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I took the train from Bangkok yesterday for an overnight trip down the peninsula to Penang, Malaysia. I didn't have ham and eggs in Carolina and I did not get a shoe shine, but it was fine.
My first goal of the day yesterday was to make it from hotel to train without getting all sweaty. Just stepping outside in Bangkok is about all it takes for me to sweat and I knew I would be uncomfortable if I boarded the train wet. I got a tuk tuk as far as I could from my hotel to Sukhumvit which was the main street near me, but he could not turn right to take me to the MRT station (subway) so I walked across the street with my heavy pack and found a taxi to take me the short distance I needed to go. The subway was delightfully cool and I got to the train station almost completely dry. First goal of the day accomplished.
Not knowing what to expect at the station I arrived very early and there were simply no problems so I had a lot of time to kill. What does one do in a situation like that but eat, right?I am ready for a change from Thai food and looking forward to a different cuisine soon. The train was available for boarding at 1415 with a 1445 departure so I got settled early and watched the other passengers flow in.
While I was eating lunch in the station I had noticed a big family of middle Eastern looking people (infants to grandparents) and at the last minute they boarded my train. I had heard stories of Islam terrorists shooting at trains in soouthern Thailand so I felt good about having their brothers and sisters aboard. Hopefully they would not attack their own. Well it turned out the Iranians and I got to be quite friendly by the time we ate and slept together. The adults were much faster warming up than the 10 and 12 year old girls. I had the idea that they had been taught in school not to like Americans. In the end we all got along and they taught me to count in Farsi which is something I had forgotten since my long ago trip to Iran. There were 18 family members traveling together.
Sleeping on the train was quite comfy. The seats convered to upper and lower berths. I would have slept better if I had not had an enormous beer with my supper, but otherwise it was a fine night sleeping for a while and peering out into the Thai countryside for a while. Our point of entry into Malaysia was a very non descript little building which housed Thai emigration and Malay immigration. The Malay officials were delightful and the most smiling customs officers I have seen. Bodes well for Malaysia. The train arrived Butterworth station about an hour late today and from there I took a ferry over to Penang.
So now I am checked into my guesthouse in Penang, Malaysia and I am writing this in the lobby. There is a delicious aroma of garlic that keeps wafting through so I will track the source and eat there tonight.I will explore once it cools a bit . I hope my supper tastes as good as it smells.
My first goal of the day yesterday was to make it from hotel to train without getting all sweaty. Just stepping outside in Bangkok is about all it takes for me to sweat and I knew I would be uncomfortable if I boarded the train wet. I got a tuk tuk as far as I could from my hotel to Sukhumvit which was the main street near me, but he could not turn right to take me to the MRT station (subway) so I walked across the street with my heavy pack and found a taxi to take me the short distance I needed to go. The subway was delightfully cool and I got to the train station almost completely dry. First goal of the day accomplished.
Not knowing what to expect at the station I arrived very early and there were simply no problems so I had a lot of time to kill. What does one do in a situation like that but eat, right?I am ready for a change from Thai food and looking forward to a different cuisine soon. The train was available for boarding at 1415 with a 1445 departure so I got settled early and watched the other passengers flow in.
While I was eating lunch in the station I had noticed a big family of middle Eastern looking people (infants to grandparents) and at the last minute they boarded my train. I had heard stories of Islam terrorists shooting at trains in soouthern Thailand so I felt good about having their brothers and sisters aboard. Hopefully they would not attack their own. Well it turned out the Iranians and I got to be quite friendly by the time we ate and slept together. The adults were much faster warming up than the 10 and 12 year old girls. I had the idea that they had been taught in school not to like Americans. In the end we all got along and they taught me to count in Farsi which is something I had forgotten since my long ago trip to Iran. There were 18 family members traveling together.
Sleeping on the train was quite comfy. The seats convered to upper and lower berths. I would have slept better if I had not had an enormous beer with my supper, but otherwise it was a fine night sleeping for a while and peering out into the Thai countryside for a while. Our point of entry into Malaysia was a very non descript little building which housed Thai emigration and Malay immigration. The Malay officials were delightful and the most smiling customs officers I have seen. Bodes well for Malaysia. The train arrived Butterworth station about an hour late today and from there I took a ferry over to Penang.
So now I am checked into my guesthouse in Penang, Malaysia and I am writing this in the lobby. There is a delicious aroma of garlic that keeps wafting through so I will track the source and eat there tonight.I will explore once it cools a bit . I hope my supper tastes as good as it smells.
1-Iranian kids who at first were a little hostile, but as you see, later warmed up to me.
2-Train with sleepers in place.
3-Train set up for day travel
4-Bumphlanong Station in Bangkok.
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