We took the very nice and clean train (even if we did look hilarious not knowing which direction to go, with the staff pointing and tapping on the glass) system to arrive at the main station in Bangkok. The trains are extremely clean and well run, much nicer than Melbourne.
So we arrived in Bangkok walked a bit then jumped in a tuk tuk without any real destination. So he took us to the river, not before tried to get us to buy a suit from his mate on the way. Got off at the river, found out the river cruises were $40! So asked Mr Tuk Tuk, who was stuck behind a line of abandoned taxis, for a cheaper one, he said yes he’d take us there for 50 bht. We agreed, he backed out through about 25 meters of the traffic jam and then sped off showing off his Tuk Tuk prowess, much to my horror, I could see him he laughing in his little shiney tuk tuk rear view mirror. We arrived and thanked a god that we made it the 100 meters to the next port…which cost 50 bht… What a RIP OFF. But you haven’t been to Thailand till you’ve been ripped off and nearly killed by Tuk Tuk.
We left that night after taking a taxi from our hotel to the Main Bangkok station, of course not before experiencing half an hour of Bangkok Traffic (moving approx 1 meter every 5-6 mins).
Got to the train, bought a 3rd class ticket for approx $1 and jumped on the train. Quite old, with open windows and fans on the roof. It was an amazing way to see the outskirts of Bangkok, shanty communities with Satellite for their TV, dogs sleeping and trotting around, of course lots of rubbish and dirty water. There is also only one way to dry clothes on Thailand - 1 shirt per coat hanger, 20 of them in a row hanging from a pole, verandah, tree, car or fence.
The train took a little over an hour and half and it was comfortable with the breeze through the windows, some stops, were just designated areas, no signs or platforms. When you get off, you just jump down and walk across the tracks or jump on your boyfriends scooter with a little fluffy dog balancing it’s front paws on the handles. I really like that everything here is so easy going, there are so little rules on what you can do, you can ride your motorbike up the tracks, footpath, platform, runway, aisle, shop front anytime you like.
Dogs here look happy and well fed and ALWAYS TIRED. Always asleep on a wall, monument, platform, footpath, runway, aisle, shop front - anywhere they like.
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