5Y3M 3Y6M バタワースからバンコクまで To Bangkok from Butterworth

モニカがバンコクへ旅立った。たった104RM(20GBP, 3000JPY)だが、列車で21時間の旅。

2等の寝台車(大宇製なのが興味深い)。一人がけボックス席（二人が向き合う形）が、通路の両隣にある。ボックス席上部には折りたたまれたベッドがあるので、二つの椅子部分を引っ張り合わせてできるベッドとで、2段ベッドができるようになっている。

10号車と切符に印刷されているのに2両編成。出発間近に先頭にディーゼル機関車を連結。食堂車もなく、今後あちこちで列車が連結されて最後は長ーくなるのかなあと思いを馳せながら見送った。

私のアジアでの夜行列車経験は、シンガポールからクアラルンプールと、ハノイからフエ。もう15年ぐらい前の話しだが、ベトナムでは給食のように食事が支給された。モニカはお結びを持っていったけれども、道中ひもじい思いをしないかなと母のような心境。バンコクも微妙だし、あと二ヶ月のバックパッキング、頑張れ～。

Monika has left for Bangkok by train. It's only 104RM (20GBP) but it takes 21 hours.

It's second class sleeper. (Interestingly, it's1996 Daewoo made!) There are 2 sets of box seats on the both side of the aisle. Each box has 2 seats facing to each other. There is a folded bed over the 2 seats. When sleeping, the 2 seats are pulled together to make the lower bed, and the upper bed is unfolded above.

Monika's ticket said her seat was on the coach number 10. But we found only 2 coaches. Just before the train departed, a diesel engine was attached to the carriages. I wonder if there are more coaches attached on the way to Bangkok? There was no buffet car when from Butterworth, which made me a bit worried.

My night train experiences in Asia were SIN-KL and Hanoi-Hue, both were more than 15 years ago. In Vietnam, we were served school dinner type meals. She was equipped with 2 balls of onigiris, rice balls, and I hope Monkia will not feel hungry on her way.

Bangkok is not safe at the moment. I now have very maternal feelings. I hope she will have safe travel during the rest of her adventure, which will be for another 2 months.