What better way to end my Thai experience than with a Thai massage on the beach? Booked in for 8am I literally rolled out of bed and promptly lay back down on a lounger. Listening to the breaking waves and chirping birds, watching the crabs darting and dashing across the sand, would have been more relaxing if fingers and elbows weren't pressing and prodding me. Plus the added exhilarating experience of exfoliating sunburnt skin when the sand mixed with the oil.
Packed and breakfasted there was time for a final stroll up and down the beach before a light lunch finishing yesterday's leftovers.
We then climbed aboard an open backed truck with our luggage and returned across the island to the pier. Retracing our steps we took the boat back to the mainland. By the time we arrived the heat, the food or the waves had finally taken their toll and at least three of us were feeling unwell.
We split into two VIP buses; said our goodbyes and heading off to either the train station/airport or back east for continued journeys. We said Hello again half an hour later, after driving through a rain storm, when we all stopped at the first toilet opportunity. A sign of things to come unfortunately.
With four travelers heading west in the other bus, and five dropped at the airport for a speedy return to Bangkok just two of us, and our tour guide, were to complete the planned tour. But before we could head to the train station we had to find bubble wrap, tape, string and ideally a bag in order to get our gifts of framed buffalo skin shadow puppets home. With extra baggage allowance available I was tasked with carrying three of these delicate idols.
Success! Our local driver took us to an art supply shop where I was able to buy three packs of bubble wrap, some packing tape, and after much debate some clingwrap that could be used to make handles. On the way out of the door I spotted some sun-bleached plastic-coated cheap bags. The largest was a perfect fit for the largest picture. Sorted.
At the train station we wrapped the pictures, tapped them together, and then lined the bag with the dismantled box for extra packing. Using the bubble wrap trimmings to wrap other gifts and purchases which could travel in the same bag.
The sleeper train comes from the southern most point of Thailand but to reduce the amount of empty carriages being moved about it picks up extras along the route. Consequently we were able to board our second class sleeper whilst it waited at Trang. A quick trip to a local shop for water, cola and snacks and we were on the train.
Our journey north took us back to the East and through Chiya just before dark. With the bunks made up and the carriage full of families returning home for the Thai New Year on the 13th the evening passed sitting crossed legged on bunks talking quietly or with an early retreat to bed. The night trains used to have the moniker of "party train" but following an upsetting incident all alcohol is now banned and a 10pm quiet rule is monitored by armed security, the carriages are consequently very peaceful.
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