Tuesday 26th May – Thursday 29th May. Bangkok and the train North
I finally had my last fitting and got all of my clothes, which are amazing by the way. I’ve tried to stop plugging things but the place where I wet was "Oscar" tailors and they did a fantastic job. I spent some time by the hoptel pool, read my book and had a lovely swimn. As it was supposed to be my last day in Bangkok Sanjay wanted to take me for a drink. Amongst the places we went to was a bar called Gazebo which is a very relaxed, funky spot with good live music. There was also a pool table and I played some excellent games prior to returning to form and disgracing myself on the black – following four shots which can only be described as pure genius.
The following day I managed to not leave Bangkok again and nursed a somewhat sore head with fruit juice and sweets. I pottered about, probably looking truly rough, checked my email and finally updated some more of this thang. That evening I had some relatively quieter drinks with Sanjay.
On the Thursday I dropped one top back to the tailors to be altered again and posted a parcel home. I also finally managed to buy my ticket to leave Bangkok.
When I got to the sleeper train I was relieved that firstly, it actually appeared to resemble a train and secondly, that the beds looked okay. I was somewhat less excited about the fact that you didn’t appear to be able to smoke anywhere. One guard said that I could smoke in the area between the carriages but when I got a cigarette out a guard on the platform looked at me angrily and shook his head. Signs everywhere said there was a 2000 Baht fine (around 35 quid) so I put the cigarette away. Later, after the train had left Bangkok station, I asked another guard who told me that I could smoke in the toilet. Part of me was like, Erm, yes well I’m sure I "can" smoke in the toilet, in the same way you "can" smoke in the toilets on English trains or you "can" jack-up in the toilets on English trains, but that doesn’t mean it’s technically allowed or particularly legal. I decided against the idea until my urges got the better of me. So, I’m stood there like a naughty schoolgirl puffing out of the window of the toilet thinking, "wow, my fellow passengers are going to think I’ve got a severe case of the…." when the train only pulls into a station! So I’m stood there looking at all these people (including quite a few guards might I add) thinking, "Hmmm, impeccable timing as ever Zelma!". So I promptly put the fag out, throw about five pieces of chewing gum in my mouth and walk out to confront my fellow passengers who give me looks like they’ll be giving the toilet a wide berth for some time.
Later that night I was feeling peckish so took a wander down the train. When I got to the dining car I wasn’t sure at first if it was a staff room as there were only staff and they were drinking, smoking and dancing to Thai music. I was welcomed with smiles as I caught people’s eyes so went in. I spent a happy few hours sipping coke, smoking cigarettes, without bricking it each time I took a drag, watching the women dancing to Thai music and wondering why the hell I didn’t find this place sooner.