Matthew Woodward
@ontherails.bsky.social
Rail adventurer and travel writer. Latest book ‘Bang Sue Junction’ (Lanna Hall). Always carrying an espresso maker. Jelly Baby addict. FRGS.
A year end thanks and best wishes to all my amazing friends here on socials. Let’s make 2025 even more railtastic. Great to follow your adventures and swap stories and ideas.
December 31, 2024 at 3:51 PM
A year end thanks and best wishes to all my amazing friends here on socials. Let’s make 2025 even more railtastic. Great to follow your adventures and swap stories and ideas.
“I'll tell you this, the next drink I have's gonna be a lager. Ice cold. There's a little bar in Bangkok with a marble top counter and high stools. They serve the best beer in all the far east”. #IceColdInAlex #Rhiengold
December 27, 2024 at 10:35 AM
“I'll tell you this, the next drink I have's gonna be a lager. Ice cold. There's a little bar in Bangkok with a marble top counter and high stools. They serve the best beer in all the far east”. #IceColdInAlex #Rhiengold
My Christmas 1975 fantasy that never quite happened - I did get Airfix Flight Deck that year though. I bought my own Mk 2 Chopper eventually, but not until 30 years later.. (image from FB)
December 25, 2024 at 6:10 AM
My Christmas 1975 fantasy that never quite happened - I did get Airfix Flight Deck that year though. I bought my own Mk 2 Chopper eventually, but not until 30 years later.. (image from FB)
A couple more pavement death traps on the Chang Khlan Road today as I make my way - carefully - to an early evening beer rendezvous. The failing chipboard one is thin and covering an open drain - if you weight more than 60kg you are probably doomed.. #ChiangMai
December 23, 2024 at 10:43 AM
A couple more pavement death traps on the Chang Khlan Road today as I make my way - carefully - to an early evening beer rendezvous. The failing chipboard one is thin and covering an open drain - if you weight more than 60kg you are probably doomed.. #ChiangMai
Road accident statistics in #Thailand are appalling. I avoid crossing roads in the dark. But the pavements in #ChiangMai - can be lethal places too.. Locals don’t step on drain covers unless they are feeling lucky.
December 22, 2024 at 9:57 AM
Road accident statistics in #Thailand are appalling. I avoid crossing roads in the dark. But the pavements in #ChiangMai - can be lethal places too.. Locals don’t step on drain covers unless they are feeling lucky.
I have an emerging towel art issue here at HQ. Not sure if I’m going to run out of space in my room before the hotel run out of hand towels. Should I say something?
December 20, 2024 at 6:15 AM
I have an emerging towel art issue here at HQ. Not sure if I’m going to run out of space in my room before the hotel run out of hand towels. Should I say something?
Checked into my longtime HQ in Chiang Mai. Housekeeping have kindly broken out my personal bedding just in case I forget my name in the middle of the night. Always feel at home here. Thank you @ShangriLaHotels
December 13, 2024 at 4:23 PM
Checked into my longtime HQ in Chiang Mai. Housekeeping have kindly broken out my personal bedding just in case I forget my name in the middle of the night. Always feel at home here. Thank you @ShangriLaHotels
Blog: Off the Rails in Hua Hin - the cult of train talks, model railways and my enduring love of cold beer. #HuaHin shorturl.at/rmGqi
December 11, 2024 at 8:00 AM
Blog: Off the Rails in Hua Hin - the cult of train talks, model railways and my enduring love of cold beer. #HuaHin shorturl.at/rmGqi
‘Please make my mixed fruit smoothie the colour of this hat’. Pantone reference- mango. #beachlife #Thailand #HuaHin
December 8, 2024 at 4:27 AM
‘Please make my mixed fruit smoothie the colour of this hat’. Pantone reference- mango. #beachlife #Thailand #HuaHin
Fancy a rail chat tomorrow? Please come and join me at the Centara Grand in #HuaHin - the original Thai railway resort hotel. Lots to talk about and help inspire your next rail adventure. Kick off with drinks at 17.00. Hope to see you! #RailTourism #Thailand @ExploreCentara
December 5, 2024 at 10:16 AM
Fancy a rail chat tomorrow? Please come and join me at the Centara Grand in #HuaHin - the original Thai railway resort hotel. Lots to talk about and help inspire your next rail adventure. Kick off with drinks at 17.00. Hope to see you! #RailTourism #Thailand @ExploreCentara
Thanks to the team @InterConHotels #HuaHin for letting me play with their recently installed train set today. Thanks also to @ZengoMay for the tip off. Railway tourism on a different scale, literally.
December 3, 2024 at 7:24 AM
Thanks to the team @InterConHotels #HuaHin for letting me play with their recently installed train set today. Thanks also to @ZengoMay for the tip off. Railway tourism on a different scale, literally.
I’m not a trainspotter, but I’ve ticked off locomotive 305 from my list of Thai steam trains. It’s a Baldwin from #Pennsylvania - a state I have always wanted to visit. I think it’s a Deer Hunter thing.
December 2, 2024 at 8:39 AM
I’m not a trainspotter, but I’ve ticked off locomotive 305 from my list of Thai steam trains. It’s a Baldwin from #Pennsylvania - a state I have always wanted to visit. I think it’s a Deer Hunter thing.
I’ve been at the (old) Hua Hin railway station today. Quite sad to see it bare and devoid of life. This time last year it was my favourite Thai station with the shiniest (now missing) bell. #HuaHin
December 2, 2024 at 8:29 AM
I’ve been at the (old) Hua Hin railway station today. Quite sad to see it bare and devoid of life. This time last year it was my favourite Thai station with the shiniest (now missing) bell. #HuaHin
I got spotted before I made it back to the bar tonight. Tickets still available if you are in Hua Hin on Friday. Love to see you here at the Centara Grand. It’s going to be a great train chat! @ExploreCentara #HuaHin
December 1, 2024 at 1:43 PM
I got spotted before I made it back to the bar tonight. Tickets still available if you are in Hua Hin on Friday. Love to see you here at the Centara Grand. It’s going to be a great train chat! @ExploreCentara #HuaHin
I’m the writer in residence at the Centara Grand Beach Resort in Hua Hin for the next couple of weeks - the original railway resort hotel in Thailand. Great writing set up here to inspire creativity. #HuaHin #IAmWriting @ExploreCentara
November 30, 2024 at 4:09 AM
I’m the writer in residence at the Centara Grand Beach Resort in Hua Hin for the next couple of weeks - the original railway resort hotel in Thailand. Great writing set up here to inspire creativity. #HuaHin #IAmWriting @ExploreCentara
Perhaps the only railway bell you can ring in Thailand without getting in trouble is in the Hua Lamphong museum. A small place, but a treasure trove going back to the days of the Royal Railway of Siam #Bangkok
November 28, 2024 at 5:48 AM
Perhaps the only railway bell you can ring in Thailand without getting in trouble is in the Hua Lamphong museum. A small place, but a treasure trove going back to the days of the Royal Railway of Siam #Bangkok
For those that asked - I’ve been a lucky guest at the Mekong Riverview Hotel in Luang Prabang for the past week. My room was amazing. Spent hours on the balcony each day watching the world pass by on the river.
November 27, 2024 at 11:24 AM
For those that asked - I’ve been a lucky guest at the Mekong Riverview Hotel in Luang Prabang for the past week. My room was amazing. Spent hours on the balcony each day watching the world pass by on the river.
I’m headed back to Bangkok tomorrow- if anyone fancies a rail chat I’ll be at @FCCThai and Jack’s Bar most evenings before I head south. Next stop Hua Hin.
November 26, 2024 at 11:08 AM
I’m headed back to Bangkok tomorrow- if anyone fancies a rail chat I’ll be at @FCCThai and Jack’s Bar most evenings before I head south. Next stop Hua Hin.
Luang Prabang by night is just as pretty as in the daytime. The architecture is very Indochine.. #Laos #LuangPrabang
November 25, 2024 at 12:06 PM
Luang Prabang by night is just as pretty as in the daytime. The architecture is very Indochine.. #Laos #LuangPrabang
Back from my trip up river to the Pak Ou caves yesterday. I chartered my own boat for $70. Not cheap but nice to be independent. Last visited caves in 1997. #Mekong #Laos #LuangPrabang
November 24, 2024 at 3:28 AM
Back from my trip up river to the Pak Ou caves yesterday. I chartered my own boat for $70. Not cheap but nice to be independent. Last visited caves in 1997. #Mekong #Laos #LuangPrabang
With a certain sense of Apocalypse Now about the arrangements, I’m meeting a boatman at the local pier tomorrow for a solo trip up the Mekong, destination classified. Returning in the heart of darkness once mission accomplished.
November 22, 2024 at 4:05 AM
With a certain sense of Apocalypse Now about the arrangements, I’m meeting a boatman at the local pier tomorrow for a solo trip up the Mekong, destination classified. Returning in the heart of darkness once mission accomplished.
Morning. Great start to the day here in Luang Prabang with a banana shake. Weather just like Chiang Mai with cool mornings and low humidity. Thinking of renting my own boat today to avoid the mass tourism side of life here. #Laos #LuangPrabang
November 22, 2024 at 1:34 AM
Morning. Great start to the day here in Luang Prabang with a banana shake. Weather just like Chiang Mai with cool mornings and low humidity. Thinking of renting my own boat today to avoid the mass tourism side of life here. #Laos #LuangPrabang