The past 2 days have been nothing if not an adventure!
It all started so promisingly as well .......
I got to Hua Lampong in plenty of time for my 10:05 train south to the Malaysian border. I was pleasantly surprised that the left luggage boys (who I had decided were a couple of wide boys) only charged me for 2 days whereas I was convinced that they would charge me 3. Found my little 'nest' on board and settled in for the 21 hour journey. Oh dear, was that woman with the 2 screaming 3 year olds really going to sit on the opposite side of the aisle? Of course she was!
Pretty boring vistas but never mind, I've got the 2 boys performing instead, punching, biting, pushing, jumping, shouting. Never mind, the mother's mobile must be fascinating as she's glued to it until bedtime!
Sleeper unit has a lumpy mattress (Princess and the pea anyone?) so while the steward is not looking I swop it with the mattress on the vacant unit above. Oh dear, they're different sizes, never mind, I'll sort it out in the morning before she comes round.
Treat myself to train dinner, gosh it's a lot.
Arrive in Sungai Kolok a mere 3 hours late, not bad.
Motor bike to border, with him, me, large suitcase and 2 smallish backpacks - off we go, eeeekkk!!
Get through Thai border, back on scary bike, to Malaysian border, checked for temperature (virus) back on still scary bike, motorbike man tries to divert me to an expensive taxi at which point I have a bit of a melt down so he takes me - free of charge - to the bus station for the 80 journey to Kota Bahru.
Within 10 minutes of arriving I decide I really don't like it there, shan't bother explaining why, but trust me, there wasn't a nice atmosphere.
Instant decision: I'll carry straight on to Gemas on the Jungle Railway, it will be dark for most of the way which defeats the whole point of doing it but better than staying here where I am made to feel so unwelcome. So local bus to the station at Wakaf Bahru for the 19:06 south. Stroll round the half a donkey town and get on the platform in plenty of time, no sleeper seats available, only reclining ones but for Mringitts 55 (about £11) I'm not going to complain.
Did nobody tell me that Malaysia is one hour ahead of Thai time??? Fortunately I had allowed plenty of time but my goodness, that could have been a(nother) big problem, it was a bit tight!
You've had to read enough so the next chapter will appear soon.
Thank you for sticking with me, I bet you're all thanking your lucky stars that I'm not dragging you through all these 'adventures'!
It all started so promisingly as well .......
I got to Hua Lampong in plenty of time for my 10:05 train south to the Malaysian border. I was pleasantly surprised that the left luggage boys (who I had decided were a couple of wide boys) only charged me for 2 days whereas I was convinced that they would charge me 3. Found my little 'nest' on board and settled in for the 21 hour journey. Oh dear, was that woman with the 2 screaming 3 year olds really going to sit on the opposite side of the aisle? Of course she was!
Pretty boring vistas but never mind, I've got the 2 boys performing instead, punching, biting, pushing, jumping, shouting. Never mind, the mother's mobile must be fascinating as she's glued to it until bedtime!
Sleeper unit has a lumpy mattress (Princess and the pea anyone?) so while the steward is not looking I swop it with the mattress on the vacant unit above. Oh dear, they're different sizes, never mind, I'll sort it out in the morning before she comes round.
Treat myself to train dinner, gosh it's a lot.
Arrive in Sungai Kolok a mere 3 hours late, not bad.
Motor bike to border, with him, me, large suitcase and 2 smallish backpacks - off we go, eeeekkk!!
Get through Thai border, back on scary bike, to Malaysian border, checked for temperature (virus) back on still scary bike, motorbike man tries to divert me to an expensive taxi at which point I have a bit of a melt down so he takes me - free of charge - to the bus station for the 80 journey to Kota Bahru.
Within 10 minutes of arriving I decide I really don't like it there, shan't bother explaining why, but trust me, there wasn't a nice atmosphere.
Instant decision: I'll carry straight on to Gemas on the Jungle Railway, it will be dark for most of the way which defeats the whole point of doing it but better than staying here where I am made to feel so unwelcome. So local bus to the station at Wakaf Bahru for the 19:06 south. Stroll round the half a donkey town and get on the platform in plenty of time, no sleeper seats available, only reclining ones but for Mringitts 55 (about £11) I'm not going to complain.
Did nobody tell me that Malaysia is one hour ahead of Thai time??? Fortunately I had allowed plenty of time but my goodness, that could have been a(nother) big problem, it was a bit tight!
You've had to read enough so the next chapter will appear soon.
Thank you for sticking with me, I bet you're all thanking your lucky stars that I'm not dragging you through all these 'adventures'!
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