Travel daze

After some exciting and relaxing days in Kanchanaburi we push northward to the historic city of Sukhothai.  But not before a very, very long day of travel.  The speed, consistency and lack of predictability when it comes to traveling outside of the Western world definitely takes some getting used to.  It took me most of my two weeks in Peru to get the hang of it. There may be prices or schedules posted at your guesthouse, but don't expect what you see in the guidebook or on the web to be the reality at the train/bus station.  Things do not always run on time and prices can change without notice.  You may start to feel like everybody's screwing with you, but just try to go with the flow and be prepared to wait a while or jump at a moment's notice and you'll be fine. So far I think the system has actually worked in our benefit, as there always seems to be a bus leaving to where we're headed just as we arrive to the station. 

Our journey begins early.  After a quick breakfast we board and 8AM fan (no AC) bus to Suphanburi. Two hours later we arrive in Suphanburi to the usual ruckus of tuk-tuk drivers and "travel agents" attempting to herd us onto this bus or that.  I just remind myself that they're only trying to make a buck, just like everybody else.  The normal response seems to be to just ignore them, and be on your way.  So we keep our eyes averted and stop for a minute to collect ourselves and our things.  After a bit of language barrier confusion, we board the cheaper  fan bus (and not the AC mini-bus) to Ayutthaya.  We arrive about 2.5 hours later (1 hour waiting in the bus at the station, 1.5 travel time) but not really at any sort of bus station.  Eventually we figure out that we're not at the long distance bus station and remedy the situation with a short ride on a miniature version of the sawngthaew's we see all over Thailand. We make the 3PM air-con bus to Sukhothai and settle in.

Six hours later we arrive in Sukhothai to do the ol' transport dance once again.  We board a rickety motorcycle cart contraption--half motorbike in the back and 2-3 seater cart in the front, with steering partially controlled by the feet of our driver--and finally arrive at our accommodation, Sila Resort.  This area of the north has received a lot of rain over the past few weeks and the river running through town is extremely high.  It nearly touches up to the bottom of the bridge we cross on the way to our guesthouse, and roads are flooded out completely in some places.  We spot water trickling through (and nearly over) the sandbags piled high along the banks and cross our fingers for no more rain.  Or at least that our room is on the 2nd floor!

Exhausted from our day of travel we grab a quick dinner at the restaurant downstairs and head for bed.