On Thursday, May 4, 2017, we, The Golden Girls, traveled to and through Thailand by train. Here is a minute-by-minute recap of our second of four train rides that got us from Penang, Malaysia to Chaing Mai, Thailand. In total, it was a 48+ hour trip. The train ride recapped here lasted 17 hours. It was our first travel day as a new team. It was filled with unforgettable memories and laughs. This train ride was one of the best travel days of my Race. I hope you enjoy this recap.
Hat Yai, Thailand to Bangkok, Thailand
Thursday, May 4th, 2017
3rd Class Train Car
No Air-conditioning
17 Hours
Minute 1: The Golden Girls kick a family of three (Dad, Mom, and Little Girl) out of our assigned seats. #awkward
Minute 3: A large, brown, beast-liked creature (insect) causes mass chaos within the Golden Girls after crawling out from underneath Dakota’s seat. Cary and Evelyn save the day!
Minute 4: The smell of urine from the nearby toilet fills our noses. Yuck!
Minute 5: We sanitize our space with wet wipes. Outcome on the wipes…horrifying.
Minute 9: Two of the seven Golden Girls lose their tickets and are unable to prove they’re allowed on the train as the train ticket collector comes through.
Minute 12: Both tickets are found. All seven Golden Girls remain on the train. This was all God!!!
Minute 13: Starts to rain. Windows must be closed. No air flow on train. Hot and sticky.
Minute 16: The two other foreigners on the train in third class move away from us. They could not handle our rambunctious personalities.
Minute 21: Liz buys a snack and finds a staple mixed within the food…after almost eating it.
Minute 27: Rain has stopped. Windows are open. Air flow increases.
Hour 1 Minute 3: Train suddenly and abruptly stops. We smell something burning.
Hour 1 Minute 4: A bug interrupts the serious conversation concerning our sudden stop.
Hour 1 Minute 6: Train starts moving again.
Hour 1 Minute 7: Golden Girls sings theme song from the “Golden Girls” show for the entire train car of locals to hear. “Thank you for being a friend. Travel down the road and back again. Your heart is true. You’re pal and a confidant!”
Hour 1 Minute 23: Dakota receives her first lesson in Thai Language from teammate Jessi, who studied abroad in Thailand. Dakota becomes fluent…kinda.
Hour 3: Train stops. Merchants hop on to sell to passengers. Liz buys a “mango”.
Hour 3 Minute 5: Liz exchanges “mango” for pineapple. Still gross.
Hour 3 Minute 6: Merchants hop off and train starts moving again.
Hour 3 Minute 9: Dakota tries cayenne pepper salt. Gags.
Hour 3 Minute 15: The smell of urine from the nearby toilet continues to fill our noses.
Hour 3 Minute 22: Dust blowing in open windows is extreme.
Hour 3 Minute 30ish: Golden Girls start to try to sleep on train.
Hour 4: Rhythm of train rocks Golden Girls to sleep. Somewhat.
Hour 12 Minute 15: Cary wakes up and takes pictures of sleeping teammates.
{This is a shout out to my teammates for rockin the ride. I love you ladies!}
Hour 12 Minute 17: Cary goes to the toilet. It is quite the experience on the moving train and all.
Hour 12 Minute 30sih: Cary goes back to sleep.
Hour 16: Golden Girls begin to wake up.
Hour 16 Minute 36: Little Girl (The one we kicked out of our seat. See Minute 1) pops eyeball in and out of socket continuously. Golden Girls are transfixed, baffled, and can’t look away. They are also scarred for life.
Hour 17: Train finally arrives in Bangkok, Thailand.
First travel day for The Golden Girls… PRICELESS!!!
Kiss. Kiss. Love. Love.
Disclaimer: Travel Days on The World Race are always unique and different. We never really know what to expect. Though this may seem like an irritating and frustrating experience, it was beautiful. It was real. It was fun. My teammates rocked the uncomfortable craziness of this travel day. I’m so thankful I was able to experience it with them.
LoVe,
Cary
