Day 1, Thursday 31 January 2013 - Lampang

Bangkok exit..... I'm awake at 5.30 am to the patter of rain and make final preparations for travel. I hope to arrive at Mochit 2, Bangkok's northern bus terminal by 9 am. The most cost-effective method is by songtheaw and city bus, but a quicker method is by motorcycle taxi and minivan or even better by taxi. However, on account of the rain, suitable transport to get me started is in short supply. While considering my options, a neighbour on a school run offers me a lift. That's a great help to get me going, but initial progress is slow due to heavy traffic. I wonder whether I can make it by 9 am to the terminal as planned as I transfer to a taxi. However at 8.45 am I'm outside the booking hall. It's still the best option, I feel, to just turn up. The information online is often confusing and misleading. With the various bus tour operators eager for business there are choices. I soon decide on the Chantour service to Chaing Mai scheduled for a 09.15 departure. I'm not disappointed. The 32 seat air-conditioned tour bus, described as 1st Class has plenty of leg-room, an entertainment system, onboard snacks and meal vouchers. The seats are comfortable with a seat back massage system. From the high-deck I should get good views as the tour bus makes its way north. The actual departure time is 09.30 and expected arrival time at Lampang is 17.30. I'm soon writing notes on my netbook in a quite relaxed mood.
The journey is uneventful, but the time passes quickly. The Chantour bus takes the usual route north out of Mochit 2 bus terminal along Vipawadee/Rangsit highway towards the Bang Pa-In intersection and along highway 32 towards Ayutthaya before joining highway 1. Around 1 pm, between Nakhon Sawan and Kampeang Phet there is a rest break for 20 minutes. The food voucher covers noodle soup for 30 baht but rice meals are more; I pay an extra 10 baht and that's enough till dinner. As the coach makes its way north, I keep a mental note of some of the tourist attractions on the way, in particular the historic town of Kampeang Phet which rivals Lopburi, a trip I made only last week. Other attractions catch my eye including the bird park at Chai Nat. I must admit Thailand does manage to keep its religious, cultural and historical locations together with its national parks well signposted. By mid-afternoon I've managed some sleep but am awakened by the sound of rain beating on the coach roof. By this time the coach is nearing Tak. From here it becomes more mountainous, but progress is good and as the final kilometers count down, the Chantour service arrives before time in Lampang at 17.20.
Lampang arrival..... Information I collected in Bangkok now becomes useful. I am looking for a guesthouse not too far from the train station in the western part of Lampang just off Montri Road, but there is a problem. The coach driver has already explained that he will not be entering Lampang itself as this is a Chiang Mai service. They will drop me off at the intersection outside the town to avoid what they say in Thai as 'sia wahla' which means wasted time. However, help is just a phone call away, a sort of phone a friend. Not only am I offered a lift to the guesthouse but offered transport the following afternoon to go sightseeing in Lampang. This is not the first time in northern Thailand a family has offered to give up their time, a welcome release from the daily 'grind I suppose. By the end of the day the friendly disposition of folk in the north is evident everywhere.
The journey to my accommodation takes me past Lampang train station and the busy street-food stalls opposite, but I arrive at In Town Home just a few minutes away. Arriving at a cozy rustic-style guesthouse away from the main street, it seems to have everything I need and reasonably priced at 400 baht. Just one thing however is missing. There is no Wi-Fi connection. It's not sufficient for me not to give this accommodation a rating and I am happy to stay for two nights.
Ending on a high note..... My attention turns to food and I waste no time in heading back towards the train station where there will be a good selection of local fare. Inevitably, I head for the train station first. Lampang, of course, is on the main line between Bangkok and Chiang Mai. It accommodates a small locomotive depot and through trains can be observed. I am more than happy with my new digital camera as it has managed to capture acceptable images after dark under station lights. The last train to Bangkok arrives and passengers, well represented by foreigners, climb onboard. An upline train also arrives amid some activity. It appears that a elderly passenger is unwell and requires medical assistance. It is reassuring to see an ambulance arrive within 10 minutes. The vehicle is well staffed and this case is dealt with most efficiently as the elderly lady is rushed to hospital. Well satisfied with my visit if only to make a plan for my later departure from here to Chaing Mai, I am finally ready for a chicken grill and a beer. The collection of food stalls near the station conveys a particularly homely atmosphere and as I witnessed, the folk here are particularly friendly. One feels at home almost immediately. Altogether not a bad day.
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