How, When and Where to buy the Train Tickets from Bangkok to the Cambodia Border (Episode 1)

    This Cambodia trip was the most unexpected and unplanned trip I have ever been on. Although I had intended to travel there, I never anticipated it would happen so quickly because my 14-day visa-free had expired, and I had to leave Thailand urgently to avoid paying fines. This blog will follow my chaotic trip from Bangkok to Phnom Penh, along with some advice and tricks.

    I was informed that I could not extend my visa anymore, only a night before I would leave for Cambodia. So, I checked all possible routes to leave Thailand (including those to Laos) and found a train heading to Cambodia the following day at 6:43 a.m. You can check the schedule online here (https://dticket.railway.co.th/DTicketPublicWeb/home/Home). 

    I even went in person to the train station (Hua Mak station, to be exact) to make sure it would leave at the exact time they announced online. Luckily, yes, it would, but I couldn’t purchase the ticket in advance and had to just buy one on the day I departed. It was a 275 train from Bangkok Railway Station (Hua Lamphong) to Ban Kong Luk Border. They only offered the basic seats, which were just with fans and not AC, unlike those going to Laos. But it’s so cheap - 45 tbh (£1) (or 49 thb if from Bangkok Railway Station) for a 4.5-hour journey!   

a train arriving at Hua Mak station
a train arriving at Hua Mak station 

    Then, I returned to my condo and packed for a week's trip. It was truly exciting as I love adventures and enjoy things unplanned as long as they aren't life-threatening (laugh). It was my first time visiting Cambodia, and I had always wanted to go there mainly to see Angkor Wat. 

    (continue reading on episode 2)

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