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...The night air was thick and humid. But at least it was quiet. As my tired head held up no longer, it banged against the window pane on the bumpy ride to the border. I woke to a surreal scene of thick fog as we stopped for food. With a parched mouth following my 4am munch of a melted chocolate bar, I bought some veg filled pao and crawled back into the bus for sleep...

The Land of Smiles

Asha Patel
2006-08-23 10:55:14

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also enjoyed the feel good strings of a local guitarist, the majesty of the grand palace, the striking works of street art, the chaos of khao san, the orderliness of sukhomivit II and the retail haven of siam square. We've experienced emotional highs and lows, a love/hate relationship with travel, nausea, food intolerance, and general traveller weariness. So, as you see, the package has bot been incomplete! And now, with my plans to go to Laos, Umisha has altered her flight arrangements (yes, again)! in favour of accompanying me and my newfound Canadian friend.

...Our final day in Bangkok was a memorable one. Whilst Umisha went out on a lost sleeping bag hunt, Rach and I melted in the morning sun, attempting to keep energy levels up by having coconut pudding and longhan fruit juices. By 3pm Umi had returned and re-joined. Now a trio again, we went for pre-journey preparation. Umi had her hair re-bonded whilst Rach and I slid into soft chairs for an hour of reflexology followed by a thai massage. I winced in pain with each delve into my muscles tissue. The up close n personal contact is something to get used to but, having someone sit on top of you and stretch your body out until you har the bones creak is an experience to be had! We dined, listened to our favourite guitarist at Chiva's before departing. At the railway station, we joined the 100s of passengers sprawld out across the concrete floor engrossed in the polar bear documentary being screened. Boarding call for train to Ubon Ratachani. Time to go. So, the trio, equipped with munchies and Umisha's endless array of magic tricks, are bound for a ten hour train journey through the night to Ubon Ratachani from where we hope to get a bus to Chong Mek and then make the border crossing into the southern provinces of Laos. Since all the air-conditioned sleeper carriages were booked, we'll be travelling third class trying to sleep on hardwood benches. This will be... interesting. Keep you posted...

...Our journey to Laos began at 9pm Friday 28th, ending 11pm Sat 29th. It requires little dramatisation on my part to tell you that this has been on tough journey. Physically exhausting, emotionally destabalising and mentally taxing. So, you want to know about the train journey? Well, it was certainly interesting. The third class carriage was little more than a tin on wheels. Six passengers (ourselves included) squeezed into one booth for twelve hours. I ought to be grateful that I had a seat. Moreover one by the window. Hot air blowing into my face was better than none at all. I was in any case less concerned about that than the physical condition of my body. Every limb of which was crying for comfort. I have to say though, we did pretty well to keep one another entertained. What with Umi's insistence on logic games, magic tricks and jokes, not to mention Rach's enthusiastically funny responses, we were hysterical. My own attempts to sleep were foiled by having water poured over me and the occasional bit of food thrown my way. Thanks Umi. For twelve hours I watched the rural areas of south-eastern Thailand pass by, the sun rise over the countryside and eventually illuminate the green fields, the grazing cattle, and the farmland being tended to by locals in large straw hats and colorful rags. I wasn't in the best of conditions when we arrived at Ubon. Sick with sleep deprivation, a painful back and swollen feet. Still, it was a treat to be in the overcast refreshment of the countryside. A sawngthaew took us to the bus station. Another four hour wait and we headed to the Democratic Replublic of Laos. Fortunately we already had visas and the border crossings were smooth...