Good morning from Chiang Mai Railway Station. This is a live THREAD 🧵 of my two day trip in Northern Thailand. This is a package tour organised by the State Railway of Thailand and Lampang Rajabhat University.
[2] We came to Chiang Mai on Special Express No.9 which is a sleeper train. I got a full seven hours of sleep last night. Pictures show my dinner and breakfast in the dining car.
[3] There are 38 passengers on this trip. Everyone is Thai apart from myself. Today we are in Chiang Mai and Lamphun. Tomorrow we will go to Lampang where we will catch the sleeper train in the evening back to Bangkok. We have two full days on this trip.
[4] Our first stop was at Doi Inthanon, which at 2,565 metres is the highest spot in Thailand. In winter months it goes below freezing. Not so chilly this morning but at 7°C it’s the coldest temperature I’ve felt in #Thailand for a long time.
[5] On Doi Inthanon we also visited Phra Mahathat Naphamethanidon and Naphaphone Phumi Siri. These Twin Pagodas are dedicated to King Bhumibol and Queen Sirikit.
[6] Our third stop in Doi Inthanon National Park was Wachirathan Waterfall. This is an impressive 70 metre high waterfall that seems to have water year round. You can also often see a rainbow here when the sun comes out.
[8] Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong, in Chom Thong district, is one of the most important sites in Chiang Mai because it houses a holy Buddha relic. It’s unusual that the relic is not buried as it can be taken out for blessings.
[9] This is Ganesha Himal Museum in Doi Lo district of Chiang Mai. Despite the name it’s not all about Ganesha. There are various other Hindu gods too. The gardens are beautiful too.
[10] We reached our final stop, Wat Phra That Doi Kham, just as the sun was setting. On a clear day, this is a good place to come for the views of Chiang Mai.
[11] Chiang Mai is really teeming with life. I haven’t seen so many foreigners in one place for a long time. A big difference to when I came here last year. Good for local businesses of course, but a part of me misses the quietness during the Covid years. #Thailand
[12] Good morning from a chilly Lamphun. It’s only 15°C this morning. Jacket weather for me. We came down here from Chiang Mai last night. Only 40 minutes away. We will do a few things here and then move onto Lampang where we will catch the sleeper train tonight back to Bangkok.
[13] Our first stop on Day 2 was Wat Phra That Haripunchai. This is the most important and biggest temple in Lamphun. It is popular with people born in the Year of the Rooster.
[14] Our first stop in Lampang was the Thai Elephant Conservation Center. It started off well by watching mahouts bathe their elephants. But then quickly deteriorated by taking us to an elephant show and then a place to ride elephants. No thanks.
[15] Our lunch today was at Jor Nguan in Lampang. Naturally we had Khao Soi, a popular dish in Northern Thailand. I usually have with chicken but I went for beef this time. It was really tender and so a good choice.
[16] Our stop after lunch was at Chae Son National Park in Mueang Pan district of Lampang. This is popular for the Hot Springs. The hottest pool is 80°C and takes 17 minutes to boil an egg. There are also pools where the water temperature is about 35°C. #Thailand
[17] They also have private rooms for 50 Baht. It’s a nice place to stay overnight in bungalows as the morning mist is really beautiful during the winter months. These are my photos from my previous visit in 2018.
The Bangkok Tourist Division has selected 150 restaurants and #ThaiFood shops in famous areas in #Bangkok.
This is a THREAD 🧵 of these shops with pictures and maps. Retweet to be automatically entered to win one of five books. Everyone who retweets will also get a PDF.
1/22
📌 The Yaowarat area in Chinatown, is a vibrant district in Samphanthawong. Established in 1782, it's one of the largest Chinese communities outside China. It offers a diverse range of businesses like gold shops, eateries, restaurants, general stores, and hotels.
2/22
Yaowarat is renowned for its delicious food, earning it the title Heaven of Roadside Food by CNN News. It boasts famous restaurants popular with Thai and foreign tourists. Some are even featured in the "Michelin Guide". The vibrant and unique seafood market is a must-visit.
I recently embarked on a train journey from Bangkok to Vientiane, and then continued on the Laos-China Railway to the Chinese border and back.
Here is a THREAD 🧵 with all the details. Feel free to repost and share it with your friends.
#RailTourism #Thailand #Laos
1/25
My journey started at Krung Thep Aphiwat Station in #Bangkok. There are three trains you can catch to Nong Khai. The day train starts at only 251 Baht, but I recommend Special Express No. 25. It leaves at 8:25pm and arrives at 6:25am. A sleeping berth start from 894 Baht.
2/25
At Nong Khai Station, you need to switch to the shuttle train to cross the Friendship Bridge into Laos. This goes at 7:30am. Don’t worry, they wait for the Bangkok train if it’s late. Thai immigration is at the station. Quick and easy. The 15 minute journey costs 20 Baht.
🚂 Good morning from Rapid No. 135 train going from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Pak Chong in Northeastern Thailand. The journey time is 3 hours and 40 minutes. Ticket price for 3rd Class is 85 Baht.
This is a live THREAD 🧵of my 3-day trip to Khao Yai by train.
[2] The train journey into Isaan is quite scenic as you have to climb over a hill. As the train has to go slowly due to the hills, they are building a tunnel and a 50 metre high viaduct as a shortcut. This will be opened next year and should provide some fantastic views.
[3] Our train arrived a little late at Pak Chong Railway Station. Waiting for us was a songtaew driver from Greenleaf Guesthouse. We will be staying with them and as we booked a tour as well, they offer a free pick up at the station.
🚂 Good morning from Hua Lamphong Station. Today is the 126th anniversary of the opening of the first railway in #Thailand and the founding of the State Railway of Thailand on 26th March 1897.
This is a live THREAD of my steam train trip to Ayutthaya.
[2] There are six steam train trips a year on important dates. They go to three different locations: Ayutthaya, Chachoengsao and Nakhon Pathom. Tickets are 299 Baht for 3rd Class (8 carriages) and 799 Baht for 1st Class (2 carriages).
[2] To buy tickets for the #KiHa183 excursion train, go to the D-Ticket website dticket.railway.co.th/DTicketPublicW… and click on ‘Exploring Thailand by Train’. There’s a different destination every week. Call 1690 for more information.
[3] Our trip today is to Ayutthaya. The ticket cost is 1,499 Baht and includes breakfast, lunch, bus and boat tours, and souvenirs. The price of other tours might vary. Sometimes cheaper sometimes more expensive.
[2] The State Railway of Thailand are now planning on doing one-day excursions every weekend to destinations and festivals. This weekend is to Ratchaburi. Next weekend is to Chachoengsao and the weekend after is to Phetchaburi. Click for more information: thaitrainguide.com/excursion-trai…
[3] The price of the ticket on the #Kiha183 excursion train varies each time. Today’s trip is 1,499 Baht which includes breakfast (see photos), lunch and a coach tour. The Phetchaburi trip is 699 Baht as it only includes drinks and snacks.
[4] Our first stop in Ratchaburi was at Chulalongkorn Bridge. The railway bridge was built in 1901. They are now building a new bridge as part of the double track project. However due to unexploded bombs in the river they had to build it without putting pillars into the water.