train to laos
After my TEFL course ended I decided to take the train from Bangkok to Laos to extend my Thai visa 60 days. I’m exploring Thailand and writing reviews of the health resort spas for a wellness guidebook that I am currently creating. I booked the 8pm night train on August 1st arriving in Nong Khai at 8:30am. It was raining all day in Bangkok, which makes for a slow taxi ride, so I decided to leave my hotel at 4:30pm and get to the train station early to see if I could get on one of the earlier trains that left at 6:30 or 6:40pm.
I arrived to Hua Lam Phong station just before 5pm, avoiding rush-hour traffic, and talked with a couple of helpful employees. They informed me that the 8pm train was the only sleeper. I had booked a first class cabin with a bed and if I downgraded to either of the earlier ones then I would be upright for 12 hours amongst many other people. The best choice was to keep my original ticket and wait at the station for 3 hours.
At first, finding a comfortable spot to read and write with my entire life to lug around was not promising. I viewed this with a detached point of view and continued walking down the busy waiting area wandering to find my spot. That is a great motto for me: wandering to find my spot. To see things for not what they are but in wonder to what there could be.
What I found was a small sign for massage. I thought that would be a great idea to kill time and to prepare for the long trip ahead. When I inquired I found out there was an hour wait. As my luck would have it I could wait inside with my luggage. I was able to write in a comfortable reclining chair while listening to relaxing music, away from it all. After my hour Thai massage I found a small travelers Laos map right next door and bought fresh pineapple and mango from a vendor. From there I boarded right away and snuggled into my private cabin.
The next morning the train stopped and we waited 2 hours to start moving again. The tracks ahead were flooded and they had to do something to them to make sure we stayed on the tracks. While we waited I remembered my experience the night before and wondered what this experience will now bring.
emma
During the 2-hour wait I was gifted with an adorable 4-year-old girl, Emma. She reminded me of what I was like at that age. My little girl came to remind me to play! Emma was singing, pretend playing, running up and down, teaching me Thai, and even said something I used to say to my Mom: “I’ll be right back, don’t sleep ok”.
These two nice men that were a couple cabins down from me on the train ended up offering me a ride into Vientiane that they hired. They were asking me about my travels and mentioned the book “Eat, Pray, Love” and asked me if I was soul searching. I replied, “No, I found my soul and now I’m just listening to it”. Then they asked me if I found it in Thailand and I replied, “No, I found it inside of me Thailand just brings it out and lets it shine”. This sparked a good conversation about the world’s new spiritual consciousness of oneness. It turned out to be a blessing that our train arrived 3 hours late and that I missed going to the Thai embassy before they stop processing visas at noon. I really did need to go straight to a hotel, drop off my luggage and settle in.
After checking into the Lao-Paris hotel, I went across the street to the Blue Banana to login, eat and ask a local some questions. This was the 2nd time I’ve been at a restaurant in the last 3 days during a happy-hour drink special 2 for 1. I chose not to drink both times. I’ve reached a point where I value my health, my time and my money more then I do getting buzzed. It wasn’t as easy as it usually is to turn it down, especially after 24 hours of hard traveling, but I am grateful that I did. Since Laos was once a French colony they have good wine here, unlike Thailand, for a good price. I went into the min-shop to get some water and snacks and they even had a whole wine shop in the back. Out of curiosity I went back to price it out and most bottles were around $10. A drunk with a puffy nose, red face and booze breath from Brooklyn/Miami came into the shop as another reminder of why I don’t want any. On my way home I opted for a 2-hour massage/herbal compress that cost me $11. I’d rather get a 2-hour massage than 2 drinks. I’d rather be clear, write and take in life fully. I am choosing my life one minute at a time. Next stop: back to nature in Chiang Rai!
Eli, what a great summary and story! Love the new ’spirit’ of the moment feeling, good for you. Enjoyed the little girl story and what you used to say to me– so true!!
Love you lots,
Mom
Hi Eli,
Were the two nice men from Thailand? Enjoyed your story.
Lee
I’m glad you enjoyed it! No, the 2 nice men were originally from India, one lives in TX now and the other used to live and own a business in Laos for 15 years.