Hat Yai - Bangkok

After a shaky start at Georgetown's disorganised bus station I had my Second border crossing of the trip - Malaysia to Thailand. It really was like stepping from country to another, from relative calm to chaos.
Bus dropped me at Hat Yai where I booked my overnight train ticket - i managed to get the last sleeper sleep, phew. This gave me 5 hours to kill in Hat Yai city. I found it a pleasant place to wander; however, I have never seen so many army officials and soldiers patrolling the streets. There is a lot of fighting in Southern Thailand between the Malay muslims and the Thai buddhists. The Travellers here (emphasis on thr capital t) are hardcore.
Onto the overnight train and it was super comfy. When we got on it looked like a normal daytime train but once we set off the carriage officer came round and transformed it into a moving hostel; seats folded out to lie flat, a mattress went on top, followed by bed sheets, pillow and a blanket. Finally, a curtain for privacy. Now to lay back and watch the Thai countryside fly past.Read more