I was up bright and early, showered, packed my rucksack, managed to fit in a 7am breakfast then made my way to the Metro underground system, still keeping to a very tight schedule I had allowed 15 minutes for the Metro journey as the travel advisor told me, and trying to make sure I was going to the correct station I checked on my map from time to time, the map was at the ready in the side pocket of my bag with my rail ticket!!

Hey what wonderful planning, I arrived at the mainline railway station with time to spare, perhaps I could get a bottle of water before boarding, talking of which I'd better get my ticket ready, this is when the carefully laid plan fell apart, the ticket was nowhere to be found, it must have fallen out when I was checking the map either on the Metro train or in the station, so I went to a ticket counter, not much use as the train is fully booked, then I was approached by a guy who appeared to be some sort of guide or adviser, at least his english was reasonable, I explained about the ticket, he took me to another counter, no use there, then he took me to the train and spoke to the guard explaining the situation that this stupid big nose westerner had got himself into, anyway I gave him a 100 Baht tip for getting me out of the mire.

OK, looks like everything has been sorted, I was ushered onto the train, no seat available though even though I pointed out that there must be an empty seat as I had one reserved in my name, but no I had to sit in a guards seat at the back of the train, and pay again for the privilege, a whole 580 Baht, that now makes it 1160 Baht, I think I'd better file for bankruptcy when I eventually get home. Hey wait a minute, lets work this out, at around 65 Baht to the squid the whole journey, even at twice the price, is only costing me ermmm, mutter, mutter mumble (I could really use a good Quantity Surveyor just now!!), oh yes I've got it, the whole thing cost less than 18 pounds for a journey of nearly 600 Kms, I was fed and watered on the train inclusive in the price too which is more than you get for an equivalent journey back home!

The story doesn't end there, when I got to Surat Thane, the end of the line, the next leg of the journey was by bus to Phuket, at the station I was approached by two guys asking where I was going, I told them Phuket and I was looking for a bus, they whisked me off to the luxury transport waiting outside the station, a pick up truck, yes a pickup truck with a cover and seating commonly used as buses here in Thailand, I was taken on a 300 Baht white knuckle ride over several kilometres to a cafe where a man sat at a desk just waiting for suckers like me to come along, he wanted another 650 Baht for the bus ride to Phuket. The bus turned out to be a high spec Toyota Commuter mini bus, air con, TV screen on which we watched James Bond, the very latest 'Casino Royale' with whatisname in it, but dubbed in Thai.

After a three and a half hour journey we arrived in Phuket Town, I wasn't the only one who was somewhat confused, I was expecting a ferry crossing, and I think some of the others were too yet there was no sign of a ferry on our journey, anyway Phuket Town wasn't where I and others were meant to be and it was now dark and getting very late. Its not over yet, not by a long chalk, my next mode of transport was to be a moped taxi, I'd seen these in Bangkok, they looked absolutely frightening,...... and they are!!! Weaving in and out of the traffic, dodging the larger vehicles it looked bad as an innocent bystander in Bangkok (Where the girls ride side saddle as they travel to work.) but here I am about to climb on one as a large framed guy, carrying backpack and hand luggage I'm sure you can imagine how the suspension took it!!!!

OK so we are on the road weaving in and out of the larger vehicles, stopping at red lights,.... sometimes,..... and what does 'Give Way' mean, could you explain it to my driver please, OK so at least we are on our way to find my bed, except that my driver doesn't know where the place is despite me having the full postal address, albeit in english, so he stops to ask for directions,... twice,... then its my mobile phone to call the hostel, and even then he takes a wrong turn so has to do a U turn to go back in the other direction, then my prayers are answered, I can see the sign for the hostel with the distinctive 'Hostelling International' logo emblazoned across it, hip hoo bloody ray!!!! At least the guy didn't give up and dump me in the middle of nowhere, so I rewarded him for his tenacity with a 50 Baht tip on top of the 200 Baht fare, and it was an experience to be remembered after all!!!!

So that makes a grand total of 2460 Baht, or nearly 38 pounds, still cheaper than the air fare, just!

Now for a week of rest and recuperation, lazing on the beach, and planning my return trip to Singapore, this time I'm bloody flying, to hell with experiences!