Much of the morning was spent bumming around Bangkok as we had to check out early, but didn't need to leave for the train station until 5.30pm. Oh hold on make that 5pm, weirdly the lady who booked our car to the station decided we needed an extra half hour due to traffic. Having seen what the traffic in this place was like we didn't argue.
The journey to the station should have been pretty uneventful, but when we were about there our driver randomly pulled in at a tour shop and advised that we should get out and book our accommodation for Chaing Mai. We explained that we would book it when we got there as we wanted to see it in the flesh. He insisted that you could see it in the flesh by looking at a book.
Michelle worked hard and got him to drive on, only for him to drive past the station and onto another tour operator with the same story!! We said thanks, but no thanks and walked back to the station.
I have to be honest I didn't have high hopes for the sleeper train and neither did my parents, who had supplied emergency toilet roll as a going away gift. Thanks Mam and Dad, but I'm pleased to say I didn't need it.
Our sleeping berth was basic, but adequate and although the toilet was essentially a hole in the ground going straight onto the tracks there was loo roll and even better one of the other toilets was more western... i.e. there was a seat, but it was still a hole in the ground:
As soon as we were on board we were offered a meal (which you had to pay for). I declined as we'd stocked up on various treats from the local mini market in case the food was pants and I didn't fancy anything I'd seen.
Michelle ordered Set Meal B, which was delivered promptly at 8pm. Initially I was a little jealous as several dishes and plates were laid out like a massive banquette. There was watery cabbage soup with what looked like a lamb testicle floating in it.... mmmm nice (Hudson - was actually a pork meatball and very tasty it was too)
Michelle finally made it onto the main course and then I heard "What the hell is that!?", to which I replied, looks like a human ear to me!:
I'm pleased to announce that it wasn't a human ear, it was in fact as Michelle described it a "boiled pork scratching". She said that it was actually tasty, but even she failed to eat the ear shaped piece!!! (wimp)
Our seats were converted into beds at 9pm, honestly 9pm what's that about!! We managed to sit about in our beds until 10pm before finally calling it a night. We both read books for as long as possible to try and make sure we were super tired and then tried to sleep. All efforts were pretty futile and although we got a few hours it was by no means a full nights sleep.
I'd imagine it was more sleep that we would have got if we had just been sitting in chairs for the 14 hour journey!!
We arrived in Chiang Mai at 9.45am, we were woken up by the train staff at 6am, so it was nice to see the sun rise over some stunning countryside!!
No comments:
Post a Comment