Overnight train to Bangkok.

Final day in Chang Mai wandering around more Temples (how many Wots can one city have?!) and enjoying a delightful lunch at the Women’s Prison.

This city centre compound is famous for massages and food; the women are trained ready for rehabilitation. Alas, no time for a massage, but sitting in the a/c café being served by prisoners watched by guards was fun, esp. as the food was wonderful.

Then off to Chang Mai station for the overnight sleeper to Bangkok. Which had obviously mechanical problems-40 minutes past advertised departure time we were all still sitting on our luggage on the platform watching workers gathered round the train on the far side of the tracks?

When the train finally lurched out and in again, and we clambered on, our little cabin was delightful. See pic of me sitting in comfort on our settee; we had our own sink, a fair amount of luggage room, and clean linen, pillows and towels.  Ok, we were travelling first class, but for the princely sum of £30 each it was worth going in comfort/privacy. And for me a treat after backpacking the hard way around India, I totally appreciated it!!

Supper was served in our cabin, a four course meal for around £4, and then the staff turned down the beds-literally, as the settee became bunk beds, surprisingly spacious.

Having eaten watching the setting sun over the rice fields of rural Thailand, we settled into bed as darkness fell, lulled to sleep by rocking and swaying.

The dawn sunrise woke us in time to gaze on final time on the endless rice paddies, villages and temples of Thailand.  This country is great, one minute we were admiring an ancient ruined Wot and then a giant gold monkey goes past the window (see pic!).

The late departure obviously set the pace for the whole journey-we finally pulled into Bangkok three hours late, but twas no problem, watching the countryside change into the suburbs and then into the city were fascinating. And on arrival I bargained for a tuk tuk (the traffic here is so bad a taxi takes ages, and the metro, whilst fast, is a pain with luggage…) and so we arrived again at the Bangkok Loft Inn with the wind in our hair, traffic fumes in our nostrils, and our luggage hanging around us by pieces of rope, expertly tied on by our driver, who did a very neat job of avoiding the gridlock.

A restorative shower and lunch at the local street stalls and we felt ready to hit the city. Just in time for a massive thunderstorm! We leapt of the river ferry and into cover as the monsoon rains fell like a black sheet, and passed a pleasant hour with Ice Coffee chatting to everyone else stranded until the storm passed.

Then into the Amulet market, lanes full of stalls devoted to talisman, and lucky charm hunters. The superstitions passed us by, but we were absorbed spotting everything from dentures (used!), tiny tiny relics, massive stone sculptures and colourful gems/jewels.

Our last full day tomorrow. The months I have been away have gone so fast, full of intense experiences and emotions, yet England seems so far away now. Fingers crossed the weather is warming up!!!!