We board our overnight train to Bangkok
Ellie makes a good point that it really reminds you how small Ireland is when there is nowhere so far away that you would need take an overnight journey. Still though the beds would have been nice for those ropey Friday trips home from college in Sligo (I know Catherine would agree :) )
Ellie sits opposite a Thai woman in her 60s ish who's name is Lek. She is very interested in all our travels etc and in turn is an interesting character herself, she studied in New Zealand and tells us about her experiences there too.
When she learns we are off to Phuket she recommends the hotel of her nephew in Phuket town and books us in over the phone. Nepotism at its best!
As my good friend Dónall would say Sleeper trains are "the awesome" ! The best part being that they aren't minibuses and the driver can't overtake anyone and then stay for indefinite periods in the wrong lane...although I wouldn't put it past him to try!
My leg gets increasingly red and swollen on the overnight trip! Nice! I now have cankles! (for those not in the know, its when your calf and ankle morph into one tree trunk like monstrosity and there's no definition between the two!)
The plus point of the cellulitus being it has made me appreciate my regular ankles a lot more!
We don't get up to too much in Bangkok as the riots are becoming increasingly violent so we can't venture too far, plus I can only hobble so that impairs the walking around also. I get antibiotics and anti-inflammatories for the oul legeen- so hopefully they do the trick!
We get duped by two girls pretending to be helpful locals into taking a trip to the tourist office (a goverment organisation!! Imagine Bord Failte sending people out on the street to role-play the friendly Paddy!).
Girl:
"Oh you haven't booked anywhere to stay in the islands? oh my god, you shhhooould. Places could be booked out"
"you can get a tuk tuk or a taxi from here but don't pay more than eh...about 60 baht",
"oh look here's one here."
To the tuk tuk driver
"How much do you charge to go to Jula 6?"
Tuk tuk: "60 baht"
"Oh 60? oh wow, thats a good price.This guys good!"
They also recommend a trip to Chinatown afterward. We are only a little skeptical and we do need to book flights so we hop in the tuk tuk talking about how nice the girls are. The tuk tuk driver plays his part talking us up "oh wow you have thai friends?"
"very good, very good" and I think.... hmm it could be more likely they are "your" Thai friends!!
So we realise later on that the tuk tuk guy was on commission as 60 baht turns out to be ridiculously cheap to go that far, but as dupings go it wasn't a bad one. The guy in the tourist office asks us where we'd like to go in the islands and bar Phuket which we've already booked for 3 nights we plan and book the rest of our trip with them and pay for it all in one go. There isn't much wiggle room if we end up changing our minds and want to stay in one place for a few more days but the organisation is good for us as we are half way through our trip (aaah!) and we don't want to waste time trying to organise how to get to the next place/figuring out where to go/ places to stay.
Afterward we go to Chinatown, which is really cool. We seem to be among the few tourists and there is a very genuine feel to the place. We eat at a seafood restaurant/stall with tables and chairs on a street corner and it is delicious and charming.
Chinatown
The famously smelly but apparently delicious Durin fruit
Ellie,Chinatown
Ellie makes a good point that it really reminds you how small Ireland is when there is nowhere so far away that you would need take an overnight journey. Still though the beds would have been nice for those ropey Friday trips home from college in Sligo (I know Catherine would agree :) )
Ellie sits opposite a Thai woman in her 60s ish who's name is Lek. She is very interested in all our travels etc and in turn is an interesting character herself, she studied in New Zealand and tells us about her experiences there too.
When she learns we are off to Phuket she recommends the hotel of her nephew in Phuket town and books us in over the phone. Nepotism at its best!
As my good friend Dónall would say Sleeper trains are "the awesome" ! The best part being that they aren't minibuses and the driver can't overtake anyone and then stay for indefinite periods in the wrong lane...although I wouldn't put it past him to try!
My leg gets increasingly red and swollen on the overnight trip! Nice! I now have cankles! (for those not in the know, its when your calf and ankle morph into one tree trunk like monstrosity and there's no definition between the two!)
The plus point of the cellulitus being it has made me appreciate my regular ankles a lot more!
We don't get up to too much in Bangkok as the riots are becoming increasingly violent so we can't venture too far, plus I can only hobble so that impairs the walking around also. I get antibiotics and anti-inflammatories for the oul legeen- so hopefully they do the trick!
We get duped by two girls pretending to be helpful locals into taking a trip to the tourist office (a goverment organisation!! Imagine Bord Failte sending people out on the street to role-play the friendly Paddy!).
Girl:
"Oh you haven't booked anywhere to stay in the islands? oh my god, you shhhooould. Places could be booked out"
"you can get a tuk tuk or a taxi from here but don't pay more than eh...about 60 baht",
"oh look here's one here."
To the tuk tuk driver
"How much do you charge to go to Jula 6?"
Tuk tuk: "60 baht"
"Oh 60? oh wow, thats a good price.This guys good!"
They also recommend a trip to Chinatown afterward. We are only a little skeptical and we do need to book flights so we hop in the tuk tuk talking about how nice the girls are. The tuk tuk driver plays his part talking us up "oh wow you have thai friends?"
"very good, very good" and I think.... hmm it could be more likely they are "your" Thai friends!!
So we realise later on that the tuk tuk guy was on commission as 60 baht turns out to be ridiculously cheap to go that far, but as dupings go it wasn't a bad one. The guy in the tourist office asks us where we'd like to go in the islands and bar Phuket which we've already booked for 3 nights we plan and book the rest of our trip with them and pay for it all in one go. There isn't much wiggle room if we end up changing our minds and want to stay in one place for a few more days but the organisation is good for us as we are half way through our trip (aaah!) and we don't want to waste time trying to organise how to get to the next place/figuring out where to go/ places to stay.
Afterward we go to Chinatown, which is really cool. We seem to be among the few tourists and there is a very genuine feel to the place. We eat at a seafood restaurant/stall with tables and chairs on a street corner and it is delicious and charming.
Chinatown
 |
| From Bangkok,Phuket |
The famously smelly but apparently delicious Durin fruit
 |
| From Bangkok,Phuket |
Ellie,Chinatown
 |
| From Bangkok,Phuket |
 |
| From Bangkok,Phuket |
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