By then chaos was already kicking in with flights cancelled and ever-growing restrictions put in place. Returning to Thailand on the 17th March I still had nearly two weeks before my return to the UK. However, with my original flight cancelled I had to quickly secure a flight with Thai Air. Then, within a few days of my arrival back in Bangkok I heard from home that lock down was in place. With a week still left I took a final tour under restrictions then made preparations to depart amidst growing anxiety. My departure late in March turned out to be on one of the last flights out of Bangkok before closure of the airport. I arrived in the UK with much apprehension but with no health checks. Things were by no means straightforward however, as securing transport back to Hereford proved difficult. I eventually made it back home by train in almost eerie silence. Under lock down all but essential services had ceased. Returning home, at least there was some relief but what lay ahead was a huge chunk of uncertainty. When this dreadful pandemic would end and how I would cope with basic needs such as shopping would occupy my mind for the foreseeable future. One thing certainly not on my mind however, was returning to Thailand. I needn't concern myself with that as in any case it would not be until the autumn when I would plan to return. Well, how was I to know then that I would return in autumn but not that autumn. It would be the one two years later! By the Spring of 2022 after a whole raft of lock downs and restrictions, the situation began to improve in the UK but some restrictions were still in place in Thailand until 1st July. Finally, I could make plans for my first trip to Bangkok for two and a half years. My flight out of London Heathrow would be on the 29th of September.
Arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport on an Eva Air flight on the afternoon of the 30th of September, I was relieved that everything had gone smoothly except perhaps that I had far less sleep than I would have liked. However, the departure and arrival process on this particular flight went remarkably well considering Covid restrictions over the last couple of years. I noted a few changes though since I last travelled to Thailand in early 2020. As a reminder, the airline still insists on the use of face masks while in Suvarnabhumi Airport there is still a high prevalence of wearing face masks unlike in the UK where people have by-and-large abandoned their use completely.
On the administrative side, all that is required now at departure at Heathrow Airport is proof of vaccination against Covid. However, in Bangkok there are no longer restrictions. New however, is that there is no longer the need for completion of the arrival and departure card. Instead, you have to present your boarding card to pass immigration.
At the airport meeting point my dear companion Katoon had been waiting patiently for some time. The two-and-a-half-year madness was over and I could now look forward to continuing my travels in Thailand which were so rudely interrupted in March 2020 when Covid hit.
By evening we were at a local restaurant serving Jim Jum, a local hotpot and remarkably there was a discount scheme in operation whereby the Thai authorities, anxious to promote travel are financing a discount on hotel and restaurant visits subject to limitations.
Remarkably, I was soon into a routine as if nothing had ever happened. Tomorrow would be rest day while I took stock. I could afford to be patient as I'd be in Thailand for the long haul.
My first full day in Thailand and also the first day of October has allowed me to catch up with my sleep and make the necessary adjustment to allow for the 6-hour time zone difference. It also allowed checking that both my mobile phone and my laptop would connect to the Internet and the various apps that I would need functioned correctly for the coming months bearing in mind that for this trip I'd be using a new Chromebook. Maintaining connections on social media and the ability to record activities on my travels both pictorially and with text would be vital.
Day 1: Sunday 2 October
Weather Unpredictable....... Today is a date of travel or so I hope. Coinciding with my arrival in Thailand a tropical storm has been moving out of the China sea across Vietnam and Laos into Thailand's north-eastern provinces bringing in a deluge of rain while for Bangkok and the area in into which I will be travelling the forecast is not good. I need to keep an eye on things but the 2-day trip I'm planning is hardly demanding but it will help me in adding new content on my website. More ambitious plans await. At 8am despite an overnight thunderstorm it's not currently raining but the day's activities are largely dependent on fair weather.
Departure....... As a reasonable departure time for a day of travel passes, I note Katoon is in no hurry to depart and besides I am surprised how long it takes to gather equipment, plugs, cables, bells and whistles just for an overnight stay. By the time we are both ready to depart its 11am. Our departure today is on the right side of the city and requires a simple drive of just over an hour which would allow a simple day trip in other circumstances but in the evening, we have a special appointment. Just after 12 midday we are on the Chonburi ring road and by 1pm have checked in at Hop Inn, our pre-booked destination. Lunch we've brought with us and consume in the room.
Hop Inn, Hop Out and Hop Back....... Hop Inn is part of a national hotel chain which we've used before. It's quite acceptable for the price quite near local shops and restaurants. I've planned to use this as a base to explore this area which has not been visited before, However, it seems that today the options are limited as after a rest, the time has moved on to 3pm. It's time to explore but we first have to secure our evening's entertainment. With time in hand, we choose a less than obvious route to take in some of Chonburi's attractions. This takes us along the Rong Payaban Kao Road across the Cholmarkwithi Bridge, a city bypass built a little way off the shoreline which consists mainly of mangrove. It's a popular attraction with its obvious view of the ocean. People come here at weekends to enjoy the view, do some fishing or just chill out. Food stall vendors do good trade here too. Well, within half an hour we hit a snag as we are misinformed by online information and not for the first time. It soon becomes clear that the old provincial stadium along this road is no longer used and we need to head back to the new stadium, just ten minutes from the hotel. With this delay, it doesn't look like anything more than this evening's entertainment will be added today.
UTA Stadium....... The UTA Stadium at Chalerm Phrakiat Park (Suan Luang Chonburi) is home to Chonburi FC. Chonburi FC is currently Thailand's premier team. This evening the team play at home against Nongbua Pitchaya FC currently bottom of the league. Naturally home supporters are looking for another win. My attending a football game is not unique to my site. I decided to come here both for cheap entertainment and an opportunity to explore a small part of Thailand that has eluded me so far. However, exploring is for tomorrow now as we concentrate on finding the stadium and the build-up to the game. The kick-off is 6pm. We arrive at the stadium in plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere.
Entertaining....... The game against Nongbua starts under threatening black clouds without the long-expected rain but soon after kick off, thankfully light but persistent rain starts to fall. 10 minutes later the home team scores the first goal that's fired in after a rebound off the goalkeeper, However, the Sharks fail to press ahead after their bright start, conceding to the visitors with a lovely volley that deceived the keeper. The second half then becomes ugly with neither side dominating as injuries and stoppages mount up. Then, with time running out, a brilliantly flighted long cross found the head of Brazilian Danilo Alves. The crowd went wild as the sharks win and maintain their lead at the top of the TPL table.
For our part this is a rare and entertaining experience proving its worth as a pointer as to what we will need on our longer planned trips.
Next Page.
Roll back to March 2020, I was in Sri Lanka when it became clear that the outbreak of Covid 19 was more serious than I could have imagined. By then chaos was already kicking in with flights cancelled and ever-growing restrictions put in place. Returning to Thailand on the 17th March I still had nearly two weeks before my return to the UK. However, with my original flight cancelled I had to quickly secure a flight with Thai Air. Then, within a few days of my arrival back in Bangkok I heard from home that lock down was in place. With a week still left I took a final tour under restrictions then made preparations to depart amidst growing anxiety. My departure late in March turned out to be on one of the last flights out of Bangkok before closure of the airport. I arrived in the UK with much apprehension but with no health checks. Things were by no means straightforward however, as securing transport back to Hereford proved difficult. I eventually made it back home by train in almost eerie silence. Under lock down all but essential services had ceased. Returning home, at least there was some relief but what lay ahead was a huge chunk of uncertainty. When this dreadful pandemic would end and how I would cope with basic needs such as shopping would occupy my mind for the foreseeable future. One thing certainly not on my mind however, was returning to Thailand. I needn't concern myself with that as in any case it would not be until the autumn when I would plan to return. Well, how was I to know then that I would return in autumn but not that autumn. It would be the one two years later! By the Spring of 2022 after a whole raft of lock downs and restrictions, the situation began to improve in the UK but some restrictions were still in place in Thailand until 1st July. Finally, I could make plans for my first trip to Bangkok for two and a half years. My flight out of London Heathrow would be on the 29th of September.
Arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport on an Eva Air flight on the afternoon of the 30th of September, I was relieved that everything had gone smoothly except perhaps that I had far less sleep than I would have liked. However, the departure and arrival process on this particular flight went remarkably well considering Covid restrictions over the last couple of years. I noted a few changes though since I last travelled to Thailand in early 2020. As a reminder, the airline still insists on the use of face masks while in Suvarnabhumi Airport there is still a high prevalence of wearing face masks unlike in the UK where people have by-and-large abandoned their use completely.
On the administrative side, all that is required now at departure at Heathrow Airport is proof of vaccination against Covid. However, in Bangkok there are no longer restrictions. New however, is that there is no longer the need for completion of the arrival and departure card. Instead, you have to present your boarding card to pass immigration.
At the airport meeting point my dear companion Katoon had been waiting patiently for some time. The two-and-a-half-year madness was over and I could now look forward to continuing my travels in Thailand which were so rudely interrupted in March 2020 when Covid hit.
By evening we were at a local restaurant serving Jim Jum, a local hotpot and remarkably there was a discount scheme in operation whereby the Thai authorities, anxious to promote travel are financing a discount on hotel and restaurant visits subject to limitations.
Remarkably, I was soon into a routine as if nothing had ever happened. Tomorrow would be rest day while I took stock. I could afford to be patient as I'd be in Thailand for the long haul.
My first full day in Thailand and also the first day of October has allowed me to catch up with my sleep and make the necessary adjustment to allow for the 6-hour time zone difference. It also allowed checking that both my mobile phone and my laptop would connect to the Internet and the various apps that I would need functioned correctly for the coming months bearing in mind that for this trip I'd be using a new Chromebook. Maintaining connections on social media and the ability to record activities on my travels both pictorially and with text would be vital.
Day 1: Sunday 2 October
Weather Unpredictable....... Today is a date of travel or so I hope. Coinciding with my arrival in Thailand a tropical storm has been moving out of the China sea across Vietnam and Laos into Thailand's north-eastern provinces bringing in a deluge of rain while for Bangkok and the area in into which I will be travelling the forecast is not good. I need to keep an eye on things but the 2-day trip I'm planning is hardly demanding but it will help me in adding new content on my website. More ambitious plans await. At 8am despite an overnight thunderstorm it's not currently raining but the day's activities are largely dependent on fair weather.
Departure....... As a reasonable departure time for a day of travel passes, I note Katoon is in no hurry to depart and besides I am surprised how long it takes to gather equipment, plugs, cables, bells and whistles just for an overnight stay. By the time we are both ready to depart its 11am. Our departure today is on the right side of the city and requires a simple drive of just over an hour which would allow a simple day trip in other circumstances but in the evening, we have a special appointment. Just after 12 midday we are on the Chonburi ring road and by 1pm have checked in at Hop Inn, our pre-booked destination. Lunch we've brought with us and consume in the room.
Hop Inn, Hop Out and Hop Back....... Hop Inn is part of a national hotel chain which we've used before. It's quite acceptable for the price quite near local shops and restaurants. I've planned to use this as a base to explore this area which has not been visited before, However, it seems that today the options are limited as after a rest, the time has moved on to 3pm. It's time to explore but we first have to secure our evening's entertainment. With time in hand, we choose a less than obvious route to take in some of Chonburi's attractions. This takes us along the Rong Payaban Kao Road across the Cholmarkwithi Bridge, a city bypass built a little way off the shoreline which consists mainly of mangrove. It's a popular attraction with its obvious view of the ocean. People come here at weekends to enjoy the view, do some fishing or just chill out. Food stall vendors do good trade here too. Well, within half an hour we hit a snag as we are misinformed by online information and not for the first time. It soon becomes clear that the old provincial stadium along this road is no longer used and we need to head back to the new stadium, just ten minutes from the hotel. With this delay, it doesn't look like anything more than this evening's entertainment will be added today.
UTA Stadium....... The UTA Stadium at Chalerm Phrakiat Park (Suan Luang Chonburi) is home to Chonburi FC. Chonburi FC is currently Thailand's premier team. This evening the team play at home against Nongbua Pitchaya FC currently bottom of the league. Naturally home supporters are looking for another win. My attending a football game is not unique to my site. I decided to come here both for cheap entertainment and an opportunity to explore a small part of Thailand that has eluded me so far. However, exploring is for tomorrow now as we concentrate on finding the stadium and the build-up to the game. The kick-off is 6pm. We arrive at the stadium in plenty of time to soak up the atmosphere.
Entertaining....... The game against Nongbua starts under threatening black clouds without the long-expected rain but soon after kick off, thankfully light but persistent rain starts to fall. 10 minutes later the home team scores the first goal that's fired in after a rebound off the goalkeeper, However, the Sharks fail to press ahead after their bright start, conceding to the visitors with a lovely volley that deceived the keeper. The second half then becomes ugly with neither side dominating as injuries and stoppages mount up. Then, with time running out, a brilliantly flighted long cross found the head of Brazilian Danilo Alves. The crowd went wild as the sharks win and maintain their lead at the top of the TPL table.
For our part this is a rare and entertaining experience proving its worth as a pointer as to what we will need on our longer planned trips.
Next Page.
Rong Payaban Kao Road, Mueang Chonburi
UTA Stadium, Chalerm Phrakiat Park
(Suan Luang Chonburi)