Mini buses, trains and ferries…

28/5/11

We set off back towards Bangkok but having vowed never to go on THAT train again we opted for an air conditioned mini bus. Our relief was tampered with fear as the mini bus failed to show up at the allotted time and we knew we had to be in Bangkok as James had booked us tickets for the overnight train. After presenting ourselves at the booking officer to register our concern we were met with general indifference as the bus was only 20 minutes late and it would come. Another case of Asia time me thinks. Anyway the bus did turn up and we did get to the overnight train in time and we climbed aboard.

Oversized chimpisam struck once again as James did not fit on the sleeper beds as he was just too tall. That said there was nothing to be done other than sawing off his legs so we settled in for the night. James did sleep but decided that the trains could offer a farang (foreigner in Thai) supplement and make the beds a little longer for the longer suffering tall westerners….

29/5/11

After a night on the train we stumbled off and onto the platform around 9am. Bo travel services (oh how I love them) had organized a bus pick up to take us to the ferry port for our next trip over to Koh Samui. On route the conductor had the audacity to ask if James needed a taxi to the hotel once he disembarked from the ferry. James knowing all the overpriced scams declined and the conductor was taken aback as everyone needs a taxi. James said we had a hotel pick up but the conductor did not believe this and asked where we were going. James said silver beech and the conductor said ‘oh they never pick up I know them well’ Meer mortals may have capitulated then but James said we are not staying there to which the conductor asked where we were staying. James said he would not tell him as we knew the response would be the same. Sensing defeat the conductor slunk off leaving James and I considerably better off.

Upon or arrival at the resort James again amazed me with his planning. For some ridiculously low price we had an air conditioned room opposite a pool with an almost private beach and breakfast. How he does it I will never know…. Well maybe it was that year of sitting on the sofa every night planning whilst I cooked tea. Well it has certainly paid off.