Let's bring a motorcycle along on the bus... [Laos]

Update 24/11 Butterworth - Bangkok

The short walk from Butterworth
train station (B) to Butterworth
Bus Terminal B1 (A)

Well, it turned out that all seats / beds in the train Butterworth - Hat Yai were sold out, so the plan for the route Butterworth - Bangkok has been slightly changed.

I will now go off the train at Butterworth station early morning on Tuesday and continue by mini-van to Hat Yai. There I will need to change to a coach to Bangkok. As it turns out this is even a slightly cheaper option, saving RM 30 in total, good for two meals :)

As for time-loss... It should not make a whole lot of difference. Butterworth - Hat Yai by mini-van should take about 5 - 6 hours and Hat Yai to Bangkok by coach about 8 - 10 hours. Worst-case scenario I will be arriving in Bangkok on Wednesday noon.

From there, I'm catching a coach from Mo Chit bus station directly to to Chiang Rai (initially I would go to Chiang Mai first, but the new plan seems cheaper and shorter). I arrive in Chiang Rai some 10 hours later, late evening. This already close to the Laos norder, I will simply take a tuktuk to the ferry port in Chiang Khong and wait a few hours for the first ferry to start its engine and cross the mighty Mekong river over to Laos (around 06:00, Thursday)

It appear that there is only one bus going from Huay Xai to Jinghong per day, at 08:00 in the morning, so I need to rush a little in order to catch it. Arriving there some 10 hours later, it's just one last bus journey to Kunming. I will most probably not be able to catch the train the day in Kunming, so I will have a full day (Friday, 30th) for sight-seeing. The train to Baoji leaves at 18:48 reaching Baoji Sunday morning around 04:00.

The first leg: Kulai - Bangkok - Chiang Mai

Starting point Kulai train station

I will start my inter-Asian over-land journey in Kulai, Johor on Monday the 26th of November. Around noon I take a taxi from my house to the train-station where I'm buying a ticket for the 14:53 KTM intercity train going north along the Malaysian west-track.

Around 20:30 I reach KL Central Station where I have a timeframe of roughly an hour to eat some dinner, fresh-up and stretch the legs. I may even go for a short shower at the Hilton, which is just behind the station.

The train departs again a little after eleven, heading more north to Butterworth (Penang) and Padang Besar (Malaysia/Thailand border, where I need to get out for stamps and on-board again).

Padang Besar border station
Left is Thailand, right is Malaysia

Then we arrive at Hat Yai around 09:30 (next moring). Here I will disembark and change trains. The Bangkok bound train leaves at 11:15 and arrives in the Thai capitol Bangkok the next morning (Wednesday) around 06:30.

At 08:30 I'm catching the Bangkok - Chiang Mai train after having my breakfast in BK city. This journey will take about hours, arriving in Chiang Mai 20:30.

The northern city of Chiang Mai will be the first resting point for me, where I will have my dinner and get a simple 3-star hotel room to start with renewed energy the next morning.

~ Good bight! ~

Chiang Mai city

Kunming, China

Next stop for me is the city of Kunming (昆明) from where I'm catching train K166 to Baoji (宝鸡).

Kunming is hailed as a city where one enjoys an eternal spring with fresh flowers all year round. Even in winter time, when I am there, streets are characterized with green grass and blooming, colorful flowers. The blue color of the sky in Kunming is incomparable. It is said that when you unfold your arms, you are embracing the clouds. During the winter season, one can "touch" the blue sky and white clouds.

The Stone Forest in Kunming is called the "museum of stones" with its very distinct karst stones. Kunming people say that Beijing boasts the Great Wall, Shanghai is popularly embracing tourists, Guilin is known for its hill crests and Kunming has the best rare stones. When I'm on schedule I will certainly try to visit the stone forest.

Kunming is very rich in natural hot springs.as most of the geothermal resources have been untouched throughout the centuries. For me, it would be the first time to enjoy a real natural hot spring if I'm able to visit one in Kunming. I have seen hot springs before, but never had a chance to go in. Hopefully I can manage to do that this time around!

Like every region in China, Kunming also has its own distinct, unique, special food. It is said that the flavor of tasty food can be smelled on every street. Favorite dishes in Kunming are roasted crispy duck, pineapple steamed rice and fried peameal. Makes me hungry already!

Walking on streets in Kunming, it is easy to meet a girl holding flowers in her arms, for no particular reason at all. Like Paris or Venice, Kunming is a romantic city. The fresh flowers are the symbol of the city, a common detail in everyday life and a way to express happiness.

Kunming - Baoji by train

Kunming city railway station

I start the 33-hour train-journey at Kunming Central Railway Station. Each day, the train (K166) departs at 18:48 and arrives in Baoji around 04:00, a day and two nights later. It gives me a full 12-hour day to enjoy the landscapes of the route between Kunming and Baoji, after having slept on my private cabin's soft-bed the first night.

Station Station Name in Chinese ArrTime DeptTime Distance (km) Total Time (hh:mm) Kunming 昆明 - 18:48 - 00:00 Guangtong 广通 21:14 21:21 153 02:26 Yuanmou 元谋 22:46 22:48 249 03:58 Panzhihua 攀枝花 00:23 00:35 351 05:35 Xichang 西昌 03:24 03:30 543 08:36 Puxiong 普雄 06:11 06:18 704 11:23 Hanyuan 汉源 08:07 08:09 820 13:19 Emei 峨眉 10:18 10:22 944 15:30 Leshan 乐山 10:47 10:49 963 15:59 Chengdu 成都 12:53 13:26 1100 18:05 Deyang 德阳 14:15 14:20 1161 19:27 Mianyang 绵阳 15:04 15:09 1215 20:16 Jiangyou 江油 15:47 15:54 1257 20:59 Guangyuan 广元 18:31 18:43 1419 23:43 Yangpingguan 阳平关 20:12 20:14 1498 25:24 Lueyang 略阳 21:42 21:48 1554 26:54 Huixian 徽县 23:33 23:40 1618 28:45 Baoji 宝鸡 03:56 04:11 1769 33:08 Xian 西安 05:58 - 1942 35:10

The highspeed train from Kunming to Baoji takes 33 hours for 1700 km Landscape sights along the way 1200 km from Kunming, getting closer towards central-china

Baoji prefecture

The Han-river in Baoji

After the 33-hour high-speed train journey that started in Kunming, I arrive at Baoji city in central China. Greater Baoji is actually a valley, quite similar to Malaysia's Klang-valley which is also referred to as Greater Kuala Lumpur. Baoji has hills and mountains on three sides and only on the east-side the prefecture is relatively flat. Baoji is also located alongside the Han river and passing through the city is the ancient Silk Road, through which for centuries silk, spices and other trade was transported. The silk road traditionally connects the old capitol of China, Xi'an to the west (all the way to Turkey, via Iran (Persia)). The silk road is about 2600 kilometer long and Baoji is one of the most northern stops.

The ancient silk road from Turkey to
the east of China

The city of Baoji was first created during the 21st century BC (some 4000 years ago) to facilitate a strategic trading point between Xi'an and the west. Nowadays, Baoji is primarily an industrial city, although it has a lot of cultural heritage to see. Baoji is also considered the gateway between western and eastern China since most trains from Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an pass through here on their way to Sichuanand Tibet, as well as the major regions in the north-west and the central-south. I will be travelling onwards to Urumqi, which is located in north-western China, close to the borders or Kazakhstan and Russia.

Famen temple in Baoji

Baoji's Fa Men Si (Famen temple), home to one of Buddha's finger bones, is also located in Baoji County. The Baoji area was home to the legendary Yandi, one of the Han Chinese forefathers. His tomb is located in the southern part of the city and his temple is located in the North. I hope I have enough time to visit the Famen temple, it would be a great experience!