somewheredownthecrazyriver

Oct 30-31 night sleeper Bangkok to Chang Mai.  this time, no Daewoo.  so an old style railcar and not up to scratch, as we were to find out.  instantly, you see that the railcars are older and the bunks are narrower, and once we passed the half-way point, it became apparent that something was not right.  were alternating between full speed ahead – crawling very slowly – and stopping in what seemed to be nowhere – for no reason. 

no worries – kept going.  until morning time – arrival time – and no Chang Mai..  finally, stopped for good about an hour outside of Chang Mai, and hours behind schedule.  there was a problem with the brakes and after much ado and no solution, the train backed up onto a side track and we were transferred onto a much older-style train for the final leg.  arrived in Chang Mai four hours late and a little bedraggled.  the last part of the trip had great scenery – up into the hills – lots of dense rainforest and high train tressels over the jade green jungle valleys – beautiful.  very happy to arrive in Chang Mai.

Oct 27-28 Penang to Bangkok night train (2nd class air-con sleeper).  another good ride – one of the newer Daewoo sleeping cars again.  enjoyed the roomy cot at night and blood-red sky at sunrise.  saw for the first time the shanty lean-to town that sprawls for miles along the outskirts of Bangkok.  met a couple from the train in a Bangkok cafe – they from my home province – travelling again after almost 30 years, saying so much has changed.  Bangkok was better this 2nd time around for me.  instantly knew my way and so was easily able to broaden my experience over last trip.  amazed at just how much i ‘did not see’ last time.  it was all there – just did not see it.  or maybe it depends on where you have just come from.  this time, after 2 weeks in ‘old’ Georgetown, Penang – Bangkok seemed strikingly modern and up-to-date, as i spent more time in the flash downtown shopping area – a shopper’s and gourmet’s delight http://www.siamparagon.co.th/v3/index2.html .  could spend days just shopping and browsing.  my one day in Bangkok flew by.  did not buy anything but the food was superb.  very happy to have booked the Cozy Bangkok Palace http://www.cozybangkok.com/index.htm – just a short walk from the main Hualamphong Rail Station.  so – easy in and easy out – for onward train to Chang Mai.

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