Getting to Bangkok

Fill her up!

I was just thinking that I've talked a bit about our trips to Bangkok and yet never shared how you get there.  Believe it or not, the simplest way is by mini-bus.  There are several bus stations around Chanthaburi and if you get in a taxi and ask for the mini-bus to Bangkok you're likely to be taken to any one of them depending on the taxi drivers knowledge!  Timetables are more a guideline but generally they seem to leave on the hour (though most will wait until the bus is full) and Mr John and I have never had to wait too long. 

It's roughly a 220 kilometre trip and if you get there in 3 hours you've done really well (and, religious or not, said a few prayers on the way) - it's usually 3.5 / 4 hours.  The mini-bus is air-conditioned but you won't need a sweater, it simply makes it all a bit better.  You can sit in the front seat with the driver if you're lucky but won't stand a chance if a monk is on the trip as they always seem to get that seat.

The trip costs 200 baht per person one way (roughly £4 / AUD$6.50) which I know sounds like a bargain.  To be fair it is pretty reasonable but you have to remember we are both living on a poor teachers wage!  To put this into context, our breakfast (lunch or dinner) across the road cost us 30 baht (roughly 60p / $1). Therefore the bus trip is 6.66 meals for one of us.  This is how I've taken to understanding the cost of things - convert it all into meals.  It's the best way, otherwise I just keep thinking how cheap everything is and forgetting we're not earning western wages!

On the bus, we try and position ourselves where I have a good field of vision as I'm prone to motion sickness.  Thankfully (or is it?) the mini-bus always stops at a service station on the way to fill up and you can get out, use the conveniences, get a drink or snack.  My advice though is to keep an eye on your transport as they don't muck around once the tank is full.  We do this by making a note of the number plate as one white mini-bus looks the same as the next! 

Genuine sign in the ladies

Using the toilet is always a thrill.  Sit down toilets are becoming more common and there is some government drive to have 70% of toilets in Thailand being sit down by 2016.  Of course the one thing you can't do is put the toilet paper down the toilet and flush.  You have to put it in the waste paper bin provided.

You also have to remember that a lot of toilet blocks (including those in bars, restaurants) have the toilet paper outside the loo and you have to get it before you go in.  I've taken to carrying a small  pack of tissues in my bag to cover emergencies as sometimes there's none in the holders!

TOP TIPS:

• In Chanthaburi, the mini-bus station next to Tesco Lotus tends to go "on time" rather than waiting to fill up all the seats
• Make sure you take a bottle of water and tissues with you
• Don't forget your headphones unless you're a fan of Thai radio / music
• Be prepared to wait in Bangkok (best place we know is near Victory Monument) as the buses don't run as regularly
• If the ticket seller in Bangkok gives you a time the bus will leave don't necessarily take it as read.  The other day we were told at 1pm that our bus would leave at 3pm.  We did go and have a quick bite to eat but then loitered by the terminal just in case.  Glad we did as when I had gone into the shopping centre to use the loo, they came and found Mr John as the bus was heading off soon.  By this time it was around 1:30pm!  Don't worry, we made it!