Bangkok to Beaches

Train. Bus. Boat. A transportation trifecta is how we arrived to Ko Samui. After a quick dinner at the train station we walked to the platform to board our train.

At the station

We walked passed the end of the train making our way to the front since from past experience that is where the sleeper cars are positioned. Robert asked an attendant which car was our, he pointed to the back of the train. What? The back of the train is where the cheap upright, seats are, not the private berths with beds. We told the tour agent we needed beds, what went wrong? Did we get scammed?

We boarded anyway because there was not much else we could do, our train left in 15 minutes. The whole car had single seats that faced each other. Great, we really were going to have to sleep sitting up! At least they were twice as wide as an airplane seat but that didn't squelch minor complaints from the boys.

First impressions

Funny how we are so quick to be disappointed and pass judgement before we really know what's going on. You see, an hour into our journey the steward came along to convert our seats to beds! He worked his magic, pulling, flipping, dropping and locking the beds into place, one on top and one on bottom. Next, he made the beds with fresh linens. Finally, he hung a pretty blue curtain so each passenger could have their privacy! And, Cameron no longer had to worry about how to get into his PJ's without anyone seeing him. It was a good ride.

The next morning we were shuttled from the train to a bus that would take us to the pier to catch our ferry to Ko Samui. I was glad the bus ride was only an hour. The thing looked like it had been in a few demolition derbies. The inside wasn't much better. Our seats were wet from condensation dripping off the ceiling thanks to the A/C and finding a seat that wasn't torn was challenging but we prevailed.

From the bus we boarded the ferry. It was a speed catamaran style with inside and outside seating. The inside had real seats and the outside seating, which was fully occupied, was sitting on the narrow side passage while hanging our feet over board. As much as I wanted to be outside there was no room so for the hour and a half boat ride to Ko Samui I sat inside.

Wanted to sit here

Sat here instead

A passing traveler gave me some advice he inherited, "flying from Bangkok to Ko Samui is the best $200 ever spent." To that I say, "No way, $200 is not worth missing the adventure!"