Because I wanted to create experiences in my travel, I decided that rather than flying to Chiang Mai (northern Thailand), I would take the overnight train. It would take about 11 hours, but I knew I would be able to see the countryside and really enjoy riding on trains, or so I thought!
My first clue that I was about to have a REAL experience came when I walked out of the station to get on the train and realized it was an OLD train. Not like old in the good old USA, but OLD like really OLD. Oh well, I’m up for adventure, right? So, off I go to locate my 2nd class sleeping berth. I realized as I walked past other coaches that “general coach seating” was nothing more than lightly padded bench seats so was pretty happy that I had paid for the sleeping berth.
All good, as I sat in my seat across from a lovely young Norwegian lad who was traveling with several friends and would be sleeping in the top berth, while I would be in the lower berth. And off we go! I read for awhile and watched the countryside go by, transitioning from city to countryside with hills and rice fields. When it came time for bed, the purser came through and lowered the top berth and connected the lower seats to make my berth. The berth was very comfortable, and I hoped that the linens had actually been washed before they were put on the berth, but at that point, I didn’t have much choice but to make the best of it and get comfortable.
So, I ended up laying down about 8PM. Pulled the curtains on my berth and snuggled in to sleep. The lovely Norwegian lads decided that it was still early and they all congregated in the aisle next to my berth and were having a great time. I ended up having to ask them to quiet down a bit, and they very graciously complied. Ok, so back to getting to sleep….not an easy task, since I typically sleep on my side. The train rocked and rolled so badly that all I could do was hang on as I swayed from side to side. I ended up sleeping on my back and did sleep in between the train stops and starts and the clanking and swaying of the train on the rails. (Not even going to comment on the toilet and the state of it thereof.)
I forget to say that, for some reason (and I think it was because I got mixed up with the military time and thought I would be arriving at 4PM when, as it turned out, I was arriving at 4AM)! The hotel in Chiang Mai had told me I could check in at 7AM, and could stay in the lobby until then. Needless to say, I slept in the hotel lobby for almost 3 hours. I was just happy that I didn’t have to sleep on the sidewalk. Oh yay! Another adventure.
Travel on January 20-21, 2025