Experience of the South East Asia trains

We had heard stories about the comfort of the railway in Thailand, travel, so we decided on the go try it from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. The alternatives in this long night journey were a private hut in first class or "behind the scenes" in a second class compartment. We chose the cheaper second class.

We on board the train and found our compartment. Sitting face to face on the padded seats we wondered us as she could be trans­formed in beds. Since made the air conditioning of the freezing cold, we put on pants and long sleeved shirts immediately.

While the train at the station was, a man came to refreshments - serve us so far, so good! After the departure of train appeared staff in the corridors; Men in their uniform caps were check­ing the tickets and takes care of security and "Things" and the cleaners with their brush came at regular intervals. Service in the field was excellent: meals, coffee, soft drinks, beer, etc. were for sale. There was also a dining car. We went on one view have but was not in the hot, smoky car - there was no air conditioning.

About 08 the auto attendant came to make the beds. With eyes we how our two seats have been transformed into a bed and until the upper bed was folded as a bunk bed, attached to the wall was observed. In this way, the entire subject turned into a dormitory. to protect your privacy, the curtains could be considered. Our fellow travellers were passing their time in different ways; We worked with a laptop, behind the curtain, which was the a monk meditation, back-Packer have been exchanging messages... The subject was suspended for the night and was on the floor the car attendant nodded, half asleep. We slept well on the click click the line, with our knitted caps on. The train reached Chiang Mai a few hours too late but that didn't matter, we had made.

On our way back to Bangkok we have decided to try a private hut in the first class. At nightfall, the auto attendant, the beds, came to make the top and the bottom. We spent a quiet night; Fortunately, our closest neighbours were quiet people - but we found we lack the pleasant atmosphere of the second class.

Next we one day have Hin train from Bangkok to hua. The train was full, but we managed to get adjacent places. Provider on the train was given at the intermediate stations sell all kinds of snacks and food items. Tickets for day trains can be purchased only on the day of departure. This means snake, but as far as we know everyone gets their tickets and there is room for everyone.

Some time ago, we went on a night train from Hat Yai in southern Thailand to Kuala Lumpur. The tickets for the first stage of Hat Yai near the Malaysian border, we bought in Hat Yai removed railway station, and it not the tickets from the border to Kuala Lumpur on the Internet - is practical. We had to get to at the border post in Johor Bahru, which meant going through passport and customs control, waiting for the train to Kuala Lumpur.

For this part of the trip we had a private hut reserved a good night sleep before our long flight home in a few days. We promoted our luggage in the cabin and see the dusty carpet, allergy medicine, took to just to be on the safe side. But something was moving on the ground, on the bed head, on the ceiling. Cockroaches, big and small. -Cannot be true! Must get a cleaner layout. The train started, and we stopped in the hallway, wait for the conductor. -Don't worry, they are well and good, they eat little worms, said the conductor laugh when we told him of our terrible discovery. I remember even his Board smile and his sparkling white teeth... We have received not a different cabin. Went to the car, restaurant have to eat a bite and drink tepid tea, while regretting that we a bottle Sam song, a traveller nightcap per se not had brought. The Malaysian railway, of course no alcoholic beverages beer serve, not even... The evening was long and the night even longer.

It is easy by train travel from Singapore to Malaysia. On the other hand, if you want to cross the border only, a bus is cheaper.

If you really want to like trains and some simple sights, you can reserve a place in the Eastern & Oriental Express, which runs between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. Luxury..... .and for the budget traveller only in the form of glossy brochures possible.

From the capital of Laos, Vientiane (from the Thai side of the border, to be exact) is a well functioning railway connection to Bangkok. Laos has good functions no railway system, but the river traffic.

The main line of the Vietnamese railway operates between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon) close to the sea. The journey time between the two cities is c. 30 hours, as well as potential delays. The night trains have soft sleepers (air-conditioned) and hard sleepers with cabins for four and six or. There is no separate rooms for men and women and no seats in the sleepers. Our tickets for the night train were cheap and the price includes a small bottle of water, breakfast and lunch.

There was no dining car, but a waiter was the sale of beer and soft drinks. The cars and the cabins were clean and safe thanks to the numerous employees. They were of uniform in the course and stern-on the search, and we have found that Western tourists on the hat, were making.

The native took their tea in their cabins, fetching hot water by the person responsible for the subject. We slept in the Vietnamese night train - with our clothes on under a thick blanket, no warm hats were needed. We of beautiful Vietnamese music and the smell of breakfast were awakened in the morning.

A useful tip about rail travel in Viet Nam: checks the train tickets if you go to the waiting room or the platform; on the train, it is sometimes modified for a "traveler's card"; upon arrival on leaving the platform, it is taken away. So take good care of your ticket.

In Southeast Asia the trains are cold, especially the air-conditioned, and there is a strong draught. To install a knitted CAP, a silk scarf and warm clothes and keep at hand.

How to move from place to place by air is fast and easy, no one can deny that but travel is by train cheaper and often more fun. We feel, it is certainly the choice of real travellers.

Liz Saarelainen is an independent and adventurous travellers from Finland. You spend all the time available to exotic places, often with a very limited budget.

Her and her husband is Andy website with many journeys more stories and series of paintings on the Web site for adventurous travelers

You are welcome to explore their site!