After our over-night flight we arrived in Singapore and had a few hours to kick around the airport before getting our connection to Bangkok, time we mostly spent marvelling at how clean the toilets were compared to what we had grown used to in the last 10 weeks. Not one rat in sight. Joanne unfortunately wasnt feeling well so I tried my best to get her comfortable and give her sympathy before scoffing down all her food on the plane as well as mine.

Our second flight didnt take long and we arrived in Thailand, our home for the next month. After a short bus into the centre of Bangkok we got to Khao San Road, apparantly the biggest backpackers ghetto in the world. After just an hour so after landing it was clear Thailand is going to be a lot easier than India, the people seemed extremely friendly and it was good to see recognizable shops again rather than small huts that actually had to dust out-of-date crisps before selling them. I dont think I will ever witness again the sheer excitment of someone seeing a chemist as when Joanne spotted Boots during our walk to our hotel, completely forgetting the fact she was sick.

We spent most of our days either wandering around the endless list temples and palaces or heading into downtown via a river taxi and the sky train to kick about in the city centre. Our nights were usually spent around Khao San Road, which is completely mental. It's not the biggest street in the world but it is completely juttin' every single night, the cafe's, bars and massage parlours not dying down until at least 6ish.

Joanne also celebrated her 23rd birthday in Bangkok. It probably wasnt the most lavish of birthdays ever with her presents more functional than anything fun; wet wipes, pens and soap, (although i am getting her a new diary when she finds the one she wants)and the entire time she had her eyes closed while i was preparing her "birthday baguette" she just thought i was eating it.

We had a normal day of sightseeing and at night we headed into town and went upmarket going to a bar called vertigo, on the roof of a 61 storey skyscraper. It is without a doubt the swankiest place we've been, not a place for a couple of bums like us but the views were absolutely amazing. We couldnt afford to stay too long so after taking in the view of Bangkok and after Joanne took several pictures in the swanky toilets we left and went back to our usual standard of places for the rest of the night.

We only had four days there but that was more than enough to realize Bangkok is completely mental and has given us both a really good first impression of Thailand. The people are so helpful, the weather is great and the food is awesome (minus the 'duck' that was almost certainly in fact dog from one stall.) We left Bangkok to head to Kanchanaburi, where the 'bridge over the river Kwai' is, working our way down South to the beach.

James