The Night Train to Chaing Mai

Transport and Hotel in One!

We are leaving Bangkok and heading

north to Chaing Mai.  Rob & Kate, and

maybe the monk are guarding all the

luggage in the train station.  The Monk

can travel through all of his life with

his robes and the one little satchel.

Not so for the Murphys, making an

around the world journey and going

from just below the North Pole to

near the equator means you have to

pack a varied wardrobe.

It seemed like all of humanity

was sprawled out on the floor

of the station.  People were eating,

sleeping, dressing, flirting ~

I was thinking about the germs...

Kate & I decided that train station

toilets had to be better than train

toilets so off we went, while there

we heard a shout that we had to board

NOW.  So, sorry no train shots.

Once aboard everyone had a bite

to eat, we had stopped at a store

and made some sandwiches but

Mick & Brennan had what was

offered on the train ~ it was ok.

There was a group of French people

with an old bucket filled with

champagne and wine on ice.

The French know how to dine in

style no matter where they are.

And then it was bed time.

The seats were converted into

beds and everyone quieted down

and slept.  I found the rocking

of the train to be very soothing.

I watched dawn break over

the northern Thailand jungle.

The scenery was spectacular.

It's morning and the train

begins to wake up.

This guy folded up the beds

and had all the new linens

packed and ready for the

next night.

Our 12 hour trip somehow

turned into a 17 hour trip.

No apology, no explanation,

I guess you just get there

when you get there.

But with scenery like this

we didn't have many complaints.