Heading north..

Trip Start Jul 10, 2008

Trip End Ongoing

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Flag of Thailand Nong kai, Thailand
Monday, July 14, 2008

We got to Bangkok's regal and old fashioned train station with plenty of time to spare. I was busy thinking how little the place seemed to have changed since the 1940's when I realised that it was a bit too well lit, and those giant cigarette ads had Chinese writing rather than Thai. Turns out they were filming some local epic about the Japanese invasion during WWII . No idea what the film was or when it's out, but it was very surreal when they marched all the Japanese extras/troops out through the main hall.

Anyway, our train trip to the Laos border was fairly pleasant. We set off after dark and, apart from the strange crotch-stroking old man opposite me, our train fellows were a nice bunch. A night train in Thailand has to be experienced. It's a really bad night's sleep but an experience none the less. Each carriage has its own attendant who goes through the elaborate routine of turning train seats into bunk beds as soon as you get on the train

Trains leaving!

. Our attendant was a cheerful fellow with a good line in Borat quotes that kept me amused.

We did our best to sleep but the jerking and sudden halts of the train made it fairly difficult. Still, it was cosy in our little bunks. The following morning and when we thought we should be arriving in Nong Khai and the Laos border, we were still a fair way short. Turns out some wildlife had gone suicidal and jumped the track. We got to our destination about 3 hours late after sharing biscuits and pidgeon English with the locals and went through the joy that is Laos border control.

We, like many other backpackers, had opted for the "visa on arrival" option at the border which meant queuing at a tiny window with a million others and waiting in the incredible heat for our passports to get stamped. Finally we squeezed through to Laos and hopped in a taxi for the centre of Vientiane. We're both very excited about the next few weeks in this little country.

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