An opportunity presented itself for this trip.
The decision was that I had to present my research study at Sukhotai Thammathirat Open University (STOU) as part of finishing my programme. With that decision, I immediately made a plan to come back by train on the Special Express 31. On our last trip, we failed to get the 1st Class cabin and I was adamant this time. We were lucky that we can do an online booking now and I successfully booked two tickets home. We got Coach 13, Cabin 21-22.
We checked into SK Boutique House Hotel for a night after we left STOU. The hotel is right next to the entrance of the MRT at the opposite side of Hua Lamphong. Very convenience and newly refurbished. The only drawback it is without a lift which is a bit troublesome for somebody like my wife. Apart from that, it is perfect as launching pad for a quick assault on Bangkok if you are coming and going through Hua Lamphong station.
From STOU our plan was to get a pick up to Don Meung train station in the morning so that we could catch a morning train from there into Bangkok. The night before on the way back in a bus our host hesitated to send us there and suggested that we take the airport link train from the new airport. They were afraid that we would get angry with them or not comfortable, I suppose, taking the train. Being a local train might not be to our expectation. But I assured my colleague that I really wanted to take that train and I knew what kind of a train I will be taking. A crazy train lover like me it is definitely not an issue.
Don Meung - Hua Lamphong, Bangkok, Aug. 30, 2017, Wednesday
Thus, Wednesday morning at 0700 after we checked out the pick up came and sent us right at the steps of the Don Meung train station. The station is just next to the curb of the main road in front of the airport. The timing was perfect for us as soon as I bought our tickets the train arrived at 0733 (Thai time. In Thailand I will be using Thai time). It was the Ordinary Train 342. For both of us, the ticket was 10 baht. Approximately 50 cents each. The train was full of office workers going to work. It was just like a Komuter train service that I took for the last 13 years. The major difference is it was the old train. Like the old intercity train in the ’60s in Malaysia.
Nevertheless, it was fun to be on the train. It was really a worker’s train of sort where most taking it to go to work to their respective offices. It was packed when we boarded and no empty seat for us. Only after two stops that my wife go a seat. As usual, I prefer to stand around with my camera looking at opportunities to shoot. The atmosphere was almost the same as any commuter trains taking the city citizens to work. The differences were the people and the train.
Ten minutes after we boarded we arrived at Lak Si Station. A few commuters disembarked and boarded the train. It is almost the same numbers and the train capacity remained the same.
I started to get comfortable and slowly and secretly began shooting people inside the coach. About half of the commuters in the train disembarked at Bang Sue, at 0809, a connecting hub to other trains and services. When the new station there completed it will be even busier and really a connecting hub. The behaviour of the commuters inside the train was almost similar to commuters in Malaysia. You could see those catching a few minutes of lost sleeping time dozing at will. A few readers as well as thinkers that seemed to be thinking something very serious. The younger ones reading and messaging of their smartphones.
At 0819 we arrived at Samsen Station indicating to me that we were not that far off Hua Lamphong. The train slowly approached the city as we had experienced before just after we left the Royal Station. We were made to wait and this time for about 10 minutes until we were signalled to enter Hua Lamphong Station.
It was around 65 minutes journey for us. It was long not because of anything but waiting times to get into Hua Lamphong station. In facts, once we were stopped because a VIP was passing through ha ha ha. Just imagine even the trains were stopped for them.
Immediately when we arrived at the station we disembarked and walked down the MRT station to cross to the other side. I knew we were early to check in so I requested for our luggage to be stored there. With that at 0930 off we went to take the MRT to JJ Mall at Chatuchak. It was a long MRT ride and I managed to get few winks. Once we arrived at Kamphaen Phet we walked into Chatuchak weekend market compound and to our nice surprise we found out there was a flower market going on. Obviously, we could not buy anything even if they were nice. Impossible to take home. Thus we walked towards JJ Mall as we saw the building from the distance. As we walked we discovered JJ Plaza where they sell furniture, arts and household products that we seldom find in Chatuchak weekend market. We explored and walked on with the intention of slowly moving towards JJ Mall.
JJ Mall is a smaller scale Chatuchak in an air-conditioned building. We explored the Mall and spent about 3 hours there. I realised we can get most of what we need there that we normally got from the weekend Chatuchak market. Thus, if you need to buy something you do not have to wait for the weekend just visit JJ Mall and you can buy the same thing. For Muslim like us there are Muslim eateries in the mall. So life could not be any better he he. Another discovery that I made was I found an art gallery that had Thailand arts treasures. I chatted with the artist owner while Sam went around shopping nearby. You only need to visit Chatuchak weekend market once to just to experience it. The best part for Sam was that she found the ‘pinggan ayan’ that she has been looking for all this while. Because of that, we had a nice problem on how to pack them inside our luggage. Sam bought few other items as well and we left via Chatuchak walking across towards Mo Chit BTS station. The walk took a toll on Sam. Our next stop was FBT and Grand Sports outlets at the National Stadium area. I bought two BTS tickets to National Stadium. When we arrived there half an hour later we took a tut-tut that cost us 50 baht to FBT. We stayed there long enough to buy SEA games t-shirts that had been marked down. Our prediction was right when we wanted to buy during the SEA Games itself. Knowing that we will be in Bangkok we predicted the price will depreciate in Bangkok after the game. Grand Sports was a disappointment for me as they did not have anything I would like to have. So with that, we took another tut-tut back to Hua Lamphong to check-in and rest before we went out to search for the elusive, the best (according to my dear wife) sticky rice mango.
Once checked in we rest our tired body a little. A few minutes of winks would be enough.
I rechecked my map and retraced our route that we took the last time we were in Bangkok. I made a realisation and really sure where is the elusive best sticky rice mango would be. With that confidence, we decided an early assault. We took our bath and off we went just before 1800 hrs. Knowing it will be a rush hour on the train especially when we would be making a connection at Siam Centre we braced ourselves with certain possibilities. We went down the MRT station and took the MRT to Silom. At Silom, we changed to the BTS going to the Stadium for us to disembark at Siam Centre. Indeed both the train and the Siam Centre were full of commuters making their own connections. From Siam Centre we had to walk on the walkway all the way back to Central World shopping complex. As we were already refreshed from our rest we walked with a bit of energy.
Once we entered the shopping complex old memories started to flow and I walked with confidence. Within a few minutes, we located the food court which was on the top floor of the complex. The place is managed using an entry and exit card payment system and as we entered, observing us with good intention, the sale person remarked that the place is not halal and suggested an Indian outlet nearby. We said thank you and walked in for the elusive mango sticky rice. That was all what we had there eating slowly while admiring Bangkok city night.
The food court is part of major supermarket outlet that we explored after we had our mango sticky rice. Our normal staple during travels are wholemeal bread, fruits, canned tuna or sardine for our sandwich, and salad. You think this is impossible for you? Well, my a must rice-eating wife managed to adapt beautifully. Very good on your diet plan ha ha ha. Well. we managed to find and bought those for our journey on the train the next day.
We walked out of the outlet into the belly of the shopping mall. From the top, we could see down below on various floors the normal brand names. My interest perked a bit when I saw Uniqlo and SuperSports, a sports store, next to one another on the next floor down below. Secretly and quietly my wife was thinking about Uniqlo as well ha ha ha. We ended up spending a lot of time and in my case Baht as well. The prices were standardised across all outlets in the region but they have more variations and selected bargains. Bargains that we were always hoping for ha ha ha. A bit of bags being carried out of Uniqlo in the end. I immediately entered the sports store. To my delight and dismay to my wallet, I found what I needed there at bargain prices as well. Another shopping spree for me while Sam sat down waiting.
Since we were not hungry and out of idea what to do on a weekdays night in Bangkok we decided to take the train back to our hotel. On the train mentally I was already walking through the things in my mind as to what we would do the next day for our train journey home.
Back at the hotel room we finished packing and went to sleep early.
Bangkok - Hatyai, Special Train 31, Cabin 13, Berth 21-22, Aug 31, 2017, Thursday, Merdeka Day on the Train
We woke up as usual and stayed in for a while to rest a bit more. Our train was scheduled to depart at 1445 and we had a bit of time to kill. The plan was to rest a bit and at 0930 to go out to the Silom Shopping Complex to (1) have breakfast, (2) packed someone food from the Indian restaurant there, and (3) buy some fruits and nuts from the supermarket. We did this once there so we very much certain about it and in the process abled to kill some time.
By 1023 we were walking down to the Hua Lamphong MRT station and caught a train to Silom. It was a breeze for us now taking the MRT and BTS in Bangkok. Once at Silom Shopping Complex, we walked straight to the Mrs Malbir's Indian Restaurant on the LG floor and to our disappointment the place was closed. Looking at the options around us we opted for bread and coffee. Then, slowly we explored the Tops Market for bread and fruits for our journey on the train. Besides bread and fruits, I bought a bowl of salad as well. Yes, I can survive on those and luckily for my wife, there was rice there as well.
After we have gotten all that we needed we passed a bit of our time walking around the complex. There happened to be a food fair going on and obviously, most of the food was not halal.
We took the MRT back to Hua Lamphong Station and walked up to our room to do our final packing before we checked out. Since our train, Special Express 31 to Hatyai would depart at 1445 we stayed in until noon and checked out. We walked through the MRT station underground towards SRT’s Hua Lamphong Station. Quiet a convenience hotel for us and another one that I can recommend if someone would like to stay near Hua Lamphong Station is Hostel @Hua Lamphong which is next to our hotel. When I checked the Hostel it was new and decent.
Since we got our tickets and knew at which platform our train going to be, what else to do but find a good place to wait and for me to explore the whole station with my camera. Since it was zohor then we alternately said our prayers at the surau located in-between platform 4 and 5.
After we had said our prayers I decided to lepak and have coffee at the Coffee Canyon. Three reasons actually, the first, was because the place was on the mezzanine floor overlooking the main waiting hall. We not only could observe the going on on the floor but the train schedule mainboard. Secondly because of the Wifi access and to charge our phone. The third was to have coffee while waiting.
While we were waiting we met Clement Ho, a Malaysian who was taking the train to Nong Khai, to check out the route with the possibility of crossing to Laos. We chatted and I introduced him to Jom Naik Keretapi group.
At around 1405 I looked at the departure and arrival board and our train was ready to board. We said goodbye to Clement and walked down to the hall to board. We walked slowly as our coach was at the end of the train and on the boarding platform was the nearest to the waiting hall. Once boarded I could never have enough of the nice experience to be on the train. I walked around up and down exploring until the train was really about to depart Bangkok.
At 1445 sharp Special Express 31 departed Hua Lamphong station. For the next three hours, I just could not keep still and kept moving around. Mostly just enjoying the journey looking outside whether from our cabin or at the back of the train where I could access the view of the train movement crossing the country from the back. I felt mesmerised, contented, excited and wanting for more, all at the same time. The feeling rushed through my body developing into an adrenaline rush that I did not wish to stop. We arrived at and departed from Ratchaburi and Nakhon Pathom at 1704 and 1809 respectively indicating we would be travelling into a proper Thailand’s countryside.
After a while, we decided to walk to the buffet car to sit and enjoy the journey from there. Eating or having coffee was just an excuse for us to walk the train and lepak at the buffet car. I looked at my handphone watch and it was 1717 when we started to walk up to the buffet car. We passed the second class area and there were a lot of empty seats. Also, there were passengers already asked the attendant to pull out their beds. When we reach the buffet car there were about four passengers sitting and we made it six. we ordered coffee and I tried one of the two halal dishes available onboard.
We just sat, talked and most of the time just looking outside nursing and playing around with our own feelings. I was just glad and loved the moment that I refused to move back. At 1743 we arrived at Petchaburi when I saw several locals were just sitting around enjoying the scene at the station. I thought I knew how they felt as I used to do that as well at Pasir Mas station when we live there. Nevertheless, I witnessed the day got darker outside and the cabin became a bit colder for comfort. At around 1840 we walked back to our cabin. Sam decided to say her jama prayers first and I with my camera stood at the back again to watch the day really got dark.
With the goggle map on, I tracked our movement and watched outside as the train approached the night into the resort city of Hua Hin. at 1841 we completely stopped at the station and since we were at the back I could not see the whole station but seeing it before I knew it was a beautiful station. The train slowly departed Hua Hin 5 minutes later and I captured the departure in video. I waited until we completely left the station and walked inside the cabin. We started to look outside and saw a pasar malam kind of activities. We decided to come back to visit Hua Hin in the future.
I took my ablution and prayed at the lower bunk.
Both of us decided to call it a night early. I locked our cabin and climbed up the top bunk.
I was awake for awhile typing my story and thinking about my research but slowly dozing off with the lullaby of the train rocking and rolling. To some it would be difficult to sleep on the moving train to me it is a pleasure and something that I always long for. Especially with the comfortable bed of this train.
Hatyai - Padang Besar, Shuttle, Sept 1, 2017, Friday.
I was in a deep sleep and woke up when the train was stopping at a station. I looked at my handphone and it was 0301. I sat down and looked at the information screen at the wall near my leg and the train travel information shown me that we were travelling through Thung Song, Nakhon Si Thammarat. We were 3 hours away to Hatyai. I went back to sleep.
At 0530 the alarm from my handphone went off. I cleared my eyesight and took a peek outside. It was dark, indicating we were travelling within the Southern Thailand country site. I got down from the top bunk gather my toiletries and brushed my teeth at the small basin before I walked out back to the shower room to take a shower. It was a good hot shower that woke the whole of my body up. The best part was it was like a dancing shower, swaying with the rock and roll of the train travelling south. After 10 minutes I dried myself, took ablution and walked out. Nobody else was really using the facilities that early. Once inside the cabin, Sam vacated her bed for me to say my Suboh on it. Sam was not long in the bathroom. Probably the rock and roll were too much for her he he he.
After we said our prayers we prepared for our arrival. The procedure was quick and easy for us as our experience thought us well. We were already looking out of the window waiting for Hatyai in few minutes. I went to the back to look at the movement of the train in the morning form its tail. Another train ride about to end and another two to be home. Thinking about it that was the longest train ride as a whole just the two of us without the family and friends. It may be training days for a longer one for both of us. We started from Don Mueng station and will end at Bangi.
I was standing at the back of the train, that became my observation coach for this trip, looking out the train moving fast to the finishing line. It was there that I saw daylight broke in and realised Hatyai was getting really close. We started to approach the station at 0615. Seven minutes later we came to a complete stop and we disembarked to a very early morning Hatyai. Apart from us and the train at the station, the station was really quiet. Once disembarked I walked around to take a few shots of the train and whatever happening around the station.
Before, when we arrived at Hatyai from Bangkok we would straight made a beeline towards the halal restaurant in front of the station but this time we decided to save our empty stomach for Malaysia food at Padang Besar. So we waited for the ticket counter to open to buy our shuttle tickets to Padang Besar. Once opened I approached the counter but once I stated my intent the counter clerk asked me to show our passports. I called out at Sam and asked for her passport. The ticket price to Padang Besar was 50 baht each. No many buying for the first shuttle and probably because it was Friday.
With the tickets bought it was time to wait to board. Not many activities yet at the station for me to capture so I just sat with Sam at the bench waiting. From the time we disembarked and to board the 0730 shuttle to Padang Besar, we had a good one hour. So the waiting was not that long and enough time, if you want to go out for breakfast or like Pojie and Apiz, take a good bath at the station. Our train was already at the platform and we waited for the engine to be shunted before we boarded.
We boarded the shuttle at 0716 and apart from us, there were few locals in our coach. From their appearance and look I assumed they were crossing to Malaysia to work. The shuttle departed Hatyai at 0730 sharp and off we went into a 45 minutes breezy ride to Malaysia. I just love travelling inside an opened window coach. The breeze coming in blowing against your body carrying old memories being on a train in Malaysia when I grew up.
At around 0930 (Malaysian time) we approached Padang Besar Malaysia. We disembarked preparing for another long trip back to KL. We went through the immigration process effortlessly and walked up to the waiting level. Both of us naturally pulling heavier luggage now so getting up to the upper level need some efforts. The problem of Padang Besar station there was no escalator or lift. Just a dumb-lift as an afterthought for the elderly. Seriously, KTMB please plan and strategise for the future. Even the toilet need proper repair and management. Please think of the big picture for Malaysia. Padang Besar is one of the entry points for tourist RM for Malaysia but if you have something that is already a turn off for tourists they going to talk and write about it. Malaysia going to lose to other countries. So, please understand that. Workout something so that the facilities always tip-top. I carried our luggage up the two flight stairs and Sam waited for the dumb-lift.
Once at the upper level, we walked into the open cafeteria area and started to break on our Malaysian food forced fasting. Our ETS train will depart at 1255 so we had about 3 hours at Padang Besar. We took time to leisurely eat our food and we had a second helping when our first course was not that palatable to or taste. The thought of going to the bazaar area did cross our minds but in the end, we decided to just stay at the station to relax a bit. Going to the bazaar area could be a rush. So after we had our food I went around to shoot a few frames of the station and locomotives on the platform.
At 1140 our train arrived at the station indicating to us it will depart as scheduled. I did not wish to have a delay at that point as home is calling he he he. We were boarding the ETS Platinum 9501 that scheduled to arrive at KLS at 1808. We walked down to the platform level to wait and board. Not many people disembarked that morning at Padang Besar just a few and a small family on holiday I guessed.
We departed Padang Besar on time and the rest of the journey was a non-event for both of us. I spent most of my time sleeping and reading messages in the social media. We did arrive as scheduled and decided to head home straight away. The only thing we realised we arrived on a busy Friday evening. The Komuter train would be packed with commuters. We took the second and the best option - ERL Transit to Putrajaya. We sent a message home and asked Along to pick us up at Putrajaya station.
We bought our tickets and took the 1830 ERL Transit to Putrajaya from KL Sentral.
Please go to my FB site for the photos
https://www.facebook.com/ghazali.fadzil/media_set?set=a.10155803962147246&type=3
https://www.facebook.com/ghazali.fadzil/media_set?set=a.10155803982157246&type=3
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