The train...

I have not written much in the last few days because I have just basically been relaxing. But at last it is time to head back to Bangkok to meet up with a friend. So the people at the hotel drop me off at the train station and wave goodby. The hotel I was at did not have a staff that spoke English very well. Just the basics.... Toilet, chicken curry, you pay bill.... So when they dropped me off at the train station here was no advice or direction. Just that loving smile and nod goodby. It would be the same if you were going off to get married or an execution. I walk up to the counter and asked for a ticket. A very non humored woman dispensed the ticket and sent me on my way ..... Well lets just say that I should have done more research. Here in Thailand like most places in the world. There are different trains. The more high class and nicer first and second class models and then there are the " locals" or third class. I ended up on the third class model. A broken down relic from railroad history. The color of that 1950's turquoise but so beat on that it was more grime than blue green. I hopped on and stowed my stuff overhead, then sitting down I noticed the pad wasn't much of a pad.... Just a material cover over hard wood. All of the windows were open because there is no ac and as the train gently started to roll forward the scent of diesel train exhaust started to pour in...... Aaaaahhhhhh my new home for 5 scheduled hours....... Or wait, lets make that 7 hours with delays. When I finally made it into Bangkok and to my hotel I went to the sink and got a wash cloth to wipe my face off a bit before going to dinner. The cloth was black, I had been covered in a film of dust and diesel fumes so thick I probably looked like I had makeup on... Lets just say that from here on out. If I take the train, I will be in the newer air con 2nd class cars.