Friday 13th October

Pote collected us at 6.30 and we were at the station by 10 to 7 for the 8.30 train to Chiang Mai. Had coffee at Black Canyon coffee shop overlooking the main concourse. Below us were people sleeping in chairs. They had obviously been there many hours if not overnight. At 8 a group of soldiers marched into the main concourse and we all stood for the national anthem. The old man on one of the seats below us had been sound asleep. He jumped up, stood to attention and then afterwards promptly went back to sleep.
We walked onto platform 10 at about 8.15. It was blazing hot already and the train, only three carriages, was 25 minutes late.
There was no engine as each carriage was powered by 2400bhp diesel engines located underneath the carriages. The carriage was well worn but scrupulously clean. During our journey the floor was swept and washed three times. The carriages were air conditioned but also had rotating ceiling fans which passenger could switch on.
An hour into the journey we were served tea or coffee and a roll with raisins and a pastry from a trolley like the airlines. Fascinating watching the city scape change into countryside. Fields were flooded and we expected this to just be over a small area but it went on for miles and miles. Water was up to roof level in many areas and families were moving about in small boats and canoes.
A delicious hot meal of rice, mince and fried fish was served at midday. Again at tea time we had tea, coffee and a couple of delicious home made biscuits.
The journey took over 12 hours with a number of stops where passengers got off and others got on. Fantastic experience as we had such a good idea of the change in the countryside between Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
(The first time I went to the loo, I came back to tell Mim that it was a squatting toilet and she nearly had a fit – a twelve hour journey and she would not go to the toilet! Luckily I later discovered there was also a western loo).
Arrived at Chiang Mai at about 9 and took a taxi to paradise. The guest house where we are staying is a veritable oasis – lush vegetation, swimming pool surrounded by a wooden deck and only 8 rooms in two two-story buildings built in Thai style. The staff here are so helpful, relaxing Thai music is piped into the gardens and there is a light incense burning all the time.
The décor is stunning. All drapes are in red Thai silk similar to the colour of Traer’s wedding dress. There are double folding doors to our rooms – outer solid wood, inner part wood with lacy netting and mosquito netting. We lock the room with a padlock when we go out. We each have a double four poster bed with mosquito canopy and burgundy silk drapes. The bathroom has a painted cement bath that, if filled, the water would be half way up our thighs whilst standing. The shower head is the size of a dinner plate and is like standing in a rain shower. All the furniture is in beautiful dark wood.
On the verandah outside our room, we have a small settee and side tables where we can sit overlooking the pool. We are provided with grass slippers to walk around the guest house and take our shoes or slippers off before going into the room which has beautiful polished teak floors.
So, after our long day on the train, we sat by the pool and sipped a drink before going to bed.