Hello again......thought it was about time for an update. I've left Bangkok now and have arrived in Koh Samui for a few days. I'll recap the last few days in Bangkok though........

The first night in Bangkok saw me head for familiarity from last year's trip and I ventured along Soi Rambutri for a few big Changs (Thai beer) and a meal from one of the street side vendors. It was just as I remembered it with a nice chilled atmosphere and excellent food. Once I'd had my fill I wandered in to the Khao San Road for some banging music and more beer. Settled on a decent looking bar and got chatting to a group Mika (Canadian), Rene (Switzerland) and Jari (Finland). Jari was an experienced traveller so I picked his brains about Cambodia and Vietnam although Rene was trying to convince me to leave Thailand and head straight to Oz! I had to step in to settle a disagreement between Rene and Jari after they had a disagreement about beggars which almost came to blows and once that was sorted I got involved in helping to carry a comatosed Irish girl down the stairs on my way back from the loo. She was in a real mess and left on a stretcher but I think 5 ambulances turning up was overkill! I then headed off for to a club with my new friends but left after one drink as it was all a little 'boom boom boom' for this old timer!

Up early for breakfast the next day and had a chat with Pi my waiter. He tried to teach me some basic Thai which was entertaining for him as I was rubbish! Booked a trip to Kanchanaburi for the next day and a flight to Koh Samui for Tuesady and then headed off to the Chatachuk market on the bus. I wasn't sure where I was headed but had a rough idea and the bus set off amid 5 lanes of traffic mayhem! A young Thai girl called Mai Mai started chatting to me on the bus and despite my suspicions she turned out to be very helpful and directed me to the right stop. We jumped off the bus and got the Sky train (overhead monorail) to the market. The market was huge and covered 26 acres! They sold everything from clothes to live snakes here and it certainly put Snetterton market to shame for the amount of crap there was for sale! Mai Mai was close by my side throughout and it was only when she started trying to hold my hand that my original suspicions came to light so I lost her in the maze of narrow alleyways in the market and quickly headed off to the air conditioned delights of the MBK and Siam Center shopping malls. I picked up some cheap memory cards for my camera and got my mobile unlocked so that I can text and make calls wherever I go now. Useful in emergencies was the plan here so i'm keeping the number on a need to know basis for now! I ventured off back to Soi Rambutri in the evening for another Thai meal (amazing quality and value for just 60p!) and then took the plunge and went for a Thai massage. It was all very much above board so any hopes of a 'happy finish' soon dissolved! The massage itself was very good and far from arousing! The Thai lady had a grip which could crush walnuts and she bent me in ways I never knew possible. I must confess it did feel good afterwards though so I rewarded myself with a couple more Changs!

Feeling slightly bruised and sore from the massage, day 3 saw me up even earlier (6am) for a 7am pick up from the hotel for a day trip to Kanchanaburi. It was too early for breakfast at the hotel so I'd made a trip to a 7-11 the night before for some supplies. We took a 2 hour bus ride to the War Cemetery and then on to the Jeath War Museum right next to the River Kwai Bridge. A quick walk around the corner from the museum took us right on to the bridge which was very impressive and still displayed signs of bomb damage from the war. The day proved to be very informative and also a little depressing given the number of men who lost their lives building the bridge and the way they were treated in doing so. Much to my surprise and that of the people on the bridge when the train turned up, the bridge is still used and several people were left perched on little balconies on the bridge as a train rolled in to the station and then off into the hills. We left for short bus ride to a restaurant in the hills for a nice Thai meal (although the soup was very strange with what can only be described as big lumps of bland jelly floating about!) and then on to a waterfall across the road. Next stop was the Tiger Temple which I was very excited about and it proved to be the highpoint of the day. The temple is run by monks and the tigers are hand reared which makes them very tame. I'll get some photos posted soon as this is the best way to show you all how beautiful the tigers were. There were tigers of all ages from 3 months to 4 years old and they were all seemingly well looked after and happy. This was certainly a lifetime experience achieved as the tigers were very interactive and playful. Too much for one Scouse guy who got a little overconfident with a baby tiger and almost lost a finger! I almost felt some sympathy for him but then remembered he was a scouser so just laughed instead! As we left the tiger temple the clouds got very black and we drove home in heavy rain which made the roads even more treacherous although this didn't stop our driver (who must have been late for his tea!) taking tailgating to a whole new level. I just closed my eyes and hoped for the best and it seemed to work as I arrived back in Bangkok safe and sound. I was planning an early night to get ready for my flight the next day but that went out of the window when I got chatting to a group from London who convinced me after a few beers that buckets of San Song rum cocktails was a good idea.....needless to say it wasn't and I was reunited with my lovely Thai lunch almost immediately once I got back to my room! So classy!

Right that's enough waffling for now.....more updates to follow soon. Hope you are all well.

Andy

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