well Chiang Mai we finished by shopping in the night markets. Lots of bargins to be had. We went on the sunday to the street market there which streches across the central streets of the city. Its chocker block but there are loads of fabulous street food stalls selling an array of grub so I was in heaven especialy after the chocolate chip waffle! As we were walking back to the hotel we spotted some Thai kids practicing some street dancing in the middle of the road so stopped to sit and watch. A very strange and scary western man then rocks up on a bike. The kids then proceed to get out the fire and start to swing the flaming balls around. The very strange and scary western bloke then decides to take centre stage and starts to very haphazardly swing the fire around with no grace whatsoever. It was frightening and funny at the same time as at points he almost set himself alight. Leave it to those who know thats what I say! He then starts to take pictures of the kids by lying in the middle of the street and then comes over to where we are sat and sits nest to me to show me the photos, why do I seem to attract wierd people. He was wearing more makeup than me and had painted nails and the strangest atire, but who am I to judge. Needless to say we made a swift exit back to the hotel. We had some relazing days in Chaing Mai before we head down to Bangkok on the 12 hr day train (again!). We arive in Bangkok in the evening and head strait for the hostel that we prebooked. Very hungry and grubby after the day long train we grab some street food from one of the dozens of Phad Thai stalls that are lining the pub street. We wonder around then call it a night. Back at the dorm in a 22 bed room (yes 22 beds) we try to get some kip. This is the first dorm hostel that I have been in since asia and I havent missed them. I was woken in the night by the girl in the top bunk next to mine throwing up in her bed, and thats when I started to appreciate all the guesthouses that we have had even more. The hostel is realy nice and clean its just sleep deprivation that isn't good. Anyway the next day we head out to do some sightseeing and go to the grand palace. Now Bangkok is full of scams and when se get there many Thai people are telling us the palace is closed for lunch but we continue on ignoring them. When we get to one of the gates some official looking person tells us its closed and grabs us a Tuk Tuk to take us to some other sights before arranging it to bring us back to the Palace when it reopens. With a bargin price for several sights we hop in and after seeing the Big Buddha we are then it is revealed to us why the price is such a bargain in the fact that the next destinations are several shops and tailors, which gets him commission. Scam revealed. We dont buy anaything from these extremly overpriced establishments and eventually are dropped at the next real sight the Golden Mount which is a temple at the top of a hill with great veiws over smoggy Bangkok. When we go back to get the Tuk Tuk to the palace our driver has disapeared (probably with a wallet full of coupons from the shops). We walk back very annoyed but we have had a free tour so im not that bothered. Its Rachels Birthday today so obviously we have to go out and celebrate. We head out for some drinks and meet a couple of guys who we head to some other bars with and along Khao San road. They think it very funny to buy some deep fried bugs and have a taste. Really not cool and rather grose with horrid deep fried massive cockroaches. I stay well away but Rachel feels the need to munch on a couple (she has issues). After the drinks and 'nibbles' we head to another bar and inside to the club. Its rammed with local Thai people and we are the only westeners there but we bop away merrily amongst them all. A couple more bars and another bite from the Pad Thai stall before home to bed. I slept well that night with the help form my alcohol consumption. All in all a very random and good night.

The next day we try again to get to see the Grand Palace and ignoring any unwanted 'advice' from the scam artists we head straight there. When we get there we see that it is actually open all day and the gate we needed to enter in was a little further down from where our unhelpful person told us it was shut. They really are professional scam artists and had us fooled yesterday anyway, but you live and you learn and basically the moral is to ignore any 'helpfull' free advice by locals! The palace is great and with temples painted in lush gold and mirrored decorations its realy beautiful. We spend the day wandering this very large and extravigant complex then head back for a much needed rest before dinner.

We are in Bangkok for the last day today and unfortunatly my last day with Rach as we depart company tommorow, me to Hong Kong and Rach to Vietnam. We are going to have another day exploring and head out for a nice dinner and some drinks later for our last day in Thailand and together.