Leaving Bangkok
With our train, bus and ferry tickets booked through www.12goasia we were all set to go.
We had to be out of our accommodation at midday and the train didn’t depart until 7.30pm so we had a lot of time to fill in. We made our way to the station, paid for luggage storage and then set off on foot to explore this part of Bangkok.
One of the many alleyways that make up Chinatown
Close to the station is the famous Chinatown. The sights, sounds and smells of Chinatown are an assault to the senses, but a few hours lost among the many market alleys and street food vendors were the most memorable part of our day. Due to the mix of Chinese and Thai cultures this area is unique where we found stunning temples, exotic street food and everyday street scenes intertwined.
All Aboard!
Our snacks purchased (read that you don’t want to purchase from the on board menu), we collected our luggage, found our platform then managed to find our carriage.
We were booked on 2nd class (A/C) sleeper carriage. It was clean and comfortable. Sitting face to face in the same cubicle, the guard came around within the first hour and proceeded to make up the bunks. Fresh sheets and pillow slips there was no need for us to use our own sleeping bag liners which we had at the ready (one has to be prepared!!).
Scotty took the top bunk (bless) and I had the rather spacious bottom bunk. It was lovely to fall asleep to the gentle rocking and constant rumble of the tracks below us. That was until there was a stop at 4am so that some passengers could disembark. Seems the Americans in the cubicles beside just couldn’t master the art of whispering!
Coffee arrived at 6am, pastries consumed (pre-purchased in Bangkok) and we were ready to disembark at our stop at 7am.
Making up the beds
Only way to travel
Final Leg of the Journey
It was a 1 hour wait for the bus to take us to the ferry terminal. Little did we know that it was actually a 1.5hr bus ride to get to the coast – nearly 80km (glad I’d used the toilet on the train!). Our ferry was waiting for us and after another wait for more buses, we finally set sail for Koh Samui 45 minutes away.
Never Take the First Offer
As usual, there was the hard sell for our transfers once on the island. When we were waiting for the bus to arrive after getting off the train, the offer from the company we were travelling with offered to take us to our lodgings for 500thb. We declined, wanting to find a deal when we got there.
The next offer came from the staff on the ferry. ‘We can get you there for 300thb’. Ah no thanks (hoping all the time that we could do better). On arrival at the ferry terminal, we headed for the local songthaew (taxi truck). We managed to barter a ride for 200thb. Although not as comfortable as a van, it was a 15 minute drive so it wasn’t a major. Although I thought I’d done well, a couple of days later we caught one back to the ferry terminal for 150thb, then one back for 100thb so maybe I wasn’t as clever as I thought!!
Ferry ride to Koh Samui
Interesting taxi ride to accommodation