So today I’m off on the train back to Bangkok, it’s going to take around 21 hours I think, at least I hope that’s what it’s going to take.
First though I need to sort out trying to find some postcards to send, getting the stamps (specific ones for Mick) and getting them sent off. I still have my trusty bike until lunch time so I took myself off in hope. Now for somewhere the size of Georgetown and the tourist destination it seems to be, do you think I could find any postcards?! I drove around for ages until finally, very shortly before I gave up all hope, in Little India I came across a tiny shop offering a couple of different designs so I snapped them up and got them posted.
Once again I have no accommodation booked in Bangkok and in such a huge city I really don’t want to be trailing around different places too much. Also I’m ‘hopefully’ going to be getting in to Bangkok around lunchtime on Sunday and need to find somewhere to stay before heading straight off out to the massive weekend market for some last minute shopping.
When I booked my train the lady at the ticket office said I needed to get the 1.15pm ferry across to the mainland to meet the train but as the ferries seem to go every 15 mins I didn’t think it needed to be too exact, the train goes at 2.20pm (again hopefully!) so there’s plenty of time I think. After getting back from the postcard hunt I managed a quick shower, packed up my gear and then I spent the next 40 mins or so trying to sort a place to stay. I really don’t fancy going back to Khao San Road this time, I know that’s where everyone goes but really it’s not very nice and nowhere near any transport links so to get to other places in the city is an expensive taxi ride. In actual fact I have no idea why people stay in this area, it really is just a couple of streets of accommodation and food places and bars and that’s it. I think I can do better than that! I hope I can do better than that! ;-)
Even after spending all that time on the internet I still didn’t really come up with anywhere terribly nice, just a couple of ideas again, I just hope they have a bed when I get there. I’ve been looking at private rooms for the last couple of days but in actual fact I think I might go for a dorm again. The ones I’ve done so far have been very comfortable and clean and if they’re small enough they’re fine. I usually try and have a private room for a couple of nights both when I arrive somewhere at the start of a trip and again when I leave somewhere to go home but I don’t think it’s really that necessary. As long as I don’t get someone similar to who I had last night that said 38 years old was really old (!!) I’ll be fine. Yeah thanks for that!! I know it is, I just don’t like to be reminded by people considerably younger than me ;-(
Around 1pm I decide I really need to get a move on and so head off after I made a note of a few hostels that looked possible in Bangkok. With one thing and another I only manage to get on the 1.30pm ferry which, in my opinion, doesn’t seem to be boarding as quickly as I actually think it should seeing as I’ve got a train to catch. After all the hassle I’ve gone to to get on this train I really can’t miss it.
The ferry from Georgetown to Butterworth- passenger seating in the middle and the cars around the outside
Fortune has smiled on me, perhaps the guy yesterday was right and I am lucky, and I make it to the station with enough time to grab a bit of lunch and buy some journey supplies.
When I finally get to the waiting room there doesn’t seem to be many people waiting for the train which is surprising. I’m expecting a train the size of the one I took from Bangkok to Surat Thani to get to Phuket and seeing as I apparently got the last ticket, therefore the train being full, there doesn’t seem to be many people at all.
I have a bit of a scan around to see if I can spot my rude, obnoxious old woman and am surprised that she’s nowhere in sight, that’s a huge relief. My fear was that I would see her again and she would start again where she left off, an even bigger fear I had was that I would be on the bunk above her but now seeing as I’m on the lower bunk that’s not going to happen. Phew. I really hope she’s cancelled her ticket or decided to fly or something, 21 hours with that woman would be enough to test a saint and I’m no saint!
Our train
The train arrived just 20 minutes late which was pretty good going and we were called to board, still no sign of ‘horrible old lady’ so all is good in the world. There are just two carriages on this train, I guess that’s how they get booked up so quick, the first carriage which is where the majority of people are getting on looks nicer and cleaner than the other, although I’m sure they’re pretty much the same inside, the second carriage is mine and who should be the first person I see as I get on??? Yep of course it was. I just couldn’t believe it, she was already moaning and as I got on she made some snide comment about where to find the seat numbers. She seemed to be arranging herself at the front end of the carriage and I thought that was at least a saving grace but as I went past her she followed me with one of her many bags and where should she be sitting but directly across the aisle from me!! Bloody Bloody Hell! There’s bad luck and there’s bad luck and all of a sudden I’m feeling like I should have flown! Straight away she starts trying to put her bags away and moaning and groaning as she does, if I have to put up with 21 hours of this I don’t think she’s going to last the night!
Fortunately I think she recognises me and practically turns her back on me while also managing to moan at the steward and then the ticket collector and anyone else who would give her the time of day. This is all added to the fact that we’re right next to the loos which smell pretty bad even by my standards. I’m not really one to worry too much about smells when I’m away as there are always so many of them but for all those hours it could be a bit of a trial.
About 20 minutes into the journey we stopped at another station where more people got on and a mother and her young son came and sat with us, they’ll be taking the bunks above us. This was clearly too much for the old lady and she upped and went to the next carriage and wasn’t seen for another 5 hours, until the beds were being made up and she was moved on from wherever she had gone. That was a lovely peaceful time for all of us in the immediate area! On her return though she just carried on moaning, mainly to herself but always about other people. She even moaned at the steward about the fact he had made her bed up so that the young boy could get to the bunk above to go to bed. She really was quite mad!
Four or so hours into the journey we arrived at Hat Yai which was the border. It was another very easy border crossing and as there were only two carriages of passengers the whole process didn’t take too long at all, it was just a case of all off the train, get our passports stamped that we had left Malaysia then queue up again to be admitted back into Thailand, very painless and there was even time to visit the café upstairs for a donut. It’s funny I seem to eat very little sweet things at home but when I’m away I do enjoy the odd donut here and there and even more oddly I seem to come back slightly lighter than when I went, must be all that traipsing around looking for accommodation that I always do!
The train carriage before the beds were made up
The bathroom............actually just a couple of sinks
Back on the train our steward started making up beds for people that required them but it was still pretty early so I held out until after I’d had dinner. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get too much food before I got on the train so had to buy their set meal onboard, which actually was quite nice. I was hoping that at the train station in Butterworth there might be a few places to get some food and take it with me but there was only the one place! Hence the donut and the onboard meal.
What I was really looking forward to about being on the train was just the chance to sit down and do absolutely nothing apart from look out of the window for a few hours, the last few weeks have been pretty busy again and a chance for a bit of a rest was just what I fancied and I wasn’t disappointed. I know flying is a lot quicker but where’s the fun in that huh? I’ve been looking forward to this journey throughout the whole trip.
When our steward came along a second time to offer to make up the beds this time I accepted and really looked forward to sleeping. It’s funny what silly things you get excited about huh?!
Everyone tucked up in their beds with the private curtains around
My bed when it was made up was just under a metre wide and very comfy with nice clean bedding - better than some hostels!
So now for a very long nice sleep.
No comments:
Post a Comment