Day 6

My last day in Bangkok, it’s a weird one as I need to check out of my room, but hang around the hotel till 5.30 for a taxi  to the train station. I can’t drag my luggage around anywhere! So I’ve decided to go for a walk to the park this morning, then have a swim, then leave my luggage while I go and get a late lunch.

The park is just up the road from the hotel, this is quite an affluent area and the park highlights this with a large number of children being cared for by their Nannies. It’s so lovely being under a green canopy within a large bustling city!

Bangkok is incredibly loud, cars, mopeds, trains, workman, generator’s, air conditioning units! Even in the pool at the hotel the noise is constant. 

It kind of reminds me of the film The 5th Element (?) where at ground level everything is choking in fumes, grimy and poor but the higher you go the air is clearer, it’s clean and the wealth resides! 

I’ve had some Chicken fried rice from a food stall, £1 I’ll take that! It was yummy. 

I had spoken to the hotel about a taxi to the train station, I explained that although my train wasn’t leaving until 8.20pm I had to collect my tickets by 7.30pm when the office closes. I suggested leaving at 5.30 the receptionist said 6 as it’s only a 30 min drive. There is nothing at the train station, no cafe, waiting room etc, so I was happy to wait in the cool hotel!

I was sat waiting in reception reading my book around 5.15 when I heard thunder, then the heavens opened and it was a full storm with torrential rain! Exciting 😍

At around 5.40 the receptionist said we should call a taxi now as the rain would make them busy and the roads get blocked, I agreed. Unfortunately there were as no taxis available at all from anywhere! She tried an Uber, nope, all booked or not wanting to take the job. By now It was getting on for 6pm, I was starting to get a little twitchy 😬 eventually she found a private cab, which was more expensive, but who cares! Get it booked! 

The car arrived at 6.15 and when we got onto the main road by the hotel it was chaos, traffic at a standstill, torrential rain, his Google map app was saying journey time 60mims! Jesus! 😳I’m thinking I’m never going to get there in time to collect my tickets, perhaps I could just try and get on without them 🤔 Not sure Thai bureaucracy would allow it, perhaps if I cried 🤷‍♀️ a lot! 

My driver was chatting away on his phone, whilst lane changing every 2 minutes, it took us 30 mins to do a 10min journey, then we made it onto the highway, which you pay to use (5th element again!) then he just floored it! Lane changes at warp speed, the time ticking, driver still chatting, rain pouring, thunder crashing, me trying not to wet myself!! Then…we arrived, with 20 minutes to spare!! Whew! I could have cried. 

I then spent 10 of those 20 precious minutes queuing at the wrong window! FFS but eventually I had the tickets in my grubby (and very sweaty!) little hands. 

I was then very chilled, sitting on a bench reading my book waiting for my train. 😊

The train was fabulous! I bloody love a night train. This one was wonderful, my bed was nice and wide, I was at the toilet end of the carriage, handy but not smelly! As I’d booked both bunks, so as not to have to share with a random stranger, I got 2 pillows. I had also received an email the day before from the booking agents saying they had overcharged me, so I got a £25 rebate, making the train £39 what a bargain!

It was dark and I was tired so I tried to go to sleep earlyish, 10pm. There was the usual train noise, which doesn’t bother me but there was a very loud metallic rattle which was disturbing. I located it, used the spare blanket as a wedge and that was sorted! 

I did sleep on and off, then woke at 5.45 opened the curtains and it was light so I got up to enjoy the views. 

We arrived in Chiang Mai on time 8.40am, I jumped in a Red Taxi or “Songthaews’ the main sort of public transport here. It was 50bht to the hotel. 

My hotel is in a great spot, it’s very clean, friendly, the pool is lush but no restaurant at all. However there are several around us and 2 directly across from the entrance so all good. 

My room is ok, but on the top floor and quite small and hot, although ok once the air on is on. They have said I could change tomorrow to one on the ground floor, I’ll check it out and see if I like it! 

I’ve had a little wander, called into a tourist office to look at some day trips, cooking classes etc. Did a spot of shopping at the 7/11 washing powder, milk, wine! All the essentials. 

I ordered lunch from the Thai place across the road, It was a dry yellow curry with veg, It comes in an interesting package, the rice in a takeaway tray and the curry next to it in a plastic bag! 

It was very nice, not what I expected but tasty. And £1. 

Went out late afternoon early evening to try and have a drink, ended up walking in large hot circles trying to find a particular bar, Nope! No luck. Everywhere looked very quiet, I think my timings for Chiang Mai are out of whack, I need to start later and finish later! I’ll work on this over the coming weeks. 😃

I did find a fantastic little local, busy Thai cafe , which was really good, I reckon I could try lots of different things there and move away from Rice! 😂

Back in the hotel and now ready for my bed.

please ignore the random booking pic! i cant get rid of it and dont want tomrisk losing the pics! x

Night all.

Xxx