We were kinda sad as we boarded our last ever bus to Bangkok - but as soon as we started to sweat it out with dodgey air con and the toilet being out of order yet again - we realised we weren't going to miss the bus journeys that much! We arrived in Khao San road and after checking out a few hostels we took the plunge and stayed in a nice, authentic Thai hotel, complete with a posh rooftop area and swimming pool! It was significantly above our normal budget but we decided we would treat ourselves for the last 3 nights!

That night we met up with Heather and Adrian who we had met on the film set and had a few drinks to ease ourselves gently into the Bangkok nightlife - we also found a stall selling all kinds of deep fried insect, but by the time we had plucked up enough (Dutch) courage to try one, the woman had packed up and gone home for the night - what a shame!

Next morning we were up early to get the Bangkok sightseeing done. We sweated it out in the Grand Palace and the Temple of the Emerald Buddha, then went to see the Giant Reclining Buddha (which does exactly what it says on the tin). Even though I had seen them before, they were still really impressive and the ornate and intricate detail in the decor and architecture was amazing! Having had a productive morning we decided to go and check out laptops in the afternoon - only to be lead astray by a taxi driver who didn't have a clue where the shopping centre was and dropped us off in the middle of nowhere and charged us for the privilege! So after an additional skytrain ride and long walk we eventually got there an hour and a half after we were supposed to - only to decide we didn't even want one anymore!

Back with Heather and Adrian on Monday night we decided it was high time we checked out the Bangkok institution that is a ping pong show. It was quite a surreal experience - if a little underwhelming - and at times it was more entertaining watching the Indian guy on the front row, clearly having the time of his life, than the show itself! I was quite impressed with the darts though! In the end we were pretty glad to get out in one piece and back to the safety of Khao San, especially after some of the stories we had heard about people not being allowed out until they paid over a load of money!

On Tuesday, our final full day travelling, we went souvenir shopping! We got a bit carried away and spent pretty much all day on one level of the MBK shopping centre, but had a brilliant time bartering and getting lots of things ticked off the shopping list (even if my "broad categories" on the list attracted heavy criticism from Jonny). After even more shopping back at Khao San, we got dressed up to head out for the last supper. Didn't quite go to plan though as, true to form, we got lost and spent an hour and a half traipsing around getting sweaty, only to not end up finding the restaurant we were looking for! It wouldn't be our last night travelling if we didn't get lost!

Next day we checked out and were homeless for the last time! We headed up and down Khao San and bought yet more souvenirs, before literally baking ourselves for a couple of hours by the rooftop pool. We didn't last long though it was far too hot! After Jonny treated himself to a last massage, we had a nice drink on another little street behind Khao San and it all started to sink in that we were actually going home and had probably taken things like just popping out for a drink a little bit for granted!

Before we got a transfer to the airport we went for a wander and found a whole new area of bars and restaurants and realised we definitely need to come back to Bangkok at some point, an idea which appeals to Jonny more than me! We had a nice meal, savouring the last authentic Thai food we would get in a while, and reminiscing about the last 8 months. It has definitely been the trip of a lifetime, and I think it won't be long before we are planning our next trip. It's a big world out there and there is still so much to see!