26 December 2025 – Day 43 — Waves, Borders & Friday‑Night Lights
Day 43 began with a rhythm that’s quickly becoming our Christmas–New Year routine: an early walk along the Prachuap Khiri Khan esplanade and beachfront while the air is still cool. Each morning the ocean seems a little wilder than the last, and today the waves were bold enough to splash up onto the footpath in places. It added a bit of drama to the stroll.
Alison picked up a bunch of bananas from the local street market — sweet, fresh, and full of that unmistakable Thai flavour. A simple treat, but such a good one.
With the morning ticked off, we set out on a small road trip to Thai Market Dan Singkorn, where our friends, Ejaz and Praow, run a carpet stall. It’s a closed border crossing with Myanmar, and they occasionally hear fighting on the other side — a reminder of how close and yet how different life can be across a single line on the map. She’s Thai, he’s from Pakistan, and together they run one of the friendliest little market shops around. After catching up over some excellent coffee, it was time to head back toward the coast.
Lunch was at Wing 5, where the Massaman curry is as good as we remembered. The local shopkeeper recognised us from last year — clearly we’ve been here more times than we realised. There’s something lovely about being remembered in a place far from home.
After such a delicious lunch, an afternoon nap back at the apartment was the only sensible next step.
By 6pm, we were back on the esplanade, this time for the Friday night markets in full swing. Stalls lit up the walkway, music drifted through the air, and the whole area buzzed with that relaxed, festive energy Prachuap does so well. We grabbed a light dinner and sat right in the middle of the lighting display — glowing arches, lanterns, and colour everywhere.
On the walk back, we ducked into 7‑Eleven for an ice cream. We’re still amused (and grateful) that we can finally find our favourite ones here after searching fruitlessly for the entire first month of the trip. A small victory, but a sweet one.
Day 43 was a mix of waves, markets, border‑town stories, and simple pleasures — the kind of day that settles in comfortably and leaves you smiling.
27 December 2025 – Day 44 — A Day of Detours, Changes & Calling It Early
Day 44 began the way most mornings do now — with our usual walk along the esplanade, enjoying the cooler air before the sun really gets going. It felt like the start of another easy day exploring the coastline.
We decided to head south to revisit some of our favourite spots from previous trips. That’s when the day started to drift a little off‑course.
The jetties we’d loved in past years were almost unrecognisable. Instead of the usual bustle of fishing boats being serviced, there wasn’t a single boat in sight. Moving on, we reached our old beachfront lunch spot… only to find it gone, replaced by a garage. Not exactly the view we remembered.
Hoping the port might offer something familiar, we drove on — but there wasn’t a single large ship being loaded or unloaded. At another small port, the scene was even stranger: fishing boats tied up tightly, many looking abandoned, and more than a few sitting half‑sunken in the water. It all felt a little sad, and very different from the lively coastline we’d known.
By then, it was clear the day wasn’t going to match our expectations, so we decided to call it early and head back toward our apartment.
Lunch at a PTT on the highway didn’t help much — the place was packed with holiday travellers, today being the first day of Thailand’s 10‑day national break. The traffic was heavy, rushed, and just a touch chaotic. We were more than happy to pull into the apartment around 2pm, simply relieved to be off the roads for the rest of the holiday period.
Dinner was a quiet one — Pad Thai Chicken from the little place around the corner — before we called it a night.
Day 44 didn’t go quite the way we’d hoped, but we ended it safe, fed, and ready to reset for tomorrow.
28 December 2025 – Day 45 — Caves, Catch‑ups & New Year Lights
Day 45 began with our regular morning walk — the familiar rhythm of the esplanade, the sea breeze, and the gentle start that sets the tone for the day.
We caught up with Chris in the morning before heading out on a short adventure of our own. Today’s destination was Khan Kra Dai Cave, a spot tucked up on a headland with a steep set of steps leading the way. The climb was a good workout, but the reward at the top was worth every step: a quiet cave holding two reclining Buddhas, peaceful and beautifully framed by the rock around them.
After the climb, lunch at Wing 5 was calling. It’s become one of our favourite go‑to spots, and today didn’t disappoint. Once we’d eaten, we made our way back to the apartment for an afternoon rest — the perfect follow‑up to a morning of stairs and sunshine. We also picked up some of our favourite Thai Milk – just tasty good.
Dinner was just a light snack, keeping things simple. As the evening cooled, we wandered down to the pier to see the New Year lights, now fully switched on. The displays glowed beautifully against the night sky, and with New Year’s Eve so close, the excitement in the air is starting to build.
This evenings walk also found us admiring a Thai RV. We suddenly missed our 4WD RV that is back in Australia
Day 45 was a gentle mix of exercise, good company, peaceful views, and a touch of festive sparkle — a lovely way to ease toward the end of the year.
29 December 2025 – Day 46 — Easy Does It
Day 46 was as quiet and gentle as they come — the kind of day that drifts by softly.
We started with our regular morning walk, enjoying the cooler air before the sun took over. With no big plans and no need to rush, we decided an easy day was exactly what we needed.
A slow drive to HomePro gave us something to browse and poke around in, followed by lunch at Lotus’s. Simple, familiar, and pleasantly unhurried.
By early afternoon we were back at the apartment, settling in for a restful stretch of downtime. A bit of relaxing, a bit of doing nothing — perfect.
Dinner was a first for this trip: we ordered Lineman and ate in. Our little feast arrived by motorcycle delivery, with payment made right at the door — quick, easy, and wonderfully convenient. The meal itself was a mix of fried chicken with rice and a spicier Thai curry, just enough heat to keep things interesting. Cosy, tasty, and exactly the kind of no‑fuss dinner an easy day deserves.
Day 46 didn’t try to be anything big — and that’s what made it good. A calm day, a restful one, and a nice pause before the New Year energy begins to build.
30 December 2025 – Day 47 — Mountain Roads, Quiet Rangers & Signs of Elephants
Day 47 began with our regular morning walk, easing into the day with the familiar rhythm of the esplanade. Along the way we spotted a local truck converted into an RV — a Deva, only 2WD but clearly doing the job well. Thailand always finds a way to surprise us with its creativity.
By 10am, we were heading northwest into the mountains to explore some of the local sights. This region is known for its wild elephants, and the signs were everywhere — warning boards, broken vegetation, and that unmistakable feeling that something big might be just out of view. We didn’t see any elephants today, but the landscape made it clear they roam freely here. We were very careful to drive around the poo.
The drive took us through very rural areas, past small communities and several water reserve sites. One of the highlights was Sam Rong View Point, where the Thai authorities run an experimental grazing project. A herd of cattle and goats live on the land, gently managed by locals. Every now and then, the soft buzz of a motorbike could be heard as someone nudged the animals away from the jungle edge. It was peaceful, simple, and very Thai.
While we were enjoying the view, we met one of the kindest park rangers we’ve ever come across. He noticed us taking in the scenery and rode over on his motorbike, waving us up to a higher vantage point we might have missed. He then asked us to sign the visitors’ book — the last entry was two days ago — and even took a few photos of us enjoying the lookout. A small moment, but such a genuine one.
Before leaving the area, we stopped at another pretty viewpoint nearby, then drove through what the Thais call the “tunnel of trees” — tall, mature trees arching over the road, creating a natural canopy that felt almost magical.
We also passed the Kui Buri National Park badge, a reminder of how close we were to one of Thailand’s most important elephant habitats.
On the way back, we stopped at Wat Pong Kasang, home to a huge, beautifully coloured Naga statue. Bright, intricate, and striking — a perfect final stop before heading home.
Back at the apartment, we rounded out the day with an evening walk, letting the cool air settle the dust of the mountain roads.
Day 47 was full of quiet moments, kind people, and the gentle beauty of rural Thailand — a day that felt both peaceful and memorable.
31 December 2025 – Day 48 — New Year’s Eve Lights, Local Celebrations & A Midnight View
Day 48 began a little slower than usual. We slept in, so our morning walk started later than planned, but the cooler breeze was still hanging around and it felt like a relaxed start to the last day of the year.
Around lunchtime we headed over to Global House for a wander. A bit of browsing, a bit of people‑watching, and the usual curiosity that comes with Thai hardware stores — always something interesting tucked away on a shelf.
After that, it was back to the apartment for a quiet afternoon, saving our energy for the evening ahead.
Dinner was a great serving of Pad Thai Chicken – just so good.
By 6pm, we were on the beachfront, ready to take in the New Year celebrations. The stage was alive with local performers — singers, dancers, and community groups all welcoming in the new year with that warm, joyful Thai spirit. The whole area buzzed with excitement.
We spent the evening wandering through the beachfront and food stalls, weaving between families, groups of friends, and locals letting off small fireworks. Little parties popped up everywhere — music, laughter, and the smell of street food drifting through the air. It felt festive without being overwhelming.
Around 11pm, we headed home and stopped by the Wat next door, where a ceremony was underway. For the first time, we saw a temple where everyone was either holding or connected by a white string tied to a Buddha statue — a symbolic gesture of unity, blessing, and protection. It was peaceful, beautiful, and deeply moving.
Then came midnight.
Happy New Year.
From our high vantage point, we watched the entire waterfront — the pier, the beach, the esplanade — erupt in fireworks. Bursts of colour lit up the sky for a full fifteen minutes, huge and spectacular. As the noise rolled across the bay, Steve and Alison stood together, reflecting on a year filled with travel, fun, and happiness.
A big, bright welcome to 2026.
1 January 2026 – Day 49 — Tyre Trouble, Tikky to the Rescue & A Day Lost to Waiting Rooms
Day 49 began like most days here — with our usual morning walk, easing into the first day of the new year. Everything felt normal until a quick check of the Fortuner revealed something we absolutely weren’t expecting: a badly worn tyre. The vehicle has only travelled about 800 km since its 60,000 km service, so seeing that level of wear was a real surprise.
Not wanting to take any risks, we called our favourite Budget Chiang Mai friend, Tikky.
She’s an absolute gem — always helpful, always cheerful, and honestly a real credit to Budget Rent a Car. She’d worked until 9pm the night before and was still on call today, yet she immediately organised everything for us. ❤️😍
By 11am, we were at B-Quik, where Tikky spoke to the staff on our behalf and got the whole process moving. Thanks to her, things were handled quickly and properly — but tyres take time, and we ended up sitting in the shop for four hours. Any plans for the day quietly evaporated while we waited.
By the time the Fortuner was sorted, we were more than ready to head back to the apartment and relax for the afternoon. It wasn’t the day we expected, but at least the car was safe again.
Dinner was a simple Lineman order — the perfect low‑effort end to a day that had already taken enough energy.
Day 49 didn’t offer much adventure, but it did remind us how lucky we are to have people like Tikky looking out for us.