Couples encounter
An old (older than me) couple sat diagonally from where I was on the train to Nam Tok. The man with mostly white hair was in a bright yellow shirt, blending well with the wooden seat painted a duller yellow. The woman with long black braided hair had on a straw hat quaintly decorated with two large flowers of different colors. She was also wearing a jumper and looked quite "country". When it was time for people to take notice of the tracks running atop a steep cliff, the view narrowing to rock formations that you can touch if you dared, the man went to our side, watched the view and waved to those watching the train make the trip.
Coming back from Nam Tok, I was happily seated by myself enjoying my own spot for four small people, seats facing the other, on the wrong side again of the good view. I mulled over how lucky I was to be on the trip.
To my right sat a middle-aged couple. The local girl and her farang husband reflected my mood. They were both just smiling the whole time, happily enjoying the train ride and loving the moment. They were polite and friendly, making way for the less fortunate ones when we wanted to see the view. Their joy and gratitude for life were contagious. Sitting beside them made the ride back pleasant and meaningful. I felt that everyone taking a trip should be like that. Just grateful.
Some stations after, a woman stopped at my spot. I looked and saw a familiar jumper and hat. The old couple! The man recognized me and said a local hello. I acknowledged and explained in English. Then we all sat down with a smile as they looked around and decided to settle at my spot. I caught a glimpse of a small Thai whiskey bottle in the woman’s purse. A further glancing sweep took in a Leo beer and a couple of cold drinks in the plastic bags they carried. Ah. My people.
Back in Kanchanaburi and off the train, my tuk-tuk driver who promised to be waiting for me, was not. I was explaining this to one of the staff at the station when I then encountered my next couple. Both young farangs, they already have a Grab waiting. They were going the same way and overheard my conversation with the staff, the young man explained. They probably saw my desperate face as my mind rifled through my options, the way I was looking at the songtaew which would take forever to fill up. I thankfully looked at the handsome young man in his 20s. An angel.
I dumped my bag in the trunk. He got in the front passenger seat. I got in the car and found myself beside another man who seemed too tall for the back seat. We started off and the awkward silence struck me. I would understand not conversing with the driver who probably doesn’t speak English or with me, a random pick-up. It was unnerving. Either they had a fight and were about to break up or they have broken up and were trying to see if it will still work, thus this trip. Or they may have argued whether to give me a ride and my seatmate lost.
I tried small talk with a regale of my missing tuk-tuk driver, my weird way of explaining even to myself why I was there in the middle of that uncomfortable silence. The angel beside me mumbled a retort on how one should be careful with these things. Was that a warning to me? Then again, silence.
It was a short ride, less than five minutes. I offered to pay for my share and of course, they refused. I thanked them. My seatmate wished me a safe trip. Relieved to be at the bus station, I wished them the same. A conductor took my bag and ushered me to the mini-busses. I looked back at my angels, still seemingly glum and silent but starting to walk slowly, away from the station. I hoped they have a happy Songkran.
And then there was the last couple. The young lady in her 20s had a scowl locked on her face as she stared at her boyfriend while in line to get on the bus. She was by far, the most unhappy, bordering on angry face of a woman that was difficult to miss. Her expression eclipsed her boyfriend so much so that I could not remember what he looked like. Her misery was all I could focus on. I saw her again during the rest stop in one of the towns, still with a frown even as she was carrying a positively sweet, tall, cold drink from a cafe.
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