Day 16 – Phuket to Jitra
Progress is in progress!
This leg is always the most conflicted leg of the journey for me. The sad thing is that our long drive is fast headed towards its conclusion. The happy thing is that driving through Phang Nga is always so enjoyable with its wonderful scenery… gorgeous cliff faces of stacks all around topped off with greenery. With its many islands off the Phang Nga Bay, there are so many things to see and do. The most famous of these is “James Bond Island” which featured in the 1974 Bond film The Man with the Golden Gun.
We would love to explore this province a little more some time in the future, but admittedly we haven’t gotten down to doing this as of yet. Definitely something we have put on the bucket list.
We made a quick stop at the petrol kiosk to pump a full tank of Premium Diesel, which is Euro5. When we first started on our Thailand drives, there was only normal diesel available at the pumps, which is of the Euro4 standard. Now with Premium Diesel at selected petrol kiosks, we can drive further into Thailand in our clean diesel cars with a greater peace of mind.
I’ve received plenty of tissue boxes as free gifts for pumping at a petrol kiosk, but today was the first time I have ever received a pineapple as a free gift. Amazing… only in Thailand!
After filling up the car with fuel and filling up my tummy with coffee, we set off again. Today was not our longest leg in terms of distance, but it includes the complication of crossing the international border at Sadao, which adds an unknown amount of time to the equation, depending on the length of the queue at the checkpoint.
Today the weather is very good, and we make smooth progress through the country roads past Krabi, Trang and back onto the Route 4 / AH2.
One interesting thing about driving in Thailand, besides the scenery, is that you get to see all sorts of things being transported on vehicles.
After our usual dinner break at Tesco Lotus Sadao, we cross the border at 7:30pm in the dark of night. The Thai side has undergone a fair bit of sprucing up over the past 2 years, and it is so much smoother now. It seems that the Malaysians are also doing some work on their end. Progress is in progress!
We reach Jitra, quickly shower the kids and all go to bed. It has been a long day on the road!
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This was part 17 of my blog series. Do click HERE to read the next part where I will share about our journey to Taiping and almost being cheated by the money changer there!
2018 Drive from Singapore to Thailand Blog Series:
- 2018 Drive from Singapore to Thailand
- Getting a Grip
- Taiping Tyrannosaurus
- A Completely New Border Crossing
- First time in Hatyai
- Cantering Towards Chumphon
- Passport Panic
- Breaking the Bangkok Barrier
- A Home Away From Home
- Kids Love Kidzania!
- Rayong Night Drive
- A Rayong Adventure
- Time to Head Home
- Driving in Heavy Rain
- Craft and Japanese
- Rock Climbing and Mini Golf
- Scenic Drive Through Phang Nga
- From Money Changer to Money Taker
- Putrajaya Paradise
- The Last Leg with my Concluding Thoughts
- Route Summary
Blog Series
- 2019 Thailand Fly & Drive (Bangkok, Khao Kho, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son Loop, Chiang Khan, Khon Kaen, Khao Yai, Pattaya)
- 2019 Cameron Highlands Brothers Drive
- 2018 Bali Drive
- 2017 Hungary Winter Drive
- 2017 Hokkaido Winter Drive
- 2019 Drive from Singapore to Thailand (Krabi, Phuket)
- 2018 Drive from Singapore to Thailand (Bangkok, Rayong)
- 2017 Drive from Singapore to Thailand (Krabi, Phuket)
- 2016 Drive from Singapore to Thailand
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