Bangkok to Malaysia by train...

After we left Chiang Mai, we had to go back to Bangkok (12 hour bus ride) and we arrived at 6:30 in the morning, and could only check into our hostel at 12:00...so we had to lurk around for ages. The following day we caught a 22 hour train from Bangkok to Butterworth in Malaysia and from there a ferry to Penang Island, and then finally a taxi to our guesthouse in George Town. 

In Khaosan Road...at about 8am, after being on a bus for 12 hours!

The train...by far the best way to travel if you are going long distance. You can walk around, they have bathrooms and a food cart. The seats are also nice and big too. 

How it looks inside. Like most public transport, you don't get the feeling its the most hygienic place on earth. 

The bathrooms. Western and squat type....the squatting toilets are just terrible. You ca see right onto the rails.

Leaving the Bangkok train station. 

Bye bye Bangkok...hopefully for a while! Seen you 4 times in the last 4 months!

On our way...22 hours here we come. 

Cleaner, police officer and train attendant. 

The last of the city. 

Getting into bed. Top bunks...not the biggest, but it was comfortable enough. 

The aircon was so freezing and they didn't turn the lights off all night...it was pretty hard to sleep.  

 Arriving in Butterworth and getting onto the ferry to take us to Penang. 

There is a ferry every 15-20 minutes to take you across the ocean. It takes cars and passengers.

The ferry docking. 

This is what it looks like inside the ferry. 

Malaysia...probably the most developed country we have visited so far.

View from the ferry.

Sunset on the streets of George Town. George Town has been declared a Unesco World Heritage City, everything is this town is cultural ad beautiful. 

This is the restaurant street...they serve western food here. I am still a bit nervous after my food poisoning episode to eat local food again!

Locals rollerblading in the street.  

In the next blog I will tell you all about the culture and religion in Malaysia...