Tour Preview
Tying the Knot....... I said when I first arrived in Thailand in September that there were matters I had to attend to before I could do any serious traveling, but I seem to have done a good job in making the best of time available. During that time, I've been for the most part restricted to Bangkok. We did have a graduation ceremony to attend but at long last I can reveal why I have been so engaged with other matters. My companion Katoon on all my adventures for the last 13 years since I started this website is now my wife. With the paperwork completed a humble registration took place stragely in Pak Chong in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, two and a half hours from Bangkok, on 9th October. As I write this during a lull a day after the event, I can continue business as usual and tomorrow we will be departing on another tour albeit restricted to 5 or 6 days as I need to return to extend my stay in Thailand on the 17th.
Day 1, Wednesday 11 October - Rayong
To the Coast....... This morning we plan to head for the coasts which will effectively be our honeymoon. It was decided that returning to Bangkok from Pak Chong was the better option allowing us to head off in a different direction and the coast which seemed more appropriate. With our mind made up we wake this morning only to find it's raining heavily. Hopefully it won't last long, and we can get on our way well before lunch.
Making Tracks....... Thankfully by 11:00am the rain has stopped so we can get on our way. From the eastern outskirts of Bangkok, we could easily make our destination by around 2:00pm so I am open to suggestions regarding places to visit on the way, but Katoon is easy going at the moment leaving that up to me. So, dare I on the start of our honeymoon make my way to the railway tracks again? No objection is made so we had back to Chachoengsao where we were 4 days ago. There's no harm because it's on one of the routes we can use on the way to the coast. When I arrive, there is much less activity than on the last visit on Saturday and I'm thankful that it will not use up too much time. On this occasion just one passenger train is departing for Bangkok while a freight train follows not long after.
More excitment....... It's still quite early as we take a simple lunch in Chachoengsao then head off to Chonburi taking the scenic route along the Cholmarkwithi Bridge which featured on my last visit to the province. As we make our way back to the main highway dare I visit Chonburi Railway Station? Well, why not but this station is bound to be quiet as very little passenger traffic passes through. However, it is on the freight line between the deep sea port and the Bangkok industrial zone and right on queue a freight train passes through the station heading north leaving me with no chance to set up my camera phone. OK never mind, I'm on a roll and next head for Si Racha Junction Station where I visited in December last amidst great excitement. A repeat of that experience is not expected but on arrival lo and behold I'm in for another unexpected adrenaline kick. Together with other classes almost the entire fleet of 5100 class Quishuyan heavy freight locomotives are in the station yard. and I don't know why they are not dispersed on duty given that some are only 10 years old. I hope to get the answer to that question later but right now I'm in heaven recording videos and trying to capture photos of as many of the locomotives as I can.
Pegged Back....... We hear that a freight train is about to pass through the station heading to the port area. That too gets captured on video but unfortunately, as it waits at the red light, it blocks the view of locomotives in the yard I've yet to record. I could wait but then the heavens open up and to make matters worse I manage to pull a muscle in my leg clambering over the tracks, I must call it enough for one day and head to the coast arriving at our pre-booked accommodation close to Rayong city at around 5.30pm.
Hamstrung....... I'm now aware that the pulled muscle or whatever it is, is not going to go away quickly. We park up in front of East Inn 15 and check in. For the price it looks impressive but for now I need to hobble across the street for a Korean BBQ (moo yang Gowlee) at a mid-range restaurant, a class down on the dining experience of the last few days but absolutely filling our needs as well as our stomachs. Hopping back to the hotel I locate our room and to add some sweetness to my unfortunate predicament, the room is spacious and coupled with this, the location within easy reach of restaurants shops and even street food ticks all the boxes except sea or mountain views which never had a box to tick anyway!
It's been a curious first honeymoon day and I'm sure there will be amusement in the future that all that was achieved was visits to train stations.
Next Page.
Tying the Knot....... I said when I first arrived in Thailand in September that there were matters I had to attend to before I could do any serious traveling, but I seem to have done a good job in making the best of time available. During that time, I've been for the most part restricted to Bangkok. We did have a graduation ceremony to attend but at long last I can reveal why I have been so engaged with other matters. My companion Katoon on all my adventures for the last 13 years since I started this website is now my wife. With the paperwork completed a humble registration took place stragely in Pak Chong in Nakhon Ratchasima Province, two and a half hours from Bangkok, on 9th October. As I write this during a lull a day after the event, I can continue business as usual and tomorrow we will be departing on another tour albeit restricted to 5 or 6 days as I need to return to extend my stay in Thailand on the 17th.
Day 1, Wednesday 11 October - Rayong
To the Coast....... This morning we plan to head for the coasts which will effectively be our honeymoon. It was decided that returning to Bangkok from Pak Chong was the better option allowing us to head off in a different direction and the coast which seemed more appropriate. With our mind made up we wake this morning only to find it's raining heavily. Hopefully it won't last long, and we can get on our way well before lunch.
Making Tracks....... Thankfully by 11:00am the rain has stopped so we can get on our way. From the eastern outskirts of Bangkok, we could easily make our destination by around 2:00pm so I am open to suggestions regarding places to visit on the way, but Katoon is easy going at the moment leaving that up to me. So, dare I on the start of our honeymoon make my way to the railway tracks again? No objection is made so we had back to Chachoengsao where we were 4 days ago. There's no harm because it's on one of the routes we can use on the way to the coast. When I arrive, there is much less activity than on the last visit on Saturday and I'm thankful that it will not use up too much time. On this occasion just one passenger train is departing for Bangkok while a freight train follows not long after.
More excitment....... It's still quite early as we take a simple lunch in Chachoengsao then head off to Chonburi taking the scenic route along the Cholmarkwithi Bridge which featured on my last visit to the province. As we make our way back to the main highway dare I visit Chonburi Railway Station? Well, why not but this station is bound to be quiet as very little passenger traffic passes through. However, it is on the freight line between the deep sea port and the Bangkok industrial zone and right on queue a freight train passes through the station heading north leaving me with no chance to set up my camera phone. OK never mind, I'm on a roll and next head for Si Racha Junction Station where I visited in December last amidst great excitement. A repeat of that experience is not expected but on arrival lo and behold I'm in for another unexpected adrenaline kick. Together with other classes almost the entire fleet of 5100 class Quishuyan heavy freight locomotives are in the station yard. and I don't know why they are not dispersed on duty given that some are only 10 years old. I hope to get the answer to that question later but right now I'm in heaven recording videos and trying to capture photos of as many of the locomotives as I can.
Pegged Back....... We hear that a freight train is about to pass through the station heading to the port area. That too gets captured on video but unfortunately, as it waits at the red light, it blocks the view of locomotives in the yard I've yet to record. I could wait but then the heavens open up and to make matters worse I manage to pull a muscle in my leg clambering over the tracks, I must call it enough for one day and head to the coast arriving at our pre-booked accommodation close to Rayong city at around 5.30pm.
Hamstrung....... I'm now aware that the pulled muscle or whatever it is, is not going to go away quickly. We park up in front of East Inn 15 and check in. For the price it looks impressive but for now I need to hobble across the street for a Korean BBQ (moo yang Gowlee) at a mid-range restaurant, a class down on the dining experience of the last few days but absolutely filling our needs as well as our stomachs. Hopping back to the hotel I locate our room and to add some sweetness to my unfortunate predicament, the room is spacious and coupled with this, the location within easy reach of restaurants shops and even street food ticks all the boxes except sea or mountain views which never had a box to tick anyway!
It's been a curious first honeymoon day and I'm sure there will be amusement in the future that all that was achieved was visits to train stations.
Next Page.
Chonburi Province
Chonburi Railway Station, Ban Suan, Chonburi District
Si Racha Junction Station, Laem Chabang, Bang Lamung District