My 21 days - Overland Border Crossing Train Rides from Malaysia > Thailand > Laos > China (Feb 10 > March 2 2025) Udon Thani, Thailand - Feb 12 2025 (Day 3)

Erawan Shrine (4 Faced Buddha)
Bangkok, Thailand

CentralwOrld, Bangkok, Thailand

Yaowarat Raod (Chinatown)
Bangkok, Thailand

 

Wednesday Feb 12 2025 (D-3 - Bangkok, Thailand) - my 2nd & final day in Bangkok prior to taking an evening train (sleeper beds) from Bang Sue Grand Station, Bangkok > Udon Thani, Thailand. 

Travel itinerary (by Thai train): Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (Bang Sue Grand Station) > Udon Thani Train Station, Thailand (555km, 8.5 hrs) 

Bangkok > Udon Thani, Thailand

Ground Transport & Food: Rm134 (Train) + 394bht

1. Metro: 47bht + 45bht + 17bht = 109bht
2. Train (Bangkok > Udon Thani): Rm142 (US$31.50, lower bed)
3. Thai Grab: 127bht + 163bht = 290bht @72bht (cost sharing of 4)
4. Food: 50bht + 100bht + 63bht  

1) Early morning walkabout in downtown Bangkok nearby our hotel  - Buddhist temples, street food, morning market etc 

2) Our groups' morning breakfast nearby our hotel - home-made local Thai style pork porridge + egg @ 50bht (Rm6.50)  

3) Metro train ride from our hotel > Siam Station 

4) Ratchaprasong Skywalk, Bangkok - connects to several shopping centres, buildings by buildings from Big C > Gaysorn Village / mall. 

5) Erawan Shrine, Bangkok - in front of Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel, a Hindu & sacred temple, the Buddha at Erawan has 4 Faces (locals called it Phra Phrom), the front face represents career & life, the second is symbolic of relationship & family, the third is for wealth & the last for wisdom & health, locals believe walking around the figure anti-clockwise, offering prayers in return to attract good luck, prosperity & wellbeing for their loved ones. 

6) Walkabout in Siam / Ratchadamri area - window shopping & exploratory visit in Bangkok city centre. 

7) CentralwOrld, Bangkok - a shopping area & complex in the Siam area of Bangkok, it is the 9th largest shopping center in the world & is owned by Central Pattana. 

8) Big C Supercenter, Ratchadamri, Bangkok, Thailand - a shopping mall located next to Novotel Bangkok Platinum, within walking distance from 4 Face Buddha & Central World Mall. We used the underground car parking area of Big C as the pick up point for e-hailing a Thai Grab to our next destination. 

9) Chinatown (Yaowarat Road), Bangkok, Thailand - a long stretch (2km) of vendors, eatery outlets, a vibrant street with a rich history, cultural significance & delicious street food, a must visit when in Bangkok especially in the evening when the entire place is lighted up ! 

10) Our group's lunch in a noodle stall in Chinatown, Bangkok - each of us savoured a bowl of wan tan noodle soup (L) 100bht (Rm13) & my travel buddy bought deep fried dough sticks & snack from nearby roadside stalls here !  

11) Continued our walkabout in Chinatown, Bangkok after the lunch. 

12) Wat Mangkon MRT Station, Bangkok - nearest Metro station to Chinatown, Bangkok. 

13) Chaktuchak Park & Chaktuchak MRT Station , Bangkok - a transit station for a MRT train ride back to Saphan Kwai Station nearby our hotel. 

14) My dinner nearby our hotel prior to taking a e-hailing Grab from our hotel to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (Bang Sue Grand Station), Bangkok for our night train ride to Udon Thani - moving closer to entering the Laos border ! 

15) Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (Bang Sue Grand Station), Bangkok - this huge modern central train terminal was opened for operation in Jan 2023, all long distance Rapid, Express & Special Express service trains depart from here. 

16) Food Station (Food Court), Ground floor, Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Bang Sue Grand Station). 

17) Direction to Long Distance Train Departure - North / Northeast bounds, Ground Floor, Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal (Bang Sue Grand Station). 

18) Display of artefacts, clocks, crockery, ticket machines, telegraph equipment & items related to Thai railway history on the ground floor, Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Bang Sue Grand Station)

19) Ready for boarding Thai train ETD 20.25 from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Bang Sue Grand Station), Bangkok > Nong Khai, Thailand (passing Udon Thani). 

20) On board the Thai sleeper train (Rm142 = US$31.50, Class 2, lower bed) ETD 20.25 from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Bang Sue Grand Station), Bangkok  > Udon Thani Train Station (heading towards Nong Khai, a northern border town near Thailand / Laos border)