the South of France you say?

 I met a really lovely (can't believe I'm saying this) French girl on the train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok (18 hours this time?) and we had this immediate connection. So of course we slammed back about 6 large Chang's and really got to chatting. Not the same old traveller talk, life chats, I felt like I'd known her for years and I really needed some girl time. It was a very interesting train ride... I referred to the beer lady as Mum and teased her relentlessly as she pressed more beer on me and gave me a massage by the end of it all. We made friends with a group of loud Aussie's who were the only other ones drinking and had a super lame chat with some West Coast know it all Canadians, in their early 20's of course. We argued with the staff that puts down the beds (it was only 7 p.m. And the sun was still up) but by the end of the train ride it was just a whole lot of sass and everyone was laughing. Let's put it this way. The man came by to put down the beds (I was top bunk and there was no one below me so we could leave it as seats for Camilla and I) and we told him to leave the bottom one as is. He shocks his head furiously and demanded our tickets even though were told him where we were sleeping. Eventually we gave him our tickets and when he saw we weren't b.s. Ing him he just tossed us back our tickets and walked away. It was about 5:30 a.m., when my bunk curtain was torn open and it was the man again, "get up." alright sunshine bear, you got it! I just couldn't be bothered to do anything but laugh as I looked up and down the train car and I was the only person he had woken up so far (I was in the middle of the car). About an hour later, at the appropriate hour, he started waking everyone else up. He pulled back Camilla's curtain (she had ear plugs and a sleep mask on) and one again "get up, give me the blanket" and just stood there staring at her. She looked so confused and asked for just a minute, to I don't know, wake up maybe? Not everyone jumps out of bed like I do when the alarm goes off. He just continued to stand there, about to pull her blanket, as she was like "whoa dude, I have no pants on" he turned and looked at me, i'm grinning like an idiot over the whole ordeal, and marched off again. Best train ride ever. Of course by the time we arrived Camilla and I were splitting a cab, sharing a room, and doing one night in the big city together. Fun Fact: you can literally sit on the steps or hang outside of the train if you want. Ahhhhh!