Train to the Jungle

Gettting to the jungle was quite an adventure in itself!  The first part of the trip is taking a 5 hour train ride.


Mr. P trying to get comfortable on his wooden seat.  Not the best place to take a nap.

Photo: Laura Muir

Taking the train in Thailand is different than taking a train back home.  The seats aren't always as comfortable, the train ride can be pretty bumpy and there are times when you think the train might come flying off the tracks (but don't worry, it never does!) 

The train floating up high above the trees.  Maybe not a good way
to travel if you are afraid of heights.

The great part about taking the train is all the delicious food that is served by vendors that walk up and down the cars.  You can get full meals, fresh fruit, meat skewers with sticky rice and even sweet treats too.  A long train ride can sure make you hungry, so it is nice having all that food available to buy.

My lunch on the train of rice with spicy pork and egg cost only $1.



A sugar covered "sala pao" these little timbits are sweet until you hit the middle where you
will find some BBQ pork.  If you like maple syrup on your bacon, then this treat is for you.

 Taking the train was a lot of fun.  It was the beginning of a magical adventure I will never forget.  I can't wait to tell you all about my time in the jungle.

My Egyptian Ferrari

Life in Luxor is much more relaxed then life in Cairo.  Tourism is the main industry in Luxor, so most of the locals make a living by either selling you something or offering you a service.  I would like to introduce you to one of these locals, Ali. 

An Egyptian Ferrari powered by the beautiful Cinderella.

While waiting for the bus Ali approached me and offered me a ride in his “Egyptian Ferrari”.  I politely declined but began talking to Ali about life in Luxor.  He told me about his family, he is married and has two young kids with another on the way.  Unfortunately Ali didn’t get a chance to go to school, he was too busy working trying to make money to support his family when he was younger.  As a boy he would mix in with the tourists talking to them and using his charm to sell assorted souvenirs and “Ferrari rides”, this is how he learned English and four other languages, by spending every day with different tourists. 

Cinderella leading the way to my hotel along the Luxor streets at night.

Ali and his story won me over and I let him take me for a spin on his Ferrari.  He wanted to take me on a grand tour of Luxor, but I felt bad for Cinderella, his horse, who was slowing down because she was hungry, so I asked Ali to take me to my hotel and he did.  So twenty minutes later we arrived at my stop and I said goodbye to Ali and give him some money for the journey.  Then from the carriage I used my favourite form of transportation, my feet, to get me up to my bed for the night.

My driver Ali waiting for his next rider in the dusty Luxor night.