Yep,
Chulalongkorn Day, commemorating Rama V is today, the 23rd.
I'm not sure, but it might be a holiday tomorrow as well. Hope I get a place on the bus to Ranong!!
Yeah, the missus told me a short while ago.
I'll take my chances on the 8am bus and if unlucky, it's more money for the boys in immigration. I've donated a small fortune in overstays this year so far.
We had to go to Bangkok yesterday (Saturday) to attend a wedding, and we left Phetchaburi about 11:30 am. With the exception of a few klics where the vehicles were actually moving, the outbound lanes (from Bangkok to HH etc.) were stop-and-go all the way back to Samut Sakorn, about 100 km.
We drive to Bangkok about every three weeks on average, and I have never seen anything remotely like this before.
And to add to the fun, immediately West of Samut Sakorn where for about 9 km. there is a six-lane road with two two-lane frontage roads, the boys in brown had dedicated 8 of the 10 lanes to outbound traffic, all of which were completely stationary, because they all had to squeeze back into two lanes as they approached Samut Songkram.
That must have been a bad drive for the BKK mob rushing down to make merit in HH. No wonder they're savage drivers when they get here!!
But thinking about it, I wonder if it's much different in the UK, or elsewhere in the world over long weekends. Certainly, I remember never driving the 100 miles from London to see my parents over a Bank Holiday unless absolutely necessary. There were three really quiet days, traffic wise, in central London then and that was something that I enjoyed.
I can remember the M1, A1, M40, M4, A23, M11, A11, A13 etc etc.
Then, of course, you've got the M42 for The Midlands, M6 and M62 for the North West.
M74, A74 and M8 for our Scottish brethren and I've fogotten about the M5, M Whatever etc etc.
Plus guaranteed roadworks during the weekend and wrong leaves, wrong rain, wrong snow and horrible prices on British Rail (I know it's all been sold off now. Different, but same, same).
So, sorry if I've missed you're favorite motorway out, but all the same it must have been a bad drive from BKK. Too right, Bill, better living down here.
Oh yes, I forgot the road to hell - M25.
