21.01 Day 6 Bangkok to Kanchanaburi

Day 6 - Sunday 21st Jan - Bangkok to Kanchanaburi

It's a proper moving day this time, so after multiple pieces of toast and pancakes along with teas and coffees, we take down the washing line and pack our bags. 

Checking out at 10:30 we Grab to Thon Buri train station, which is only 2 km west as the crow flies, but involves numerous switchbacks as well as crossing the main river to get there. From this small old railway station consisting of a single low building and two tracks we are to catch a train in two-and-a-half-hours time to Kanchanaburi, west of Bangkok. To pass the waiting time, Sienna and I wander through the nearby large covered market, though most stalls are closed. But there’s enough there for us to buy some plastic tubs of chicken & rice, dim sum, noodles and also water for the journey ahead. We avoid the durian fruit but pick up some bananas and lychees too. 

Our station is the start of the twice daily train so we’re allowed to board from about 1:15pm for a 1:55pm departure. There are 3rd class carriages only on this train with all windows open and some rotating fans whirring above. Bang on time the train shunts and shudders forwards, possibly half full, and of that half, above two thirds of them are tourists making the same trip as us (many more make day trips on buses direct from Bangkok). Although we’re able to spread out a little unfortunately we have the sun shining in on us which means we pull down the metal shutters half, then most of the way which further reduces the airflow. That said, having every door to every carriage open the entire journey does mean its not unbearable. Seb falls asleep on Kate whilst Sienna and I develop a scoring system to rate each of our lodgings.

Along the ride there is an erratic yet consistent blaring of the horn to warn away people and animals perhaps, but it’s not long until buildings next to the tracks are replaced by fields. The stages of economic development seem a little out of kilter where barely tarmacked roads will meet a giant splash of new concrete in the form of a horseshoe shaped overpass for cars or an underpass for pedestrians. So too for the stations: where most are small quaint affairs, lined with brightly coloured flowers, some have excessively long new platforms laid down - maybe its good planning ahead, but for now it would appear they would soon fall into disuse. 

One consistent element are the temples and shrines scattered throughout, from the size of a postbox to barn sized gleaming buildings. This train offers a facet we’re getting used to - two tier pricing - this train is free for locals, subsidised by the 100 baht ($4) for foreigners. I daresay two tier pricing is also at play by the ladies walking up and down the carriages peddling snacks, fruits and drinks; we just don’t know it.

At 4:30pm, just 10 minutes behind schedule, we pull into Kanchanaburi where the train disgorges most of its passengers. We walk the 20 minutes - right on the cusp of testing Seb and to a lesser extent, Sienna’s patience - to Sabai@Kan. On the walk, having tried to explain to Sienna the differences between a hotel and hostel, stating we’re staying in hostels, this place goes and calls itself a resort. It has 20 rooms spread over 2 floors in a L shape, overlooking tree fringed green grass and its drawcard; a swimming pool.

Any tiredness or moping from Sienna and Seb is dispelled in an instant, and swimmers are on and we’re all in the pool in a flash. It's instantly refreshing and the hot train ride is but a distant memory. 

Coaxing the kids out for dinner we walk along our street that runs parallel to and also in between the river on one side and the main town thoroughfare on the other. Along this road are a smattering of accommodation options, food venues and more hair salons and massage parlours than you can shake a stick at. We find a canopy covered restaurant a few steps lower than the street where on large wooden tables and benches we order our usual of 3 dishes to share between the 4 of us. But in this case Seb wolfs it down so quickly we order another fried rice, all up for the princely sum of 240 baht ($11). 

Upon returning to our room however, Seb’s meal makes an instant reappearance. Whether it's the heat, the pool water or the dinner we’ll never know, but one of Seb’s strengths is his lack of consideration of causes, so he’s soon asking to go back to the same place for more fried rice.