Day 2, Saturday 19th November -
Nakhon Ratchasima
Vertigo.......From a practical point of view today is the first day of this tour as we head north but the day hardly starts when there is a problem. My dear companion has been ill overnight diagnosed with vertigo and there won't be an early start today if there is to be one at all. Katoon is advised to rest and accordingly I cancel the planned accommodation for tonight. Into afternoon there is movement and after a good sleep my companion wishes to travel which of course now causes a logistical problem since we have no accommodation booked. It's approaching 3:00pm but Katoon still feels able to travel. Quite how far we will get I'm not sure.
Meals on Wheels?......As we depart it seems that we just pick up where we left off as we head for a popular restaurant near Bandai Ma railway station beautifully designed and laid out within view of the railway. It's the railway here that's an attraction to me since the line around Pak Chong is being upgraded to dual track. For sometime there has been considerable engineering work taking place especially as this lies on the planned route for high-speed trains. With this in mind they've had to build new tunnels here one of which has become the longest in Thailand. I guess because of these upgrades the owner of the land has considered it an ideal location to start a new project.
Pak Chong Railway Station.......Of course, this has taken time and I don't know yet where this is leading to because the next stop is Pak Chong station itself. This is a new model station with raised platforms and a footbridge most uncommon in Thailand. Clearly a lot of planning has gone into this project with a view to eventually completely overhauling the railway network.
Pak Chong Exit.......Next, we stopover is at the market in Pak Chong to buy some local delicacies but checking the time it's 5:00pm. What on earth can be achieved this late in the day? Well, we finally leave the town and head east. The only realistic aiming point now is Nakhon Ratchasima just around an hour away. But the issue is accommodation. As mentioned before this seems to be in short supply I guess because many businesses closed during Covid. While in transit I frantically look for suitable accommodation but the main issue I have is that most online options don't provide phone numbers. We're just going to have to arrive and hope for the best.
Bitter Sweet.......Arriving at the outskirts of Nakhon Ratchasima we make our first inquiry but this accommodation is full. I just wonder if it's going to be the same everywhere as we move on to the next but fortunately, we get a break. Arriving at 100 House there's just one room but it's perfect for an overnight stop. However, on this day of head scratching yet one more problem arises to be solved. My computer and electronic charging equipment has been left at Pak Chong. We cannot proceed with this tour without this resource so in the morning we have no option but to return to Pak Chong. The consolation is fortunately due to circumstances we haven't come that far and I'm still hopeful we can make up for some lost time later.
Next Page.
Nakhon Ratchasima
Vertigo.......From a practical point of view today is the first day of this tour as we head north but the day hardly starts when there is a problem. My dear companion has been ill overnight diagnosed with vertigo and there won't be an early start today if there is to be one at all. Katoon is advised to rest and accordingly I cancel the planned accommodation for tonight. Into afternoon there is movement and after a good sleep my companion wishes to travel which of course now causes a logistical problem since we have no accommodation booked. It's approaching 3:00pm but Katoon still feels able to travel. Quite how far we will get I'm not sure.
Meals on Wheels?......As we depart it seems that we just pick up where we left off as we head for a popular restaurant near Bandai Ma railway station beautifully designed and laid out within view of the railway. It's the railway here that's an attraction to me since the line around Pak Chong is being upgraded to dual track. For sometime there has been considerable engineering work taking place especially as this lies on the planned route for high-speed trains. With this in mind they've had to build new tunnels here one of which has become the longest in Thailand. I guess because of these upgrades the owner of the land has considered it an ideal location to start a new project.
Pak Chong Railway Station.......Of course, this has taken time and I don't know yet where this is leading to because the next stop is Pak Chong station itself. This is a new model station with raised platforms and a footbridge most uncommon in Thailand. Clearly a lot of planning has gone into this project with a view to eventually completely overhauling the railway network.
Pak Chong Exit.......Next, we stopover is at the market in Pak Chong to buy some local delicacies but checking the time it's 5:00pm. What on earth can be achieved this late in the day? Well, we finally leave the town and head east. The only realistic aiming point now is Nakhon Ratchasima just around an hour away. But the issue is accommodation. As mentioned before this seems to be in short supply I guess because many businesses closed during Covid. While in transit I frantically look for suitable accommodation but the main issue I have is that most online options don't provide phone numbers. We're just going to have to arrive and hope for the best.
Bitter Sweet.......Arriving at the outskirts of Nakhon Ratchasima we make our first inquiry but this accommodation is full. I just wonder if it's going to be the same everywhere as we move on to the next but fortunately, we get a break. Arriving at 100 House there's just one room but it's perfect for an overnight stop. However, on this day of head scratching yet one more problem arises to be solved. My computer and electronic charging equipment has been left at Pak Chong. We cannot proceed with this tour without this resource so in the morning we have no option but to return to Pak Chong. The consolation is fortunately due to circumstances we haven't come that far and I'm still hopeful we can make up for some lost time later.
Next Page.
Rai Tor Tawan Restaurant near Pak Chong
Pak Chong Railway Station