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Location Date Singapore 1489708800 Vietnam 1489276800 South Korea 1484697600 Hong Kong 1462143600 China 1461798000 Taiwan 1461711600 United Arab Emirates 1441407600 Cambodia 1432162800 Mongolia 1370559600 Thailand 
1367276400 -
Location Date Bangkok 1367276400 Chiang Mai 1367190000 Pai 1367103600 Mae Hong Son 1367017200 Mae Sariang 1366930800 Hat Yai
1366671600
Day 3
Tuesday 23.4.13
Hat Yai-Bangkok
After being dropped off in the middle of town (and after being told where the station was) my first action was to change some money into Thai Baht. I was hungry as I had not eaten since the previous night as I did not have Malaysian money.
At the station I bought a ticket to Bangkok and a further ticket to Chiang Mai. The train would leave that evening at 6.10 pm and arrive in Bangkok at 10.10 am the next morning. The next train to Chiang Mai was scheduled the Hualangpong station at 6.10 pm arriving the next day in Chiang Mai at 9am. Anyway that is what it stated on all the tickets. The 14 hour train journey cost a mere $29.00
Travelling this way makes travelling cheap as the night train also saves overnight costs in a hotel/hostel. I took a stroll through the city and committed the unforgivable sin of going to Mc Donalds for a burger and coffee so I could use the internet. I have to say it was the nicest Mc Donalds I had ever seen. It looked like an up market restaurant. After taking my order they asked my name and brought the food over to my table. Afterwards there was no cleaning up needed as they do that as well. There were several sections with different styles of seating arrangement ranging from bar stools to large leather chairs and a computer area. In the end I went to a cyber shop inside the shopping centre as the internet connection was very slow. Maybe this was due to so many partakers of the service. Just inside the shopping centre there was a security check just like at any airport. Obviously they take things seriously in the southern part of Thailand due to the problem area near the eastern border with Malaysia.
The train was now scheduled for departure at seven pm. In the restaurant come waiting area at the station I sat next to an older gentleman who I greeted with: Hello, so I am not the only silver wolf in this station! The man laughed and introduced himself as Anne, which could only mean that he was from Scandinavia. "Sweden? “I asked, “No, Norway" he answered. He told me that he was living on one of the islands off the coast. After travelling many years in the same way I was doing now, he was tired and needed some time to rest. “Ok, how long have you been resting then?” I asked. “Oh About two years” came the answer. I asked about his age as I guessed he must be around the same age as me. “76” he said. Mmmm
Soon we were joined by a chap from the UK. They had both booked the same train which was supposed to be departing an hour after mine. Finally at 8 PM the train arrived and left soon after…only to be stopped about ten minutes later when heavily armed soldiers entered the train and checked everyone's credentials. It reminded me of the time I was in Turkey some years ago when I saw soldiers everywhere. Every bank had a soldier at the door, with a gun slung over their shoulder. The same I saw at most public places. It put me off a bit; however, when I enquired about it my question was met by a “They are here for your protection” answer. Straightaway I saw their presence in a different light. As for now the soldiers would do the same, just checking that everything was safe. The seats were soon changed into beds and the clickety clack would do the rest to send me off to sleep.
Tuesday 23.4.13
Hat Yai-Bangkok
After being dropped off in the middle of town (and after being told where the station was) my first action was to change some money into Thai Baht. I was hungry as I had not eaten since the previous night as I did not have Malaysian money.
At the station I bought a ticket to Bangkok and a further ticket to Chiang Mai. The train would leave that evening at 6.10 pm and arrive in Bangkok at 10.10 am the next morning. The next train to Chiang Mai was scheduled the Hualangpong station at 6.10 pm arriving the next day in Chiang Mai at 9am. Anyway that is what it stated on all the tickets. The 14 hour train journey cost a mere $29.00
Travelling this way makes travelling cheap as the night train also saves overnight costs in a hotel/hostel. I took a stroll through the city and committed the unforgivable sin of going to Mc Donalds for a burger and coffee so I could use the internet. I have to say it was the nicest Mc Donalds I had ever seen. It looked like an up market restaurant. After taking my order they asked my name and brought the food over to my table. Afterwards there was no cleaning up needed as they do that as well. There were several sections with different styles of seating arrangement ranging from bar stools to large leather chairs and a computer area. In the end I went to a cyber shop inside the shopping centre as the internet connection was very slow. Maybe this was due to so many partakers of the service. Just inside the shopping centre there was a security check just like at any airport. Obviously they take things seriously in the southern part of Thailand due to the problem area near the eastern border with Malaysia.
The train was now scheduled for departure at seven pm. In the restaurant come waiting area at the station I sat next to an older gentleman who I greeted with: Hello, so I am not the only silver wolf in this station! The man laughed and introduced himself as Anne, which could only mean that he was from Scandinavia. "Sweden? “I asked, “No, Norway" he answered. He told me that he was living on one of the islands off the coast. After travelling many years in the same way I was doing now, he was tired and needed some time to rest. “Ok, how long have you been resting then?” I asked. “Oh About two years” came the answer. I asked about his age as I guessed he must be around the same age as me. “76” he said. Mmmm
Soon we were joined by a chap from the UK. They had both booked the same train which was supposed to be departing an hour after mine. Finally at 8 PM the train arrived and left soon after…only to be stopped about ten minutes later when heavily armed soldiers entered the train and checked everyone's credentials. It reminded me of the time I was in Turkey some years ago when I saw soldiers everywhere. Every bank had a soldier at the door, with a gun slung over their shoulder. The same I saw at most public places. It put me off a bit; however, when I enquired about it my question was met by a “They are here for your protection” answer. Straightaway I saw their presence in a different light. As for now the soldiers would do the same, just checking that everything was safe. The seats were soon changed into beds and the clickety clack would do the rest to send me off to sleep.
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