December Monday 11th, 2023. I started my day trying to find the train station close to the condo, off Thai highway 3344. Which I thought was across the street according to AEW, but I could not find it on google. Also nothing in the area looked like one of the busy train stations I was on last year. When I asked for help from a stranger on the street with the assistance of google translate, I was told to go down Udon Suk road several km to get to the Sky Train. This was about a block away from the condo and to my later surprise was right at the steps for the sky train station a block from the condo.
After a few km of walking in 95°f weather, I gave up walking and eventually found a taxi at a gas station who was on duty. He happily drove me to the Udom Suk green train station, which was 6-7 km from home. I was a little frustrated and unhappy as I though AEW had misrepresented "across the street".Those of you who know me, might know my aversion and general distain of public transportation. I have only used it a few times in my life, and I do not enjoy it at all. Additionally, I asked for help from the staff and they told me the wrong train to get on. It took me a while to figure out the rabbit card and actually get on the correct train. Several people on the train seamed to be making fun off the "farang" and as you can see I was filled with great joy. Not really. 
I made a new friend, Anna, who helped me keep the scammer, beggars, and bar girls (I think) away from me. Just outside Nana Station. This area is very downtown and looks more like the Bangkok you see in tv shows and movies representing the city verses most of what I saw last year. Which was more fringe of the city and rural. She also helped me in my search for a Levi's store as I tore one of the pairs of jeans I brought with me. The jeans were twice what I was expecting to pay, but I need more jeans and they were comparable to US non-sale prices. So more than I would normally spend.
My ride back on the train was easier, but definitely way more crowded. I did meet a beautiful young lady from China ob the train. She had the coolest temporary butterfly tattoos. I love butterflies as well as dragonflies, big time, and have wanted tattoos since I was 5. I remain tattoo-less to this day ... but maybe I will get some in Thailand this year. Anyway, it was her last day in Thailand and she was heading home.
When I hot off at my exit, I decided to try and walk home. Google maps took me down back streets and alleys until I came to a dead end and got yelled at by some man to go away, about the same time I realized the street was coming to a dead end. After he shooed me away, all of the peacefully sleeping guard dogs proceeded to growl and bark at me as I left.
I finally made it back to Udon Suk street and walked another 6.5 km back to the condo. Most people ignored me, a few seemed to avoid me, while others smiled and nodded to me, or asked where I was from and wanted to ask about my trip. I made sure to get water on my walk back and probably drank 5 or more liters of water while walking. By the time I was 1km from home, my bag with my Levi jeans and bottled water broke. This made carrying my clothes and water much more challenging. When I finally got to the condo, I was soaked in sweat, pants,shirt, socks,and underwear. It was like I just took a shower fully clothed. Every muscle in my body aches, but it was a great day, and I now know where the sky train station is located near home as well as how to transit the metro system.
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