Yes indeed, great call as i learned that on my 1st trip to thailand with 2 big siutcases & no backpack. It killed me with i got off the Bangkok Airport Bus at Pattaya with the heat 100°+ & LadyBoys trying yo Hustle me, i was lost🤔almost turned back to go back home, but a Girl selling LOTTO tickets helped me & got me BY MOTOR BIKE taxi and baht bus to beach rd SOI 13/3 To my 1st Hotel 500 ft from the beach. Ive come back 7 times since with only back pack

I arrived in Bangkok in the early 90s with a huge backpack and ditched it as I realised I could buy anything I wanted new from the markets..👍

IKR?! And YES, may Hua Lamphong live on!

The bus from the bkk airport to Hua hin was very comfortable, cheap and luxurious.

Many governments in Western countries prefer to maintain old train terminals as iconic landmarks while expanding platforms underground. I understand that the entire project will cost a lot of money to develop.

He really was such a lovely Gent, we actually had a 20 min conversation and as you say nothing extraordinary here, just another example of wonderful Thai people.

Thx BP, love the train & Hua Hin! STL

K A R L!!!! Thanks MUCH! STL

Thanks Jim, I appreciate that! STL

Hey Gary, how do you like Rayong?

Thank you! Cheers

do you really want to drag your heavy suitcases onto the trains and down long stretches in train stations after a long international flight? I've been contemplating taking the train but decided against using it. I'm going to use a van charter down to hua hin

Thanks! 😃

Episode(s) actually

@@SideTripLife 🤗

Would only add, despite hardships those 'slums' are proud communities with some of the friendliest people one may encounter.

@@SideTripLife You are very positive. Can I ask what country are you from?

@@SideTripLife As an aside aside, I remember riding a motorbike around Siargao Island in the Phillippines. Definitely do that and post a video! I rode through some "shanty towns" or "slums" as people would call them and it took me a while to notice that despite them being wooden shacks with tin roofs they were amazingly beautiful, with well tended gardens and not a piece of litter in sight. As you say, the people were so friendly. I want to go back there, but I think I would burst into tears, because when I went a few years ago there was one propeller flight that held 50 people per day from Cebu, and a couple of years later there were flights from Manilla and overseas .. I think 7 to 9 flights a day.

Canada eh;)

THANK YOU for helping me make future trips :))) Cheers, STL

Glad you enjoyed it! Make sure to take 2cnd class a/c for the Hua Hin train.

@@SideTripLife Thanks for the tips; I will. I'm really looking forward to standing between train cars on the inter-city Bangkok 2-Baht train!

Thanks! Cha Am vid next.

grazie, è una bellissima stazione progettata da un fantastico architetto italiano (ok ho usato google translate per digitare questo;)

Wonderful! Will be heading back to Elephant Isle to do an update soon, stay tuned....

LOVE the train! TIP: 2cnd class a/c comfy. If in no a/c compartment, bench seats and hot (ok for a short hop but HH can take 4hrs+). Have a wonderful trip! STL

Never lose hope, may you come back in the near future. I also hope we (foreigners) don't spoil your country by making it too expensive for locals. My own city Vancouver is crazy expensive now. I love Thailand so much, thanks.

Thanks. Btw, I've seen your Channel Andy you're no slouch on travel either ;) Cheers, STL

@SideTripLife cheers 👍🙏

Ooopz, sowwy bout that ;) STL

Likewise ! I'd love to get an answer as well about the Thai language. 😉

My Thai isn't that great really, i speak what I call 'Taxi Thai' lol ie: basic directions & conversation. I had a wonderful Thai GF who used to teach me Thai but she moved to the states for uni and job and I also had a small biz but my Thai staff all spoke English. Lousy excuses I know and I should be fluent by now but hey I'm always learning. Best to look for a basic online Thai language course for a start (or study here at the many Thai language schools) or just come here and learn the basics as you go. STL

@@SideTripLife Thanks for the tips. 🌞

Hi Ian. Is Phuket STILL rammed/jammed packed? It was when I was there a few weeks ago but thought it may have settled down a bit now? Can take the newish red line MRT train from Don Muang to Bang sue. BUT best try to reserve a 2cnd class a/c berth on the Hua Hin/South leg as it's far too hot now for 3rd class. If n/a, there's buses etc at Morchit of course. STL

I live in SoCal and I LOVE taking the Amtrak trains either the Pacific Coast or Starlight Coast! You should try it out on a short trip...

Agreed! LOVE the 'Supamit' aka Subhamitra, another oldie but goodie hotel, lovely family run, wonderful staff, pool, I stayed there for 6 months 20 years ago and many times since

Ninette, really??? Fantastic! How do I not know about this?! I thought only the Samui/Sattahip one was a go. I'll absolutely be on one upcoming

I may be on my way to hua hin soon, thanx for the tip

@@SideTripLife Google is your friend- at least sometimes ;-)

Not true.

Have those started back up? I think they were shut down during COVID.

Thanks MauiHowey, also for the kind offer! Currently exploring outside of HH but will keep this in mind as I'm back often.

Great memories, thanks for sharing! For the record, I too was laden with a hot, sweaty, cumbersome backpack on my 1st trip. Back in the day if you rocked up to say Charlies Huts on Samui with a suitcase on wheels you'd get yucked at lol. But times have changed, no mud rd in Chaweng (sadly no Chucks Huts either): nowadays most roads are sealed/paved all over SE Asia. I was just in Indonesia, went on jungle treks, climbed a volcano etc, just left the wheels in the room and took my little day pack, sorted! But evidently it's still 'uncool' to hit a hostel with wheels, thus mostly first timers laden themselves like pack mules to 'look' er, cool... each to their o0wn, know what I prefer lol