The Train to Mahachai and Mae Khlong

Part of the journey is getting there than arriving. The trains lines to Mahachai and Mae Khlong are artifacts from the turn of the 20th Century. These train lines are complete isolated from any other train systems in the country. Your journey in the old time charm of Bangkok's past begins when you descend from the modern Sky Train at Bangkok's Wong Wian Yai and enter the Wong Wian Yai Train Station camouflaged as a ordinary food market. Very quickly upon leaving the station the city opens up to palm trees, rice fields and wetlands. Home and shops are built right up against the track giving in a window into the daily lives of the people along the train route. At the frequent stops passengers will get off and on to buy snack, drinks from the vendors near the track. The first section of the line end at the town of Mahachai in Samut Sakhon Province. Mahachai is a harbor city with a busy pier where many fishing boats come to unload their catch. Before taking the the next section of the line to Mae Khlong, spend time watching the fishing boats and looking at the catch of the day being processed by the pier. Take the ferry across to the other side of the harbor to Ban Laem, with motorcycles, students and housewives returning from market, to continue the journey on to Mae Khlong in Samut Songkram Province. Once on the other side turn right at the first crossroads and continue walking past the temple and the drying fish to the train tracks and turn right to reach the train station. From Ban Laem to Mae Khlong you might come to believe the the tropical foliage is going to swallow up the train as it goes so thick and dense next to the tracks. Emerging from the wilderness into bustling noise and traffic of Mae Khlong, you might believe that you have just entered through a magical back door.