This morning we said goodbye to our very standard hostel with awful WiFi, a miserable reception team and a matress that would have been more comfortable if we’d simply taken the springs out, bent them upwards to form a sharp point and slept directly on them.

Ummmm compfy…

Having learnt our lesson with Tuk Tuks we jumped in a taxi for our trip to the station. It was a little more expensive than a Tuk Tuk but not my much. Plus we gathered a qualified taxi driver wouldn’t be earning back handers off suit makers.

The journey consisted of the driver telling us about all the places around Bangkok and the surrounding cities that he could take us to. Next time of course. The places it was 100% cheaper to get a taxi to than take the train. Apparently. He was also on his phone a lot, checking his watch eagerly. Most shops don’t seem to open until about 10am here, and with it being only half 9, we were sure his conversations were with some suit shop owner requesting an early opening for a couple of English suckers.

Anyway it turned out he was simply a really nice guy, eager for further work. He gave us his card and told us to be in touch whenever we wanted a taxi. The price of us actually giving him a call would probably be double his fare, but we took it anyway.

We got our tickets and jumped on the train to Lopburi. A place about 3 hours train journey north of Bangkok. A place many have most likely never heard of. Full of old ruins from hundreds of years ago. But it wasn’t them we were interested in. Oh no!

Now we’ve experienced a couple of train journeys around Thailand. The nice air conditioned ride to Chiang Mai. The bug infested furnace back to Bangkok. But this time we were riding in style. We didn’t mean to. It was simply the next train. Air conditioned. Reclining leather seats. Even a meal of sticky rice and chilli mackerel (straight in the bin). It was a thoroughly enjoyable train journey. Then before we knew it, we had arrived in Lopburi.

We had seen this place on tv once before. Sky1’s An Idiot Abroad. We weren’t exactly sure what to expect, but we were really excited. Soph a little apprehensive.

We walked down the straight road from the station, looking out with anticipation for Lopburi’s main attraction. We made it about a half mile before a clicking noise drew our attention to the telephone wires above. Then there it was. With an old fag end hanging out it’s mouth. The attraction. The macaque. The monkey!

We grabbed  the camera as not to miss it. But there was no need. Turning the corner we came face to face with another two, then a third, a fourth. Bloody hell there were hundreds of them. Hanging off shop fronts, telephone poles, cars, PEOPLE. A whole block of flats had been literally abandoned and now taken over by these monkeys.

Across the road was an old ruin that was once a grand temple. Now it was home to a 1000+ monkeys. We walked through the gates and were surrounded by them. Some were huge, but some we carrying tiny babies on the bellies.

We walked around the temple and came across an older lady waving a stick at our heads, offering it to us. This stick became invaluable. First a few stalked Soph. Slowly following her as she walked increasingly faster away. Then they went for me. One bit my ankle. Then, distracted by the pain, I was hit again on the back of the leg. Meanwhile they were starting to jump on Soph as she filmed my attack. I was soon wacking them away with the stick, but not before one last bite on the arse. Can’t blame him for wanting to touch, but please, not so hard.

We walked around for a little longer, taking pictures of tiny monkeys, walking inside the ruin to see a headless Buddha and some sleeping bats. Having seen what we came to see we tried to find somewhere to eat, but nothing seemed that great. We walked back past the monkeys again before grabbing the next train home. That train however was 3 hours away.

We got a few bits to eat from the 7/11 and took up residence at the station platform. It was pretty quiet, but soon got packed with school kids on their way home. At least we had a seat though ay? Well actually no. This train was 10th class. Kids were standing all over the train tracks ready to attack the train from both sides. When it arrived the doors were right in front of us, but we were immediately swallowed up by a storm of kids trying to get their place.

Think 5ish, London underground, delays on all lines, ten fold.

This train is bug infested. Soph’s face right now as I write this is of absolute horror. Scared to move in case she attracts another moth or insect with sharp teeth. Only an hour to go….

Tonight we are in the same hostel and room that we started this journey in, opposite the train station. Tomorrow we are on the train again. This time for a place called Siem Reap. Cambodia.

Thanks for following x