Jungle Eco Resort (Thailand day 4)
I’ve been up since 3 am. It’s time to leave the house and start todays adventure. A short taxi to the train station where I can then buy some breakfast and watch the sunrise.
To my surprise many street vendors are already out and setting up for the morning rush. It’s not even 5am. I arrive at Thonburi train station and walk around for a bit, there are stalls stacked right against each other selling fruits, vegetables, and meats. This seems more of a food store than anything. I find a vendor selling small portioned meals and banana muffins. This is probably the only breakfast option I have. I take the longer route back to the train station just so I can observe a bit more.
The ticket booth is finally open, “Nam tok please”, one hundred baht is my total. Not too bad for a 5 hour train ride. I continue to wait out the next 2 and a half hours by the train tracks, watching as backpackers, locals, school kids and more tourist exit on and off the platform. The officers are very polite, occasionally helping people cross the tracks or carrying luggage.
My train is finally here. I walk numerous carts in order to get the perfect window seat, great for scenic videos and photography. There are no fans or a/c and the seats are hard wood, I should be able to bare it for 5 hours though. Everyone is getting settled, families are stowing away their luggage and preparing their snacks for the upcoming journey. We are off to the jungle!
The train ride is absolutely stunning, you get an image of every class, profession, and way of life. You see farms, temples and even mountains. The homes vary from shacks with tin roofs, stone walls, and mordern homes. Each stop becomes more interesting as the use of technology is slipping away.
About two stops away from our destination we are told to get off the train, ours had fallen behind schedule and has to head back to Bangkok, we will all have to switch trains. Minor inconvenience but at least it gave an opportunity to socialize. I was able to speak with an elderly couple whom also were from Orlando. They too took 3 weeks off to travel to Thailand. The gentleman clearly enjoys the liberation that comes with travel and experiencing new cultures and our interaction although short was quite inspiring.
The wait is long and hot, at this point every part of my body is covered in sweat. I just need to make it to Nam Tok before 5pm in order to catch my ferry to my resort. Moments after wondering around trying to catch every once of breeze that’s blowing through the replacement train pulls up, thank goodness. We all swarm in, out of the hot sun and into an even hotter train. I travel all the way to the back in which the last cart was equipped with tiny ceiling fans. This should allow me to pull up my window and avoid being further covered in dust and dirt.
About 20 minutes has past and the river is becoming more visible. I’m in awe as it slowly peeks through the trees. This heat makes me want to jump over straight into the water, I cant wait to reach the resort. The mountains are now towering over us and there is nothing but greenery in my surroundings. This is perfect.
We successfully reach to Nam tok and I grab the first taxi driver available, I must make it to the port to catch my ferry before its too late. The taxi ride is interesting. The houses are small and wooden and basically tucked away from the roads and street side. Potcakes (stay dogs) are roaming the roads with cows and chickens. We come to a narrow dirt road that’s small enough to remind me of why I don’t drive on the island. Up a hill, around a curve and down a hill and finally I can catch my boat.
It’s absolutely beautiful, the water is inches from my face, the trees are high above me kissing the sky, the breeze is blowing through my hair and eliminating the sweat and heat from my body, it is all just too refreshing. I want to drive in, float away and not worry. I’m at peace. After a short ride on the boat we make it to resort. It is floating in the middle of the river, made out of bamboo sticks, plywood wood and straw. So simple, yet astonishingly beautiful. Each room has its own hammock and lounge chair. You can sit on the edge of your raft and allow your feet to be caressed by the water, or you can jump right in and be carried away with the current but swim at your own risk. I fall asleep within 30 minutes of swinging and listening to the river sing, who would have known I was so tired. I wake up just in time for dinner, chicken, pork, and rice, not exactly what I would have preferred but a little bit of vegetables, a side of fruit, followed up with tea will suffice.
I cant believe I’m here, I can’t believe I’m experiencing such beauty. Tomorrow I wake up at 7 am to kiss an elephant. Wish me luck!!