Phew - I made it to Thailand! I arrived yesterday morning at 7.30am Thai time and got my transfer to Lub.d ,the hostel. Having lost 7 hours I desperately needed some sleep but with my room not ready I had no choice but to explore the streets of Bangkok, which certainly woke me up! Busy, fast and sweaty - there was lots to take in. I found crossing the road particularly hard - there are no green men for pedestrians!

After an afternoon nap I ventured out again with a guy I met in Lub.d's bar. We took a tuk tuk up to one of the night markets. There was everything you could think of being sold here - particularly fakes! And my friend had a couple of menus for ping pong bars thrusted in his face!

Today, I awoke to the sound of rain hammering down on the roof - the rainy season is definitely here! I had an early start for a walking tour with the company who I am doing my volunteering with. I was expecting a big group but it was just me and the tour guide Pippin! We took the sky train and then a boat down to China town. I thought the night market yesterday sold everything but it was nothing on China town! The tour guide was funny - he used his chat up lines on a woman we brought some cakes from, and translated them into English for me afterwards. Something along the lines of 'she doesn't have to use any sugar in her cakes because she is sweet enough'. (Dad - one for you!) We also saw some Buddhist temples and statues of the past and present Rama's of Thailand.

Tonight I am heading up to Chiang Mai on a 14 hour sleeping train and so will hopefully have some more to feel you in on soon!