The day started with a few missions: visit the big Saturday market, have a suit tailored, and catch a train to Chiang Mai. One might think these were simple tasks, but they turned into an adventure.

Awaking with renewed energy, I packed my bags, put them in storage, paid, and started exploring. After a long walk up the road alongside the SkyTrain, the market appeared. I had visited some large markets before, but this was probably the biggest. It had entire sections for shorts, shirts, cowboy gear, and more. I wandered around for a while and contemplated buying a few things. Since most of my trip was still ahead of me, buying too much didn’t seem practical. After the market, I took the SkyTrain to the tailoring district.

I chose a place that seemed reputable. The walls were lined with fabric from corner to corner. After some discussion, I settled on a decent-quality suit. My measurements were taken and rechecked, I selected the fabric, and I was off. It was about 4:00, and I needed to catch my train at 6:00. I took the SkyTrain back towards my guesthouse. Unfortunately, I got off too early and spent some time walking back and forth in search of my street.

Eventually, I found it. Running through a supermarket with tactical precision, I bought dinner in record time. I collected my bags and ran out to the street to catch a tuk-tuk. Some very quick bargaining got me to a nearby SkyTrain station, where I raced upstairs and jumped aboard. After leaving the SkyTrain, I still needed to reach the railway station and faced a dilemma: take the underground or find another tuk-tuk. It was about 5:50, and things weren’t looking hopeful. The tuk-tuk drivers sensed my urgency and wanted to charge 100 baht each, about US$3, to reach the station. No chance. I ran to the underground and jumped on the train. Two stops later, I reached the railway station at 5:57, and things looked even less hopeful. I ran to the platform, showed my ticket, and jumped aboard right at 6:00. Phew.

Initially, I sat in a chair and read, but soon moved to my individual bunk.