Hi everyone. Sorry its taken so long to update our blog. We've not had many opportunities to get on the net. (Photos to follow shortly)

So here we are Day 1 : Bangkok

BA009 landed at Suvarnabhumi Intl airport after an 11 hour flight from London (around 3.30 pm). Following our 1st flight was a 2 hour transfer to our first hotel (Viengtai Hotel), this would usually take around 45 mins but as we arrived during rush hour it took over twice as long! After arriving at the hotel we went straight out to get a drink (and some food :)), we ate at a place called The Macaroni Club and Jason enjoyed his first 'Chang' beer of the trip, as well as our first real Thai meal which was fantastic, we then got our first bill which came to a whopping 345 Baht (about £7) inculding our drinks :) which actually turned out to be one of the more expensive places to eat!

(Photo attached is view from our room)

Day 2

After a really good nights sleep - NOT, think the jet leg is taking its toll. We decided to take it easy for the day, after breakfast we took a look around town. The streets are swarming with street traders selling everythiing you can imagine from food, clothes, music, souveners etc. Later that evening we ended up taking a 'tuk-tuk' (a type of taxi/ coverted motorbike) to a place called MBK (a huge shopping centre with about 5 floors), which was about 20 mins from our part of town. We knew where we wanted to eat dinner as we'd seen the place the night before as they claimed to serve the best 'pad thai' in Bangkok :) which we obviously fell for but did thoroughly enjoy our meal and was also a fab venue, and a great atmosphere.

Day 3

Today we took a river taxi tour, it was a great place to start taking a look at some of the local way of life, and some of the more residential areas of Bangkok. We had planned to go on a tour of the smaller rivers (floating markets) throughout the city but due to the floods down in Indonesia, the river levels are currently really high and are therefore unable to take people out on certain rivers as it is not safe. Toward the end of our boat ride we stopped at a temple along the river where we fed some cat fish. Buddhists believe that this brings you good luck. We had prepaid this trip with 'STA' who were the people we booked our flights with, as part of a welcome package to the city (which included our hotel). There were only the 2 of us on the tour so we had our own personal guide 'Bo'. After the river tour Bo took us to Wat Phra Chetuphon 'Wat Pho' temple, which is home to the reclining Buddha measuring 46 meters long and 15 meters high. Bo told us all about the history behind the Buddhist faith and how the Buddha's all have differnt facial expressions for different reasons, and Bo also showed us how a Buddhist prays, we also had a little pray ;) We were also told our fortunes while in the Temple, we had to shake a cup of small sticks and the first one to pop out had a number, which then represented our fortune... After Wat Pho we took a tuk-tuk the Grand Palace and saw the Emerald BUddha where we saw Monks praying and Bo explained that most Thai men will become a Monk at some time in their life wether it be for 15 days, or their entire life.

The whole day was amazing and we really enjoyed seeing the Temples, some of the buildings are just magnificent.

Tomorrow we head to Chiang Mai in the north.

Day 4

Leaving Bangkok today, sad to go but 3 nights was perfect. Typical the sun comes out today, after 2 days of cloudy, but warm weather - and we're spending all day on a train! Train leaves at 2.30 so gets in early tomorrow morning as it is a 15 hour journey! Thankfully we have sleeper seats that fold into beds! :)