Day 96 (Tuesday 11th March 08)

Woke up early but our flight to Bangkok was not until later so had a lazy morning in bed. Went downstairs to use the internet and met a weird guy on the stairs back up to our room. He wanted to come and look at our room saying something about mosquitos but we managed to get rid of him by saying we were just going to get our bags and then checking out. Took our bags downstairs and got some lunch and then checked out. Got a Tuk-tuk to the airport and had to wait around for a while as we were quite early! Our flight was then delayed so had to wait even longer. Good flight once we were on our way seeing the sunset in the sky but not a very nice landing! Once we had got through passport control and picked up our bags we tried to get some money out. Neither of us had any luck so we had to start messing around with phoning the bank and getting them to release the security checks on our cards. Then went down to get the bus and got dropped off just before Khao San road. Had a long walk to Bella Bella Riverview but glad we had booked a room there as ours was the only one left. Checked in and then went out for something to eat as it was now about 9:30pm.

Day 97 (Wednesday 12th March 08)

An early morning this morning as lots to get done today. Had some breakfast and then went and bargained with a Tuk-tuk driver to get taken to the train station, CJ Collections (to try our suits again) and then onto Siam Sqaure, agreed on 200Baht. Stopped at the train station first and bought the first class tickets for our trip down to Koh Phangan with Mark's parents. Went back to our tuk-tuk driver and he was already complaining that we had taken too long even though we hadn't agreed on a time limit! We were already starting to realise that he was going to try and charge us more than we had agreed on. Started on our way to CJ Collections and he could not find it even though before we had got in the tuk-tuk he has assured us he knew exactly where it was. After him stopping to ask other people were it was we eventually arrived with him very annoyed now saying we had to pay him 400Baht and he was leaving us there. As his temper had suddenly got a bit scary we didn't want him to stay with us anymore but we weren't going to pay him anymore. Things started to turn a bit ugly but luckily the guys from CJ Collections had come out to see what was going on. As we were customers they listened to what we had to say and after a lot of arguing managed to get him to go away. He then left giving us scary death stares and we thought maybe we should have paid him the extra as don't know what will happen if we bump into him again. Decided we really shouldn't have risked getting a tuk-tuk again! Tried on our suits and Em tried her dress as well and they pinned the alterations and said to come back on Friday. Then got a metered taxi as we thought this might be the safer option. We were wrong! The guy that was driving the taxi was really weird and must have been high on something, we were pleased when we arrived safely at Siam Square. Started looking in lots of shops for rings, very exciting! Tried on lots of different types but nothing was jumping out. Had some lunch in Siam Paragon and then carried on our looking in their. Went into Dmond Prestige and as soon as we saw "The Ring" we were sure it had to be that one. Tried it on and asked whether it came with a certificate, they said that with that diamond it didn't but if we went for the slightly bigger diamond in it it would. We decided that this would be the safer option. To make sure we were making the right decision we said we would think about it and went to have a look at some more shops. Nothing compared to it though so we went back and agreed on the ring. They said to come back on Friday to pick it up and they would have the changes made and the engraving done. We then went in search of a watch for Mark's birthday as he had decided that was what he wanted. After a lot of looking around we found a nice watch so we were happy that we had sorted out the main things we wanted to get done that day. As it was now getting quite late we decided it was too late to get the bus and didn't want to bump into the tuk-tuk driver from earlier so went for something quick to eat and got a metered taxi back to Bella Bella.

Day 98 (Thursday 13th March 08)

Lazier day today as we had got most of our bits and pieces done the day before. Also we didn't want to be walking around too much as we didn't want to risk bumping into our unfriendly tuk-tuk driver. Read our books for a while and then went and had some lunch. Collected our washing from down the road and took it back to Bella Bella and packed all of our things away. Early evening walked up to Khao San road and bought a few clothes as Em had seen some things she liked! Then went and used Skype and walked back to the guesthouse checking our back all the time! Decided we wanted to go for a nice meal to celebrate our engagement properly so went across the road to a nice little restaurant on the river. Had a nice bottle of wine, some prawns and a big seabass cooked Thai style. A very nice meal so went back to the guesthouse for a good sleep before seeing Mark's parents the next day.

Day 99 (Friday 14th March 08)

There was no chance of a good night's sleep as Em was up from about 2am being really ill with bad stomach pains. Not a good night's sleep at all and Em was not feeling good. She was achy all over and felt like her back was giving her major problems again. Somehow Mark managed to get both of us checked out and we left our bags at Bella Bella. Ordered some food as Mark was hungry, Em couldn't eat anything. Then decided we should find a doctor or hospital to go to as we wanted to check that Em's back hadn't slipped. Spoke to the people on reception at Bella Bella and they said that if we had time we should go to the Mission Hospital. They called us a taxi which took us there. Didn't have to wait too long to see someone. Unfortunately saw a very unsympathetic doctor who didn't listen to anything Em had to say. He just gave us a load of painkillers and some cream to put on her back and said not to carry a backpack. Got a taxi to CJ collections as we knew we had to go back to try the suits again. Em struggling! Tried them and they pinned the alterations and went back to Bella Bella. Picked up our bags and decided we would get a taxi to the airport as there was no way Em could make it to the bus and she couldn't sit up for the journey anyway. Once we arrived at the airport realised that it acutally wasn't anymore expensive to get a metered taxi than a bus. Managed to make our way down to the arrivals and met Mark's Mum and Dad. Very nice to see them again, sorted ourselves out and got a taxi to the Grande Majestic. Amazing hotel! Checked in and got ourselves a bit sorted out, Em still not feeling well at all, feeling like the tablets aren't making any difference. Wanted to go and collect the ring so managed to walk up the road with Mum and Dad to get a taxi to Siam Paragon. Just made it to Dmond Prestige before they shut to collect the ring. Both very pleased with it but Em couldn't even sit there that long before having to rush off to find a toilet again! Left the shop and went outside to find a taxi back to the hotel. No luck with taxis and Em struggling so gave in to a tuk-tuk in the end. Mum and Dad got to experience what it was like in the bumpy thai style of driving! Arrived back at the hotel and Em not good so Mark and Em went upstairs to order some room service while Mum and Dad ate downstairs. Mark was very happy with his pizza but Em couldn't eat much. Mum and Dad then came to play backpacker in the room once they had finished their meal.

Day 100 (Saturday 15th March 08)

Not a very good night's sleep as Em still not feeling well. Her back was feeling better today but her stomach still really bad pains. Got a phone call from Jackie in Bangkok who Em's Mum had managed to contact to say she was sending round her driver to take us to see her doctor that she uses at a close by hospital. Got ready quickly and made our way downstairs to meet her driver. Was very nice of her to be so kind and nice to be taken by a driver rather than a crazy taxi driver! We were both amazed when we arrived at the hospital as it looked more like a shopping mall than a hospital! Jackie's doctor was at a clinic all day so was put in the queue to see someone else. This doctor was a lot more helpful and listened to what Em had to say and said that he thought it was probably a stomach virus that was causing Em's back to be so sore as well as everything else. We were then taken to another section of the hospital to see another doctor as it was then someone else's speciality. They had a massive queue and only one doctor on duty so we were told to come back later that afternoon. The driver then took us back to the hotel where we met up with Mum and Dad and chilled out for a bit while they went off to the Chatuchak Market. Back to the hospital at about 2pm and had another painful wait to see the doctor. He was very helpful saying that it was a stomach virus to not eat until the cramps had stopped and to take antibiotics and painkillers that he prescribed. We were both glad that we knew what the problem was and that it was not Em's back so collected the tablets, paid and got a taxi back to the hotel. Chilled out in the room for a while as Em needed a rest. All went down for something to eat in the evening. Mark and Mum had really nice fish, Dad had some tasty looking chicken and Em was really hungry so tried some clear soup. It was a big mistake! She definitely won't try eating again until she is feeling a lot better! Back to the room for Mark, Mum and Dad to play more backpacker!

Day 101 (Sunday 16th March 08)

Em still not feeling very well today but we managed to get up and go for breakfast with Mum and Dad even though Em wasn't eating. Went and got a taxi to CJ Collections to try on our suits yet again. Mark's looked good but Em's still need some more alterations. We all then got another metered taxi to Khao San road to show Mum and Dad another side of Bangkok. Mark, Mum and Dad got some Pad Thai off the sidestalls and we had a walk along looking at some of the shops. We then made our way round to the next road as Mark wanted a Sheesha. He was very disappointed as they said they did not serve it anymore due to a change in law in Thailand. Gutted! As Em was not feeling great and struggling we then got a taxi back to the hotel for a chill out before our evening cruise. We were picked up from the hotel at 6pm and taken to the pier for the Grand Pearl river cruise. Before the boat left we had a drink at a very nice bar by the side of the river. The river cruise was amazing to see Bangkok lit up so well at night and from a different view. Mark, Mum and Dad enjoyed the massive buffet as well! The entertainment on board was brilliant - traditional dancers and some singers. We were dropped back to the pier at about 9:30pm and taken back to the hotel after a very enjoyable evening to play some more backpacker.

Day 102 (Monday 17th March 08)

Em feeling a lot better today so again went down for breakfast with Mum and Dad and Em managed to eat something which was a good sign. Got a taxi as we wanted to see the Grand Palace before we had to go and check out. Unfortunately we picked a bad taxi and he straight away started heading the wrong way to the pier as he wanted us to get a river cruise to go to the Grand Palace. We insisted we just wanted to go straight to the Palace as we didn't have enough time but he did not listen saying that the traffic was too bad! It ended up that we ran out of time as they were going to charge through the roof for a boat trip (which we had done the night before). Found another taxi back to the Grande Majestic to pack up the rest of our things and check out. Mark and Em then left their bags with Mum and Dad then went back to CJ Collections to pick up their suits. We then realised that the taxi driver had not been telling the truth about the traffic that morning as we had to go the same way to CJ Collections as for the Palace and it was no worse than usual and would definitely of had time, this was a bit annoying! Stopped for some water and supplies for the train journey later that day on the way back to the hotel. Had some lunch and used their internet. Got a taxi to the train station, found our train and installed ourselves in our little cabins. Luckily our two cabins were next door to each other with a door that opened in between. We left this open the whole time as it made it feel a bit bigger and meant we could all play cards! Waited for about an hour until the train left as we were very early and they were still fixing the door. Slow journey once we were on our way stopping at a few places and seeing lots of interesting scenery. Passing through some very poor areas and seeing three guys arrested. The train attendant came and fixed up our beds so finished up playing cards and tucked ourselves into our nice bed bug beds.