Well, here we are flying over India (that's one big country to fly across), about three hours into our flight home, never imagining our travels would end. We have visited six countries in eighty days, two less than we thought we would, but, we visited a city (unplanned) which really blew our minds. Sydney wasn't on our original agenda.
It was a journey that just had to be done, after a turbulent ten years in the pub game it was either this or cracking up under pressure - the Spain adventure, although not a side show, is waiting in the wings, Asia had to be done first.
The inevability of being on our way home really struck when we arrived at Hua Hin station for our journey back to Bangkok. This was it, the last proper leg of our journey and a goodbye to being on our own, family beckoned for a few days and we would have a chance to get our shit together for the flight home - wherever that is?
We arrived at the station in time to relax, cool down, and take a few happy snaps before our near four hour journey. It seemed that a lot of the transient life of Thailand was on the platform with us.
My confession for the day is I used to be a railway enthusiast, as a kid (diesel eara of course - hey, how old do you think I am?). Hua Hin station is a throwback to a bygone day when the King himself would travel from Bangkok to take in the sea air. The station boasts a Royal Pavillion no less, where, outside as I was taking a photo of it a monk was busy grooming himself (cutting his finger nails). Whilst, on the platform, another one was knocking out the Zed's fast asleep on a bench - just another normal day on the Thai railway system.
Health and Safety sort of gets left behind as you can wander across the tracks here. I used this opportunity in order to take a few more pictures. As our train approached though, I committed the ultimate sin; I got too close to the rails as the train was approaching. I upset the platform manager as he waved his flags then blew his whistle In my direction, I got the message!
The train was a blessed relief as the air con hit us after the scorching heat on the platform, we quickly found our seats and settled in for the journey back.
We were offered juice, on the house, and we realised that the friendly hostesses are actually allocated one per carriage, what a great concept, on Thai Railways you are truly looked after.
At one station there was great excitement. Smoke was billowing across the tracks as the fire brigade were fighting a blaze. It was probably the burning of the fields after harvest that caused the commotion. It certainly had us all looking out of the windows on the train as well as a band of monks on the platform. Those holy men get everywhere!
A beautiful red sun was setting to our left side of the train, Thailand was finally cooling down for the evening but as we crawled through the suburbs of Bangkok it seemed that this part of the country was so alive.
An extension of the cities Skytrain is being constructed towards Don Muang airport, the welding sparks were falling to the ground from the workforce above us. It seemed that every spare inch of space next to the track was used for catering, surely the whole of Greater Bangkok wasn't eating?
Did I say Thailand was cooling down for the evening? We alighted the train and stepped out to a warm, muggy, breath taking night. It was almost 8pm but I was still sweating as though it was midday, quick, where's those taxis?
After totally avoiding the rip-off taxi and Tuk Tuk merchants that wait in prey for you outside the station we eventually found a driver who understood where we were heading, a lot is lost in translation over here.
So, we were now back at the Chatrium Residence, sat in my sisters apartment, travels finished, experiences logged and almost ready for normality again - whatever that may be.
I won't go into cliches such as "it was a roller coaster of a trip", "the experience of a lifetime", etc... blah, blah blah! It was our gig, our choice and in the end our own journey of discovery. We saw what we wanted to, did what ever the hell pleased us and at the end of it all proved to ourselves we are never to old to experience a new life. That, as they say is it folks, next, the book. This was merely a snapshot of the journey, the full story and our feelings and analysis will hopefully be published soon enough. And, if you have been a follower, thanks! Your feedback, when received, was much appreciated.
What's next? Hopefully, "Living disgracefully on the Costas". Follow us on that journey!
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