Bangkok hit me like a huge boiling pot of multicoulored mayhem! Every person you pass wants to sell you something and no stall or gutter wants to be left out in the concoction of smells. amber robed monks drifts around in swarms, adding to the frenzy of colours already here - fruits of every colour, shape and size are sold off carts wheeled up and down the street whilst exotic and sometimes suspicious looking thai dishes line the pavements-spilling out of the restaurants and cafes into the hot air.
Although the temperaturereaches over 35 each day the sun can never be seen in Bangkok. The herds of tuk tuks, buses and cars with suspiciously blacked out windows see to that; a thick blanket of smog keeps the heat in and the air thick-you can taste the pollution when waiting for a bus or attempting the near impossible feat of crossing a road!

The thai people, when not trying to sell you something, are incredibly friendly and I have spent a couple of afternoons sitting with Knobe at his stall outside our hostel as he and Jaya teach me to play the drums he is selling. Sometimes however the thai enthusiasm and desire to help can be more of a hinderance - when trying to get back from the market a few days ago i asked which bus to get on. If a thai person knows the answer or not they will tell you something - this resulted in my boarding 5 incorrect buses befiore giving up and jumping in a taxi!

The markets are amazing here I went to Chak-a-Chak (i don t know its proper spelling) market on saturday which boasts over15000 stalls! Selling anything from puppies to watermelons and cowboy boots to lanterns! It was amazing! I arrived home arms full and pockets empty...although pockets empty here means that i spent a whole 10 pounds! I havn't got over how cheap it is here yet!

A new experience the other day was a thai massage - an hour full body contortion! I have never been so stretched and squeezed by a stranger in my life. But immature as it maybe i couldn't help giggling to my self as she knelt, head low, pummeling my buttocks- how inappropriate an untimely bout of flatulance would be! Paonful as it had been at times I came out feeling invigourated adn refreshed and returned for the same treatment the nextday thistime dragging Arvid along with me!
Arvid only arrived yesterday but until then a labrador like man called Jaya (an overly enthusiastic australian who speaks most comfortably in pigeon english whether its to the locals or to me and knows the city like the back of his hand,and is always looking for business ideas ior quickways to make money back home) has been my mentour in Bangkok and I dont think i would have seen half as much if i hadn't met him on the bus from the airport!

He introduced me to the thai lifestyle which I am already adjusting to- where rice for breakfast is expected, cold showers are a 3 times daily treat and evenings in the park watching the daily dancersize classes to techno music blasted out of an old style boombox are becoming routine. If a meal dosen't make my nose run, eyes water and sweat pour from my face... i get a surprise and I now automatically move from my window seat on the bus when a monk boards. I look forward to my morning walks through the cool temples listening to the monks chanting and gazing in awe atthe giant ornaite budhas and "Sawatdee cah" and "Carp con cah" are fast becoming my most regularly used phrases. Heading home for a siesta by early aftenoon before the day reaches its full heathas even become instinctive!

But enough of routine! Today I'm jumping on my first Thai train up to a place called Phitanulok-the first leg of my journey up to Pai, Chaing Mai and Laos! I've even managed to downsize my luggage to one backpack! So with my new hippy outfits and carrying bare essentials I feel like a proper traveller-like most over here! Its a different world to the flash packing of Australia where most travellers carry hair straighteners and high heels...and thats not just the girls!!!