Category: Thailand

Cars in MML garage from Thailand

  • Thailand’s Most Beautiful Café Amazon? You Probably Haven’t Been Here Yet! ☕🌊

    This is my favorite Café Amazon in Chonburi, and without a doubt, one of the most beautiful branches in Thailand.

    Located on the Chonlamarkwithi Bridge in Chonburi Province, this unique café is surrounded by the sea, offering breathtaking panoramic ocean views in every direction.

    What I love most about this place is its peaceful atmosphere.

    The café features floor-to-ceiling glass windows, so even while sitting comfortably in the air-conditioned indoor area, you can enjoy uninterrupted views of the ocean. Step outside onto the terrace, feel the sea breeze, and watch the sunset—it’s the perfect place to slow down and unwind.

    Whenever I’m in Chonburi, I often spend an entire afternoon here with a cup of coffee, simply enjoying the view.

    If you’re driving from Bangkok to Pattaya, it’s only about an hour’s drive and makes an excellent stop for a coffee break before continuing your journey.

    Sometimes, the best part of traveling isn’t rushing from one attraction to another—it’s finding a place where you can sit back, relax, and do absolutely nothing.

    If you enjoy ocean views, peaceful cafés, and quiet moments, Café Amazon Chonlamarkwithi is definitely worth adding to your Thailand travel list. 🇹🇭☕

  • Honda City Hatchback Makes World Debut at Thailand International Motor Expo 2020

    It’s finally here in Thailand! The 2021 New Honda City Hatchback has made its world debut at Thailand International Motor Expo 2020. Everything almost looks the same with the sedan version until you see the rear of the car. The hatchback body style features a longer roofline to meet the roof spoiler, which is placed above the tailgate with a rear window that looks similar to the Honda Jazz or Honda Fit. For the market in Thailand, the City Hatchback is selling in three variants, S+, SV, and RS. S+ is the most basic variant that is priced at 599,000 baht, SV is the mid-spec variant that is selling 675,000 baht, and the top-ranging RS is priced at 749,000 baht. These three variants features the same 1.0 litre (998 cc) three-cylinder VTEC Turbo engine which produces 122 horsepower and 173 Nm of torque. It’s more than enough for a light-weight B-Segment car. Other than City Hactchback, we also see City e:HEV Sedan and Civic RS Turbo version. Here’s the full video of Thailand International Motor Expo 2020.

    As you can see from the video, the most eye-catching car at the Toyota area is no doubt the Toyota GR Yaris and the Toyota GR Supra. Toyota GR Yaris is not the ordinary Yaris where we often see on the street, this three-door pocket rocket features a G16E-GTS 1.6 liter turbocharged three-cylinder engine producing 261 PS and 360 Nm of torque. It takes only 5.5 seconds to rocket from 0 to 100 km/h and all the way to the top speed of 230 km/h. It’s definitely something exciting to see in today’s automobile world.

    As for Mazda, we see Mazda 2, Mazda 3, Mazda CX-30 100th Anniversary Edition. These three cars come in special white and they are fitted with Mazda’s 100th Anniversary badges on both the body and seats. On the other hand, Porche launches the New Porsche Panamera as well as Porsche Taycan Turbo. Details can be found in the video too. As for Audi, the most attractive car is the green Audi RS 4 Avant Quattro. This is a family car yet with sport cars heart. The rest of the highlights at this Motor Expo are all-new Ford Ranger, Lexus IS 300h, MG EP, MG HS PHEV, 2021 Nissan Skyline GTR R35, Nissan Kicks e-POWER, All New BMW 4 Series Coupe (G22), Mercedes-AMG GT R, Tesla Model X and others. Of course, there are also a lot of beautiful car model at the motor show as usual, because this is Thailand, the land of smile!

  • Drive to Thailand: Phang Nga to Phuket

    There are many piers on the way to Phuket from Phang Nga. These piers have boats to a few famous islands around such as James Bond island, Phi-Phi island and more. I continue my journey as my fuel level is getting low. I am really curious to know that how far a Mini Cooper can really go if it is filled up with 50 liters of RON 95 petrol.

    Drive a car to Phuket

    Driving through Thepkasattri Bridge (beside Sarasin Bridge) Phuket. Sarasin Bridge is the first bridge built that linked Phuket island to the mainland of Phang Nga province. Built in 1067 and this bridge is only 700 m long. Now, all cars have to go through Thepkasattri Bridge in order to go Phuket island.

    Welcome to Phuket…

    Welcome to Phuket

    A colorful hotel in Phuket that matches my Mini Cooper color – Holland Resort Phuket.

    Mini Cooper yellow

    Now that my mileage indicator shows 73,105 km. In Malaysia border, I filled up nearly 50 liter of RON 95 petrol and this tank of petrol traveled 601.5 km.

    P1110932

    In order to track fuel mileage for my car, I drive to a PTT petrol station and fill up Gasohol 95. It costs 1400 baht for 47.72 liter. That’s about 2 liter of RON 95 left in my fuel tank. Perhaps this shows that my car uses about 48 liters of RON 95 fuel to travel 601.5 km. In conclusion, the fuel consumption is 12.53 km/l (29.47 mpg). According to Edmunds, a standard ’05 MINI Cooper gas mileage is 24 mpg city and 33 highway. As I drive around Hatyai, Trang, Krabi and Phang Nga town, I am considered getting a very good mileage. The latest 2015 MINI Cooper F56 fuel consumption is 29 mpg city and 40 mpg highway. Compared to that, I am still considered the Mini Cooper R50 a reliable car for long journey drive. What do you think? Now that I am still wondering how far can my Mini Cooper go with a mixture of 47.72 liter Gasohol 95 and 2 liter of RON 95. This tank of petrol will be used to drive in Phuket down town and let’s see how far it can go. Perhaps it can last for about 400 – 450 km. See the top 10 fuel saving tips if you would like to know how to save fuel for more mileage.

    petrol price in Thailand

    Hard Rock Café, Patong Beach Phuket, Thailand.

    Hard Rock Phuket

    Lastly, I have checked in another hotel in Phuket town, Shyne hotel. I’ve selected this hotel because it has a good car park for my car. My car has a great place to rest for another journey and it has a great buddy too, a red modified Nissan Juke with 19” sport wheels. This Nissan Juke belongs to a young lady who is also the daughter of the hotel owner.

    Nissan Juke and Mini Cooper

    Day 1: Drive to Thailand: In A MINI Cooper

    Day 2: Drive to Thailand: Hatyai to Trang to Krabi

    Day 3: Drive to Thailand: Krabi to Phang Nga

    Day 3: Drive to Thailand: Phang Nga to Phuket

  • Drive to Thailand: Krabi to Phang Nga

    Drive to Thailand

    The driving experience from Krabi to Phang Nga was the best compared to Dannok to Hatyai or Hatyai to Trang. The scenery is so beautiful and you see gorgeous moutains almost everywhere during the way to Phang Nga. There is an Elephant mountain because it looks exactly like an elephant standing there.

    Phang Nga Thailand

    The famous Elephant moutain in Phang Nga

    elephant moutain Phang Nga Thailand

    The Dairy Hut Farm in Phang Nga. It is a very special place before entering Phang Nga town. (more…)

  • Drive to Thailand: Hatyai to Trang to Krabi

    The “Drive to Thailand” journey continues from Hatyai to Trang. Trang is a very small town and I decided to drop by for delicious local food. I notice there is not much of petrol station in Thailand compared to Malaysia. Therefore, it is always recommended to fill up your fuel tank whenever you see a petrol station. In Thailand, there are a few different types of petrol. The RON 95 that is commonly used in Malaysia is considered as expensive petrol in Thailand and not every petrol station sell it. You can only find RON 05 (Benzin 95) in PTT, Esso, Chevron, PTG, Susco, and Pure. However, it is not easy to locate these petrol brands except PTT and Esso. In case you can’t find RON 95, there is an option to go for Gasohol 95. Gasohol 95 and Gasohol 91 is commonly used due to the fuel price in Thailand is expensive.

    This is what you need in your car – A reliable GPS system to bring you anywhere (see what is the best GPS system for cars).

    best car GPS

    I was supposed to travel to Trang through Phatthalung but somehow the GPS brought me to Tamot.

    drive to Thailand

    This is one kind of petrol station you will see during your way. Do you dare to pump fuel from this to your Ferrari, Hummer, Lamborghini or even MINI? Well, I have fill up to full tank at Malaysia border and the computer in my car shows that my fuel can still travel for 400 km so I bet that the MINI can arrive in Phuket without the need to pump any petrol.

    amazing petrol station

    Turn left to Trang… The weather is 35.5 Celsius (95.9 Fahrenheit) to the highest 37.5 Celsius (99.5 Fahrenheit).

    P1110830

    Trang 41 km. It is getting closer.

    Trang Thailand

    And here is the iconic fountain in Trang + roundabout + a beautiful yellow MINI Cooper.

    drive to Thailand

    It’s about 150km from Hatyai to Trang and another 150 km from Trang to Krabi. The car is full but the driver is hungry, it is time to hunt for delicious food in Trang, Thailand.

    Trang Thailand

    Now the stomach is filled up. The journey continues from Trang to Krabi, one of the most famous places in Thailand. It took about 2 hours to arrive at Krabi. I decided to spend a night at this famous town and I have checked in Tairada hotel. Tairada hotel is a new hotel in Krabi. It doesn’t ranked good in Tripadvisor because of the location is bad for travelers without a transport but it is perfect for people who travel with cars.

    Day 1: Drive to Thailand: In A MINI Cooper

    Day 2: Drive to Thailand: Hatyai to Trang to Krabi

    Day 3: Drive to Thailand: Krabi to Phang Nga

    Day 3: Drive to Thailand: Phang Nga to Phuket