Inside Thai Train

Muak Lek by bicycle : In the train, on the track

Atmosphere of second-class fan bogies

Our bikes were separated from their owners.  They're parked in parcel bogie at the head of the train and we walked to find our seats which later found at the last bogie.  Blue seats are big and long enough to lay comfortably.  There are luggage racks above the seats both sides.  I think in such case we don't actually need fans because we can enjoy natural ventilation.  You can lean out the train's windows to take fresh air but just beware tree branches too.

Take fresh breeze air along the way when train began to run through forest

After a while, the scene of countryside villages changed in to bushes.  Train went up small hills into forest.  There are many cement factories located in the forest.  This area is called Saraburi where the biggest amount of cement are produced and distributed throughout Thailand.  Besides enjoying forest atmosphere along the way we could enjoy spending little money.  We tried local food and dessert that vendors brought on the train.  Ice, a friend, got a hammock with negotiable price, 20 Baht only!

Morning train from Chiang Rak

Muak Lek by bicycle : (and train)

Cycling trend has become famous in Thammasat University since October 2012. Bike lanes have been extended to cover major areas and 3 bike rental kiosks were set up along the main travel routes in Rangsit campus. 

My friends and I have been discussing buying bicycles and use them to travel on weekend. We came up with another idea not to buy the bikes but rent them from university for only 5 THB a day. Actually we are not allowed to rent bikes overnight but we decided to pay 100 THB fine for each bike instead. From my calculation, 110 THB for 2 days is worth a lot.

Train to Muak Lek would depart at 7.57 am on the next day so we negotiated with lady at kiosk to take bikes in that evening for free. Then we rode to Chiang Rak railway station to pick up tickets and back to pack rucksacks for next 2 days.

Thai railways' one way ticket to Muaklek cost 85 Baht

Woke up in the morning and gathered in front of Chiang Rak gate to buy "Gai Wow", the most delicious breakfast for healthy man who wake up early in the morning or else overnighter. After that we quickly headed to train station.

We arrived 5 mins before train schedule. The train was delayed like usual so we had some times to take photos. Our bike group was mentioned in the typical Thai railway's retro announcement to hurry up taking bikes to the platform. The train was coming... Poon Poon!!!

Opening Ceremony

WSK Noodle Soup Chiang Mai (วังสิงห์คำก๋วยเตี๋ยวเป็ดตุ๋น เชียงใหม่)

Homey WSK Noodle Soup Cafe

After cycling in a hot sunny day, Brass and I stopped for a lunch at WSK Noodle Soup.  It's located near the corner of Nakorn Ping Bridge, right next to Rim Ping Condominium.  What make this place be our first pit stop is because it's our friend's cafe, Joe's.  We're warmly welcomed by his family.  Smell of homemade stewed duck and soup kicked my nose and my stomach growled loud.

I ordered a bowl of rice noodle soup with stewed duck and ice lemon tea for drink.  There are many kinds of cold drink normally served in this style of noodle cafe for example lemon tea, milk tea, pink milk, etc.  Waiting not so long, noodle bowls were served in front of us.

typical drinks served in retro coffee jars

In Thailand, we normally order first bowl and follow by second one with changing some ingredient.  You can mix and match 3-4 types of noodle (just like pasta) with meat or poultry.  To follow that way of eating, I chose egg noodle with roasted duck without soup.  This cafe sells not only noodle but also duck without noodle.  Almost every part of duck can be cooked including wings, feet, legs, entrails, etc.

"Mee Kao Ped Toon" or very small rice noodle with stewed duck

It was still too hot to ride out at 2pm so we sat and chill until around 3pm when the sun became less intense.  We decided to move to our next pit stop, second hand bike shops near weekend flea market behind The Prince Royal's College.

Joe and Brass, ready to depart

How to go? >> Located on Charoen Rat Rd. You can walk across Nakorn Ping Bridge to east side of city. At the end of the bridge, turn left and walk along the road for 50 meters.  For those who walk from Wat Gate area can easily go straight along the road up north and walk across intersection.  The cafe is located on the left next to Rim Ping Condominium.  Parking area is also available in the opposite side of cafe.

When? >> Everyday from Monday to Sunday, 8am - 6pm

Try ordering in Thai! >> Try mixing these words together to create your own dish, start with types of noodle, with or without soup, and types of meat/poultry respectively. 
"Bamee" = egg noodle
"Mee Kao" = very small string rice noodle
"Sen Lek" = small string rice noodle
"Sen Yai" = big string rice noodle

follow by
"Nam" = water (with soup) 
"Haeng" = dry (without soup)

then
"Ped Toon/Ped Yang" = stewed duck/roasted duck
"Gai" = chicken
* "Nuea" = beef
* "Moo" = pork
* Unfortunately, this cafe sells only poultry so you cannot order Nuea or Moo

Visit WSK Noodle Soup on >>> FACEBOOK