We meet at 10 pm at Bangkok’s Northern Bus Terminal, Morchit Station. We, that’s my Thai friend Bow, Kyro from England, Jonas from Sweden, Glenny from England and Sebastian from Holland. Our coach leaves at 10.45, so we spend some time hanging around the terminal. Morchit station is impressive. The place looks more like an airport, not like a bus station. Huge. All coaches to the Northern and North-eastern regions of Thailand leave from this place.

When it’s time to depart, we enter our 1^st class coach (230 baht per ticket) and make ourselves comfortable. After some freezing experience in other long distance coaches, I put on my sweater immediately and feel pretty comfortable. Each passenger even receives a blanket, so we’re fine. After leaving from the bus terminal, we also get some snacks. Get ready to sleep. Fortunately they don’t turn on the TV. What can stop me now?

Well, it’s the d*** air-conditioning of this coach that can keep me from sleeping. It’s incredibly cold, even though I’m wrapped in my sweater and the blanket, plus we’ve done everything possible already to block the cold air from blowing at us. Hmm, unsuccessful. My neck feels soooo cold… Luckily I find the solution: I put on two pairs of socks and pull the blanket over my head. I’m fully covered now, but at least I’m comfortable and can sleep.

We arrive in Lomsak shortly after 4 am, after some 5½ freezing hours. A minivan driver approaches us and we arrange transportation to the National Park with him. But first we have to go to the market and buy food. Sebastian is a chef and he will cook for us during in the camp, but we need the ingredients.

The market in Lomsak is great. You find everything you need for a decent meal. After some power shopping we stumble to a small restaurant and eat noodles, guay dtiaw (20 baht per bowl). Having eaten some North-eastern sausages, sai-grok isaan (only 5 baht each, that’s half the Bangkok price!), before that meal, my stomach feels good and I’m happy. On with our trip.