Woke to the sounds of the train still rattling on. I think the difference in the various types of trains (special express, sprinter and rapid) is about the luxury of the seating, but also the priority that the train is given over others. The second-class rapid train seems to give way to everybody.
Despite leaving late, we arrived on time at 12:30. First order of business was to cloak our packs. Unlike the United States they were happy to. Cost us 60 Baht but Mandy said she would have paid $60.
We walked from the station to the river where we stumbled about, trying to find which dock was appropriate that our ferry. Eventually took a tuc-tuc to the right dock, where we had a lovely lunch in a restaurant overlooking the river traffic. Then we took a ferry upstream, and walked north from the Grand Palace we have seen a couple of days ago, past Wat Phrakew, University, National Museum, Royal Parade Ground and National Theatre to the Phra Sumane Fort, where everybody was lazing about listening to music and practicing their juggling and dancing.
Ferry back to the River City, and a walk down the canal to the railway station. Watched a Korean movie with Chinese subtitles and Thai dubbing while we waited for our train to Surat Thani at 7:15 PM. Left on time -- very comfortable in a first-class sleeper.
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