Traveling Serving Reflecting: Lampang by Bus and Arrival

Lampang by Bus and Arrival

I decided to go to Lampang for a couple of days because of all the ceramics in the area. The trip had a typical tourist traveling without knowing the language start.

Bus Windows (there were many more)

Restaurant Near Bus Station

A nice, very efficient lady sells me a bus ticket for a VIP air conditioned bus at 3:45. She hands me the ticket through the little window, motions out the front door and tells me the bus will be at platform 17, 18, 19. I go out the door and there aren't any platforms there. As I walk around the building I can see the bus platforms. They are clearly marked. The numbers I'm looking for are at the far back of the terminal in the opposite direction from where she pointed. No problem - she just meant for me to go out that door... Having found my platform and looking at nearly a two hour wait, I walk around outside the station and choose one of the many small restaurants for a bite to eat.

Having a Bite to Eat Outside the Bus Station

Advertising at the Station - Power ChakuZa Anyone?

I return to the station to people watch and take pictures inside the terminal until 15 minutes before the bus is scheduled to leave. Plenty of time to step outside to the bus. At the appointed time, I go to the platform. The driver shakes his head, takes me to the corner and points to a decrepit bus by the front door near where she had pointed. Certainly not what I expected. I go to the bus and show them my ticket. Again the head shake. 'Not this station - new bus station - 5 minute walk' and again the point. By this time it's 3:40. As I cross the parking lot to the street, I see a bus station across the street. In my hurry crossing the street, I stumble drop my backpack, spill my water bottle, and look like quite the tourist. No apparent harm and in a few minutes I'm on the VIP air conditioned bus and on my way.

The ride isn't long and there are interesting sights on the way. Mostly the sights whiz by to quickly or bumpily to photograph. I see what looks like a huge statue of Buddha either being built or restored. It has bamboo scaffolding around it at least 75 feet high - I keep thinking I've seen it before.

Cozy Bedroom Area of Suite

Veranda on the River

I picked the top recommendation from the Lonley Planet - Riverside Guest House as a place to stay. Got the last room - a suite that was quite nice. Bargained the desk girl down to 1,000 Baht but when she checked with the owner she said it had to be 1,200. We finally agreed on 1,100 and a two night stay.

I passed on the nearby Riverside Resturant as to upscale and went to the Relax down the street. They had a beautiful menu but with no English on it and no one who could tell me what was what.

Incense Offerings

Lighting Incense as the Restaurant
Opens for the Night

As I waited for someone to take my order, I saw each of the staff light a stick of incense near the entrance. It had an air of reverence about it without having any formality.

Ended up with Tom Yom seafood soup full of shrimp, other creatures, and hotter than hell. I liked the waitresses shoes. She could barely walk in them because the heels were so high.

As I sat down the music switched from a Thai cartoon video to English language 60's. Listened to Puff, Lemon Tree, Leaving on a Jet Plane, Almost Heaven, Wake Up Little Susie, Blowin In The Wind, etc. Of course these weren't quite the original versions. They seemed to be Thai versions where the R's were sort of like L's and other differences. There was one song I hadn't heard that I though Dr. Archie might like so I tried to find out the name. The title was Sutter's Mill. The waitress insisted on burning it to CD for me. Don't know what all she put on the CD hope she did a bunch. The songs were pretty interesting. Had a second beer while waiting.

Walked back to the guest house with a slight detour to take pictures of a white temple glittering in the night.