I am aware it has only been a day since my last blog but since I query the future internet access of Thailand and since today has been rather filled thought I may as well right up some bits now.

So, Thailand. To start with this is massibly different from anywhere I've been, even hong Kong. There is the obvious language barrier. On several occasions I have tried saying thank you in Thai but am generally met with blank stares so I don't think I can say I've even got that one in the bag yet.

So, bangkok. Having arrived from the airport to our hostel, which no cabbie had ever seemed to have heard of, at 3 am got some sleep. Woke up, breakfast, maleria pill, find drinkable water, the usual. After a helpful talk with the receptionist made it into the centre on the train. Here, on the advice of a passing local newspaper journalist, we went and liked around a shopping centre and then went towards the river for a boat cruise. Naturally, once off the train we were lost and ended up in a tuktuk to get to a boatman. The boat was more a long canoo with a massive engine sat on the top of it with no housing. Boated down the river through old Bangkok. Lots of run down houses on stilts in the river here. To say all the houses in this old part of pretty much shacks it is amazingly pretty cruising in amoiungst it all, the occasional temple etc. Tour finished back in the main old city area. On disembarking the boat a small child tried to charge us a landing fee. This seemed far too obviously a con and when the child was momentarily distracted I made off and escaped. It is was legit then I did a bad thing but I doubt it.

We were however lost again. Never mind, to tuktuk rides.

Here we went on to a temple with a big smiling budda and the golden mount. Both big and gold and impressive. The only let down here was we had to stop in some shop place whilst the driver fueled or something. He mentioomned something about fuel and told us to go into this place for 10 minutes. The shop has jewlerey and a tailors. Since I am not a jewlerary person and there isn't time to have a suit made we didn't want anything. The shop ovners seemed less than impressed with this and after some pushey sales tactics, we more or less got asked to leave the premises when they realised we weren't buying. We later worked out that the tuktuks get commission for taking tourists here and is a bit of a scam. Worked out for us though as we are persistent about not buying and meant cheaper ride.

After this moved on to an info centre where we've booked the rest of our Thai adventure, heading north as of tomorrow. Then onto wot pho. This is a massive temple with hinge everything. Giant buddas, spires, temples, the whole shebang. It was pretty awesome. Granted the decoration was not overly intricate, all kind of large mosaic tiles, I'm pretty sure a decent bathroom fitter could have knocked on up, but the scale is awesome.

We had a walk through many a street on our way back to the hostel and saw some interesting Thai markets etc, and ate some mystery meat. Loads of kebabs and had a selection of meat. I picked 3 at random, not sure what they were but tasted good so whatever animal it was did a good job. I should say that we do stand out as obviously tourists and no one seems to like you walking. as soon as you are on the street there is a constant barrage of tuktuk men wanting to usher you into their transport.

On the note of tuktuks I shall say that they are impressively fun. Traffic here is confused and mad, we spent a decent amount of time on the wrong side of the road. The tuktuk is all open and just an funny vehicle on the whole. I did inspect one and it does appear to have leaf springs on it, however it feels like all suspension is welded to a fixed axle. The slightest bump and your off your seat in the air. Also with being open, if it does crash I imagine survival without maiming is pretty low. We did however have pretty much our own shouffer for the entire afternoon. He waited whilst we visited the smaller places and drove us everywhere. We eventually paid for all this luxary a staggering 100 bat. Roughly 2 pounds queens English. And even that I think we could have paid less but I am a kind man and I think he earnt that extra pound.

It may be a bit pushey at times, there are con's going on, and Paul accidently ran into prostitute avenue, but on the whole so far everything is pretty friendly, pretty funny, and pretty and impressive in general. Even for one as so far staggeringly out of his comfort zone as oneself.

Next challenge please.

Much lave