Minibus passes by Wongwian Yai.

As early as 5:00am,Bangkok buses were already on the move from their respective depots.
Being an early bird,I was near the Wat Traimit area bus stop joining a handful of Bangkokians waiting to catch our respective buses.

 Since this bus stop is near the corner road,it's quite difficult to see the glaring bus number as it was still very dark.You need to lift your hand to hail it otherwise they just zoom by.

My destination is the Sai Tai Mai Southern Bus Terminal and usually waited for Number 507 bus. There were many Number 1,4,7 & 8 buses passing by.

Buses are either red(non a/c-free of charge) or yellow(air cond) .
 Bus Number 1 route:-Grand Palace,Charoen Krung,Hua Lamphong,China Town,Harbour Dept,Si Phraya,Oriental,Sathorn/Saphan Taksin,Menam Riverside Hotel.  

Bus Number 4 route:-Klong Toei market,Klong Toei,Lumphini,Silom/Sala Daeng,Chulalongkorn Hospital,Sam Yan,China Town,Hua Lamphong,Charoen Krung,Little India,Itsaraphap Rd,King Thaksin Statue  

Bus Number 7:-Klong Kwang,King Thaksin Statue,Little India,Charoen Krung,Hua Lamphong,China Town,Klang Hospital.  

Bus Number 8:-Big C ,Lat Phrao,Ratchadaphisek,Phahon Tothin,Chatuchak Park / Mo Chit,Saphan Kwai,AriSanam Pao,Victory Monument,Mahidol University,Uruphong,Bobe Market,Little India,Memorial Bridge(depot)

 Having waited for an hour half and couldn't find any sign of Bus 507 so I enquired around.
I was given to try Bus Number 5 or 7.Happily I hopped into one Bus 7 but was booted out after a short distance,"rot may(bus) pai(go) Tai Mai(southern terminal),mai mee(no)"
 It was getting brighter now when I walked to Yaowarat Road which had a more vantage point to see the buses numbers.
Rather than waiting any longer I decided to hop in any buses that will take me to the Thonburi side across the Chao Phraya River.
Got hold of a yellow mini bus No:104-40 and I mentioned Tai Mai with a sigh of relief to be allowed in.
Bus Fare:7baht.That's so cheap to travel using public transport.  

Simple Thai phrases while taking a bus.
1) Where is the bus stop?(bpai rot may yoo tee nai)
2) Which bus goes to Silom Road?(bpai tanon see-lom bpai rot may sai nai dai bahng)
3) Does this bus go to Pin Klao?(rot may nee bpai pin klao rue bplao)
4) Does this bus stops at Chinatown?(rot may nee ja jort tee yao-wa-raht reu bplao)
 5) When is the next bus to Morchit?(rot may bpai Mor-chit kan dtor bpai ork ghee mohng)
6) How much to..?(bpai.....thao rai)
7) How much is it?(thao rai)
8) Where is this?(tee nee tee nai)
9) Is this near Wat Pho?(tee nee glai glai Wat poh mai)
10) Could you please tell me where to get off?(chuay bok hai pom/dichan long noi)
11) I want to get off at Sanam Luang.(pom/dichan ja longtee Sanam Luang)

The minibus ride passed the Phra PinKlao bridge across the Chao Phraya River into the other side of old Bangkok district of Thonburi.

Practically at every bus stop,the minibus will pick up passengers in the morning rush hour.There was not much of a heavy traffic and the flow was very smooth.
As the bus move slowly near the Wong Wian Yai big circle roundabout which is at the junction of Somdet Phra Chao Taksin Road and Prachathipok Road,I could see a group of people doing their morning exercise workout in this beautiful landscaped greenlung of old Bangkok.
Though Thonburi is on the west bank of the Chao Phraya, it's still administratively part of Bangkok.

Wong Wian Yai's major landmark is the King Taksin Monument at this traffic roundabout.
Nearby Somdet Chao Phraya Road in Khlong San district is the Princess Mother Memorial Park which was built to preserve the area where the late Princess Mother resided during her childhood.

The park next to Wat Anongkharam lies a building housing exhibits of the Princess Mother familiy history.

Further up at the end of Tha Din Daeng Road is a pier where one can take shuttle boats across the river to Ratchawong and Sampheng market in Chinatown.

At the roundabout is a huge photo portrait of the beloved monarch of the Kingdom of Thailand,His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

The Wong Wian Yai train station is just less than a kilometre from this roundabout and the whole area was bustling with various kinds of activities.
This is a place where one must also explore when in Bangkok to get a real taste of the life of the local communities here.
Not forgetting also are the infamous bamboo flute makers around Bang Sai Gai in Itsaraphap Road. Near the BTS Wong Wian Yai station is the Aiya Residence & Sport Club budget hotel.

Hualampong rail station near Wat Traimit.

Arrived at Hualampong railway station to make a last minute night train booking to Haadyai but unfortunately no seats were available.

The last train leaving the station was at 22:50 hours. There were many local travellers still hanging around the ticketing hall while some were sleeping on the floor.

An announcement was made when the last train leaves that no one is allowed inside by 12:00 midnight.

 Met a guy who has just came back from his hometown in Sisaket and will be reporting for work at the Bangpli Industrial area in a silverware factory.
Since it was already midnight,cheap transport via the songtheaw is no more available other than the expensive tuk-tuk and taxi,he opted to spend a night here and catch the first songhteaw at 4:00am.

So I joined him to experience the atmosphere here.Surprisingly all available floor space surrounding the rail station corridors were occupied with local people already sleeping and some snoring away.
The station security personnels also made a half hourly interval scrutinity of the area.  

About Hualampong Railway Station:

Bangkok Grand Central Railway Station is located at Rama IV Road,Rongmuang Sub-District Pathumwan District Bangkok. (outskirts of Bangkok Chinatown).
This is the railway hub for the whole country.
All Northern, Southern, Northeastern, and Eastern Train Lines have Hualamphong Rail Station as their first or final stop.
Trips on Thailand's Western Routes depart from Thonburi Rail Station, across the Chao Phraya River.
All North / Northeast-bound trains also make a stop at Don Muang Rail Station (opposite Don Muang International Airport) for convenient air/rail transfer.
Bang Sue is the Main Thai Railways Junction in and out of Bangkok for all Lines N, S, NE, W.

For Eastern Line Train Services, Chachoeng Sao is the Main Junction out of Bangkok, and Makkasan Station is the main SRT Depot.

Many types of Train Service can be found in and out of Bangkok.[ordinary train(ord),diesel railcar(drc),rapid train(rap),express train(exp),special express train(sp exp) and special express diesel railcar(sp exp drc)]  

Time table Southern Lines. 

 1) BKK(08:05) - Nakhon Pathom(09:17) -Ratchaburi(09:55) - Petchaburi(10:28)Hua Hin(11:11) - Prachuap Khiri Khan(12:08) -Chumphon(14:28) - Lang Suan(15:16) & Surat Thani(16:30)----sp,exp,drc. (2nd class)

2)BKK(09:20) -Hua Hin(13:35)----drc(3rd class)

3)BKK(13:00) -Hua Hin(17:10) - Chumphon(21:01) - Surat Thani(00.05) - Hat Yai(05:36) - Yala(08:42) - Sungai Golok(10:45)----rap(2nd ,3rd class)

 4)BKK(14:45) - Hua Hin(18:21) -Chumphon(21:47) - Surat Thani(00:40) - Hatyai(06:27) - Padang Besar(07:55) - Butterworth(11:55)----sp exp(1st 2nd class)

5)BKK(15:10) - Hua Hin(19:08) - Chumphon(23:22) - Surat Thani(01:53) - Hat Yai(07:13) - Yala(09:25) - Sgungai Kolok(11:25)----sp exp(1st,2nd,3rd class)

6)BKK(15:35) - Hua Hin(20:11) - Chumphon(00:35) - Surat Thani(03:18) - Hat Yai(09:07) -Yala(11:20)----rap(2nd,3rd class)

7)BKK(17:05) - Hua Hin(20:43) - Chumphon(01:10) - Surat Thani(04:02) - Trang(07:55)----exp(1st,2nd,3rd class)

8)BKK(17:35) - Hua Hin(21:37) - Chumphon(02:29) - Surat Thani(05:14) - Nakhon Si Thammarat(09:35)----rap(2nd,3rd class)

9)BKK(18:20) - Hua Hin(22:02) - Chumphon(03:05) - Surat Thani(05:51) - Kantan(11:05)----rap(2nd,3rd class)

10)BKK(19:30) - Hua Hin(23:19) - Chumphon(03:47) - Surat Thani(06:27) -Nakhon Si Thammarat(10:35)----exp(1st,2nd,3rd class)

11)BKK(22:50) - Hua Hin(02:08) - Chumphon(05:47) - Surat Thani(08:11) -Hat Yai(12:27)- Yala(14:25)----sp,exp,drc(2nd class only)  

Southern Lines train fares(Thai Baht):

1st class air cond sleeper:-Hua Hin(1,022Baht)-Chumphon(1,234)-Surat Thani(1,379)-Hat yai(1,594) 2nd class sleeper(up,low,a/c up,a/c low):- Hua Hin(352,402,522,622) Chumphon(440,490,680,770) Surat Thani(498,548,758,848) Hat Yai(555,605,855,945)

2nd class seat(a/c,fan):-Hua Hin(382,292), Chumphon(480,380), Surat Thani(578,438), Hat Yai(675,535)

3rd class(a/c,fan):-Hua Hin(294,234), Chumphon(342,272), Surat Thani(397,297), Hat Yai(439,339)

 Eastern Line Timetable(all are 3rd class seats): 

 1)BKK(05:55)-Phaya Thai(06:10)-Ratchaprop(06:15)-Makkhasan(06:20)-Asoke(06:26)-Khlong Tan(06:36)-Hua Mak(06:43)-Lat Krabang(06:55)-Phra Chom Klao(07:00)-Hua Takhe(07:03)-Chachoensao(07:40)-Prachin Buri(08:58)-Kabin Buri(09:48)-Watthana Nakhon(11:06)-Aranyaprathet(11:23)----ordinary

2)BKK(06:55)-Phaya Thai(07:08)-Mkkasan(07:16)-Asoke(07:22)-Khlong Tan(07:40)-Lat Krabang(08:06)-Phra Chom Klao(08:10)-Hua Takhe(08:14)-Chachoengsao(08:59)--Chonburi(09:49)-Si Racha(10:13)-Pattaya(10:35)-Yanasangwararam(10:57)-Suan Nongnut(11:04)-Ban Phlu Ta Luang(11:20)-----ordinary

3)BKK(06:55)--Chachoengsao(08:56)----drc(9 station stops)

4)BKK(08:00)--Kabin Buri(11:35)----ord(11 station stops)

 5)BKK(10:10)--Chachoengsao(11:45)----drc(10 station stops)

 6)BKK(12:10)--Chachoengsao(13:30)----sp,drc.(9 station stops)

7)BKK(13:05)--Aranyaprathet(17:35)----drc(13 station stops)

8)BKK(15:25)--Kabin Buri(17:35)----drc(12 station stops)

 9)BKK(16:35)--Chachoengsao(17:55)----sp,drc(8 station stops)

 10)BKK(17:00)--Chachoengsao(18:50)---ord(10 station stops)

11)BKK(17:40)--Prachin Buri(20:32)----ord(11 station stops)

12)BKK(18:25)--Chachoengsao(19:40)----ord(10 station stops)  

Train fares(Thai Baht):

 Makkasan(2Baht), Hua Mak(3), Chachoengsao(13), Chon Buri(23), Pattaya(31), Aranyaprathet(48)

 Bangkok - Kanchanaburi - Nam Tok Train(3rd class seats only)

 BKK(Thoburi Sation)(depart 07:45/13:55)- Talingchan(07:59/14:10) - Salaya(08:16 /14:24) - Nakhon Pathom(08:53/14:54) - Nong Pladook(09:15/51:11) - Tha Rue Noi(09:50/15:47) - Kanchanaburi((10:45/16:19) - River Kwai Bridge(10:55/16:26) - Wan Yen(11:15/17:03) - Baan Kao(11:23/17:20) - Thakilen((11:37/17:33) - Tham Krasae(11:41/17:51) - Wang Pho(11:52/18:01) - Koe Mahamongkol(12:05/18:13) - Nam Tok(12:20/18:30)  

Getting in or out of the station:-

Airport Express Bus AE4 runs directly from Hua Lamphong to Departure Floor of Suvarnabhumi, THB150. Non air-cond Bus 29 to Victory Monument, 30 minutes, THB8.

Local Bus: 4 7 21 25 29 34 40 53 73 109 113 and Air-con Bus: 4 7 29 73 501 507 Mb 5 4

Passenger Boat: Hualampong Pier (Phadung Krung Kasem Canal) MRT Hualampong. 

  Hotels and Guesthouses nearby: At One Inn, The Chilli Bangkok Bangkok Centre Hotel Baan Hualampong Sri Hualampong

Wat Traimit is a very beautiful and remarkable temple located between the end of Yaowarat Road(1/2 km) and Hualampong rail station(1km).

 In the still of the night,the temple looks like a glittering fairyland.I can't resist seeing this temple whenever I'm in Bangkok.





Inside the four storey marble temple complex housed the Golden Buddha.
This temple is opened from 08:00am till 5:00pm except for Monday.
The entrance fee to see the Golden Buddha which was perched on the highest floor is Baht40 .
The museum entrance fee is Baht100

A portrait of the King of Thailand,His Royal Highness King Bhumibol.

 The temple's location is along Wanit1 Road(Sampheng Road) in the Sampanthawong District.

(Bangkok has 50 sub-divided districts"khet")
Along here was a 24hours convenience store and also a water dispenser in front of a shop nearby. For 1baht,you can fill your pep bottle container(1.5 litre) and save you money if you tend to drink a lot of water. To catch a local bus,wait near the bus stop in front of the convenience store.

The Bangkok Chinatown Gate in the Odeon Circle is less than 3km from Hualampong rail station just after Wat Traimit.
Walk further up keeping to the right is the Yaowarat Road.  

Chinatown area hotels in sequence from Chinatown Gate:
 New EmpireHotel ChinatownHotel Shanghai Mansion BoutiqueHotel White OrchidHotel Check Inn Chinatown Grand China Princess Hotel.

For guesthouses,there are some along the Sois off Songsawat Road.(opposite the shark fin restaurant)

Rong Kluea-Thai border checkpoint.

After the Cambodian immigration clearance which was very swift without much hassle including my French companion,we walked through the short distance Thai-Cambodian Friendship Bridge .

The scenerio at the Poipet Thai border is bustling with the two sides actively doing business with one another.
The economically active populace living along the border with Thailand are heavily dependent on cross-border trades such as garments making,construction,transport and services.
This is a win-win situation as can reduce the impact of poverty and generate employment to the local youths.




The checkpoint is opened daily from 7:00am till 8:00pm to facilitate the movement of people and goods.
Local people are able to travel to Thai border town of Rong Kluea market by purchasing a border pass for Baht10.
There is no way heavy vehicles can pass through not even any sign of motorcyclist.
Only transporters using a wooden carriage carrying heavy loads of goods through and fro.

 Cambodia's economic liberalisation only happens in the late 1980s and with the ending of state monopoly,the country joined ASEAN Free Trade Area(AFTA).




Border crossing is a very interesting adventure as one can see the best of both world.
 The Thai border checkpoint office is not a big one and while my French partner took to the queue while I went to hunt for the embarkation card.

It was a weekend and just after the Cambodian New Year,there were massive crowds as most people were returning to work the next day.

 The Thai immigration officer is very particular that you fill in the address(road name) of your stay in Thailand.

As we emerged from the Thai immigration checkpoint,we need to go through another lane where the police will make a luggage check.

The tuk-tuk drivers were all on hand nearby to greet travelers.We failed to meet our other Cambodian group nor do we recognised the "bus company represenative" at the Poipet side.
There were two white Cathay Tour Bus at the border waiting to receive their passengers.
We showed them our ticket but were rejected.

Now we feel dejected and my French partner thought of staying overnight here but I suggested that we should enquire around.

As we walked out the only exit road beside the bank,we came into this main road of Rong Kluea market.

 Talad Rong Kluea is located in Aranyaprathet, Sa Kaeo Province.
Talad in Thai means market.As you come from the Thai Immigration checkpoint,that corner green colour building is the Kasikorn Bank Limited.
 This market is a heaven to source for secondhand brand name clothes,sneakers,bags and accessories.
Most of their goods were sourced from South Korea.
The quality were superb and cheap costing between USD2-USD10.
Most of the clothing items came via Cambodia because import tax is lower there.
This is a distribution center for Thais who come from all the major towns and cities to buy goods to sell in their shops and market stalls.






  We found this booth and enquire by showing our bus ticket to the lady inside.
She was very good enough to tell us wait for the next van here.
This inferred that the "bus company representative" in Poipet is not trusted as by right he should have told us to come to this booth and switch to a minivan and not making pretentious call for a taxi arrangement.

We waited till 6:00pm when the scheduled van arrived for our 4hours journey to Bangkok.

 From this encounter,I felt that travellers might as well take a local express bus to the border and just walk into Rong Kleua market,take a Thai express bus here or at Aranyaprathet(Baht48) back to Bangkok(6 hours).
Songtheaw(not tuk-tuk) to Aranyaprathet from market(Baht20). All the formalities are very straight forward and fast if your documents are in order.

The local bus will stop enroute to Bangkok at Chachoengsao and Prachinburi.
 Rongkleau to Bangkok Minivan (14 seater)

Time:06:30, 08:30, 10:30, 12:30, 14:30, 16:30. Fare:between Baht440 to Baht500.

From Survanbhumi Airport direct bus to Rongkleau:

Bus Fare:Baht187 Distance:239km Duration:3hrs 50minutes.

Avail:07:15am & 09:30am

Depart Rongkleau:12:30hrs & 14:30hrs.
Check it up phone: 02-1344099.Call Center:1490

The mini van,a Toyota Commander made its way out of Rong Kluea via this exit to Aranyaprathet.

 The market is sub-divided into zones such as Rong Kluea, Golden Gate, Dech Thai, Thesaban II, Thesaban III and Benjawan.

It looks quite similar to Chatuchak Market in Bangkok layout style.
A short drive from here there was a police checkpoint where in most cases passengers have to get down for further checks.Maybe they need to confirm that there were no illegal immigrants sneaking into Thailand.
One minivan next to us has a full capacity packed like sardine of close to 20 young Cambodian workers or maybe student.

Sunset in the horizon.It was a Sunday and the traffic along this highway was very light.Expect to get some slight delay and bottleneck near Chachoengsao when the Thais return to the city after the Songkran festival.
Expected time of arrival in Bangkok will be 10:30pm and will end near the Victory Monument.