The buses seem to have slowed down a bit since a spate of accidents over the last few years. I think it was just 1 or 2 years ago when 18 people were killed just outside of Korat? Now there are a couple of booths the drivers have to stop off at to check in... I think to make sure they aren't speeding. But of course all measures taken in Thailand to prevent accidents will be circumvented somehow.
I must admit with smart phones, Netflix, charging points and the like, I quite enjoy a four hour bus journey these days... just for the chance to watch a movie or two. I used to take taxis regularly between Korat and Bangkok for work, but then the cost was put on expenses. With 38 Baht to the pound I've become a bit more circumspect with my personal spending... and besides, taxi drivers have an annoying habit of talking to you when you're trying to watch something!
But I hope to get a train back home on Saturday... I'll have to find the times of the express ones. If not this thread needs a new title!
...my interest in Thai trains was snuffed out after we took a sleeper from BKK to Hua Hin. Our cabin wasn't too bad (double bunks) and once the door to the adjoining cabin was closed, a garrulous Indian was much less annoying...enjoying JWB all the way down, though not much to see at night (or during the day)...it wasn't a bad trip, just slow and boring...
Majestically enthroned amid the vulgar herd
agree
youre fucked if you get the end bunks as Thais cant close doors so they just slam shut all night.
used them quite often and found them relaxing for away football trips where planes dont fly to often
The plan this morning was an early breakfast then head off to the Paragon to visit Sea Life, one of our favourites.
I had a lousy sleep... overstuffed hotel pillows are a pet hate of mine and I woke from a shite sleep with crick in my neck. The daughter slept late (which I was secretly pleased about) so a change of plan was in order. I decided to cross off another achievement from my daughters list... a full English breakfast in a Bangkok pub with her old man.
Here she is setting out on the cusp of achieving yet another milestone in her short life...
We retraced yesterday's steps back to the Robin Hood and ordered two English breakfasts. Not quite 'full' to be honest, ever conscious of my waistline, but good enough nonetheless!
My egg yokes were hard again which seems to be a common theme at this establishment, and the 'hash browns' were more like little cubes of fried potato, but this was made up for by the bacon and sausages. I had to order the black pudding as an extra... but ya just have to do it.
Unprompted, the daughter went straight into making a 'manwich'... my pride continues!
And just to prove to her that the old man can have a pint of cider without spilling it...
It just has to be done! And to be fair it was closer to lunch time than breakfast time...
I tried to pick up some masks on the way back from the pub but they ain't so easy to find... apart from the fancy 'fashion' masks the vendors sell from the street stalls but I'm way too old for that. I only brought one mask with me from home which has now got a huge yellow greasy stain and I don't feel comfortable wearing it in sophisticated Bangkok.
Bogon travel tip #205... if you fancy eating your ham and mustard sandwich on the bus, remember to take your mask off before trying to stuff it in yer gob.
^^^ Bladdy hell Nev... however did you know that?
^^ Shutree... another West Country boy? To get a train from Taunton to London did you have to change at Temple Meads? If so you would have passed through Yatton... my local station.
This is fast turning into my last thread. My daughter's already mentioned that we could have got some good pics in Bangkok if we'd have brought Coco along! Sadly these posh hotels seem to frown on menstruating, un house-trained dogs.
Good thread Mendip,as always.
I've always wanted to do the Ubon to BKK train journey,but the kids are only interested in the plane.
Years ago I took a 2nd class sleeper from Georgetown to Bangkok. It was a non-air train, but it was close enough to winter to be bearable. I quite enjoyed the experience, although it could have ended 6 or 7 hours earlier than it did! The fresh air coming in from the windows was quite pleasant, the beds were reasonably comfortable (though I kicked my wife out of the lower bunk and made her sleep in the upper one when it started to get too hot) and there were food and beer vendors at almost every station.
We also took a 2nd class sleeper from BKK to Nong Kai, however, we got an unexpected upgrade to 1st class when a couple of young European guys offered to trade their 1st class seats for ours so that they could feel the fresh air and see the countryside better. It was closer to the really hot season, so we cheerfully agreed to the swap.
Train rides in Thailand can be quite enjoyable, but I do wish that they were just a bit faster.
Even the slowness is OK as far as I'm concerned, as long as it's on time.
Poor punctuality is part of the deal, so it's not suitable really for people who make the journey frequently or who have connections to make.
Maybe OK if you're a tourist, or if you have some other odd term for it, but not for any other category of traveller.
Mendip's experience is all too common.
Still, I've made that Bangkok - George Town - Bangkok trip about a dozen times and have fond memories of it.
The new overnight trains are bloody great. Done bangkok to nongkhai a few times and surat thani once. Always pay for 2 berths and get the whole cabin to yourself. Theres no beer to be had but ive never been hassled bringing my own. Likewise a sneaky smoke can be had in between carraiges.
Bogon Tip #912
Instead of walking the 20 minutes to The Robin Hood, you can walk 2 minutes to a new place called The Red Lion.
Take it you're staying in Centre Point? You must have booked in using an alias. The lady at reception denied a Mr. Mendip had checked in. (just kidding)
Enjoy the trip and out of greens.
Link - The Red Lion English Pub Bangkok - Home | Facebook
Black diamonds? I shit 'em.
^ You should come back for another visit Helge... the toilets are only 2 Baht now... but you have to wait for these morons to work out which way to walk through the turnstile. I usually pop in for a quick slash before the bus departs as the toilets on the buses are well dodgy, especially on a bumpy section of road. Enough said.
Yes, The Grande Centrepoint... very well done, green sent! Oh, hang on... which thread is this...?
Not for the first time I wished Coco had come along.
And as for the Red Lion, I'll check it out... for my daughter's sake. I want to expose her tom as many experiences as possible. I do hope they have draught cider (and soft egg yokes...)
Mendip, do the korat wars still go on between farangs?
^ Chico... I do in fact remember you from the koratfarang days... there, that's got you thinking!
I socialise very little in Korat these days. I get my Western company at work and go back home for domesticity with my darling wife and lovely daughter!
As Bogon correctly deduced we're at the Grand Centrepoint... and it's deserted. They put us nearly right at the top (30th floor) and upgraded the room to include a kitchenette and washing machine. They must be hurting. To be honest I'm not planning on doing that much cooking but the washing machine may come in useful after I soaked me daughter's clothes in cider yesterday.
This afternoon we had the pool to ourselves!
And for anyone interested, a view of Soi Cowboy from the pool... that small corridor of land must be worth a fortune.
...you know, of course, you're only a few steps away from some of the tastiest Italian cuisine in bkk-Pala...
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