Leaving Bangkok was a lot more difficult than anticipated, not because of the hectic traffic and pretzel-like roads, but because of the especially generous, comforting and happy time I had staying with star hosts Dee and Phil.
Bangkok became a true home with lazy morning shared between enjoying a lengthy muesli & yoghurt breakfast, and reading or catching up on the latest Entourage series. A wander into town or meeting for lunch with Reto, fellow Swiss cyclist encountered at the airport, would ensue; followed by afternoon wandering and reading; le tout gently wrapped up by a homey evening spent in Dee and Phi’s heart warming company.
The train was chosen as the easiest option to exit the urban jungle. With the bike tucked under a sink in the train controllers office, we gently rolled through Bankok’s back streets and people’s back gardens, passengers hopped on and off as pleased. As the concrete faded and vegetation took over, the train sped up, stopping at the most unexpected locations including the middle of road crossings, somewhere along a string of rice paddies, and at occasional charming train stations.
Having planned to disembark at a relatively big town, the train controller recommended I stay on until the last stop in the small town of Kabin Buri, where accommodation and food are available. Arriving at dark, I was surprised to find a top notch hotel for 3dollars and an abundant food market. Needless to say, I was a happy camper!
It’s been raining a fair amount recently which has been a blessing in disguise, as roasting temperatures have dropped, cloud cover obstructs the sizzling rays and an ongoing gentle breeze is generated. It’s helped hugely with the cycling (though it seems as though this statement may come back and bite me in the bum, as I cycled through my first flooded road today…), as I found myself at the Cambodian border he following morning earlier than expected.
The border is hectic. Four wooden posts holding a tin roof house the visa upon arrival office, where three men sit on a row of used bus seats writing up visa applications. This surprisingly extremely efficient business has passports ready to go within 10mins. After passing through the Thai border control , cycling alongside a stream of local merchants, and having my temperature scanned, I had trouble finding the Cambodian immigration office. It transpires that the Cambodia government have built as many casino’s as possible before their official border control to encourage Thai’s to get a day pass and gamble away within this area! For those of your from the Geneva region, Poipet is definitely a kitchy, nouveau-riche and run down version of Divonne!
hola chica, como estas? hope you’re well and your adventure continues with lots of positive encounters and lovely hosts!
funny to hear you met Reto in bankok. if he’s the one i mean (Reto Müller), it’s a high-school mate of me! take care of your knees and don’t eat too much “tortas”! or what do cyclists eat in asia to satisfy their hunger? will keep on following your trip…
saludos desde suiza.
Didi! It’s great to hear from you, and what a coincidence that you know Reto Muller! Yeah, I saw him in a corner of the baggage claim area in Bangkok airport, putting together a bike and donning a huge swiss flag- I couldn’t walk by without engaging in a conversation! You would LOVE it here…the chocolate cakes don’t only ‘resemble’ choc cakes, they actually taste of chocolate! They’re also loads of baguettes and french bakeries; lots of noodles and strange pieces of meat floating around various concoctions of soups; and food everywhere, at all hours of the day =)
I hope you’re keeping the cycling up, cos we’re going to have to organise a tour de Suisse with Adi & Reto when he returns next summer.
Besitos y hasta pronto xxx