Trains

I think that growing up with trains only ever being exciting field trips or scenes in romantic movies has given me a very unrealistic set of expectations around rail travel. That being said I have been on some amazing trains in Japan, Europe, and even some decent ones on the East coast of the USA.

The overnight train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok- none of the above…
We could have flown, the flights weren’t that much more… Charlie had enough points for an additional night for free at the Bangkok Hyatt… Yet a desire to be authentic, see the countryside, and have an “adventure” won out.  We should have known when our cooking teacher looked concerned when we told her we were taking the train- and then told us only foreigners take the train because the Thais know better… We reassured ourselves that our “first class” cabin would make all the difference.
In all it wasn’t that bad…. But I won’t do it again.  We had a tiny cabin with a couch and sink. The back of the couch folded up to make the top bunk and the seat became the bottom. They car attendant came in and made our beds with linens and pillows.

The air conditioning finally picked up in the middle of the night and it was like a refrigerator on that top bunk! Plus the western toilet in our car wouldn’t flush so we were stuck with the “squatty potty” as we have come to call them. This wasn’t a big deal for me because I could go to the next car. But poor Charlie couldn’t because it was a women’s only car! 
We rocked and rolled our way through the night and made it to Bangkok at 7:00 am. After a short taxi ride we were deliriously grateful that the Hyatt could immediately give us a room. We ordered room service breakfast and had a nap.
Next time I want to ride an overnight train for fun and not out of necessity Someone please talk some sense into me!
Bangkok
Chiangmai