A nite on the train

I forgot my ipod in the hotel :_ A great disaster of my journey.

Train left bkk at 2200 last nite. The train station wasn't too far from where i stayed. It was a 15 hour train, arrived chiang mai this afternoon at 1245. I managed to get a sleeping seat. Mine was at the upper deck. the bed size is about 2' x 5.5', was a bit worry i might fall off. There are big window at each lower deck. therefore, my word of advise, take lower deck if you can. much more space vertically than the upper deck. There wasn't air con at the second class, but there are fans. Luckily I got my eye mask to cover the light as the light went on throughout the nite. There are around 22 beds in a car. All full. People mostly booked a week in advance to secure seats. I was lucky enough to grab the last one.

Train was very bouncy. i couldn't really read n barely wrote my diary. Sleep was good afterall as i can sleep anywhere as long as no fleas. The travellers weren't too socialize thou. Most of them are couples or came in pairs. I tried talking to people. looked like i m the only hyper one. :P

In the morning they served breakfast. i thought it was included but i was wrong. haha! 140 baht for squashed sandwiches, orange juice n supposed a cofe but i didn't know where mine gone. I heard there is a food car in one of those cars on the train, but i didn't borther to find. The train is quite bouncy. not for a city girl.

I took some pictures including my bed, but i forgot to bring my cable. so... no picture today until tmr then.

I will take a 830 bus to the border. another 6 hours ride... I will cross the border tmr n become a real laosian!! :D

stuck in bangkok

Arrived bkk saturday afternoon. flight got delayed for 45mins, but was afterall good flight. Finding a mainland chinese lady can't speak any english going to southern thailand, doesn't know what is what, seating next to me was kind of comforting. someone more lost than i do n me being useful to help her out.

Parents coinccindently in bangkok saved my life. I couldn't get a train ticket from bkk to chiangmai the same day nor the next day until today (monday). kind of lucky because this is the last sleeping seat on this train. it is gonna be a 14 hours train, leaving bangkok on 1030 and arriving chiangmai at 1245pm.

bangkok is never my favourite city. Got ripped off by a tuc tuc from bus stop to the shangri-la hotel. a 2 mins ride costed me 50baht while afterwards knowing a 10mins ride should only cost 20baht. oh well...

these 2 days have been quite delux as parents expect me won't have any good food or good sleep, they treated me with extra care n all covered!! shopping and massage seem to be the must do (or the only do) here in bkk, n so i did. i have my nails nicely painted for my journey. yay! so practical :P

Went to Wat poh (the big sleeping budha in gold) n china town today for some pictures. If you are super horrified by cockroaches, DO NOT go china town. There were enormous amount of buddies there, life or squashed. It is beyond horrible. I got attacked by one. jus be aware. they like to run straight to you or jus chill out on your flipflop...

I did some shopping but better not mention here. but shopping in bkk is no longer as cheap as i thought. I also thought would be easy to find sarong here, but not quite. All in all my trip is a bit out of expectation by far. All is good, jus a little bit behind schedule. :)

1 more day to go

Less than 36 hours I will be on the plane to start my journey in Laos. Have been started planning since 2 months ago, slowly becoming a real "thing".

The theme :- this journey will become a photography book, recording what I see and experience in these 31 days in Laos. All money generated from the book sale will go to Trees for the Future for trees planting on this planet.

Route :- Bangkok - Chiang Mai - Huay Xai - Pak Beng - Luang Prabang - Nong Khiaw -Vieng Xai - Luang Prabang - Vang Vieng - Vientiane - Nam Tok Katamtok - Si Phan Don - Vientiane - Bangkok

Althou the trip hasn't stated yet, I can feel the love and support from all my friends, clients and even strangers for their random kindness. People shown their support and caring to this pig in the city. I can't wait to make this come true. I am also a bit nervous as truly I have not done anything quite similar to this one. Thank you to whom help me and support me.