ONLY IN THAILAND. . . [THOUGHTS ON THE SLEEPER TRAIN]

Only in Thailand. . . 

Does a 12 hr sleeper train south cost half as much as a bottle of vodka. 

($15)

 

Note to self: Thai Pringles taste the same as American Pringles. But only if you think Pringles taste about the same as a communion wafer #gross 

I’m almost done with Are You There Vodka it’s Me Chelsea, (who’s been my friend since this adventure started and I had no friends, now I had to leave said friends to move to my job), my train snacks taste like shit and I’m sweating my balls off if I had any. This must be what culture shock (or as I like to call it, PTSD) feels like. 

What if I fall out of my upper bunk? 

Okay, okay, happy thoughts. I spoke broken Thai/broken English with two Thai men while waiting for the train. There was the primary converser and his brother (I think?). The conversation went something like this: 

Thai man: where you going?

Me: Nakohn Si Thammarat 

Thai man: ohhhh Nakohn Si Thammarat 

. . . 

[long pause]

Me: same train?

Thai man: *smiles and nods* (this happens often here. It does NOT mean they agree, understand, or are saying yes.)

Me: you too? 

. . .

Me: you go to Nakohn also?

. . .

Thai man: No, No, Hat Yai 

Me: ohh, Hat Yai! *smiles and nods* 

. . .

[long pause] 

. . .

Thai man: you go alone? 

Me: no, no no, with a group (I am going on the train alone, but not about to tell anyone that) 

Thai man: ohhhh

. . .

[long pause] 

. . .

Thai man: what place(?) you going?

Me: Nakohn Si Thammarat. 

[Thai man looks confused]

Me: Toom song? (Not sure that’s even how you say it?)

Thai man tries again. Still sounds the same. I look confused. He gestures at his friend. They speak Thai 

Thai man 2: What (place) you go? 

… *still confused*

Thai man: Why you go?

Thai man 2: What you do ? 

Me: Oh! I’m teaching English 

[They exchange glances. I try again]

Me: Teach English. At school 

Them: ohhh! 

[big smiles]

Thai man: you English teacher!

Me: [nods and smiles] Yes! 

. . .

[long pause] 

. . .

Me: you go to Hat Yai too? (To the second man) 

Thai man 2: No no 

. . .

[long pause] 

. . .

Thai man 2: I here. Hua Hin. You here? 

Me: yes, I was in Hua Hin. 

Thai man: He … *gestures* my brother (?) 

[He says something in Thai. I repeat it.]

Thai man: yes yes good 

[I can only assume he said the Thai word for brother]

Thai man 2: you come back? 

Me: Maybe?  

. . .

[Thai people like to know you like their country and you’re enjoying yourself. I decide to lie]

. . .

Me: Yes! I visit Hua Hin 

Thai man: my brother, his number

[Thai man 2 takes out his phone]

The first guy’s train is called. We shake hands and smile and say goodbye. I wai at them as he wais back.  Lots of nodding and smiling and saying goodbye.

I turn away. 10 minutes later the second guy hands me his phone. It has his number in it. I write it in my phone.

Me: what is your name? 

Thai man 2: Bahpawn

Me: Bahpawn

Bapawn: [nods and smiles really big]

Me: [gestures at myself] Nikki

Bahpawn: Nikki! 

[We shake hands and wai]

Bahpawn: you . . . [gestures to phone]

Me: you want my number? 

[Bahpawn nods and smiles]

So I call him, because I can’t remember my Thai number.

Bahpawn then proceeds to tell me that when I come back he will show me around Hua Hin. 

At least I think that’s what he said? Idk I may have signed up to be this guys’ wife. 

But seriously, this was an old Asian man. He was harmless and smiled a lot. And very nice. Thais are extremely hospitable. They will take you in if you asked for it. I think he was being friendly.

In any case, I probably won’t ever return to Hua Hin as lovely (and simultaneously dirty, smelly, and hot as all Thai cities are) as it was. I’ve got bigger fish to fry.