Singapore to Thailand

Singapore to Thailand 

In leaving Singapore the plan was to take a train up the east coast and see the jungle side of Malaysia. Our end goal was Kota Bharu. The closest stop to the border, and the end if the line headed north was Tumpat. So we bought tickets to Tumpat; beds overnight. The trip was pretty nice.  Only one screaming kid and it was a short tantrum. I slept for a solid 7 hours. 

When we arrived in Tumpat, one look around and we knew we'd made a mistake. Turns out there is bupkis in Tumpat. Nothing touristy, nearly no English either on signs or people speaking. We managed to walk a kilometer or so and found a Pizza Hut. Had some lunch and got directions. After two rather long bus rides and some more "let's get out of bum efff Malaysia" we got to Rantau panjang, the border town. One stop at customs and we walked out of bum eff Malaysia and into bum eff Thailand. It's also know as Sangai Kolok. We headed straight for the train station wanting to get north and to the beach and civilization. Well.... No trains. A man with broken English told us to come back tomorrow for a 630 train. 

I know what you're wondering..... What did I have for dinner? ...no? Oh then you're probably wondering what time it was and where we slept? Alright. We got off the train in Tumpat at noon and standing at the train station with no where to go at 6pm. Which was really seven because the time switched when we crossed, that was confusing. Our goals were a bed, food, and if there was any luck with us, internet. We got a hotel a ten min walk from the train station, found a food place not too far away, and they had wifi - crappy but sufficient enough to tell my mother I was alive. Needless to say, it was a frustrating day and I crashed. 

Now we are on the train to Hatyai. And boy is it a typical picture of Thai trains. There are wood two person benches that face each other in pairs in the train car. But many of them have three people crammed into it. There are people standing in the aisles and most of the windows are all open. It's pretty fabulous. I'm sitting next to Jordan and Seth is facing us with the pretty cute old man. He's weathered like old leather, has one thumb showing remnants of red polish, his mustaches is just a shadow of white, and he's got a faded, well used fedora that probably came from the Eisenhower administration..... Except the Thailand equivalent. 

I'll be posting this as soon as I can, and have another update on our trip then. 

Update**

We've made it to Patong Thailand. Got a hostel for the night and man, am I exhausted. 

Until next time.