Tuk tuk Truck truck

Thailand is the world's second largest pickup market after the United States. Unlike their American counterparts though, the Thais trucks ferry a little more than passengers.

Somewhere in there, I suspect, is the kitchen sink.

Out-takes

Egg icon for men's toilet and oysters for the ladies?

Speaking of loos, all, and I do mean all public toilets in Thailand are absolutely clean and nicely decorated, especially those in large petrol stations along the highways.



Allow me to recommend today's specials... Chang beer of bottle. LeO beer of bottle. Sing beer of bottle. Hingent beer of bottle. Ice of the jug. Water or water mixed mineral of battle. Spy vine cooller. Soft drink.

"Strows are over here and do enjoy your dronk."

South Thailand - Hatyai

End of the journey. Distance travelled, 2,800km. Number of diesel top ups, 4 times at 2,700THB a pop. At 41 to 42 THB per litre, diesel is more expensive than petrol in Thailand and even more expensive than in Singapore. Had it not been for the low-gear mountain climbs and twisty roads, consumption would have been much better. The Hilux managed over 800kms on the long straight highway from Cha'am to Hatyai, at an average speed of 130km/h with a quarter tank remaining. No doubt it will pass 1,000km at a constant 110km/h.

Cha'am

Cha'am is quieter, cleaner and has more local than foreign tourists than Hua Hin 30km away. Reminds me of old Changi beach or Terengganu.

Ayutthaya-Bangkok

We got to Ayutthaya late and didn't do much relic-hunting. The nest day, trying to avoid being sucked into the notorious Bangkok traffic, we circled the boundaries for more than 2 hours, hence the lack of pictures.