Wednesday 28th November

(Cont. from Page 4)........Tonight the earlier storm has passed allowing a hazy full-moon to appear. Ahead all the splendor of the festival lies open in a spectacular panorama of light of all descriptions. That’s it I’m done.

Thursday 29th November

On the right lines……..A lazy morning is in store as I don’t need to make a move before midday. I’ve arranged transport to the train station but I need to wait more than 2 hours there. That’s OK. As I explained earlier the train to Bangkok is not well supported so I’m relieved to arrive there by whatever means. When the ticket office opens 30 minutes before departure I’m charged a ridiculous 20 baht. Even more ridiculous really is the fact that this service is free for Thai people. Actually I’m not travelling into Bangkok itself but setting down at Chachoengsao, still some 50 kilometres from the capital. The reason for this is simply to allow a more direct route into the north-eastern suburbs at Bang Khen by bus avoiding the long and tedious route into central Bangkok. Highway 304 runs directly from Chachoengsao through Minburi allowing access to Mochit northern bus terminal and Don Meuang domestic airport. Another reason is the opportunity afforded to spend a while on the platform to further my interest in Thailand’s state railway system. I won’t be disappointed. By the time the locomotive arrives the platform witnesses quite a bit more activity than it did 24 hours earlier but the train still won’t be full. The weather is overcast but much improved from yesterday. A few people will be drifting away from Pattaya after the Loi Krathong festival. The train departs and I’m soon gazing out of the open window, a steady breeze sympathetically blowing through the carriage. Further comfort to this 3rd class service which would never do back home is added as I plant my feet on the seats opposite. Bare footed of course. The time seems to pass quickly but I appear to have dozed off somewhere along the line!