Our travel journal of Thailand
Ko Samui 26th July 1998
Our circular journey of Thailand.
On the 12th July we leave Singapore with the Eastern Orient Express northwards.
The trip with this luxury train was wonderful and we enjoyed very much this way of travelling, this train that had 23 air – conditioned wagons was full of nostalgic and the passengers were offered every luxury imagined. The middle part of train had 2 diners, a reading room and a bar wagon.
The last wagon had a outlook platform where one was able to enjoy the scenery without looking through a window. The rest of the wagons were compartments where passengers could live during the journey. Also here in the compartments was everything available that one could wish for. There was a couch that could be changed at night into 2 beds. A small table for eating breakfast and taking afternoon tea. A small bathroom with a shower, sink and toilet.
The trip was from Singapore through Malaysia with the cities Kuala Lumpur and Penang. In Penang we paused so that we were able to take an excursion to the island. On the second night we travelled trough the border to Thailand, while we slept, then further on to Burma. The Bridge on the River Kwai, this bridge is world-wide know from the film with Alec Guinness of the same name. We are able to take a boat trip on the River Kwai and to see the former war zones.
On the afternoon of the third day we arrive in Bangkok.
Bangkok (capital of Thailand – 7 million inhabitants) is a real Asiatic metropole with the corresponding traffic and milling crowds of people on the street. Nevertheless we were able to visit many palaces and pagodas and the belonging parks. Very special for us were the Floating Markets where life is conducted on the colourful ships, and on the channels and rivers.
Floating Market
After all these wonderful impressions, we leave this hectic place and continue our journey to north Thailand. We visit the very modest living mountain people in Akka.
The elephants that live with these people, transport heavy tree trunks from the forest and pile them up. Also different training acts were shown to us – walking on just the front or back legs, headstands on trunks and tusks.
These mountain people live from rice. Planting that is so productive that some can be exported. They also produce many hand – made work of art and handy – craft. For example Thai – Silk, varnished and painted flax, carved wood – work (the wood being teak which grows here) and pottery.
With a visit to the temple on the mountain top of Chain Mai (1'056 meters) and temple in the cave of Chainy Dao ends the cultural part of our World tour. We now allow ourselves a few restful days on the holiday island Koh Samui after very interesting and wonderful World tour.
We are ready and willing to answer any questions concerning our journey.
E-mail address – see home page on side one.
Riehen (Schweiz), den 29. Juli 1998