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As always we welcome your input and you can contribute via the Contact Al page, the image left is a link.
Whatever your (Thai) information needs we hope this site is of help and if you think of anything to include just let us know.
Whatever your (Thai) information needs we hope this site is of help and if you think of anything to include just let us know.
To Singapore
Singapore and Back, a Little by Air, a lot by Rail
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In July 2010 the Clarets went to Singapore as a part of their pre-season build up. We went as well! But instead of flying direct in and out we decided to experience travel on the trains of Malaysia and Thailand.
The itinerary was, ChiangMai to Kuala Lumpur by Air Asia then take the rail link to KL Sentral. From there we took the overnight sleeper train to Singapore. On the return we took the day train from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and followed by the overnight service to Butterworth arriving at about 6.30am. This gave us half a day to take a quick look around Georgetown on Penang before catching the International express from Butterworth to Bangkok. The final leg was the overnight service from Bangkok to ChiangMai. This page will give you an idea from our experience but of course we would love to know more to please contact us if you want to contribute using the link on the photo.
The itinerary was, ChiangMai to Kuala Lumpur by Air Asia then take the rail link to KL Sentral. From there we took the overnight sleeper train to Singapore. On the return we took the day train from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur and followed by the overnight service to Butterworth arriving at about 6.30am. This gave us half a day to take a quick look around Georgetown on Penang before catching the International express from Butterworth to Bangkok. The final leg was the overnight service from Bangkok to ChiangMai. This page will give you an idea from our experience but of course we would love to know more to please contact us if you want to contribute using the link on the photo.
Planning a Rail journey?
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To be honest it doesn't matter if it is in South East Asia or the UK, the man in seat 61 is about as good as I can find.Planing the trip was greatly aided by this superb website. To go to the website the logo has the link
To travel on these trains you need to book in advance. For the Malaysian trains we did this by using their website and email, you can go to their website if you click HERE. We used email rather than the on-line booking facility for 2 reasons; firstly, we were unsure if the on-line service was live as there was a message saying it was being upgraded on the website and secondly, we wanted to ensure we could sit together facing each other where possible on single seats and to be sleeping in the same cabin on the sleeper services. All the booking were made via email and we simply paid for the tickets by credit card when we got to KL Sentral. This included the Singapore to KL return travel which would have cost twice as much if we had booked the tickets and paid for them in Singapore. We actually went to ChiangMai rail station to get out Bangkok to ChiangMai tickets but we could (and perhaps should) have done it on-line as waiting about and totally forgetting that we were travelling on a holiday let to some problems getting on a train, see later. Click HERE to go to the Thai on-line ticketing service.
Wan't to see the Clarets in Singapore?
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If you are interested in the Clarets trip and the football then seasons past has it as a part of the slide show on the Clarets in Thailand website, the logo as usual has the link. There are videos too of the games which can be reached here.
View ChiangMai to Singapore and back in a larger map
ChiangMai to Kuala Lumpur Airport by Air Asia
We simply didn't have the time to take the train there and back so we opted to fly to Kuala Lumpur as there is a daily direct flight from ChiangMai by Air Asia.
For a low cost carrier, Air Asia offer a pretty good service. Booking via their website is clear and easy to navigate, you can go to their website by clicking HERE.
You get the option of requesting premium seats at a premium price which also gives you priority boarding. Food can also be pre-ordered.
The aircraft are modern and clean and the staff efficient and polite. The only negative is Air Asia use the LCC terminal at Kuala Lumpur which I suspect was originated to accommodate them. Millions of miles away from the main terminal the arriving at the LCC may lead to quite a long and hot walk to the arrivals hall (in our case about 1km). However, this aside, Air Asia offer a very good service for this route and are to be commended for it. We paid about 3400 baht each for the flight which is about £70 including taxes.
Here is a video of the flight.
For a low cost carrier, Air Asia offer a pretty good service. Booking via their website is clear and easy to navigate, you can go to their website by clicking HERE.
You get the option of requesting premium seats at a premium price which also gives you priority boarding. Food can also be pre-ordered.
The aircraft are modern and clean and the staff efficient and polite. The only negative is Air Asia use the LCC terminal at Kuala Lumpur which I suspect was originated to accommodate them. Millions of miles away from the main terminal the arriving at the LCC may lead to quite a long and hot walk to the arrivals hall (in our case about 1km). However, this aside, Air Asia offer a very good service for this route and are to be commended for it. We paid about 3400 baht each for the flight which is about £70 including taxes.
Here is a video of the flight.
KLIA LCCT to Singapore
Having de-planed, walked the considerable distance into the terminal and gone through passport / customs you now have to decide how to get from the airport. The LCCT (Low Cost Carrier Terminal) at KLIA (Kuala Lumpur International Airport) is miles from the main terminal. It is miles from anywhere in fact except perhaps the Sepang race track. Other than taxi the main options are to use a coach into KL or to take the modern fast train. To be honest, even though this is the quicker option it is probably the least convenient as you are at the LCCT. At the main terminal you could have just got onto the train but at the LCCT you first take a bus (complimentary) to an intermediate station (note it doesn't go to the main terminal rail station) before you can get the train. The cost was 12.5 MYR each, about £2.50.
The train is modern and clean and worth the trip. So is KL Sentral station with shops and food outlets. We had to go to the KTM ticket office to get and pay for our pre booked tickets which we did with the minimum of hassle using a UK credit card. The 1st class sleeper to Singapore was MYR 139 for the lower bunk and 118 for the upper bunk so about £35 each. We also paid for the return leg from Singapore. It wasn't strictly speaking a return ticket that was like for like as we took the day train back but it was booked and paid for with and in Malaysia so the Malaysia prices were applied.
We shopped, ate and relaxed taking advantage of the first class lounge for the latter.
The 1st class sleeper is good accommodation, upper and lower bunk, western toilet, hand basin and shower. There is also a little flat-screen TV that gives train information and shows a little TV.
Crossing the straits to Singapore you call into Woodlands. This dire grey place id home to Singapore's immigration and customs for entering by rail and is supposed to take over from historic Keppel Road in 2010. It hadn't by then and my hope is it will never! You can see a video by clicking HERE
The train is modern and clean and worth the trip. So is KL Sentral station with shops and food outlets. We had to go to the KTM ticket office to get and pay for our pre booked tickets which we did with the minimum of hassle using a UK credit card. The 1st class sleeper to Singapore was MYR 139 for the lower bunk and 118 for the upper bunk so about £35 each. We also paid for the return leg from Singapore. It wasn't strictly speaking a return ticket that was like for like as we took the day train back but it was booked and paid for with and in Malaysia so the Malaysia prices were applied.
We shopped, ate and relaxed taking advantage of the first class lounge for the latter.
The 1st class sleeper is good accommodation, upper and lower bunk, western toilet, hand basin and shower. There is also a little flat-screen TV that gives train information and shows a little TV.
Crossing the straits to Singapore you call into Woodlands. This dire grey place id home to Singapore's immigration and customs for entering by rail and is supposed to take over from historic Keppel Road in 2010. It hadn't by then and my hope is it will never! You can see a video by clicking HERE
Singapore
Sure we went for the football but Singapore is an amazing place and like anyone there were many other things we took in and here are a few thumbnail pictures with descriptions if you click on them. One of the things we didn't take in but wanted to was Universal Studios. I have been to the Florida and California Universal Studios so I was hoping to see my first far east variation... Should have booked!
There are lots of things to do in Singapore and it is an incredible city break. Unsurprisingly it is a little on the costly side as it is a capital city state with one of the most developed economies in the world, well that is what a tax free heritage brings you. To grab a drink cheaper find out when the bars are having their happy hour and for food there are special offers in places like Clark Quay or you could try a food court, I love them. A day or 2 in Sentosa is great, you can get thee by road, rail or cable car. We took the cable car, much more expensive but worth the cash. Singapore is easy to navigate, many places can be walked to and there is a superb mass transit system. Hotels, it has it all. We stayed at the Carlton which has a great location being next to Raffles and Chijmes. There is a review on TripAdvisor.
There are lots of things to do in Singapore and it is an incredible city break. Unsurprisingly it is a little on the costly side as it is a capital city state with one of the most developed economies in the world, well that is what a tax free heritage brings you. To grab a drink cheaper find out when the bars are having their happy hour and for food there are special offers in places like Clark Quay or you could try a food court, I love them. A day or 2 in Sentosa is great, you can get thee by road, rail or cable car. We took the cable car, much more expensive but worth the cash. Singapore is easy to navigate, many places can be walked to and there is a superb mass transit system. Hotels, it has it all. We stayed at the Carlton which has a great location being next to Raffles and Chijmes. There is a review on TripAdvisor.
Singapore to Kuala Lumpur on the day train
Having taken the sleeper train down to Singapore from Kuala Lumpur on the way down we decided to take the day train back. Malaysia rail offers good First class seats at what would be regarded as "at a snip" in UK terms. We paid, at the time of writing, MYR 68 each which is less than £15 per person. This fare isn't a special offer, it is the standard fare. You can look at the video by clicking HERE
Kuala Lumpur to Butterworth/ Penang by Train
Having arrived back at Kuala Lumpur's Sentral station and taken an adventurous meal at Kentucky Fried Chicken we relaxed for a short while in the KTM (the Malaysian railway) 1st class lounge. Free if you have a first class ticket with complimentary coffee and its own toilets (but remember, you are in south east Asia, make sure you have paper with you if you are going to need it, even the 1st class lounge is no guarantee of there being any!)
We got back onto the same train that we had vacated a couple of hours ago on the leg from Singapore, in fact we were in the same seats so you do wonder why no one has thought of letting you know and possibly allowing you to leave your bags, well maybe not. So we knew what to expect on the next leg of the journey so off we went in out comfy seats... You can look at the video by clicking HERE.
We got back onto the same train that we had vacated a couple of hours ago on the leg from Singapore, in fact we were in the same seats so you do wonder why no one has thought of letting you know and possibly allowing you to leave your bags, well maybe not. So we knew what to expect on the next leg of the journey so off we went in out comfy seats... You can look at the video by clicking HERE.
The ferry terminal is easy to get to from Butterworth rail station (and the bus station) but one problem is that there is no left luggage facility at Butterworth railway station which is a real shame.
We went across to Penang for 5 or 6 hours just for a quick look around Georgetown. Unfortunately many of the shops etc had not opened so early. We were a little disappointed in Georgetown but perhaps that was due to our trip being a hasty early morning one and more time would be better. The ferry to Georgetown costs all of MYR1.2 about 25pence. You pay to get there, coming back is free.
We went across to Penang for 5 or 6 hours just for a quick look around Georgetown. Unfortunately many of the shops etc had not opened so early. We were a little disappointed in Georgetown but perhaps that was due to our trip being a hasty early morning one and more time would be better. The ferry to Georgetown costs all of MYR1.2 about 25pence. You pay to get there, coming back is free.
Butterworth to Bangkok
Butterworth to Bangkok is on the "International Express" and is a fascinating journey.
The train has no first class, well not until you reach Hat Yai where Thai railways attach 1st class sleepers, some more 2nd class and a restaurant car. Thing change when you cross into Thailand, a smiling steward comes to see if you would like to eat but happily sells you a couple of bottles of Chang to get you back into Thai customs before the food. Further up the track you get a lot of vendors of food and drink hopping on and off the train at different stops. There is no shortage of food or drink, quantity and variety here. Do make sure you have smaller Thai baht on you, most items will cost you well under 100 baht so having 20 baht notes and 5 and 10 baht coins saves you losing the change from your purchase. The final section into Bangkok is a little laborious but not to worry, you arrive at Hualumphong and the journey is over, for now.
You can look at a video but clicking HERE
The train has no first class, well not until you reach Hat Yai where Thai railways attach 1st class sleepers, some more 2nd class and a restaurant car. Thing change when you cross into Thailand, a smiling steward comes to see if you would like to eat but happily sells you a couple of bottles of Chang to get you back into Thai customs before the food. Further up the track you get a lot of vendors of food and drink hopping on and off the train at different stops. There is no shortage of food or drink, quantity and variety here. Do make sure you have smaller Thai baht on you, most items will cost you well under 100 baht so having 20 baht notes and 5 and 10 baht coins saves you losing the change from your purchase. The final section into Bangkok is a little laborious but not to worry, you arrive at Hualumphong and the journey is over, for now.
You can look at a video but clicking HERE
Bangkok's Hualumphong
Bangkok's main rail terminal has most of the things you need in a railway station. Not only are there a variety of places to eat and drink but importantly if you have been travelling in the tropics for many hours, there are showers. These are inexpensive but if you don't have a towel you will need to buy one. They offer a (very) small towel at the showers for 30baht (the shower is 20baht). You can see a video on out time there by clicking HERE.
Bangkok to ChiangMai, the final leg.
When we went to ChiangMai railway station to book our tickets for this leg we intended to book the 1st class sleeper back. We had forgotten however, that it was a holiday on our chosen date of travel and the trains were packed, or more correctly full! In Thailand a full train means it is that, full, so if the train is full you cant buy a ticket. How could you, it is full. Not only was the 1st class section booked up but the 2nd class was full also.
In fact the only train we could get was train 51 which departs at 10pm and the only berths we could get were in the 2nd class non air-conditioned section.
This very old carriage turned out to be a fantastic experience. Being non air-conditioned (they don't advertise that by the way they advertise it as "fan") you can travel with the window open for ventilation. Great that that is, you need to make sure that you quickly close the window when the train stops, which it does quite a lot as this is mostly a single track line so oncoming trains must pass in the designated passing places. It you don't an influx of hungry mosquitoes are waiting to fly in and pounce when the train stops. This was a fairly cheap way to travel at about £13 each. The seats comfortable and sleeping, well, OK. There was the problem of a Thai style squat toilet, not easy as the train is rocking to and fro, the possibilities are too bad to contemplate and making it worse there was a water leak which meant that the toilet ran out of water to flush en-route. No good looking at the bad though, just use a different toilet, next carriage no problem.
In fact the only train we could get was train 51 which departs at 10pm and the only berths we could get were in the 2nd class non air-conditioned section.
This very old carriage turned out to be a fantastic experience. Being non air-conditioned (they don't advertise that by the way they advertise it as "fan") you can travel with the window open for ventilation. Great that that is, you need to make sure that you quickly close the window when the train stops, which it does quite a lot as this is mostly a single track line so oncoming trains must pass in the designated passing places. It you don't an influx of hungry mosquitoes are waiting to fly in and pounce when the train stops. This was a fairly cheap way to travel at about £13 each. The seats comfortable and sleeping, well, OK. There was the problem of a Thai style squat toilet, not easy as the train is rocking to and fro, the possibilities are too bad to contemplate and making it worse there was a water leak which meant that the toilet ran out of water to flush en-route. No good looking at the bad though, just use a different toilet, next carriage no problem.
The ride itself is special, from the activity on the stations in the very early hours to the mountain scenery when the sun comes up, for less than £15 it is something a trip to Thailand should include. There is a rather amateur video of this on my YouTube playlist linked here. We arrived back at lunchtime, grubby but having experienced something special.
