Train #69 From Bangkok

The visas arrived at 5:00pm on Friday and we left at 5:30pm; nothing like cutting it fine...The visas were delivered by our travel agent and all round superhero, Payap. He is such a good chap that he even volunteered to take us to the train station! (If you ever need a ticket anywhere and you are in Bangkok, contact him on payapc@hotmail.com) It was our last Bangkok traffic jam and it took us an hour and a half to get to Hualumphong Station, but we had left with plenty of time to spare.

The station is old and smells very much of Bangkok, but like all stations, has an additional whiff of adventure and possibility. We had a quick drink in one of the numerous cafes in the departure hall and then off to Platform 3 and the 69 to Nong Khai. We found our seats and were just stowing our bags when we were surprised by Emma and Delina who had come to wave us off! They were duly snapped with Chang Ginge before the numerous bells and whistles signalled the train's departure. We were off into the night and off on an adventure...