The Train to Bangkok

  It was time to leave Chaing Mai and northern Thailand and head for Bangkok.  We decided to take a train as the reviews were good.  The Reunification Line in Vietnam was a bit of an "adventure", not exactly what we expected, but we thought we'd try a Thai train just to compare and see some of the northern country.  The train was great.  We had a compartment to ourselves, even were upgraded to first class with a door.  The food was also very good and the ambiance in the restaurant car was--authentic.  The ride was as smooth as a highway, unlike the bumpy chugga chugga of the Vietnamese train.  The 14 hours passed pleasantly. The only downside was the way too much air con in the first class compartments.  Talk about a First World Problem.