It took a while to get out of Bangkok and find the right road. Bangkok is one giant sprawl, and the traffic would be a whole lot simpler if the locals followed the rules. Any rule, actually. I find myself back on the AH1 for a short time before taking Highway 2, which takes me north east, passed Nong Khae, where I fill up the tank, and onto Pak Phriao, where I turn on to the Mittraphap Road.
 Mostly flat and hot. |
 Did I mention hot? |
This is one of four major artery roads in Thailand, and this one was built with the financial assistance of the United States. In fact, it is the first road in Thailand to meet international standards, and the first to use asphalt and concrete. The temperature has reached 36c today and I am only about two thirds of the way to my destination in Phayakkhaphum Phisai. When I get to Mueang Nakhon Ratchisima, I pull over and buy a few things, including water. Nakhon Ratchasima has long been the most important political and economic center in the northeastern region, and it became an important air base to the United States during the Vietnam war in the late 60′s and early 70′s.
The area around Korat was already an important center in the times of the Khmer empire in the 11th century, and the larger empire stretched from southern Burma, in the west, to consume modern Laos, Cambodia and much of Vietnam in the east. There is nothing more impressive about their empire than the city of Angkor in modern Cambodia.
I take the right turn at Sida and onto the 202 towards Nong Yueang. I eventually drive into Phayakkhaphum Phisai late afternoon and find a good place to park up. (I did find a number of hotels in the town, but none of them could be booked online, so the camper it is.) I go into the main street to find a store, which is rewarded with finding a very cheap restaurant where I eat for a very reasonable price. It’s still pretty hot and I am not expecting it to get much cooler than about 25c, so it might be a restless night.