Picture This > Journey to Thailand (31)
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Singapore train station
The train was scheduled to depart from Singapore at 07:30 AM, but it left a bit after 08:00.
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Gwen at station
Before departing, we had to go through immigrations for Malaysia.
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Boarding train
Vic ready to board the train.
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Arrival in Butterworth
Because of a number of delays along the way, we arrived in Butterworth, Malaysia, at about 02:00 AM, 5 hours later than scheduled.
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Breakfast at "Hillside"
Before catching the ferry back over to Butterworth (after catching a few hours of sleep and a shower at a hotel in Penang), we got some breakfast at a local bakery.
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Crossing on the ferry
It was very, very windy on the 30-minute ferry ride from Penang to Butterworth.
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Iced tea
While waiting for the train on to Bangkok, we picked up a bit to eat. Vic ordered iced tea and this is what he got.
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Train Engine
An old train engine at the Butterworth station.
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Sign for train to Bangkok
We took the train on to Bangkok, Thailand.
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Breakfast
Breakfast on the train - not bad, either!
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Scenery
Gorgeous scenery along the way
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Scenery
Paddy fields
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Scenery
... and more paddy fields
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Vic & Gwen
Vic and Gwen on the train.
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Bangkok train station
Arrival at the train station in Bangkok
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More waiting
Vic waiting to board the night train to Chiang Mai, Thailand.
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Chiang Mai
Arrival in Chiang Mai just after 07:00 AM on Monday, 18 August.
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Train
The train we rode from Bangkok to Chiang Mai
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Fresh juice
After arriving at our hotel, Vic enjoyed some fresh lime juice while I had some fresh papaya juice.
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Suan Bua
Suan Bua Hotel - entrance
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Elephant Camp
While in Chiang Mai, Vic and I celebrated our 30th wedding anniversary. We decided to do the "touristy thing" and take a day tour. Our first stop was the Maeping Elephant Camp.
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Elephant show
We enjoyed an elephant show, during which the elephants did quite a wide variety of things, one of which was doing a painting of flowers in a vase.
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Elephant show
They also played rhythm instruments.
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Elephant ride
After the elephant show, we took a one-hour elephant ride through the jungle. Great fun!
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Hang on!
Part of the journey took us down through a ravine.
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Peaceful way to travel
After the elephant ride, we were taken on a bamboo raft ride down the Maeping River. Very relaxing, indeed.
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Maeping River
Maeping River
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Elephant
An elephant and its mahout. We were told that an elephant is very loyal to its mahout if it is treated well.
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Bullock cart
Ox carts are common sites in many parts of Asia, but are usually used for carrying goods to the market, etc. Here Vic, I, and a gal from Italy enjoyed a short ride.
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Bumpy ride
Quite a rough ride through the mud and ruts!
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Ah, orchids!
Our tour ended with a stop at an orchid garden. The first corsage that Vic gave me when we were dating 31 years ago was one made of orchids. Very special, indeed!
