One building always catch my attention whenever I go out of the underground station of MRT at Hua Lamphong in Bangkok. This building stands out because of its old European-styled architecture, which is an uncommon treat in the city of Buddhist temples and Asian structures.
I am referring to the Bangkok Railway Station or more popularly known as the Hua Lamphong Train Station.
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I peeked at Hua Lamphong Train Station after my visit to the Kalawar Church (Holy Rosary Church). I was surprised that the place is as busy as the beehive.
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| Elephant fountain in front of the Hua Lamphong Train Station. |
The train station is the central terminal for all train lines in Thailand. Around 60,000 people* (foreign tourists and Thai citizens alike) go this station each day to board trains going to different parts of the country.
I was not surprised to see hotels and business establishments around the Hua Lamphong Station. The area is one of the busiest place in Bangkok.
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| Business establishments near the train station. |
The Hua Lamphong Train Station was opened on 1916. The Italian Neo-Rennaisance style of the train station was designed by the Italian architect Mario Tamagno.
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The train station is spacious even if there are a lot of people inside. What caught my attention the moment I entered the station is the big portrait of King Chulalongkorn. The Thais really love this king.
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| Inside the Hua Lamphong Train Station (sorry for the blurry photo). |
Europeans are everywhere! French, Spaniards, Italians, English, Germans, Americans, Eastern Europeans, backpackers, traveling in tours – you can see them all here. I found the place alive with voices of different languages. If only I can speak language other than Tagalog and English then I can understand what those people were buzzing about.
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The best part of my visit to the Hua Lamphong Train Station is seeing the trains.
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The train platform reminded me of the train stations in Full Metal Alcemist. It was my first time to see so many trains in one station. How I wish that the Philippines had a more developed train system like this one in Thailand. The travel to and from the far-flung areas in Luzon would be much easier.
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Train spotters will surely love this train station. Around 130 trains* go to this station every day. Trains coming from Malaysia, Singapore and the border of Cambodia can be spotted here.
Looking at the trains made me wish to have train trip to the Thai provinces that are far away from Bangkok. I want to imitate the backpackers, who travel anywhere they want to go. My wish might come true and I might return to Hua Lamphong Train Station with a backpack for a long train trip.
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Want to know more about Hua Lamphong Train Station? I suggest that you visit this good article at Yahoo! Voices.
*Information obtained from Wikipedia.
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Do you have questions about traveling around Bangkok? Tell us about it by leaving a comment.
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The city looks crowded or congested. Don't think I would like it here...
ReplyDeleteBangkok is truly crowded and congested. It has the so-called "perpetual traffic jam".
DeleteLooks interesting, maybe I should try the train to go somewhere out of Bangkok too! : )
ReplyDeleteOr you can go back to Malaysia by riding the train from Hua Lamphong Station. ;-)
DeleteThere's only one place that I love in Thailand. The Wat Chalong. I always go there when I visit Thailand. Fall in love on its magnificent architecture. I'm sure you'll love it too
ReplyDeleteSearched Wat Chalong on Google and I saw that it is indeed beautiful. Hope to see it in the future.
Deletena post ba yun comment ko
ReplyDeleteayy hindi haha sabi ko dun ee
ReplyDeletenung una akala ko ee pinas yan
pero di pala
mas ok train station nila kesa satin haha
Mas OK 'yung train system ng Thailand kesa sa Pinas pero ayon sa nabasa ko ay yung ministry na may hawak nito ay ang pinaka-inefficient at laging lugi. Problema ng government subsidy.
DeleteAng tagal na pala nyang Hua Lamphong Train Station na yan! Sana nga ganyan din ang train staion sa Pinas ang laki sa loob.
ReplyDeleteMalaki po itong train station na ito kasi para ito sa mga tren na pumupunta sa probinsya. Yung mga MRT or LRT system naman nila dito ay may mga station na malaki lang ng konti sa mga train stations na nasa Pinas.
DeleteCool.
ReplyDeleteNakakahinayang, yung gobyerno natin, walang pangangalaga sa mga historical sites natin. magaganda yung mga old train stations natin (PNR). pero wala, sinira lang nila.
Pabaya kasi ang gobyerno natin kaya ganyan ang nangyayari sa mga facilities na itinayo noong panahon ni Marcos.
DeleteAng ganda naman ng train station sa kanila. Pero parang luma na din yung mga train coaches nila.
ReplyDeleteLuma nga yung ilan sa mga train coaches nila. Sa tingin ko 'yung ibang coaches kasabayan lang coaches ng PNR.
Delete