Moving from Sukhumvit Soi 23 to Samut Prakan

OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.

Jiffy (also jiff)

noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.

ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.

So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.

So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!

Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas

Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!

Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!

Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra

Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!

คุณพูดภาษาไทยได้ไหม ไม่มีปัญหา ถ้าคุณต้องการไปหน้าถัดไป ให้กดปุ่ม “Next” ข้างบนนี้

Вы говорите по-русски? Просто нажмите синюю кнопку "Next" с левой стороны и Вы моментально переместитесь на следующую страницу!

E ni Svenskar och inte förstår Engelska så ska ni skämmas. J och Björn, med det menar jag inte att alla mina stavfel ska ältas varje gång vi träffas.

Well, the flag of Skåne, just a BONUS flag.

Birding/ Bird watching in Bangkok, Thailand

Monday 14 ^th of January 2024 and I wake up and I am just so feed up with Sukhumvit Soi 23. Booking a taxi to go to Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym for a session with The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์) It takes everything from 5 minutes to 1 hour to get the taxi and then 1 hour to get to Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym.

Coming back home is another hour in a taxi and it have been worth it. Yoga and to kick The RedDevil's (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์) arse have done wonders for my health.

So this is pretty much how I spend my days. Shower and lunch/ dinner when I am back home and if I want to go out I have to face an “bumper to bumper” traffic.

So I woke up and I decided that enough is enough, I want to move. I looked for condos in Samut Prakan, close to Bang Pu, บางปู, Bang Pu Recreation Center, สถานตากอากาศบางปู. I knew that I wanted to have a condo at The President, 30 seconds walk from Robinson Lifestyle Plaza. One minute from the Sukhumvit Line sky train station.

And there is a Big-C at the sky train station. Night market next to the condo and rice paddies for long as you can see a couple of minutes away with my moped.

Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym is 42 stations and 89 minutes away with the sky train with one change + 15 minutes in taxi.

Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym is 42 stations away

Weekend and I went with my friend to check out condos and a moped. The condos are between 2 and 3 million and my friend suggested that I should rent first to see if I like it. Said and done, we meet one Agent and we had a look at a room.

35m2 and it is way smaller than what I have now, but I only need a small room.

They cannot understand why I want to move from Sukhumvit Soi 23 to Samut Prakan. But I am looking forward to it and to come out to look for birds. The only worries are the boxing and yoga.

Room at The President Samut Prakan

Room at The President Samut Prakan

Room at The President Samut Prakan

Room at The President Samut Prakan

Room at The President Samut Prakan

We went to three shops to look for a moped at Honda as I need a moped to get around on the country side. We visited two shops on Saturday but they did not have the colour I liked and they did not know when they would get the other colours.

I wanted to have a yellow moped but they were not available with ABS brakes. So, I had to choose a dark grey moped. But they had no clue of when there would be a grey moped available.

I could not believe my ears, Honda shop and the Honda factory is literally located around the corner. But I tried to sit on the Honda Giorno+ and I liked it so I decided that Honda Giorno+ was the model I wanted.

Honda Giorno+

Honda Giorno+

Honda Giorno+

Moped Lads

I was back to see my friend on the Sunday and we went to another Honda Shop, Ninja Honda Motors (ส.ว.เทพายนต์ สาขาปากน้ำ) and they had a grey Giorno+ with ABS brakes. I booked a moped and I will send my documents for them to prepare license plate etc.

The staff seems to be professionals at the Ninja Honda Motors (ส.ว.เทพายนต์ สาขาปากน้ำ) and I wanted to buy my moped in this shop.

We went to a shopping mall close by to have a look at furniture. I will ask them to move out the sofa and table from the room before I move in and I need a kitchen table and a desk. That is the only thing I need + the bed.

We found a desk that I liked and a kitchen table that I wanted. But I had not yet decided on the condo, I will give them my decision tomorrow. But now I know where to find my desk and kitchen table. But if I cannot buy the moped, I will not move to Samut Prakan.

Desk

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Monday 15 ^th of January 2024 and I took a taxi to Samut Prakan when I came home from Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym after yoga session and 10 rounds with The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์) and I met my friend at Ninja Honda Motors (ส.ว.เทพายนต์ สาขาปากน้ำ) at 3 o'clock.

We went in to the shop and there were some problems with my VISA, expires in 3 days and they need more time for the registration. They were working on it and me and my friend went to HomePro to look for furniture.

They will call us when they have any news from the Honda shop.

I called the Agent and I told her that I wanted to room so we will meet her at HomePro Srinagarindra (โฮมโปร ศรีนครินทร์) at 4 thirty.

We get out of the taxi and we see electric motorcycles and I test one of them before going to HomePro Srinagarindra (โฮมโปร ศรีนครินทร์) on the second floor.

Desk

We find a nice kitchen table, but the desk they had to offer was nothing I was interested in. But the kitchen table was very nice, comes with 6 or 4 chairs. 4 chairs are more than enough for me.

They called from Ninja Honda Motors (ส.ว.เทพายนต์ สาขาปากน้ำ) and it was OK to buy the moped even though my VISA would expiry in 3 days.

I will make extension tomorrow and I will send the extension to them so they have time to do the registration. I can use the moped but it will take one month before I get the registration.

The shop close at 5 thirty so we told him that we would try to make it back before that to finish everything. The condo agent came at 4 thirty and I signed the contract and I paid the first month rent. And she had to take a picture of me and the money to send to the owner.

Sounded very strange to me, the receipt should be enough.

I get my contract

The Agent took us to Ninja Honda Motors (ส.ว.เทพายนต์ สาขาปากน้ำ) and we could complete the paper work. I paid 50.000 Baht and I will pay the remaining 33.250 Baht when I pick up my new “Bird Watching Racer” at the end of the week/ weekend.

They will have to mount some bars and stuff to my new “racer” and they expect it to be ready end of the week. To add the bars is quickly done, but it is to make the license and documents that will take some time to complete.

Me and my friend left the shop and we walked to Robinson Lifestyle Samut Prakan (โรบินสัน ไลฟ์สไตล์ สมุทรปราการ) and we went to S & P to have our tea. We had stopped at the Honda stall to tell them that they did not need to bother to call us about the Honda Giorno+

They would call us in a week to see if they had a grey coloured model.

Motorcycle and room rent documents

Banana Boat at S & P

A long day came to an end and I was happy, both moped and a room. It was way too late by the time I was back home and I went straight to bed.

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Tuesday 16 ^th of January 2024 and I went to the Immigration to get an extension on my tourist visa. I will take a picture of the new visa and send to the Honda shop. I was pleasantly surprised when I arrived, not much people.

The whole thing did not take longer than an hour. I had time to dash off to buy a cooling plate for my laptop when I was waiting for my visa. So, the whole thing went very smooth.

Pleasantly surprised, not many people

Pleasantly surprised, not many people

Pleasantly surprised, not many people

No need to wait for very long

Soon in a taxi going back home and I was soon preparing the move backing boxes. I used Asian Tigers last time I was relocating and it worked very well. So I clicked the “QUICK QOUTATION” on their web page.

I ended up filling up a long form and there was no quotation. But they called and asked me to hold the line.
- Are you serious? Send it on email

Disappointing service and I will not use their service again and I will pack it myself.

I received pictures from the Honda shop and my “racer” was ready and it looks like I can pick up the “racer” . I will just have to find out if the license is ready.

My new “Bird Watching Racer”

My new “Bird Watching Racer”

My new “Bird Watching Racer”

My new “Bird Watching Racer”

My new “Bird Watching Racer”

Motorhojs Torture

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Thursday 18 ^th of January 2024 and we had completed all documents and I had paid the last of the 92.000 Baht yesterday. I suspected that it would take long time with documents and stuff and I did not fancy driving around in the afternoon rush hours.

And as I suspected, it was getting late afternoon and we decided to keep the “racer” at the Honda store overnight.

We are hoping for “light” traffic tomorrow morning after the rush hour and we will pick up my new “racer” after 9 o'clock when they have opened the shop.

And we got a big pack of spare parts, I had added a “racer pack” to the moped. Protective bars and packet holders forward and aft.

I did not know that there was a wind shield included in the “racer pack”, but it was in the pack with spare parts and I asked them to mount it so it was ready tomorrow morning.

Yesterday and all documents completed and it is my moped

It was not easy to find a taxi in the morning and it was 9 thirty before I reached my friend's house. I delivered two big boxes, 2 bags and my bird hide to my friend’s house and we took the same taxi to the Ninja Honda Motors (ส.ว.เทพายนต์ สาขาปากน้ำ)

I have started to move a little by the time and I will keep the boxes in my friend's house until I have access to my new room at The President Condo.

My “racer” was ready when we arrived. The sales gay showed me how the buttons and stuff were working. We lashed the box with spare parts on the packet holder in the back.

And we will drop the pack at my friend's house before going to Wat Sotthanimit (วัดโสธรนิมิตต์) for the Motorcycle Anointing (เจิอมรถยน)

We are ready to leave the Honda shop

We are ready to leave the Honda shop

We are ready to leave the Honda shop

But we will have to fill up gas first thing and there is a station 50 meters up the road. Almost 5 litres and it set me back with 160 Baht.

We dropped the box with the parts at my friend's house and we continued to Wat Sotthanimit (วัดโสธรนิมิตต์) and we hope to meet หลวงพ่อน้อย for the Motorcycle Anointing (เจิอมรถยน).

We stopped to buy some holy things at the entrance to the temple that หลวงพ่อน้อย will use to give the “racer” good luck.

Holy shops outside Wat Sotthanimit (วัดโสธรนิมิตต์)

My still “unblessed” “racer”

Buying holy stuff to give me good luck

Candels, holy string, gold leafs and an envelope to put money in for the temple

I pay 90 Baht for the holy set and we get directions from the shop keepers. It is about 100 meters to drive, pass through the gate and take right and then left.

We passed a couple of “HOLY” shops on the way and we discovered a couple of motorcycles when we arrived. One was waiting and one had just finished the Motorcycle Anointing (เจิอมรถยน).

We had a chat with the guy that was ready. We asked if he knew where we could by rear view mirrors, the original is a wee bit too short and I don't get any good view looking back.

So I need to buy longer rear view mirrors and we will go look for shops when we are ready at WatSotthanimit (วัดโสธรนิมิตต์) and we interrogating the motorcycle driver that was ready with the Motorcycle Anointing (เจิอมรถยน).

We got a HOT TIP and we programmed our map with the shop name, Panom Racing, 10 minutes away from Wat Sotthanimit (วัดโสธรนิมิตต์)

I had been away to buy refreshments while my friend interrogating the driver and he took off when I came back. Luang Poo Noy (หลวงพ่อน้อย) was not there and he would come back after 12 o'clock.

The monks are not allowed to eat after 12 o'clock and they are having their lunch.

My friend picked up a golden (plastic) plate and a flower that we would use to offer the gifts to Luang Poo Noy (หลวงพ่อน้อย) and he put money in a donation box.

My holy set

Waiting for Luang Poo Noy (หลวงพ่อน้อย)

We wait for Luang Poo Noy (หลวงพ่อน้อย) and we find out that they are at a house ceremony. When Thai people buy a house, they have monks to bless the new house and they are eating at the new house as well. But they are not allowed to eat after 12 o'clock so we expect them to come back just after 12 o'clock.

The other driver waiting started to prepare his motorcycle next to us. He prepared the holy string around the front and WOW!
- Where did you find this long string?

He had bought his stuff at one of the “HOLY” shops inside the gate. I walked there and I bought a new “HOLY” set and now I got a long and thick string.

They had a table with Thai Buddha amulets (พระเครื่อง) and they had the Egg Boy (ไอ้ไข่) and I asked how much. The girl told me it was 100 Baht.
- It says 99 Baht on the box!

One Baht is no money to talk about, 3 ¢. But the number 9 is very important in Thailand and the price of 99 Baht is very important so I wanted to have my 1 Baht coin and she gave it to me. I will glue it to the “racer” together with the Egg Boy (ไอ้ไข่) amulet.

I was with my friend at Wat Hong Thong (วัดหงษ์ทอง) a couple of years ago. I bought a Holy cloth (ผ้ายัน) priced to 99 Baht. I handed over a 100 Baht bill and they gave me a 1 Baht coin in return. I said no thanks and they got, not upset, but they explained that I must have the 1 Baht coin for good luck!

I still have to coin today, glued to the Holy cloth (ผ้ายัน)

Holy cloth (ผ้ายัน) from Wat Hong Thong (วัดหงษ์ทอง)

And my 1 Baht coin - Still waiting to win the lottery though

There was a van arriving and I realised that the house ceremony had come to an end when Luang Poo Noy (หลวงพ่อน้อย) and a couple of monks came out from the van.

The motorcycle driver next to us was first in line so Luang Poo Noy (หลวงพ่อน้อย) started with his scooter. When he was ready with the motorcycle next to us I asked him to put some “holy” power in to my new Egg Boy (ไอ้ไข่) Buddha amulets (พระเครื่อง).

Luang Poo Noy (หลวงพ่อน้อย) blessed my Egg Boy (ไอ้ไข่) amulet and he continued with the “racer”

Luang Poo Noy (หลวงพ่อน้อย) with my Egg Boy (ไอ้ไข่) amulet

My now blessed “racer”

Holy script

We left Wat Sotthanimit (วัดโสธรนิมิตต์) and we stopped at a convenient shop to buy some super glue for my Egg Boy (ไอ้ไข่) amulet and the coin. We attached the blessed Egg Boy (ไอ้ไข่) amulet and the coin to the front and my friend felt good as we were now protected by holy powers.

The driver that we spoke to when we arrived to Wat Sotthanimit (วัดโสธรนิมิตต์) got his new motorcycle blessed. His old motorcycle was totalled in a crash and the driver walked away without a scratch. So, the blessing and holy things are no joke in Thailand.

Egg Boy (ไอ้ไข่) amulet and the 1 Baht coin and
the “holy” string in the front of my “racer”

We drove towards the motorcycle shop that we had been recommended, Panom Racing (พนมอะไหล่) and we ended up in a bit of country side driving there. They did not have any long rear view mirrors and we went to the shop next door.

No rear view mirrors and we drove to Robinson Lifestyle Samut Prakan (โรบินสัน ไลฟ์สไตล์สมุทรปราการ) to have lunch at S & P

S & P, our table was occupied so we went up on the second floor and we found an Issarn Restaurant and we had our lunch.

The grilled pork collar was excellent and I had 4 of them.

Eating food from North East Thailand

Our table at S & P was available when we left the Issarn Restaurant and we stopped for tea and coffee. My friend bought, well, he lured me in to buy some and when it came to the table, he refused to help me eating the pastries.

I came up with an idea, the holy script on the forward splash cover. I was worried that it would come off after a few washes so I had an idea to cover is with a clear coat.

My friend has a motorcycle repair shop close to his house and we went to see if he could do therear view mirrors and the clear coating on the holy script.

He could not do anything about the mirrors or the holy script. He gave us directions to some other shops but we could not find any mirrors or any one that could cover the holy script.

It was getting late and we drove back to my friend's house where I will park my “racer” until I get access to my room with a parking. We cross the bridge over Bang Ping Canal and coming down on the other side we had a small motorcycle repair shop on the right-hand side.

I thought what the duck! We can take a chance and we stopped. The guy could fix both the mirrors and the clear coating. I will be back on Saturday to pick up my “racer”

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Saturday 20 ^th of January 2024 and I will go to pick up my “racer” in the afternoon. My friend had been in the shop yesterday to have a look at the job and he sent me some pictures.

Good to have my friend taking care of the scooter and look up on the work. I will go to pick him up after the Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym and 10 rounds with The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์)

And I will drop a few boxes with stuff at his house. I will get the key to my new room on the 28th of January and then I have some of my things close by.

My “racer” at the work shop

My “racer” at the work shop

3 layers of clear coat on the holy script

Coming to Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym and I ordered a cup and phone holder for my “racer” I had found a company called Motowolf while I had my morning tea. Looking good so I ordered via the LINE app and I paid using a QR code.

I finished my 10 rounds with The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์) and I was in a hurry to get back home. I have a contractor coming at 12 o'clock and then I will be off to deliver some boxes at my friend's house in Samut Prakan.

Motowolf Mall will sent my parts to my friend's house and the Mechanic can attach it when we pick up my “racer” in the afternoon. I realise that Motowolf have sent the parcel with Flash and it will arrive in 1 to 2 days.

1 to 2 days is way too late and I called them and they cancelled the Flash and they used Lalamove and it will arrive in 1 or 2 hours.

Motowolf parts have arrived to my friend's house

I met the contractor, he was a wee bit late and I had time for my lunch before he arrived. Heleft and I had a shower and I booked a Lineman taxi.

I brought 4 boxes to the taxi plus the Turtle Waz cleaning equipment that I had received from HomePro. So now I have everything I need to keep my “racer” clean and shiny.

I left the stuff at my friend's house and we took the taxi to the motorcycle repair shop to pick up my “racer”

I was very impressed with his work and I was so lucky that we had stopped there to ask if he could do the job. And he could attach my Motowolf parts and that’s even though it required some work to make them fit on my “racer”

My rear view mirror and the Motowolf parts mounted on my “racer”

I had spent a lot of money on my “racer” and I was not happy when I could only see my shirt pockets in the rear view mirrors. So, I could not see behind me and I thought that it had been a waste of money as I had no plans to drive around not being able to look behind me.

We had been to many shops and nothing was possible. So, it was like winning the lottery to find this small shop. Did look like a garbage dump so I had not expected much. But WOW! The mirrors were perfect and it was a joy to drive the “racer”

So I was in a very good mood when we drove to explore the country side. My friend was very happy with the clear cover of the holy script.

And the Motowolf equipment was perfect, GPS and a bottle of MAX readily available in front of me while riding the scooter.

Stop to look for birds

Stop to look for birds

Stop to look for birds

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Sunday 21 ^st of January 2024 and I will go to meet the Agent to sign the rent contract for my room. We will meet at 11 so I had planned to bring some boxes to my friend's house at 10 o'clock. That would give me time to wash my scooter before going to sign the rental contract.

I was eager to get to wash the scooter to try out the new equipment I had bought. So I was not really beaming of joy when I received videos from my friend washing my “racer”

He had obviously been very bored this morning so he got started with my scooter.

So, I was not in a hurry any more. We will meet the Agent at 11 so it is enough to be at my friend's house 10 thirty or so.

I booked a LineMan taxi and I brought the last of my small boxes. I leave the big boxes to the“strong” men from Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym next Sunday.

I will pay the safety deposit and sign the contract today and I will get the keys next Sunday. I had asked to get the keys early as Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym is closed on Sunday and we can move with “FULL FORCE”

Boxes on the way to the taxi

The trunk is full

Some boxes go in the back seat

I dropped the boxes at my friend's house and my friend had the tea ready when I arrived. I inspected the “racer” and my friend had done a good job washing the scooter.

We enjoyed the tea and we were soon of to see the Agent. I must say that it is very convenient with my new scooter. Me and my friend reached the condo in a couple of minutes.

The were having a Khuan Ban Mai (ขึ้นบ้านใหม่) ceremony so we had to get in using the back door as the entrance was full of people attending the Khuan Ban Mai (ขึ้นบ้านใหม่)

Khuan Ban Mai (ขึ้นบ้านใหม่)

Khuan Ban Mai (ขึ้นบ้านใหม่)

When they build a new house in Thailand they have a ceremony called “KEUN BAAN MAI” This is to bless the new house and its inhabitants. Monks are invited to the house and they pray and they put a mark on the house.

And as always, with the temple, you have to give money to the temple. We remember when I went to bless my scooter, I bought a set and there is an envelope included in the set. You put money in the envelop and you offer the envelop to the monk.

To give money to the monks are a good deed “Tham Bun” (ทำบุญ) in Thailand.

I took some measures in my new rented room and I signed the contract. We left the condo and we parked the “racer” at the Robinson Lifestyle Samut Prakan (โรบินสัน ไลฟ์สไตล์ สมุทรปราการ) where we had lunch.

We took a taxi to go to look for furniture and I managed to buy almost everything I needed.

I will need to buy some shelves and then it is enough. I will leave my old furniture at Sukhumvit Soi 23 and I will keep a minimum at the rented room.

Just decided to move and they have already offered to buy the condo on Sukhumvit Soi 23, but it is not for sale. I might soon move back again.

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Tuesday 23 ^rd of January 2024 and I am very happy with my new scooter. But there is a basked missing forward before it is a real “Bird Watching Racer” I have been looking at accessories for Honda Giorno+ and there is no basked available.

The motorcycle work shop that did my rear-view mirrors recommended a shop across Sukhumvit Road, down one of the small sois. My friend knew the soi and we went to look for the shop.

We found the shop and the lady called one of her Mechanics and he came to have a look. They hadbaskets, but it need so be modified to fit my Honda Giorno +

He will do the job in two hours and we went to S & P to have tea while waiting. They called after about 90 minutes and we took a taxi to pick up our “Bird Watching Racer”

I was very happy with the basked and now I can keep my camera easily accessible in the basket while out looking for birds.

My friend wanted to test the basket so we went to buy pork for BBQ.

My new basket with meat for BBQ

My friend fire up the BBQ

The meat is soon ready to enjoy

We had BBQ and tea in my friend's house and when we were ready, I left the scooter at his house and I took a taxi back home.

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Thursday 25 ^th of January 2024 and I am getting a wee bit worried about my relocation to Samut Prakan. My friend invites me to BBQ everyday and this will have to come to a stop. Maybe once aweek, or during day time.

I never eat in the evening but now we do BBQ everyday evening in Samut Prakan.

I had a session at Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym with The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์) 10 rounds and he was going to Bangkok at 10 o'clock so I joined him in his car going back home.

The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์) getting his arse kicked

The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์)

The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์)

I have my lunch and I book a taxi on the Lineman app and I go to my friend's house in Samut Prakan. I bring three bottles of Stroh Rum that I have found while preparing my move. And as myfriend likes it very much and I brought the bottles with me to give to him.

And surprisingly enough, he likes it better than Whiskey, something I find strange in Thailand.

The first Thai I have ever meet that like Rum better than Whiskey.

We leave his house on my “racer” and we make the first stop at the work shop to pick up the backrest/ baggage rack. He has made a pillow to make it comfortable to sit in the back. And I was very impressed by the work he had done. The pillow looked like it was factory made.

We had planned to go to explore Soi 113 as my friend had reported many birds when he went to Siracha beginning of the week. An area with a small river along the road and fish ponds in the area. So, it promises to have a lot of birds.

We got out on Sukhumvit and we drove towards East and Soi 113. We made a stop at 7 Eleven to buy some refreshments.

Exploring the wilderness

Exploring the wilderness

We drive along the soi and we reach a temple, Wat Bang Pla(วัดบางปลา) and we drive through the temple and we end up in the town Bang Pla. We decide to go have a look at Suvarnabhumi Airport before going back to Samut Prakan.

So, we drive north from Bang Pla and we reach the Bang Na - Trat Frontage Road and we drive west until we reach the flyover across the highway and we are on Suvarnabhumi 3 Road going north and we can soon see Suvarnabhumi International Airport.

We leave Suvarnabhumi 3 Road following a small paved road towards the fence around the airport. And this was at the end/ beginning of the runway and we could see the airplanes lined up waiting for take-off towards exciting destinations.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport

Suvarnabhumi International Airport

We stop close to the security check point to have a look at the planes taking off. I found it strange that there was no viewing point at the airport. We got on the scooter and we drove towards the checkpoint to see if they knew if there was any viewing point nearby.

We approached and the soldiers started to wave at us to stop. I got closer and they came towards us and I asked for a place to view the planes taking off.

He pointed towards the Suvarnabhumi 3 Road continuing along the runway. He told me that we could look from the road side. We said thank you and we left.

We drove along the Suvarnabhumi 3 Road but there was no look out place, just the opportunity to stop along the road to have a look. There were cars along the road even though there is NOT ALLOWED TO STOP signs along the road.

Suvarnabhumi International Airport

Well, disappointed, but now I have been here and we had spotted egret and several Openbill Storks. We made a U-turn and we drove back to Samut Prakan and we had decided to make someBBQ at my friend's house.

We had covered about 100 km by the time we reached my friend's house,3 hours and with a sore behind.

It is a comfy saddle, but a sore behind was expected after riding 100 km. I expect it to be better after a couple of rides.

Except for the sore behind it was very nise riding the scooter. Well, my helmet is too small and I will buy a new one next time in Europe.

Bus blocking the road

Bus blocking the road

Bus blocking the road

And the traffic in this area is much better than at lower Sukhumvit. I live close to a university and to get to the gym in the morning can be a hassle, cars for long as I can see on the soi outside my condo on lower Sukhumvit.

When I bus is coming the whole area come to a full stop. The streets are so narrow it is hard, even for a car to turn at the intersections. So yes, it will be nice to move.

My friend made tea and we were soon having meat on the grill. I want to have a grill in my room and I have been looking for electric grills, but not available in Thailand so I will buy a Weber electric grill next time in Europe.

BBQ

BBQ

The pork collar was excellent as always, pork collar is a sure bet and I prefer it over any beef. We finished the meal and I booked a taxi on the Lineman app.

20 minutes to reach Asoke intersection and from there it is a few hundred meters to get home. This is another 30 minutes ++ and it is a frustrating and boring minute as well.

Same going to Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym, spending everything between 1 hour and 2 hours going to the gym. So the most of the day is gone by the time I am back home.

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Sunday 28 ^th of January 2024 and my friend have spent the night here. We had packed most of my stuff yesterday and my friends from Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym will come at 10 o'clock and we will bring the stuff to Samut Prakan.

We made my friends favourite breakfast, cheese omelette and bacon for breakfast so we have enough energy for the move.

Making omelette

We were relaxing and my friend called 20 minutes before 9 o'clock. He was on the way and I asked when they were arriving.
- At 9 o'clock
- What the

I thought that they were coming at 10 o'clock so I was in a hurry to start to get the stuff down to the parking in order to save time.

I managed to get down most of my stuff, I brought it down and my friend brought it out from the apartment. The paper boxes I had bought were falling apart and my books fell out from the bottom of the boxes.

My friends arrived and we could move out the last stuff and it was all in the parking when our friend with the car arrived.

Loading our friend's car

Loading our friend's car

Loading our friend's car

Loading our friend's car

Loading our friend's car

The moving team

We filled up my friend's pick up and there were still plenty to go. We filled up my friend's car and we had 2 boxes remaining and one Religious Statue (รูปปั้นทางศาสนา), the grù maan sáp sŏm-bàt ( กรุมานทรัพสมบัติ). And it is quite big.

Two cars left and we waited for the taxi and we were off towards Samut Prakan 20 to 30 minutes later. We took the Rama III and the other two cars went via Bang Na. So, we overtook them just before the last intersection before the apartment.

3 friends off loaded the cars to the carts and I brought them up to my apartment with one friend. We unloaded the carts in the apartment and when we were back down, we had a couple of loaded carts to bring up again.

It went quite quickly and we unloaded the last carts around 12 o'clock. My friends were surprised to come up to discover how small my room is. They have been to my room in Bangkok and it is 5 times bigger. But small is enough for me.

Lunch at S & P

We go to S & P at Robinson Lifestyle Samut Prakan (โรบินสัน ไลฟ์สไตล์ สมุทรปราการ) for lunch before my friends return to Ku Bon. Me and my friend that live in Samut Prakan return to my room to unload a few boxes.

I bought a few big wheeled plastic boxes that takes up a lot of space in my room. We emptied the boxes and we called his son to come pick up the empty boxes.

We brought the empty boxes to my friend's house and we loaded the car with my boxes that I had kept in my friend's house and we brought them back to my room.

Unpacking

Unpacking

Empty boxes

Empty boxes

+++++++++++++++
Saturday 3 ^rd of February 2024 and this day will go down the history books as the first time I take my “GYM RACER” Today is a test run only to see if I can continue attending the yoga and my 10 rounds with the Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์) at Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym.

I am doubtful that I can continue with the yoga. The yoga requires me to leave around 7 thirty and 8 o'clock. According to the GPS it is 50 minutes to the gym and I will do a test run today. Saturday so I do not expect a lot of traffic.

The “GYM RACER” is packed and ready to take off

The “GYM RACER” is packed and ready to take off

I took off and I was in a good mode. I really expected this to turn out to be a success, I spend an hour sitting in a taxi going from Soi 23 to Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym. And on this I have to add everything from 5 minutes to 1 hour waiting for the taxi.

I spend in total, between 25000 to 3000 Baht on taxi in Bangkok so I hope to save a lot of money and time with my “GYM RACER” 25000 to 30000 Baht per month sounds like a lot, and it is a lot of money. But to own a car would not come for free and to go by taxi is very convenient, except for the hassle to book and wait for a taxi.

I go east on Sukhumvit until the first U-turn and I go back towards west until I reach the fly over bridge to Srinakarin Road going towards north. It is 37 km from my room to Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym and I follow the Srinakarin Road until Bang Kapi.

Reaching Bang Kapi and I turn right on to Lat Phrao Road and after 2 to 300 meters I turn left on to Nawanin Road and it is about 13 km to go.

Reaching Lat Phrao Road

I drive north on Nawamin Road and I stop to buy some refreshments. Another thing I miss from my room at Sukhumvit Soi 23 is my drinking water tap. So, I filled my thermos with cold water every morning.

This was something I started with back in October 2011. I was in Singapore and I read the news about the flooding in Bangkok and the newspaper had pictures of empty store shelfs. I still remember flying back home, my luggage was full of tuna cans and they asked me if it was because of the flooding, when I checked in at Singapore International.

I bought the thermos, before I bought water every day before going to Bangkok Fight Club 13 years ago so I have saved the environment from many plastic bottles.

I have to buy water now so I stopped to buy two bottles of water to fill my thermos with. I took the opportunity to buy some other refreshments as well.

Stop to buy water

Stop to buy water

I little refreshment before I continue

Ready to continue towards the north

Nawamin Road ends at Ram Intra and I am on Khu Bon Road and now I am on a road I know very well after have coming here with taxi many times going to the gym.

Took me about 90 minutes to reach Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym, OK, one stop. But I was driving slowly, 80 km/h is a wee bit too fast for me. 40 to 50 km/h is enough for me.

I reach Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym

+++++++++++++++
Wednesday 7 ^th of February 2024 and I will get my mc registration today. They had called my friend yesterday and told him that I could come to pick up my registration. So we will go to pick up the plate and documents today.

But first a tour to Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym and it took me an hour and 20 minutes to reach the gym, and I had stopped to fill gasoline on the way.

I reach Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym

There is a lot of dust in the traffic so I need to buy a mask to wear while driving to and from Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym and The Red Devil suggested to buy at the hospital. So, I stopped one of the hospitals going back home and I asked if they sold masks. They wanted to give me a mask for free.

I said no thanks and I told them that I wanted to buy real masks. They were all wearing surgical masks
- What are you going to use the mask for?
- Wear it while driving my scooter.
I pointed at their masks and I asked what they were using the masks for.
- Covid
- Pointless, I said.

I drove back home to make my lunch/ dinner before going to pick up my friend so we can go to pick up my plate and documents.

Making lunch in my new kitchen

We are soon on our way to pick up my license plate and documents. We get the license plate and my green car book and they bring the scooter to the work shop.

We were waiting in the AC room while the staff mounted my license plate and tax document to the scooter.

The scooter was ready in 10 minutes or so and we left the Honda shop behind driving to the wood shop to see how the job with my shelfs was progressing.

My scooter in the work shop

My scooter in the work shop

My scooter in the work shop

My shelfs will be ready tomorrow and we too off towards HomePro to look for masks. They had plenty to choose from 2.5 and 95 and all kinds of masks. So, we went to sit down to study masks on internet.

We sat down in the mattress department and it was a very nice mattress. I decided to buy the mattress but they could not deliver it today so I cancelled the purchase. I had studied the masks on internet and I went to buy the masks.

We bought the masks and the mattress salesman was back and he told us that he could deliver the mattress today. I bought the mattress and they will deliver it at 5 o'clock.

We had plenty time so we went to my friend's house to have tea and to wash my scooter. My friend prepared the water hose and I started to wash my scooter while he was preparing the tea.

I ordered cleaning stuff online when I bought the scooter and Turtle Wax have a shampoo/ wax so it is all done in one go.

Turtle Wax also had a spray for the tyres and wheels and I completed the wash with the tyres and wheels. 10 to 15 minutes and the scooter were ready and we could enjoy the tea.

Washing the scooter

Washing the scooter

Washing the scooter

Washing the scooter

They called from HomePro 10 minutes before 4 o'clock. They had arrived with my new mattress.
- But you said 5 o'clock!

Strange, they told me 5 o'clock when I bought the mattress and now, they show up 1 hour and 10 minutes before the agreed time. I told them that I would be home at 5 o'clock.

We arrived 20 minutes before 5 o'clock and they were waiting for us. They brought up the new mattress and the removed the old one.

They remove the old mattress

New mattress

New mattress

New mattress

Now there is only the shelfs remaining and they will be ready tomorrow and then my room is ready. Moving is good, you find a lot of stuff you have not seen for years. I found some suspenders that I bought 30 years ago.

New, never opened the pack as my diet had not turned in to the success I had been hoping for. I gave them to my friend, he had never seen something like this before.

So, suspenders are obviously not a thing in Thailand.

+++++++++++++++
Thursday 8 ^th of February 2024 and driving to Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym and it was much better driving my “Gym Racer” using my new mask/ filter. A wee bit of smell from the exhaust only, but a huge difference from yesterday.

But I felt better arriving to Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym and it was a good investment to buy the mask/ filter. One filter is 21 ฿ and I think I can use them for a couple of rides.

Driving back home and so far, there have been light traffic every time going back home. Not enjoyable, but it is OK to fart along the Nawanin Road and the Srinakarin Road.

They came to deliver my shelfs and they had built it exactly as I did not want it. I got a picturefrom my friend and I marked what needed to be removed on the picture. I sent it back to my friend and he sent it to the Carpenter.

But still, they delivered the shelf and I had to send it back with them. What a disappointment! I really had expected my room to be ready today.

+++++++++++++++
Friday 9 ^th of February 2024 and I take the sky train to Sukhumvit Soi 23 to pick up the last stuff in my apartment.

There were three trains going in the opposite directions before my train arrived. And the train was covered in adds so it is impossible to see in to the cars. So, it is impossible to choose the car with the least passengers.

But I was pleasantly surprised, the car was almost empty, well, nothing else was expected as it the beginning of the line. I think my station is the third station.

The train is approaching

The train is covered in adds

Not many people when I boarded the sky train

But the train was soon getting full and by the time we reached Asok it was hard to get out of the car. I got down to pass under Asok via the subway station and I took a motorcycle taxi to my condo, a 2 minutes ride.

I packed my stuff and a team came to repair and check the wooden doors to my balconies. I grabbed my bags and I booked a Lineman taxi and I was waiting for my friend and the taxi on the parking lot.

My friend arrived just before the taxi and we were soon on our way to Samut Prakan. My friend wants to see my new room so we had a look before going for lunch at ZEN at the Robinsons Lifestyle Plaza. And to make things worse, we ended up at Swensens for ice cream after the Japanese lunch. Not a little set-back for my diet.

I stopped to buy soda water at Tops before walking back home. I took my scooter and I went to pick up my friend and we have planned to visit the Chinese temple: Wat Dhammakatanyu (Xian Lo Dai Tien Gong) - วัดธรรมกตัญญู (เสียนหลอไต้เทียนกง)

We drive along the Sukhumvit and the temple is just after having passed the Ancient City. Chinese New Year and the temple is decorated. We walked around for a while looking to buy water.

The water was finished in the vending machine but we found free water, of course, there was a “piggy bank” to put money for the water.

We buy a lottery ticket that they brought to us while enjoying the water. We had been looking but they did not have the number of my new license plate. But they had found a lottery ticket with the number and they brought it to us.

Entrance to the Wat Dhammakatanyu (Xian Lo Dai Tien Gong)
วัดธรรมกตัญญู (เสียนหลอไต้เทียนกง)

Wat Dhammakatanyu (Xian Lo Dai Tien Gong)
วัดธรรมกตัญญู (เสียนหลอไต้เทียนกง)

Wat Dhammakatanyu (Xian Lo Dai Tien Gong)
วัดธรรมกตัญญู (เสียนหลอไต้เทียนกง)

Wat Dhammakatanyu (Xian Lo Dai Tien Gong)
วัดธรรมกตัญญู (เสียนหลอไต้เทียนกง)

We left the temple and we drove to Robinsons Lifestyle Center to look for a USB cable for my scooter. The one I have is too long so it is a wee bit difficult to close the lid when charging my e-cig.

We started by looking for lottery tickets with my license plate number. We find 3 tickets and we split the cost 50/50 before going to the 3rd floor to look for the USB cable. Running around and we found one at the SAMSUNG store.

We managed to find some lottery tickets with my number

Back home and my friend performed a holy “Good Luck” ceremony and I am 100% sure that we will be millionaires on the 16th of February.

+++++++++++++++
Saturday 10 ^th of February 2024 and the carpenter is delivering my new shelfs at 7 o'clock. Of course, so many mistakes so a normal person would have been embarrassing to present a result like this. Not one single measurement was correct.

But now I had enough of things laying around so I reduced the price and I accepted the shelf.

The shelf was the last thing and now my new room is ready.

Bed room

Bed room

Computer desk

Bath room

My room

My room

My new wood furniture in the kitchen

My new wood furniture in the kitchen

My new wood furniture in the kitchen

Samut Prakan,

a central Thai province on the Gulf of Thailand, sits just south of Bangkok at the mouth of the Chao Phraya River.

On the river’s east bank is the Ancient City, a sprawling outdoor museum with scaled-down replicas of historic temples, old cities and palaces.

Upriver, a huge, triple-headed elephant statue crowns the Erawan Museum, which has fine arts displays and religious relics.

So, with the new shelf delivered I consider myself settled in Samut Prakan. I am very happy with my scooter, easy to get around. I would not even think about driving around in Bangkok with the terrible down town traffic.

And I expect to save 20 - 30000 Baht per month in taxi fees and my scooter will be paid for in 3 months. And it is also worth a lot not to have to go through the hassle booking taxi.

I drive to Chaiyasit Muay Thai Gym and I was pleasantly surprised, very light traffic and I made it in about an hour. 10 rounds with The Red Devil (ปีศาจแดง ก.กุมานนท์)

+++++++++++++++
Sunday 11 ^th of February 2024 and I drive to my friend's house to pick him up. We are going to The Red Devil for BBQ and we will drive there with my scooter. He is living not too far away from the gym, but we start early as I expect a few stops to stretch our legs.

I also stopped at the gym, it is closed on Sundays but I wanted to show the place for my friends before we continued towards my friend’s house.

We stopped to fill up gasoline and we made a de/tour to see if we could see any birds at the golf court next to the Safari World. The sky was full of storks above the Safari World and the trees were full of Asian Openbills building nests.

The nests were hanging over the street and we could see one Asian Openbill that had been hit by a car. Or hopefullyhave been died a natural death in the tree and then felt down on the street under the tree.

We reached my friend's house and he fired up the BBQ.

Firing up the BBQ

Firing up the BBQ

Firing up the BBQ

The meat is soon on the grill and my friend is in charge of the BBQ and my other friend is in the kitchen cocking something while I enjoy the tea.

It smells very good from the grill and I am getting hungry. And I have never seen so big pork collars before. And my friend had marinated them and it tasted very good.

I was full after two steaks but my friend pushed me to have another.

My friend start to grill the meat

My friend start to grill the meat

My friend start to grill the meat

My friend start to grill the meat

My friend start to grill the meat

My friend start to grill the meat

The BBQ pork collar is excellent as always

My friend's daughter had been sleeping when we arrived but now she was awake and she came out to say hello. Well, newly born so my friend helped her to say hello.

I had brought some good luck Thai Buddha amulets (พระเครื่อง) for his children so they will remember me in 50 years when I am long gone.

My friend's new born daughter

We jump on the scooter and we drive back to Samut Prakan with a short stop at HomePro parking to stretch our legs. No boxing tomorrow, I have now settled in my room in Samut Prakan and I will go to look for birds tomorrow morning using my scooter.

I look forward to the bird watching, first time using my scooter looking for birds and I hopethat it goes well so I can continue exploring the birds in the area.

Click HERE to find out if I have any luck with the birds.

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