KLS - Bangkok - Chiang Mai and Back On Rail, Sept 13-19, 2018, Day 6 & 7

Day 6, Sept 18, 2018, Tuesday

I woke up even before my alarm blasted to wake me up. My biological clock was more efficient on this trip. I sat in my bed as soon as I have finished looking at a new day being unveiled. Just like when I was 30 thousand feet above the ground looking down early morning breaking from a plane. But this one to me was even more beautiful as it happened at a relatively faster speed. 

Ayutthaya showed up with a little bit of daylight already lighting the station. Slowly we cruised into Bangkok and for us, another leg of the train journey waiting. 

At 0650 the train slowly parked at the platform for all of us to disembark. Just like when we arrived from Hatyai, Nizam was at the platform waiting for us only this time he had to rush to his office and left us immediately. Our simple plan for the day was to have breakfast at the same halal restaurant and take the MRT to Silom to buy food for our next train journey and at the same time kill sometimes. Our next train would be Express 31 back to Hatyai at 1445. So we had a good half a day to even do our last minute shopping in Bangkok. 

At 0809 we walked out of the station and crossed the main road at the main facade of the building and walked through the alley covered with a canopy to the restaurant for breakfast. Until now I do not know the name of the street. I did not remember whether I had something for breakfast there maybe just coffee with something light.

Once we had rested our body and our energy level went up a bit we left the restaurant and walked out towards the MRT station. At 0938 we were walking down the escalator to Hua Lamphong MRT smiling with one real mission to find something nice and good for Iqah, Mohd Noh’s only daughter. Of course, that was what I said loudly but deep down I was also looking for a good buy ha ha ha.

It was still very early in the morning when we got off the escalator at Silom MRT. Although it was already 0957 many outlets were still not open for business as normally they open mid-morning in the area. So we walked on to find those that already opened and ‘managed’ to contribute to the economy of Thailand. One of the places was the shopping complex across the street in front of the Silom Shopping Complex. When we walked in at the upper level several golf sports stores confronted us. Yes, we were confronted as golf is not my thing. Well, I love to watch Tiger Wood playing but Golf is not really for me. We went around a bit more and in the end, Iqah was happy and all of us were happy.

We took the MRT at Silom to go back to Hua Lamphong and at 1154 we were back at the restaurant for lunch and to take away some for our dinner on the train. 

At 1224 we were inside the station again and the first order was to say our jamak prayers. As usual, Sam and I took turns. After we had said our prayers I went around to shoot a few more frames of the trains and the station. After a while doing so I saw our train being shunted in at Platform 4. It was already 1330 I informed the rest and we decided to board and wait inside the airconditioned train. But not before plenty of photo taking. Once onboard the ritual to be comfortable began and like seasoned travellers we blended in.

At 1445 sharp the train departed with Sam and me in the first-class cabin at the back of the train. I stood at the back looking out at the track as we moved slowly out of Bangkok.

At a constant speed, we left the city and we passed stations like (1741) Nonc Plalai and (1744) Banc Chak without stopping. These were beautiful old stations that were still being used and maintained properly. I am sad that most of the old stations in Malaysian had been demolished or left to rot. Historic Gemas station is one example that being left to rot. Some were replaced by new stations that are less aesthetic and not necessarily practical to use. I continued to stand at the back looking out at the countryside and just refused to move back to our cabin. Thai Railways is constructing a second track alongside the current one and they were progressing well. We could be experiencing a faster and better service from them in the future. It had been raining down south of Thailand and rainwater was flooding the second track a bit. I knew then why they were piling the area to stabilise the earth and the track. 

At 1755 we approached Pretchaburi and there was a small pasar malam going on, on the side of the track leading to the station. It was a nice atmosphere and what a train station should be to me. A community business centre and gathering place. It was around this time (1806) Mohd Noh and family came to visit us at our cabin. We chatted and enjoyed the view from the back of a moving train. At 1816 it started to get dark and Mohd Noh and family left us. I went back to my observation place and witnessed the blue hour taking place outside. I shot a few more frames.

Eventually, at 1842 we arrived at the resort city of Hua Hin. It was time for us to say our prayers and I let Sam do her first. I stayed rooted until Hua Hin was really gone into the night.

Soon after I said my prayers I buzzed Mohd Noh to asked them to mengeteh and they said they were already on the way. We followed suit (2040).  We were not really eating but just snacking on what we had and enjoying our moment. One of the cafe attendance mentioned to us that he had seen us before on the Chiang Mai leg. So we were recognisable ha ha ha. Since it would be our last ride on the Thai train we stayed a bit longer having fun chatting almost until closing time. 

Once back at our cabin we prepared for the night and soon we had a nice good sleep.

Day 7, Sept 19, 2018, Wednesday

I was awake at 0530 and straight climbed down to shower. After the morning ritual and ready for our arrival we just sat looking at a new day. We were a bit quiet knowing another chapter in our train journey will end soon. It was a mixture of feelings. Everything in and semua kuah campur as we normally have our nasi kandar. In the final analysis, we love it and would do it again. 

We arrived at Hatyai 20 minutes off the scheduled arrival (0655). We disembarked and had another round of photo sessions. We let our train to be shunted out to the depot before we gathered ourselves. We decided to have breakfast at Padang Besar and waited for the ticket counter to open to buy our tickets to Padang Besar. The last time I was asked to show our passports to buy our tickets so I asked Sam for hers.

As an early arrival as well ad the first departure the station was quiet lacking the usual activities. we started t appreciate the station more and personally if ever the SRT going to build a new station to main the old one. It is not perfect but without the station, old memories and the best trigger for stories be gone forever. This is what the authority has missed in Malaysia. Buildings, structures and the whole ecosystem will create the community and their life. The new ones will recreate the community and develop into a new lifestyle that we may not want. 

It was not a long wait as at 0712 we walked to board our shuttle which was at Platform 3. The shuttle is free seating so we just chose the one slightly in the middle. Immediately after (0720) the locomotive was hooked up to our carriages. Ten minutes after that we departed Hatyai for the 45 minutes rides down to Padang Besar. 

At 0925 (Malaysian Time) we arrived at Padang Besar and went through the routine immigration checkpoints with no problem. Officially we were back in Malaysia and walked up to the waiting hall to have breakfast and wait for our 1115 ETS ride back to KL Sentral. The two hours waiting times soon were filled with eating and chatting. 

The five of us were really tired when we eventually boarded the ETS 9201 and we were not really in the mood to do anything else besides sleeping and being in our own zone. Soon enough at 1655 we arrived at KLS. I pitied Mohd Noh and family as for us it was another short train ride to Bangi whereas they had to take the bus at TBS and another 4 hours bus ride down to JB.

https://www.facebook.com/ghazali.fadzil/media_set?set=a.10156631329742246&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/ghazali.fadzil/media_set?set=a.10156631350572246&type=3