Right then...Bangkok...

Got the flight from Hong Kong fine, except Paul got the window seat and I had some guy stealing all my armrest and breathing smelly smoky breath all over me when he fell asleep. Ick. Had a nice little stop in Singapore Airport which is probably the nicest airport I've been in. Ponds and a cinema and nice bars and restaurants. All good. Then got the flight up to Bangkok, and Paul was made up because we were by the emergency exit so had loads of legroom!!! Really happy our bags made it, and then as soon as we got out of the arrivals bit we started getting hassle straight away from people wanting to know if we wanted a taxi or a hotel. No! Should have realised we'd be having to get majorly used to this! We decided to get a taxi instead of a bus after our experience of landing in Hong Kong and getting off at the wrong stop....didn't want that in the roasting heat of Bangkok. So we asked one woman who wanted 900 Baht...we figured to sod it and go for the bus. Outside tryign to work out the buses this little guy comes running up askign if we want a taxi and he'll do it for 600 baht. We figured that was ok, so hopped into one of the bright blue and pink taxis and were on our way. The Thai's drive abosultely crazy. Its worse than Greece. They're all over the road, cutting people up, over taking and undertaking doesn't matter, honking horns, it was madness. the first thing we noticed is how big Bangkok is with all its big building and everyone has flashy cars, yet everywhere appears run down....

So we got to the Khao San Road and felt like Leo....its madness. It's so busy and its just full of Westerners. Theres all the neon signs and then tons and tons of market stalls people selling everything and its so so cheap. We checked into our hotel (tiny little room just space for the bed...infestation of ants and flies mmmm) and wandered out. Everyone is trying to rip you off, sell you something, get you into their tuk tuk or just want some money for anything. Its worse in the day, and they just don't take no for an answer! That night we just wandered around and had a few drinks in the bars. Yesterday we put some laundry on and wandered up and down the Khao San a bit looking at all the shops, bought a top and got hassled into buying some braclets too.

We decided as our washing wasn't ready til 8 that night we'd go walk around and try and see some of the sights....every tuk tuk driver was trying to get us to go with him but I knew all the stories of being ripped off as they drive you to a few sights and then just take you to all the shops to get their comission, and I couldn't be bothered being hassled. So we managed to get off the Khao San and started walking, when this guy started chatting to us, asking if we had a map....we couldn't work out what he was tyring to sell as he wasn't a tuk tuk driver, and he took us into this information place and got us a map and started telling us about the sights, and where to book our tours so as not to get ripped off, and what to see and what to do that night...we thought perhaps he is just being friendly...he walked us outside and straight onto a tuk tuk and said this guy would take us to all the sights he'd just mentioned for 60 baht. We were gutted. We could have got it for 5 baht off one of the ones from the Khao San...we didn't even have iur cameras with us! So we saw the big Buddah (its pretty big, and very gold) and some temples and then he took us to the place where we're meant to book our tours etc. So we end up booking our train and hotel for 3 nights in Chang Mai, had to go back to get our passport and money, we come back and theres no space on the sleeper train, so now we have to get a bus...but its still the same price? Yup, think we're getting ripped off again. So now in a pretty bad mood, and tuk tuk guy makes it worse by saying instead of going to see all the sights we were told about, hes going to take us to see a lucky buddah and then to one of his tailor friends. Fantastic. Looked at the lucky Buddah where another guy is askign where we're from and how long we're here...probably trying to sell us something again. Getting really annoyed now! So then we tell tuk tuk guy we don't want to buy anything at the tailors, but he looks really sad and says he doesn't mind, but if we go and look around he at least gets his petrol commission from them. So we go in and look around and the sales guy sees us looking at soap, which were tempted to buy, but he was so so pushy and just shoving soap after soap into our hands so we just walked out....ahhh the look on his face. I don't think he expected that.

So we got back to the Khao San, really really annoyed. Had some lunch at the Silk Bar, which was the best food ever and so cheap too. Had a nap and then wandered roudn the stalls and a few bars again...all in all just pretty hectic. and glad we're getting out of here today. everyone says 2 days is enoughin Bangkok and it definately is. We may be back after Chang Mai who knows, i just hope Chang Mai is a lot more chilled out, and can't wait to get to the islands to chill out and get some sun!!!

Missing everyone still, thinking bout you and wish everyone else was here too! Happy birthday to all with birthdays coming up if I can't get in contact.

Big Happy birthday to Dad too...I'll try and get in touch though! xxxxx