I want to take a night train from Bangkok to Chang Mai and my “I am not making plans ahead of time” philosophy is a double-edged sword.
On the one hand it means I can decide at a moment's notice if I want to stay or go and, as a matter of fact, I’ve ended up staying in Bangkok a bit longer than I thought. This has been good. On the other, I realise I could be In trouble because I should have booked a ticket days ahead.
Attempts to book a ticket online are failing -this is because I’m trying to leave more than 72 hours from now and the system won’t allow this. There’s nothing for it- I will have to go to the station myself and see what (if anything) I can find at the last minute.
I jump on a local bus which is heading to Chatuchak Park, where I want to take a walk.
It’s a bargain at 8 baht and the conductress lets me off at the exact spot.
I stroll around for a while - it’s a huge green enclave in the chaos of the city and because it’s the weekend I spy many people there - families with kids running around, young couples holding hands and plenty of people like me, just enjoying their own company.
Tearing myself away from the leafy oasis, I head out of the gate and just as I’m about to pick up another tuk tuk (it’s quite a way to the central station, and way too hot to walk) I spy a sign on the building I’m outside stating ‘Antique and Vintage Emporium’. I have to go in…
It’s a treasure trove, a veritable treasure trove of furniture, lighting, prints, sculptures, chinaware, household goods, toys, jewellery…and it’s air conditioned. I am entranced, wandering from booth to booth, staring at statues of Buddhas, china cups, a brass gramophone and a lethal-looking dagger.
I want to buy plenty of things but remind myself that I’m only at the beginning of my Asian adventure and my backpack is already bulging!
Still, I can’t help but think how wonderful it would be to hunt out my old vinyl LPS in England and play them on a gramophone as grand as the one I’ve just seen, whilst sipping English tea out of delicate flower-patterened cups and saucers? The dagger? Well, I suppose it could be decorational!
But now serious business beckons. I have to find a ticket north…