Bangkok via Train, Ferry and Automobile

We chose to ride a taxi to the Ferry Terminal on the Penang side because it cost a lot less than riding the taxi all the way around to the Butterworth train terminal.

Besides, we were told that the ferries came frequently, and the 20 minute journey across was comfortable. And it was!

Ian and Aria had fun counting the jellyfish every few seconds!

We were very excited to see our 2nd Class sleeper train which arrived 45 minutes late (typical apparently). Monica enjoyed riding trains on long journeys, but this was the first time our family tried a sleeper car long haul.

 We wasted no time making ourselves comfortable onboard.

No train ride is complete without a blankey.

The scenery moved... albeit slowly. It was nice not to be driving though, and I got bored, so eventually, 

I settled down to read.(Boredom can set a man to do insane things, even to read)

Soon, it got cold and we began to bring out the warm clothing that we brought. I should have brought jeans :(

The kids had a rocking good time playing together, but we felt bad that we were sending loads of noise down the open car. 

We chose to order the dinner catered by the train company. It was not expensive, and tasted great.

It certainly beat carrying on food from hours earlier.

Time to get ready for sleep!

The kids enjoyed their cubbies, but found the lights that were permanently on a bit challenging.

So they spent some time curled up with mom!

Ian heading towards the restroom.

The tracks between Hatyai and Bangkok were really bad--it felt like trying to sleep on a washing machine that was off balance. It was noisy, bumpy and the train lurched hard on turns like we were de-railing. I was actually motion sick at one point and thought that we were on a plane in moderate turbulence. People kept poking their heads inside your curtains as they boarded, hoping to find an empty berth. At each stop, an attendant came through mopping the floor as he went.

The morning came quickly and I was grumpy from the lack of sleep the night before.

 

The children slept on...

But Monica rose with the sun as always.

Breakfast time with hot congee and an oddly synthetic western breakfast with strange plastic-like sausages.

Like our bed-hair?

We had many more hours to go...

so we snoozed.

Finally in the infamous Bangkok Station.

We walked and chanced on this Reflexology Spa on our way to the restroom. A real treat after the 22 hour train ride. The proprietor fawned over us and wanted to take numerous pictures with us!

And I had to sample the ubiquitous street food on every busy corner.

Aria was rather skeptical about this divine Chicken Kway Teow until she has a tentative sip of the luscious broth.

She ended up having a bowl of her own. Ian tore through two and I had two bowls and whatever Monica chose not to eat...

~ Shien