Introduction....... After two days to recover from the Isan tour and get my notes edited and coded, today I can get out again while also planning for my next tour tomorrow. We go out just after lunch for shopping, but evening entertainment is what we focus on as we head downtown, Bangkok.
Finally on Track....... While checking where we need to be, I notice a freight yard which serves the port area. I'm lucky to find a locomotive parked here at Mae Nam Station. Just 5 minutes away is PAT Stadium and I've planned to get there early. This is my third attempt to get here. One previous attempt was cancelled due to gout and a second was aborted due to torrential rain and heavy traffic.
Port FC v Bangkok United....... It's third time lucky as we easily find a parking space well over an hour before the game between Port FC and Bangkok United. This game has special significance today. It's not only a local derby but both teams occupy number one and two in Thai Premier League. It's bound to be a feisty game.
We find a seat in the stand early which is wise. The stand is soon full of people sitting on the steps. One slightly worrying thing is that there are dark clouds developing and we're not in a coverage stand. However, when the game kicks off there is no rain.
Both teams have good form coming into this game. Port FC are prolific goal scorers scoring 27 goals in nine games. Bangkok United on the other hand have five straight wins. Something has to give today.
Personally, I'm gunning for Port so I'm disappointed together with the vast majority of the crowd when Bangkok United take an early lead. The game then turns out to be a slugging match with the two teams trading blows. There are more fouls than leaves in a teacup and by half time there are two players sent to hospital. Halfway into the half it starts raining but thankfully just drizzle which is soon over, It's still 1 : 0 to the visitors at half time.
The second half is much the same with Bangkok happy to hold onto their lead while Port accumulate missed chances. This is becoming a tense game as Bangkok continue to frustrate. Going into the final 10 minutes a goal at this stage would lift the roof but time is running out. Sadly, there is nothing for the home supporters to cheer about as just into injury time Bangkok score a second goal on a breakaway.
This game has ended as we make our way back to the residence. However, as far as football is concerned this weekend it hasn't ended and we have plans going forward during our next tour which starts tomorrow.
Day 1, 5 November - Trat
No Fireworks....... In the UK Storm Ciaran has done its nasty work, all but cancelling the traditional 5th November Bonfire Night. Here in Bangkok, there are no such problems as we depart in late morning for my last tour of 2023.
Chachoengsao Railway Junction (revisit)....... We head east and that takes us in the direction of Chachoengsao Railway Junction where I've had some trainspotting success recently. Well, I'm not so lucky today. I guess being a Sunday no freight trains are passing through but there is a Kiha 183 train in the siding. I hadn't checked for this excursion train today, but I was never going to see it arriving or departing with what we had planned. Instead, I wait for the 367 train from Bangkok, see the locomotive change ends then call it a day as far as the railway is concerned. In fact, where I'm heading, I need to call it a week.
Dirty Work....... In Chachoengsao we search around for some lunch then it's off east though Chonburi province and into Rayong. Here the heavens seem to have picked up the news about Storm Ciaran and in sympathy carries out its own dirty work creating almost impossible driving conditions before we exit Rayong. Into the next province, Chanthaburi the weather improves and remains calm but cool until we reach our destination.
Paradiso Resort....... At around 5.00pm we enter Trat and soon locate Paradiso Resort, we booked earlier. As the name suggests this is bungalow type accommodation styled as a boutique. At 580 baht it ticks all our boxes. Missing, which is usually the case is breakfast and there are no suitable shops nearby but Trat Market is a kilometre away and that's where we head to find something for dinner and breakfast tomorrow. By a much more reasonable 6.30pm we're back in the room.
Next Page.
Finally on Track....... While checking where we need to be, I notice a freight yard which serves the port area. I'm lucky to find a locomotive parked here at Mae Nam Station. Just 5 minutes away is PAT Stadium and I've planned to get there early. This is my third attempt to get here. One previous attempt was cancelled due to gout and a second was aborted due to torrential rain and heavy traffic.
Port FC v Bangkok United....... It's third time lucky as we easily find a parking space well over an hour before the game between Port FC and Bangkok United. This game has special significance today. It's not only a local derby but both teams occupy number one and two in Thai Premier League. It's bound to be a feisty game.
We find a seat in the stand early which is wise. The stand is soon full of people sitting on the steps. One slightly worrying thing is that there are dark clouds developing and we're not in a coverage stand. However, when the game kicks off there is no rain.
Both teams have good form coming into this game. Port FC are prolific goal scorers scoring 27 goals in nine games. Bangkok United on the other hand have five straight wins. Something has to give today.
Personally, I'm gunning for Port so I'm disappointed together with the vast majority of the crowd when Bangkok United take an early lead. The game then turns out to be a slugging match with the two teams trading blows. There are more fouls than leaves in a teacup and by half time there are two players sent to hospital. Halfway into the half it starts raining but thankfully just drizzle which is soon over, It's still 1 : 0 to the visitors at half time.
The second half is much the same with Bangkok happy to hold onto their lead while Port accumulate missed chances. This is becoming a tense game as Bangkok continue to frustrate. Going into the final 10 minutes a goal at this stage would lift the roof but time is running out. Sadly, there is nothing for the home supporters to cheer about as just into injury time Bangkok score a second goal on a breakaway.
This game has ended as we make our way back to the residence. However, as far as football is concerned this weekend it hasn't ended and we have plans going forward during our next tour which starts tomorrow.
Day 1, 5 November - Trat
No Fireworks....... In the UK Storm Ciaran has done its nasty work, all but cancelling the traditional 5th November Bonfire Night. Here in Bangkok, there are no such problems as we depart in late morning for my last tour of 2023.
Chachoengsao Railway Junction (revisit)....... We head east and that takes us in the direction of Chachoengsao Railway Junction where I've had some trainspotting success recently. Well, I'm not so lucky today. I guess being a Sunday no freight trains are passing through but there is a Kiha 183 train in the siding. I hadn't checked for this excursion train today, but I was never going to see it arriving or departing with what we had planned. Instead, I wait for the 367 train from Bangkok, see the locomotive change ends then call it a day as far as the railway is concerned. In fact, where I'm heading, I need to call it a week.
Dirty Work....... In Chachoengsao we search around for some lunch then it's off east though Chonburi province and into Rayong. Here the heavens seem to have picked up the news about Storm Ciaran and in sympathy carries out its own dirty work creating almost impossible driving conditions before we exit Rayong. Into the next province, Chanthaburi the weather improves and remains calm but cool until we reach our destination.
Paradiso Resort....... At around 5.00pm we enter Trat and soon locate Paradiso Resort, we booked earlier. As the name suggests this is bungalow type accommodation styled as a boutique. At 580 baht it ticks all our boxes. Missing, which is usually the case is breakfast and there are no suitable shops nearby but Trat Market is a kilometre away and that's where we head to find something for dinner and breakfast tomorrow. By a much more reasonable 6.30pm we're back in the room.
Next Page.
Bangkok Metropolis
Mae Nam Railway Station,
Chong Nonsi, Yan Nawa
PAT Stadium, Khlong Toei
Chachoengsao Province
Chachoengsao Railway Station,
Nai Mueang Chachoengsao
Rayong Province
Tropical Storm, Rayong Province