All travel destinations don't need to be far away. Best day-tripping destinations are enjoyed during the journey where the destination itself is just a small bonus at the end. Bangkok and its outskirts offer many such possibilities.
The latest I've tested was the journey to Maeklong and at the end the Amphawa floating markets. The entire journey there was an adventure, the destination being just part of it. Our journey began with the excitement that we actually found the tiny little train station in parts of Bangkok I'm not in the slightest familiar with. Bit off the road, with some luck or local advice needed, the train station with one railway can be found. If the cute little approaching train alone doesn't put a smile on your face the ticket vendor does. As usual, farangs pay more than thais, in this case 10 times more, but this time I paid with pleasure. 10 baht for the ticket, about 0.25 euros is still a steal - Thais travel free!
The train rode through villages and fields in a slow pace, offering a nice sightseeing tour. I opened the window and let my camera work through all of the journey. The train stopped suddenly in the middle of a market of one little town which then appeared to be the end station. A short walk to the river, over with a ferry and again short walk through a cute little village and the next part of the journey was ready to begin.
The train ride number two cost me another 10 Baht (still a bargain, still free to Thais) and that was probably the income of the day to the company. No wait! I did see one farang man in the train, he must have paid too...makes sense to have a ticket collector in the train? Hopefully his salary is not provision based.
The train ride number two, also lasting about an hour was even prettier and more exciting as the first one. We passed by in a beautiful countryside setting a number of little villages, surrounded by lakes and fields. Including salt fields, as the lovely ticket collector came personally to tell me about. Luckily I was traveling with a Thai friend who could translate the introduction to me.
The best and most interesting part of this train ride is when approaching the end station. In Maeklong, when the railway was built, it was built in the middle of a town market. And the people didn't want to move so the market is still held at the exactly same spot - now despite the railway. When the train passes by a few times every day, the people lift the sun covers up and take the products off the railway for the minute the train needs to travel through. Short interruption but only that. Again it was the lovely ticket collector who welcomed us to the back of the train where we could observe this awesome short-play! As soon as the train had passed, the sun covers were coming down and veggies, meats and other products were on display on the rails again. Amazing!
After getting off the train we walked on the railway through the market to see it from that ankle too and then headed for the near-by floating markets. A short Songthaew ride away, the Amphawa floating markets were bustling with boats and people. Anything you desire could be found on the little boats, some anchored, some traveling around. For seafood lovers a heaven!
Amazingly many people, amazingly few farangs. Some tour companies seemed to have found that destination but only some. And all of them had come by big tourist buses, therefore missing all the lovely attractions along the train-ferry-train ride. A pity for them, all the better for me.
