By overnight train to the south of Thailand...

Christmas is finally over.

Hello again and greetings from the tropical Khao Sok (filled with mosquito bites).

Bangkok got boring for us (yeah, that's a lie...) so we spontaneously booked a train to Surathani yesterday.

But before that, like stupid tourists, we let ourselves be ripped off by a tuk-tuk driver who took us to the 'Grand Palace'.

It's so impressive there.

Truly breathtaking. This huge temple complex is surreal.

You really have to take your time to even get a small impression.

(I heard that some people go there for 3 consecutive days and still haven't seen everything)

I don't even know how to put it into words

It was enormous. Majestic. Sensational.

Simply amazing.

That's how it would have been,... IF WE HAD BEEN ABLE TO GET IN.

But it never got that far... Nope.

We were stopped by the tourist police.

(Yeah, they have that there.)

(Since the idea was relatively spontaneous) We didn't think about dressing appropriately.

So with shorts above the knees and anything that covered the arms.

Whoops.

So the guy told us to go to the dressing room. Apparently, you can get appropriate clothing for the visit for free there.

The line was so long it went from Bangkok to Cambodia.

So we didn't bother lining up.

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...Instead, we returned to Khao San Road to say goodbye to the hustle and bustle there. 👋 

So we exchanged some cash, ordered a papaya salad, and had a great time laughing at the Thais' construction site barriers.

Interesting construction. :D

A few hours earlier, as we aimlessly wandered the streets, an offer caught my eye.

Pedicure and manicure for about 8 euros.

I looked at my nails and thought, 'I deserve this!' 🤗 💅

So I entered the very well-kept studio from the outside... I was asked to sit between 2 other NAIL TOURISTS... And seconds later, I cursed my stinginess!!

I heard 'click-click' and the toenails of the other 2 people flew across the room.

I silently prayed that the shit wouldn't land on my head or in my eye. 😱

I thought it would never stop...

Unfortunately, much later I noticed that the floor was covered in calluses. It looked like there were crumbs everywhere... 😷

I can't explain why the people there don't use a broom. But maybe it's supposed to be some kind of proof.

A sign that work is really being done there?

A signboard!?  

In keeping with the motto: 'Where there's smoke, there's fire!'?

Who really knows... 🤔

...Anyway...

A few hours later, we were already at the Bangkok (main) train station.🚉 

There were 12 hours of travel ahead of us. 

12 (!!!)

T-W-E-L-V-E!

 Headshot.

However, the train arrived on time, so I can't complain :))

With the ticket 🎫, you automatically get a seat and it's meticulously ensured that you don't accidentally end up next to someone, but sit exactly on your assigned number... 

The seats are relatively comfortable and at a certain time, someone comes around and turns the seats into a sleeping nest.

Murmuring into the blanket, closing the curtain, and closing your eyes.

So it's quite comfortable....

...If it weren't for the little jet lag that still keeps me awake and tired at German time.

So I took a sleeping pill. {I was pretty out of it. (it was nice there) 🙊🙈🙉}

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After arriving on time in Surathani and 2 more bus rides, we arrived here around noon.

I quickly checked the accommodation on booking.com yesterday.

We have a bungalow all to ourselves.

A small river flows just a few steps behind it.

You can hear the rapids.

Palm trees as far as the eye can see. 🌴🌴🌴

Everything is so green here. 😍

The crickets chirp.

And other creatures make themselves heard too.

(I'm actually glad I can't identify the ones making certain sounds :D)

The spiders here are huge.

I always hope they're not babies and that I won't suddenly come across the mother spider.

And there are lots of geckos here. Really. They're hanging everywhere.

Next to me.

Above me.

On me.

(well, thankfully not...)