No ordinary train to Ayuthaya

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5th feb - Wednesday
Today has been a bit of an adventure. Arrived Pak Chong train station 8.30am to discover 'ordinary' train delayed by an hour and a half. Great start to the day. However, as we sat patiently on the pretty platform a theatre of activity unfolded before us. Local vendors appeared from every direction, mostly trawling across the railway tracks. Choosing their spot carefully, buckets, packs of ice and cartons of drinks soon became tempting pails of chilled drinks. Others had woven baskets containing meat on sticks, sticky with spices, types of fish on stalks, carved fruits such as papayas, tied tightly in air-filled plastic bags, small sachets of sticky rice with sesame covered meat balls, corn on the cob, huge woks filled with cooked noodles and vegetables, and more. By now the vendors outnumbered passengers by at least ten to one and we still hadn't worked out where all their anticipated customers would appear from. The first train pulled up to the platform, sadly not ours, and the first wave of vendors raced on board, crying out their wares. When eventually our train arrived we tried desperately to beat the vendors to board first, not easy with 2 mammoth back packs and 2 smaller ones. Leo actually sidled on as he didn't quite fit. Struggled to find seats, not together, of course not, and sat back to enjoy the trip. Only 2stations into the journey we stopped - for 35 minutes. We didn't move again until an express train roared past. Yes we were jealous! Instead of paying 46baht (80pence) for our 2 tickets for our 'ordinary' train, we could have travelled express for 66baht, roughly £1.20. What we did have was a real insight into Thai trail travel, the local custom of travelling and the beautiful unfolding scenery. At almost every stopping point, new vendors would clamber aboard until 3 hours into this journey we counted no less than a dozen, only one of whom was male. It was not a peaceful trip, it seemed there was a constant stream of food passing by, eventually the mix of smells was over powering and almost nauseous. Station by station, having sold out, they would disembark to await their train home. We were amazed at the amount of food and iced drinks that were consumed. Thai people certainly enjoy their food on the move. Eventually arrived Ayuthaya, rode a tuk-tuk to hotel, paid 50baht each (£1) for a 10minute dash across town. Received an enthusiastic welcome at our hotel, the Park Ayuthaya, given a map and all the information for exploring. After strolling through an evening chinese market we found a recommended restaurant and ate a delicious meal of chicken fried rice, Thai red curry, steamed vegetables and prawn crackers which we both agreed were the best we'd ever eaten. We shared 3bottles of Chang beer and happily paid our bill of 450 baht (10 pounds). Looking forward to a great day tomorrow. Tip of the day: don't board a late train, it only gets later, and later, and later.....

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Comments

[sheila lammin]

Train
This is a really good blog thoroughly enjoying your exploits and the food (in restaurant) sounds positively drooling! Looking forward to the next blog! Sheila XX

[Jackie R]

Sure sounds like a great way to see the country! Look forward to reading more.