Train to Chiang Mai

I started the day with a trip to MBK which is a huge shopping mall in Bangkok, it's six stories and I bet there must be over 400 stores. Coming into the entrance you have to go through a metal detector and have your bags searched, funny thing is I set off the alarm when I walked through but the guard never did anything ! So really, what's the point - or maybe I don't look threatening but only a harmless tourist!

I braved taking the Bangkok Skytrain to get back to my hotel to check out - it is a really good system and easy to figure out, not to mention cheap transport and air-conditioning !

Off to the train station. I had some time to kill before boarding so I went across the street to an out door cafe for something to eat. This is where I encountered my first "lady boy"! He/she ? Was my waiter/waitress ? Lol. Super fun and very "flamboyant" I had a good laugh as I think he/she was trying their best to make me uncomfortable by hitting on me ! Wonderful food here by the way, the taste of some of these dishes is out standing.

On to the train ! I met my train guy who was responsible for our section (doing the beds up etc.) within five minutes of meeting me he invited me to smoke a joint with him ! Ah, no thanks ! Funny guy and very friendly, his name is "Golf" lol.
Quite the party atmosphere in the dining car last night. I sat down for dinner and was joined by a French couple and their daughter. Their English wasn't so good so I had to give my grade school French another work out.

Off to the sleeper car for bed. This cabin has four bunks. A Chinese couple across from me and a lady from the U.S. as well - she has spent the last two years traveling the world after burning out at her job, she has six weeks to go before having to return back to the real world - what a fantastic opportunity though.

Woke up early so that I could watch the scenery for the last four hours into CM. what a beautiful country side ! I have uploaded a few photos.

Spent the last few hours on the train sitting in the dinning car with the staff while they eat their lunch and pass around whiskey and sodas to each other ! They have another trip leaving CM in a few hours, so I guess this is their down time. By the pace they are going they are going to be loaded by the time the next train boards. They did let me try some spicy fish one of their wives made for them - it was awesome !
This is where things went side ways..... There is a big mountain pass to go into CM, turns out it was washed out, so after sitting at a dead stop for over an hour they decided to go back to the last station and get us on a bus for the last 60km.... All in all five hours later then we should have been.
Having said that, this train ride is one of my best experiences while traveling and really instills in me how wonderful these people are. Living for "today", its a good lesson.....

Check out the new pics !

In to Chiang Mai I go....