Day 3, Sunday 9 October

Good to Go.....Amazingly last night after returning from watching the football game I managed to write-up my blog for the day's activities. This frees up this morning to get everything ready for a long day's travel. We know the breakfast routine here now so there's no reason we can't depart soon for what will be an 8-hour journey allowing for rest breaks. As we emerge for breakfast the weather looks menacing although judging by hanging water the weather was menacing but with a little brightness appearing things should be good to go today.
City Pillar Shrine (Lak Mueang).....At 9.40am I can be reasonably happy with this departure time as it allows me to be a bit flexible and take in some attractions in the city before I leave. Missed off yesterday's meandering was the City Pillar Shrine in Sala Cheep Road. This shrine is constructed in traditional Thai art style but although the building may be recent, the city pillar housed within has enormous historic and religious value within the community. In ancient times kings and warlords staked their claim to territory by laying down a marker where there wished to build a new city. These claims exist in cities all over Thailand.
Saranwithi Pier.....Another attraction missed yesterday because of the night market street closures was the Saranwithi Pier, an iconic landmark in the seaside resort of Prachuap Khiri Khan. Although I've been here before it's worth taking a closer look and add some recent photographs. This attractive pier serves little major purpose other than that it offers gorgeous views of Prachuap Bay. A final location is back in the city itself.
Making tracks.....Again, no stranger to this site Prachuap Khiri Khan railway station receives my attention but as expected no services are due at this time. I've mentioned before that the best time to view traffic at midway stations is very early morning. Trains travelling to and from Bangkok move overnight due to the long distances involved. You might expect some local traffic in the day but there is nothing scheduled for mid-morning. So that will be it for out interesting stopover in Prachuap.
There remains one more stop to fill up with fuel and here for the first time this trip I get behind the wheel. As a result, there are a couple of things of note: Katoon's Toyota Vois is built for Thailand's long open roads. I will have no problem in putting in my shift today. Secondly it looks as if I've been conservative with my calculation of arrival time in Krabi. Even allowing for rest breaks, we should arrive at around 5pm. I make good progress but traffic delays due to road works could become an issue as does a rain storm halfway through my stint. However, after we stop for lunch south of Chumphon Katoon takes over the driving with 40% distance completed. Even though I've driven south a number of times the distances involved never cease to amaze me. My companion heads on through Surat Thani province on Highway 41 before heading southwest on the 44 towards Krabi. The 44 is a relatively new highway which connects the Gulf of Thailand to the Andaman Sea. For miles on end there are amazing views of jagged limestone rock formations. You become entranced by the whole panorama in this remote part of Thailand. It's so important to enjoy the moment.
Hop Inn.....Consistently GPS put our arrival at 5pm and we arrive at Hop Inn almost on the dot and start to settle in. Hop Inn in Krabi is the least expensive of the three we've stayed in so far but you do get what you pay for. The rooms are more basic, smaller and without decor but they are functional in all respects.
Krabi Weekend Market.....Our earlier than expected arrival has created options. Two well-known night markets are located in the city and we waste no time in heading out to explore. The first and most significant is Krabi Weekend Market and Walking Street. Here as well as shops there is entertainment in the square and a bewildering assortment of street food that leaves one mesmerised and confused as to what to indulge in. On the down side this is a really popular attraction especially for foreigners who just cannot resist the value for money. All this means is that you could end up sitting on the pavement as the temporary dining space is far from adequate. At just 8pm we are suitably refreshed ney tanked up and see no further reason to be here. We return to Hop Inn around 15 minutes' walk away. Well, we've covered around 1,000 kilometres by our third day on this trip. As the day ends, I have a plan for tomorrow but set in stone it is not quite yet.
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