So it is time for entry number 2 - albeit a bit shorter than the last I hope.

I am actually now back in Bangkok having been away for a couple of days - hence I am a bit behind!

The second couple of days in Bangkok were spent discovering the more slaubrious side of the city which involved heading east into the heart of the city instead of just existing in the ghetto of Khao San

I decided that one could not come to Bangkok and not see a ping pong show although I am not glad I did (money wasted in my opinion) it was an experience I shall not forget. So, I jumped in a tuk tuk (as you can see from the picture to accompany this entry) and headed across town to the largest shopping centre (MBK) from where I could catch the skytrain to Patpong - the infamous red light district and more interestingly, the site of a night market where you could indugle every bartering whim you have to your heart's content.

As I mentioned, the skytrain is terrifyingly efficient, clean and modern and certainly puts most public transport systems I have seen in the UK to shame. It is also cheap - costing me the equivalent of about 10p to get halfway across the city!

I jumped off not really sure of where to go and was immediately accosted by men wanting to sell me all manner of horrendous activities with both men and women. I was to say the least able to pick out the way to the market by sighting along the lines of touts. Good application of combat indicators i think!

I managed to wonder around the market browsing fake rolex after fake rolex before deciding I didnt actually need or want a fake rolex, so I moved on. I knew I wanted to see the ping pong show but having read the horror stories of being mugged once the touts got you into a club, for every penny you had, and some you didnt, I wanted to be sure that the club I chose was the right one. I got around this challenge by visiting a number of local hostelries in the vicinity and asking all manner of people their opinions over a beer or two. I tried the American couple angle, the 60 yr old Brit who comes every year, the stag do, the internet and eventually came up with the plan to visit the Queen's Castle. It is one of a large chain known as the King's clubs known for the 'good quality of service and high level girls' (I quote).

I shall not go into the details exactly of the show itself and suffice to say although I have seen worse, I was struck by the demeaning way these women were exhibiting their bodies and the glassy look in most of their eyes as they rubbed vaguely to the music against poles and pulled/shot/set fire to things below their belly buttons. Not nice.

I left somewhat underamused and set off in search of a traditional thai boxing match -another 'must see'. Thankfully I managed to find one in a bar near to Patpong and whilst it wasnt at the stadium, I did get the authentic experience complete with ceremonial dances, blood and knockouts all for the price of a couple of pints in the UK. I really enjoyed my evening and to celebrate, I didnt even haggle with the taxi driver as I slumped into it at about 0330hrs in the morning and headed home to Tuptim.

Next stop, the Bridge over the River Kwai!