E&O Train Bangkok to Chiang Mai October 28-29, 2008

Those of you who follow this blog faithfully (and I know you are out there because you tell me you've read it!), will notice some similarities in the following post. Yes, we once again took the E&O Express Train for an overnight journey, this time from Bangkok to Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. I actually won the tickets for this trip, having entered an online postcard contest sponsored by the company some months previously! (Perhaps you received one of these cards...I had to send 10 then my name would be entered into the draw, well it worked!) So after we said goodbye to Greg and Deb, who were heading to Mom Tri's Villa Royale on Phuket for a short stay, we headed to the Bangkok station and boarded our train! All aboard!



Elephants are the
royal symbol of
Thailand and they
are everywhere!
Can you see this
one?












Pat getting
ready to board
our train at
3 p.m.













The open-air
observation
car at the
end of the
train










Yes, it's the
right one!











Our pullman
compartment-
same as last
time!









We attended
a tropical fruit
tasting at tea-
time in the
lounge.
















Dusk in the
Thai
countryside










In the bar, pre-
dinner drinks with
a Thai dancer to
entertain us



















Notice her hands














Appetizer of
baked salmon
with
Thai papaya
salad













Pat tucking
in to lamb
medallion
over fruit-
scented
couscous













It was a
little breezy
in the open
car after
dinner!










All tired out...
I had the top
bunk!












Morning mists
on the rails












The whole
train










Northern
Thai
countryside











Local
village












Our
destination
9 a.m. the
next day













Chiang Mai station













The E&O Company had invited the American author, William Warren, (who has lived for many years now in Bangkok) to give a talk to passengers about the story of Jim Thompson, an American who revitalized the silk industry post WW II in Thailand and who mysteriously disappeared in the Cameron Highlands of Central Malaysia on Easter Day in 1967. He was a personal friend of Thompson's and his book, "Jim Thompson: The Unsolved Myst" (written in 2007) is one of several written on the subject. It is an intriguing story and we have enjoyed spending time at his home in Bangkok as well as having invested a small fortune in his silk, linen and cotton fabrics and personal articles over the past five years, both for ourselves and as gifts! On this visit to Bangkok, we came across (for the first time) a factory-outlet shop not far from the main store, where we purchased shirt material with Greg and Deb. We have also enjoyed lunch at the tea room several times on past visits. A "must do" when in Bangkok!

Jumpa lagi...