You read Lance's version of the train ride to Chiang Mai.
My version is more in the style of Woody Allen. The sub title is "how I worried myself to a good night sleep".
I went down to the main Bangkok train station Hualamphong 2 days earlier to make sure I got my overnight ticket for a lower sleeping bunk with fan (of course). I found that since I was staying further north in Bangkok, I could get a ticket leaving from the North station at BangSue saving $2.50 (cost of 3 changs). Great. Lugging my daypack and luggage (just exercise), I used the public bus and MRT (subway) to get to the station since being cheap frugal, I would never take a taxi. I wasn't sure how far the station was from the MRT. Would I have to walk 2 meters or 2 km? About 3 blocks from the MRT, I finally found a small the 2 track station. I starting worrying whether this was the right place. A sigh of relief came over me, when I determined that it was, so I waiting for my train. With no one speaking English there, I was worried that I would get on the wrong train. When the train arrived I was assured by an employee using hand signals that this was my train. I hurried to get to my car as I was conerned that it would take off without me. Got to my car, found my bunk and settled in.
The bunk was pretty comfortable and not hot even though I drew the curtains which didn't allow the fan air to enter. I placed my gear inside the bunk. Feeling somewhat relaxed, I then remembered reading a thread on the lonely planet website about someone writing that their backpack was lifted (stolen) by a train employee when the train stopped at one of the local stations. Now, I was worried about my stuff being stolen, so for the 1st 3 to 4 hours when the train stopped, I would wake up and check that my luggage and personal belt were still there. Sleep took over me and I woke up to a beautiful 7am morning and my stuff was still with me.
After the bunks were removed, I had a couple of bananas, a tangerine and water which I brought with me, for breakfast. Damn, I am cheap frugal. I got into some nice conversations with a couple of Americans and a qiwi. The morning went by real fast. The qiwi said he had a cold and coughed a few times so I worried that I would catch a cold from him.
Finally arrived at 12:30PM in Chiang Mai to a hot and glorious day.
Not a bad train ride after all.
To be continued. (if I was working, I would have more leasure work time to devote to this thread)
MJ
My version is more in the style of Woody Allen. The sub title is "how I worried myself to a good night sleep".
I went down to the main Bangkok train station Hualamphong 2 days earlier to make sure I got my overnight ticket for a lower sleeping bunk with fan (of course). I found that since I was staying further north in Bangkok, I could get a ticket leaving from the North station at BangSue saving $2.50 (cost of 3 changs). Great. Lugging my daypack and luggage (just exercise), I used the public bus and MRT (subway) to get to the station since being cheap frugal, I would never take a taxi. I wasn't sure how far the station was from the MRT. Would I have to walk 2 meters or 2 km? About 3 blocks from the MRT, I finally found a small the 2 track station. I starting worrying whether this was the right place. A sigh of relief came over me, when I determined that it was, so I waiting for my train. With no one speaking English there, I was worried that I would get on the wrong train. When the train arrived I was assured by an employee using hand signals that this was my train. I hurried to get to my car as I was conerned that it would take off without me. Got to my car, found my bunk and settled in.
The bunk was pretty comfortable and not hot even though I drew the curtains which didn't allow the fan air to enter. I placed my gear inside the bunk. Feeling somewhat relaxed, I then remembered reading a thread on the lonely planet website about someone writing that their backpack was lifted (stolen) by a train employee when the train stopped at one of the local stations. Now, I was worried about my stuff being stolen, so for the 1st 3 to 4 hours when the train stopped, I would wake up and check that my luggage and personal belt were still there. Sleep took over me and I woke up to a beautiful 7am morning and my stuff was still with me.
After the bunks were removed, I had a couple of bananas, a tangerine and water which I brought with me, for breakfast. Damn, I am cheap frugal. I got into some nice conversations with a couple of Americans and a qiwi. The morning went by real fast. The qiwi said he had a cold and coughed a few times so I worried that I would catch a cold from him.
Finally arrived at 12:30PM in Chiang Mai to a hot and glorious day.
Not a bad train ride after all.
To be continued. (if I was working, I would have more leasure work time to devote to this thread)
MJ
