One Day in Thailand (2): A Journey to Amphawa

Midnight, I rushed to finish my thesis report in my friend-Tooba's dormitory while she continued her homework. "Let's going out tomorrow by train in Thammasat railway?"asked her crazily. "But I'm not finish yet doing my report," answered me. "Elita, tomorrow is Saturday, you can continue again in Sunday," explained Tooba. I should be going insane that time because I agree with her crazy invitation. Then I didn't sleep along night to do my thesis report and went early morning to Thammasat railway. The moon still up when I ride my bicycle. We should have a name Crazy Partner in Crime.

Dormitories in AIT.

Thammasat Railway Station? It even doesn't exist in the google map *sigh. We went there based on my friend's instruction and instinct. After passed Thammasat gate, bridge, rural home, market, dogs ^(0_0)^, and lifted the bicycle through the gate, we finally found it behind the lush plants. No parking area, no gate, no people, no dog (good), only sign from old woods "Thammasat Railway Station" and nothing else. We parked our bicycles in terminal bus 510 besides Thammasat Railway (very illegal), meanwhile the visitors in there were mostly 510 bus driver.

Locked bicycles in 510 bus terminal.

Messed up in railway.

Thammasat University Railway (middle of nowhere).

06:30 am ,we waited the train to Hua Lampong Bangkok Station. Suddenly came an old man. I think he was Thai, so we keep quiet (pu thai mai day kha/I can't speak Thai). But the man speak in English and told everything. He was Indian and history teacher in Thammasat University. How he teach the history in Thailand meanwhile he was Indian?and why he didn't take van to Bangkok? =__= so liar. "Who is it?,"asked him and showed the picture of drama Rama and Shinta. "It is Hanoman, monkey that save Shinta,"answered me. "NO," said him for sure. What the hell, I'm sure it is white monkey Hanoman (@_@). Then, the old man didn't interest again to speak with me. "How old are you?"asked him to Tooba. "24 yo,"answered her. "Why you not marry?" (Sorry it is our bussines-in my mind). "Actually I married once and divorced," said Tooba. I was so shock and open my eyes so wide to Tooba, but she gave me a sign to lie. "And I am her student. She is teacher in AIT," said me. The train came and surprisingly it stop in local station middle of nowhere like this. Good. But it's so funny because we needed to stop the train like we stop the 'angkot' with hand sign 'kiri kiri'.

Tooba and strange Indian uncle.

Tuut tuut...the train passing.

Fare of economy train to Hua Lampong Bangkok only 10 Baht (about Rp 3500). It is very cheap compared to van 30 Baht to victory monument and 24 Baht for bus to Hua Lampong. We seated near a man with red jacket. Even we spoken in different language, the man always smiling at us. Oh that is why Thailand called as Land of Smile :) . After some minutes, I and Tooba realize that the man doesn't have left hand. O o o,,,, Life is unfair sometimes.

The smiled man with red jacket in front of me.

Take photo with the smiled man.

Around the economy train.

Tha train passed slum area of Bangkok that I had never known before. Behind the blink of the mall, there are an old apartment. Behind the romantic Chao Phraya river, there are slum areas beside rail. Behind the luxury wat and palace, there are poor environments, There is a bright, there is a dark.

Slum area beside the rail. Same like in Indonesia,eh?

Old apartements beside the rail.

We arrived at Hua Lampong train station around 10:00 am. "Where we will go?"asked Tooba. So crazy, we just decided where we will go after arrived. We have 2 choice: Hua Hin or Amphawa. "OK let's go to Amphawa because it takes much time to go HuaHin," said me. Go to Amphawa from Hua Lampong is not easy. We have take bus first to Wongwianyai station (different line with Hua Lampong) then take train again.

Hua Lampong station, where the end of railways.

We took bus to the Wongwian yai station. "Khun, Wongwianyai station," said Tooba again to ticket checker. 'Khun' looked surprise and gave sign with thai language that we missed the station. Ok, we stopped in crowded of Chinatown and find another bus. Then,, i just knew that Wongwian yai station is near with 'Horse statue' (I have not so good memory in this area =__=a ).

Inside of the red bus.

One part of Chinatown area.

Horray we got tickets Maekhlong commuter line to Mahacai station. 10 Baht only! The commuter train was weird. It passed small alley like village home, sometimes it stopped in the front of private home yard! =__=a

Bought halal snacks before take train.

Yey we could catch up the last train to Mahacai.

Have you ever hear about train market? Yeah this is the place. Located near Mahacai station. They sell fresh vegetables in the middle of the railway! the seller moves their goods whenever the train come and back again to the middle of railway when it gone. Surprisingly, zero accident! My journey to Amphawa still continue, long journey, eh?

Train market.

Mahacai Station.

After went by train from mahacai, we took by van to Micai or something =_= forget. The van stopped in the somewhere and transfered by truck to Amphawa. Grrr Amphawa should worth to see because we taken effort to go there by 2 train, 2 bus, 1 van, and 1 truck.

Truck to Amphawa.

We arrived at Amphawa Floating Market, the destination :D We enjoyed amphawa by boat. The way back to our campus was not easy. We have to change 3 times vans. As a result, travel is not always about the destination, but it is about the journey.

Selling food in the boat to customer.

Let's eat :p

Take boat to go around Amphawa and meet new people.

Bridge over the market.

Lovely shops.

Peaceful journey around Amphawa.