I am married to a man who is a researcher by heart. This saved us from doing many stupid (and probably illegal) things while on our trip, for which I was grateful for him. (Feeding elephants in Bangkok = $300 fine, possible jail time. Feeding elephants in Phuket while on a guided elephant tour in the jungle? Priceless.) He had our train schedule printed off and had everything figured out a week before we even left for our trip (I'm more of a fly by the seat of my pants, "if we make it, we're meant to!" kind of girl).

We slept beautifully the night before, and got up a couple of hours before we were supposed to meet the train. We left our luggage in our room, because we were going to have breakfast in the hotel restaurant. When we came back to the room, our key card wouldn't work. Ty tried a few times, but it just wouldn't open. We went down to the hotel lobby and asked the desk clerk to have someone try to help us into our room so we could get our luggage and get to the train station on time.

They sent the handyman up to look at it, but the battery had died in the door; we're still not entirely sure what had to happen for us to get in the room. All we knew is that by the time we were back in and had our luggage, it was almost an hour, and the train we were supposed to be on had left the station when we were getting into a taxi to go to the train station.


Pretty, isn't it? It was exciting when we got inside--lots of hustle and bustle, but a very friendly information desk that had English speaking workers. They helped us get our tickets for the next train, and told us our train was on Track 7, and we could board anytime it was there.

We excitedly went to the tracks, and found Track 7. The train was already there, so we stepped on and found a seat. It wasn't that comfortable. And the windows wouldn't come down, so Ty said we should get off and get in a different car. The SECOND we stepped off the train, it started moving.


I have no idea where it was going, but I'm glad Ty made us get out! We waited around for a bit, walked and looked at whatever we could find to keep our interest, and then I felt nature calling.

I have to say, Ty warned me. He did. He said I shouldn't use a public restroom (remember, he researched EVERYTHING before we left). I tried to listen. But I also knew it was a 3 1/2 hour train ride to Hua Hin, and I didn't want to sit cross-legged the whole time. Ty laughed, and we went to find the bathroom. Once again, he warned me. I was two steps in the bathroom when I had to return and ask Ty for money. It was 2 baht (about 6 cents) to use the facilities. (At least I wasn't the only tourist who had to go back and ask her husband for money!) I marched back in, ignoring him chuckling behind me, stood in line, and almost died. Literally. If you are able to die of the smell of ammonia and human waste, I am pretty sure I saw that distant white light. Finally, it was my turn to run and hide in a stall. I closed the door behind me, looked around, and almost cried.

I am spoiled. I really am. I have toilet paper. I have hot, running water. I could drink the water out of my bathroom faucet or bathtub if I really felt like it. I have a clean bathroom. I selfishly expect a clean bathroom. I am spoiled.

I was humbled at what I saw. A small, dirty (very dirty) toilet, with no toilet paper, only a very...used... bidet. I am ashamed to say, I cried a few tears, turned around, and left. I went to wash my hands, and couldn't even dry them. No soap. No towels. Only a long sheet-like towel laid across the sinks that was sopping wet and dripping water onto the floor. And a line of native women behind me who had no problem with what I found in that humble restroom.

I am spoiled.

Our train finally arrived, and we got on board.






















(Yes, that's trash)




























Obviously he doesn't know my husband.

{ Next: Hua Hin }

Before I tell you about my new favorite place in the world, Hua Hin, I must tell you that every day on our vacation was met with some sort of mishap or disaster.

Our first day in Bangkok, we asked a taxi driver to take us to a floating market. Ty had the address and name, and we had heard it was quite popular, so we had confidence in our friendly non-English speaking driver.


I felt a little less confident at that moment, but pushed it away with excitement at being in a new country, surrounded by completely unfamiliar sites and smells.

Ty got out to help the driver and the pedestrian, and tried to explain where we wanted to go. They got back in the taxi, laughing and smiling, and my confidence returned. We headed off!

Nearly a half hour later, we were leaving behind the large skyscrapers, and about forty-five minutes later the buildings were spaced farther and farther apart.


Ty had his GPS out (SO grateful we had that, by the way!), and was comparing where we were to where we were supposed to be. We asked the driver to pull over and take us back to Bangkok. He shook his head and pointed at a sign. We realized later that he was driving us to the next big town, which coincidently had almost the same name as the market we wanted to go to. Ty asked the driver to pull over again, and take us back to Bangkok. Once we started back, and I could begin to see smog and tall buildings again, I felt relief. I hadn't quite been worried, just a little nervous. We'd heard all the warnings and stories about travelers ending up in jail or prison, or lost and never heard from again, but I thought the idea that anything like that could happen to us was silly, and we always laughed it off. Until that moment.

Ty's fear was that we wouldn't be able to find another taxi to take us back to Bangkok (around 90 km away). My fear was having to call my parents in the middle of the night back in the States asking for the number to the nearest US embassy.

Back safely in Bangkok, the driver dropped us off by our hotel (which he also had trouble finding, so we got out, used the GPS, and walked the rest of the way), and we paid him the 1200 Baht for the trip, which is about $40--which you wouldn't think much of, except every other taxi cost us no more than 400 Baht with a tip (about $13).

We never made it to the market, but with everything else we were able to see and do, I wasn't terribly disappointed. There were several other places we wanted to see on the trip, but weren't able to, but we still had the time of our lives, and I wouldn't trade a minute of it.

We've got so many pictures from our trip to Thailand, I decided to break them down between several posts.

We arrived in Bangkok Sunday night around 11 p.m. We were instantly hit with a wave of heat, humidity, and a smell I will never forget (and have grown to love): curry, cigarettes, and sweat.

Traffic in Bangkok is... an experience. There are no speed limits (unless you're at the airport), the lines on the road are just a suggestion, and there are no crosswalks for pedestrian. And, shockingly, no road rage! If you come too close to someone (i.e., about 2 inches--I'm not joking), they honk to let you know they are there, and life moves on smoothly.














































We shopped, wandered, bartered, and searched for a killer place to eat. We found this great hole-in-the-wall place with THE BEST food I have ever had in my life--so simple, so amazing. We decided I am going to learn to cook Thai.

We had a hotel in Bangkok for the full two weeks we were in the country, so we were able to leave some things and pack lighter for the other flight and train ride that we had planned for our trip.