Day 2, Sept 14, 2018 - Friday
I was up at around 0500 and straight jump down to go to have my shower. With all the early morning ritual done we sat waiting for the day to really break out. At the same time, we ate whatever food we bought for breakfast and the only other thing to have was coffee. Soon enough I received a message from Mohd Noh that they were on their way to the buffet car. We followed suit.
At 0644 we were at the cafe having breakfast, what food we had left that we shared and coffee. There was halal food served the first time I boarded this train but now only vegetarian food was the option if we wanted to buy on board. We had 'tapau' what we could at Hatyai and brought along other snacks and bread. We feasted on what we had and we were more than satisfied. The other passengers started to join us in numbers. We knew we could not sit there too long but we persisted as much as we can by chatting away. The Thais, as usual, had rice and iced drinks for breakfast.
We ended up sitting at the buffet car for almost two hours. It was so hard to leave especially when you had one of the best scenery of Thailand passing outside, One particular thing was the Kelapa Laut trees planted by the farmers within their paddy field. During our first trip, I was really wondering as to what tree it was. I wanted to ask someone after that but I forgot. However, a conversation I had with Ameer, I think, the subject came out when we were reviewing some of our photos. Ameer told me it was Kelapa Laut tree. That morning to show to others I zoomed in my camera as close as possible and captured the kelapa on the tree. Indeed it was Kelapa Laut.
At 0809 we left the cafe to enjoy the rest of the journey into Bangkok from our viewing seats.
We started to approach Bangkok at 1030 but Hua Lamphong station seemed elusive with too many stops and crossings. One of the major stops was Bangsue. Bangsue is already a major hub and soon will become the main hub replacing Hua Lamphong once the new train terminal is completed. If not for these we could have been at Hua Lamphong sooner. We finally disembarked at the station at 1115. Since we were right at the front we were already at the entrance to the station’s main waiting hall when we disembarked. We waited for Mohd Noh and family to join us and in the process witnessed the laundry crew at work. During this trip laundry business became our real interest as well as a joke among us. Basically, because Mohd Nor owns the same business back in JB. So when Mohd Noh reached us he was busy taking pictures of the cleaning crew throwing and gathering the used beddings on the platform. In fact, I was intrigued not only of the speed but the accuracy of their gathering method that include throwing our the bundle onto the platform. It was a joy to watch.
Mohd Noh's brother, Nizam, who works for Times Telekom stationed in Bangkok came to welcome us at the station. He has been in Bangkok for 2 years. He waited for one hour, at least, for our arrival at the station. He was also taking an AA flight home for the weekend a few hours after we arrived.
As planned we stored our luggage at the storage service available at the station and walked out of the station via the man entrance of the main hall. As we were outside we turned left and crossed the road where 7-eleven was. We took the small alleyway where side small shops turned it into a canopy-like walkway and we walked through it until the end of the block. At the end of the block, we turned left and walked further on. There were three halal restaurants there and Nizam chose the nearest for us to have a proper late breakfast. It was a southern Thailand Muslim menu a taste not far from what we used to at home. I could not remember what we had but I am pretty sure some of us ate rice. Nizam belanja us when we finished and walked back to the station to take the MRT to Silom and eventually connecting to BTS there to Wongwian Yai to buy leather parchment/products at Chareon Rat 4. According to Mohd Noh Thailand is the best place to buy that as nowhere in Malaysia he could a good supply of leather parchment and remnant. From the Wongwian Yai BTS station, we had to walk about two blocks and we reached the area at around 1239. There were several shops selling the stuff. Mohd Noh’s family is actually into small-item leather goods business as well and to be in Bangkok was another fulfilled business trip. We were within that area for about 1 hour.
Our train to Chiang Mai would be at 1810 so we had a bit of more time to spare. However, we had nothing more to do there and we decided to take the train back to Hua Lamphong and have a good lunch there.
Lunch was at the same place but different restaurant as we decided to try the restaurant at the end of the same block we had our breakfast in the morning. When we arrived at the restaurant there were few people eating but it seemed we had passed the peak hours as the owner was a bit laid back in serving us. It was a husband and wife operation and the wife indicated to us to have a seat and wait. She was saying something that obviously we did not understand and put her hand up indicating for us to wait or hang on a minute. She yelled across what it seemed her business associate that was selling drinks. Later that guy came to us and speaking Malays in Kelantan dialect said that the owner did not speak Malay and told us to order through him. Thus, the sign language just before that ha ha ha. So we ordered Tom Yam as he recommended to be very good. So the four of us ordered four different types - Chicken, Seafood, Beef and Prawn. I decided to share with my wife. For drink knowing they will make them very sweet I ordered ‘kopi O kosong’.
Our orders came and they were indeed tasted very good. We cleaned our plates in no time. We took time enjoying the moment and, for me and Mohd Noh, chatting about old-time especially about friends from our school. We were actually just so happy to sit there longer but then it was time for us to get our stuff together and pray.
At 1427 we walked back towards Hua Lamphong via the alleyway that now our familiar route. We stopped at various small businesses along the way to buy stuff that we may need on the train as well as unique souvenirs. As we were out on the main street we saw a lady selling fruits and her sliced fruits such as papaya, mango dan pineapple looked enticing. We bought a few. We knew she had many years under her belt selling fruits when she cleverly cut one big pineapple that Mohd Noh bought with just simply using the back of the knife and cutting the fruit while holding it in a plastic bag. Initially, it was like she was cutting it through the plastic and we thought she must be insane or something. It was really a nice cut and quick as well. Mohd Noh gave her a tip for that. Amazing! What innovative things human can do if you have the knowledge and experience.
Once we were in the waiting hall we went to collect our luggage in the storage area. I cannot really remember how much we paid for a bag but it was really reasonable. With our luggage collected Sam and I took turn to say our jama’ qasar prayers. It was already 1452 at that time.
Special Express 9 Bangkok Chiang Mai, Car 10 - 18 & 20
After we said our prayers we parked ourselves at the bench in the waiting hall. After a while bored of sitting around I went around to shoot the station and trains. I knew I had enough collection already from my previous train excursion to Bangkok. Nevertheless, I still shoot the scene in and around the station.
When I came back we still had a few hours so I suggested we ‘lepak' drinking coffee at the Coffee Canyon on the mezzanine level, a place where I was very familiar already. The bonus they have an Internet connection there. We heaved up our luggage up the two flight staircase and it was 1515. We sat at Coffee Canyon for about two hours talking and messing with our gadgets. One thing good about the mezzanine floor is that it is open and you could see the whole waiting atrium/hall below you. Indeed it was the best place to wait as the Arrival and Departure electronic board can easily be seen at an eye-level when you are sitting having coffee. Mohd Noh and I automatically continued to chat about old times. When that happened not only it was timeless but time also flew by quickly.
At 1700 we decided to walk down to board. Since our train already parked it is better to board early and wait inside the cool nice spacious train. Now on this leg, we were in the same Coach 10 so we walked together. As we approached the train we witnessed the train crew smartly dressed standing in one line on a roll called.
Sam and I occupied seat 18 and 20 whereas Mohd Noh and family just beside us but Mohd Noh bought one lower and two upper beds. Knowing the drill now everyone settled down comfortably quickly. We just sat down and did our own things until the train departed as scheduled at 1810. In a few minutes would be maghrib and the attendant started to pull out our bed for the night. It was done expertly in a few minutes. Once our bed readied we prepared ourselves to say our jama qasar prayers. We did it sitting down on our bed.
I thought everyone was tired and ready to call it in for the night until Mohd Noh announced ‘Jom ngeteh’. Off we went for coffee, snack and dinner of a sort at the ABC. We actually tapau a bit of food from the restaurant that we had lunch. Another long session there until all of us really felt tired and really in need of a rest.
I was still awake when we were back in our bed and I tried to write. But my mind was away somewhere else. So I abandoned it, switched off my Ipad and went to sleep. I slept almost soundly through the smooth journey up north of Thailand. Once in a while, I felt the movement of the train climbing up through higher terrain. This part of the journey in Thailand was new to me it was the first time for all of us that day.
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