No Planes This Time - Mostly Trains!

After 9 days on the island paradise of Koh Samui, it was time to head towards our new home near Bangkok.  We thought that instead of traveling by plane again (we had our fill of planes at that point), we would travel by train.  We booked 1st class seats on a train to Bangkok.  The train was scheduled to leave in the late afternoon and arrive early the next morning.  We chose "1st class" because, at night, the cabin turned into bunk beds and this way we could sleep through the dark hours.  We've always wanted to travel on a train and book a sleeper cabin.  This was such a fun experience.
When we boarded the train, our beds were already made up.  A young man came through the car and took orders for food and drink.  We partook in good food and beverages which, including dinner and breakfast the next morning, came to around $30 US.  After eating that night, off to sleep we went.  (We teased Ryan because David and I were booked in one cabin, Amanda and Caryn in another, and then Ryan was to be in a cabin that MIGHT have another passenger.  Luckily, he had it all to himself.)  It was great to travel through the countryside, and SEE the countryside rather than fly over it.

When we arrived at the Bangkok train station, we got a real dose of Thailand and it was only 7:00 a.m. in the morning.  Since Amanda and Ryan joined us, our luggage had grown to an even more unwieldy amount.  We were able to put it all on a flatbed-like cart.  We think we were the entertainment for the Thai at the station that morning as Ryan navigated the cart through throes of people entering and exiting the station.  Even though it was hectic there at the end, it was a great experience and one I see us repeating in the near future.  Again, Note to Self:  Pack light!