Saturday, February 28, 2015

Up the Malay Penisula

Finally, after 6 nights in Penang, it's time to ferry over to Butterworth and hop on Train No. 36 and head up the Malay Peninsula to Bangkok. However, we could not warm up to the idea of returning, for the 3rd time in 13 years, to Bangkok so we decided the night before departure to get off the train at Nakhon Pathom (60 kms west of Bangkok), and take a train directly to Kanchanaburi (90 kms further west).

Our connecting bus + ferry ride is smooth and then Train 36 pulls out on time from Butterworth Station at 2pm with expected arrival in Bangkok the next morning at 11:40 am but we will alight at Nakhon Pathom at 9:30 am.
From Butterworth to Bangkok

This is the seat configuration before they are turned into sleeping berths.
From Butterworth to Bangkok

From Butterworth to Bangkok

After a few hours we stop at the Malaysia-Thailand border where the formalities are painless; however, we sit at the border for an additional 3 hours waiting for the Thai engine to appear. The Malay loco that brought us here goes no farther.

No dining car, no problem. We use our electric kettle to boil water and it's instant noodles for dinner.
From Butterworth to Bangkok

The transformation from seats to berths.
From Butterworth to Bangkok

Sun-Ling takes the upper.
From Butterworth to Bangkok

To see how the seats are converted to berths watch this youtube video (not my video).

Morning coffee on the train. Life is good.
From Butterworth to Bangkok

Sea view. That's Nigel and wife across the aisle.
From Butterworth to Bangkok

And plenty of time to study Rough Guides info on Kanchanaburi as the train is 4 hours late; which is a nice bonus if one likes riding the train as we do.
From Butterworth to Bangkok

The Phra Pathom Chedi (Pagoda) is adjacent to the Nakhon Pathom station. Perfect timing for us as we pulled in at 2 pm and our onward train leaves at 3:03 pm.
From Butterworth to Bangkok

Sweltering in the almost 100-degree heat on the 3rd class train to Kanchanaburi.
From Butterworth to Bangkok

It's sugarcane harvest time.
From Butterworth to Bangkok

And after 30 hours on two trains we are rewarded with the tastiest vegetarian meal so far this trip and a hotel with a pool.
From Butterworth to Bangkok

Kanchanaburi, Thailand

Kanchanaburi, Thailand

4 comments:

Crash Eddy said...

Kanchanaburi, ah, yes, another confluence of rivers.

Kathy said...

Love Thai trains - but not in third class!

Agree with you about Bangkok, but always seem to wind up there anyway.

Liz said...

Sun-Ling is so resourceful! I have always been impressed by her cooking skills. Now more than ever.

john said...

Liz- Yep. We are always well fed. ;-)

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