The Night Train.......

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All aboard!

Sawasdee krap,

We left Bangkok last night at 10pm local time on the overnight train to
Chang Mai and arrived here at noon. The train is legendary, you lot didn't
build it up enuf! The bunks are great, and I had great fun swinging out
of the ladder up to my bunk and other crazy stuff which I can't mention
in a family email of this nature.......!!
Anyway, I slept soundly for 7/8 hours so it's all good!

Checked into a lovely little 'gaff' here, aircon and all for 8 euro a night
for the room. The place has its own swimming pool so time to chill out after
mad mad Bangkok!
Accomodation = Nice Place 2 Guesthouse. Good budget place, great place to meet people. 400 Baht. We moved to a better place after a week, see this journal entry: Northern Thailand

The rendevous with Matt went well and he is now happily installed in the
same guesthouse we were in. Went out for food drinks etc with him on Tuesday
night and some touristy stuff yesterday including the public boat/ferry
thing up and down the river through Bangkok......cheers for motivating us
to do that Matt, it was great and we wouldn't have bothered to do it!

Negotiations are on-going regarding the 3 day Trek, Ruth has heard tell
of stories about crossing rivers and getting leaches stuck to you and snakes
having to be beaten to death......not sure if she will be swayed !

Weather is great here, still about 33-35 but the air is much cleaner and
the sky is a constant blue so 2 weeks here is not out of the question.

Got our passports successfully back from the 'man with the briefcase' who
took them away for 3 days. We now have Laos & Vietnam visas. However we
are not allowed enter the capital of Laos (Vientienne) between 22nd Nov
and 1st of Dec due to some Asean Summit or some garbage......I reckon we
storm the place anyway and sneak in through underground tunnells....who
are they to deny me access!!


La gon krap,
Phil

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