A Train/Bus/Ferry Ride to the Islands of Thailand

By on March 10, 2010 in Asia, Thailand, TRAVEL VIDEOS


After having my fill of Bangkok, it was time to hop on a train, head to the south and relax on the beach. It took a whopping 19 hours to get there…

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14 Responses to A Train/Bus/Ferry Ride to the Islands of Thailand

  1. MalGal March 10, 2010 at 10:47 am #

    Perhaps did you sleep with that signing Cricket all night long??

  2. MalGal March 10, 2010 at 6:13 pm #

    Haha oops that is suppose to be ‘singing’ crickets not signing!!

  3. Ryan G March 11, 2010 at 7:51 pm #

    #1. I didn’t know they played English songs in Thailand!! I’m refering to the song that was played in the cab when you were filming there!!

    #2. I would feel as though I was on the Amazing Race as well. Nice Analogy!!

    #3. Um….interesting trains!! Not very busy!! At least they had fans at the top, I noticed!!!! Oh, and those beds, that weren’t actually that bad in looks anyways. Were they okay, or hard as a rock?? Nice view from the train. Nice bathrooms too, LOL!! It know it’s a train though!!

    #4. How did you sleep with all that noise the train made?? I don’t know if you mentioned this, but what was that thing making that bird-like noise?? A bird?? I couldn’t hear you for the noise.

    #5. Nice view from the ferry as well.

    #6. You must have been exhausted from all that traveling to get to the islands!! You met a fair bit of North Americans on your journey!!

    Hopefully your getting to relax now….

    PS: Sorry for not tuning in for awhile. Been busy, but not as busy as you….

  4. Brock March 12, 2010 at 4:15 am #

    @Mal – Signing cricket eh? That’d be a lot to watch.

  5. Brock March 12, 2010 at 4:15 am #

    @Mal – Yes, singing is more like it. That terrible sound is actually a fan if you can believe it. What a long night.

  6. Jaime (Canadian from bus that just somehow "worked out") March 13, 2010 at 3:37 am #

    Dude, we rode third class on that train. Atleast you got a bed… How’d you like Ko Phanang (Did I spell that right?)

  7. Lesley March 15, 2010 at 7:40 pm #

    Ok, you want to feel a bit better about your trek?
    Your train was relatively quiet. Imagine – 3 am being woken up from your upstairs bunk by a conductor yelling something in Thai, and everyone leaving the train. In the groggy state we followed the locals who piled onto buses and we were whisked away (turns out the train tracks were washed out). We were loaded back onto another train and rode the last bit out. After standing at a train station for over an hour at 5am another bus came to take us to the “ferry” and by “ferry” I mean a small speed boat that they shoved 40 odd of us on to for the 45 min trip (crowded enough, that passengers were even sitting on the engine hoping that their balance would keep them above the whirling propellor below). Upon arriving we took a “taxi” – the back of a pick up truck, to a suspicious resort which was quickly deemed as disgusting, but this was the closest we could get to where we wanted to go as the road was washed out. As I was limping due to the stitches, I was left with the packs as Glassford went out overland. An hour later, a kayak appeared from afar, around the bend – Glassford and a little Thai women arrived on the beach. The Thai lady was clearly terrified as she threw me her life vest and scurried over the hill and into the brush. Glassford and I loaded the packs onto the kayak, and as experienced paddlers battled the tide for over a half hour before coming to rest on our gorgeous beach in Kao Tao.
    Suddenly that train bathroom isn’t looking so bad eh? : )

  8. Ashley Z March 17, 2010 at 8:23 pm #

    My worst travel leg involved a bus trip from Lake Toba in Sumatra, Indonesia to Bukkitingi. All the buses were booked, but my friend and I managed to snag two spots on a bus. The catch? We had to sit straggling a bench placed in the aisle of the bus. We were told it would only be for the first 6 hours, when some of the passengers with actual seats would be getting off. Of course, this didn’t actually happen. So for 17 hours, most of it overnight, we were riding on a bus straddling a bunch (picture riding a motorcycle). We tried to sleep, but would wake up periodically as our busdriver honked his horn madly )to avoid hitting chickens, people, whatever) and careened around corners etc. (all par for the course in SE Asia). In the middle of the night, we were actually sideswiped by another bus. The drivers stopped their buses, exchanged info for 5 minutes or less, and then we were on our way!

  9. Ashley Z March 17, 2010 at 8:30 pm #

    Sorry about all the typos – I guess I should proof read before I hit Submit Comment – the above should read “straddling” not “straggling” and “bench” not “bunch”!

  10. Brock March 20, 2010 at 10:10 pm #

    @Jaime – HEY! Like your cameo? I couldn’t imagine sitting in a seat for that ride, but hey you got a massage out of it. I liked the islands. And you?

  11. Brock March 20, 2010 at 10:13 pm #

    @Lesley – Oh my goodness. Of course you two have had those adventures. I guess I am only 3 months in…so there is still loads of time for situations like that, although one of my latest bus experiences is a bit more similar. I hate buses. It always makes for better stories though.

  12. Brock March 20, 2010 at 10:18 pm #

    @Ashley – Oh wow. That is rough. 17 hours on a bench, straddling it. No way hose. Then again, what other choice do you have.

  13. Jaime! March 27, 2010 at 6:18 pm #

    LOVED the islands. Got certified in scuba diving and went to a full moon party. It was siiiick. LOVE your vids.

  14. Brock March 27, 2010 at 8:27 pm #

    @Jamie – Certified, good for you. I only saw a black moon party. Thanks for tuning in.

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