Tag 98: From Thailand to Malaysia with seven modes of transportation

We had never taken a night train before. However, the overnight train that would depart from Bangkok and travel to the southern border of Malaysia was a perfect fit for our travel plans because we wanted to visit Penang Island in Malaysia. Therefore, we bought two tickets for the sleeper car. Seven modes of transportation and 25 hours of travel time separated our starting point in Kanchanaburi from our destination in Penang.

So, we took a TukTuk taxi that brought us to the Kanchanaburi train station.

1st mode of transportation: Speedy scooter

Once there, we sat with the enthusiastic bus station employee who offered us corn on the cob and guided us to the right bus.

2nd mode of transportation: Bus to Ban Pong

This bus took us to Ban Pong with Thai music playing in the background, and then a taxi took us to the train station where we could board the train from Bangkok.

3rd mode of transportation: Taxi to Ban Pong train station

We arrived at the train station an hour and a half early, so we drank coconuts until departure time and received more fruit from our seat neighbors as a gift.

Shortly before the train was supposed to arrive, a station employee came and excitedly explained something to all the waiters in Thai. He just smiled at us. Eventually, we found out what it was: the train was one hour delayed.

When we boarded the train, it was already dusk and the first seats were being transformed into beds by a train attendant. In Thailand, people go to bed early. He folded down beds from the seats and the ceiling, put mattresses on them, covered them with white sheets, and hung turquoise curtains in front of the bunk beds. I could barely keep up with his hands, they were so quick and skilled. However, one couldn't be too tall. Silke had to lie diagonally.

Folding down the upper bed

And there it is, the large sleeping compartment.

4th mode of transportation: Night train to the Malaysian border

Belts were stretched in front of the upper bed so no one would fall into the aisle during bumpy rides. To ensure that we all arrived fresh in Malaysia, the car was cooled down. 17, 16, 15 degrees... we slept with down jackets and hats on.

With a two-hour delay, we arrived in Pedang Besar the next morning, and a border officer stamped new Malaysia stamps in our passports. It was already visible in the station hall that we were in a different country. The writing was readable to us without Thai flourishes, everyone spoke English, and the "I love Islam" sticker adorned the restaurant display.

Questions arose, such as "What food did we like here again, what was it called?" or "How much is 10 Ringgit?"

Eventually, our train also arrived, which we wanted to take to Butterworth.

We continued to ride through flat land to the south and boarded a ferry to Penang in Butterworth. The ferry had not yet departed when we already saw the skyscrapers of Penang in the distance.

After 25 hours of travel time, we arrived at the Georgetown port and hopped into the nearest taxi to the hotel.

Seven modes of transportation and an eventful and exhausting journey lay behind us, and we now desperately needed a warm shower and a clean bed.

But the best part of traveling is not just the journey itself, but when people at home can follow along, station by station.

💙💛❤️