We arrived here on 6th June via New Delhi [2 days] and Hongkong [2 hours!]

The Shanghai Inn is in China Town. We've already been on the Metro and the Sky-Train to visit the Vietnamese embasey for visas. It's the wet season so the air isn't too bad in the city.

Tonight we catch the 20.45 sleeper train and a bus to the Laos border. A journey of about 16 hours!

As I type this, the hotel is echoing to the shouts and dialogue of a Thai Soap Opera that is filming here all afternoon. The plot seems rather bizzare. A young couple who seem to be arguing and then fending off kung-fu fighters most of the time. There's a monk, various swordsmen and each has an alter-ego. Well two other actors are sometimes present wearing huge rubber replicas of the main characters' heads. Oh dear, sounds like another fracas has developed in the plot.

Not to be rude to production students, but we thought the production team were at best second year students; sorry Kate [ our daughter who's doing broadcasting at Leeds - yes we know, it's different!]

If you are a fan of Thai TV, well, we wish you were here! Can't fathom it at all! The rubber heads are very good though.

So, Bangkok has a lot to offer. It's very modern [nine month old airport-very flash] and very traditional at the same time. You can buy some lovely food on the street and then come along an hour later and see all the pots and plates being washed-up on the pavement too.

P.S. if you recognise the Thai TV prog. drop us a line or two of explanation! Thanks.