Expecting Bangkok to be dreadful, we intended to get in and out of this sprawling metroplois as quickly as we could. We did find everything we expected. The noise is deafening, the pollution asphyxiating and the heat stifling, and that was before you got to the horrendous travellers ghetto that is the infamous Khao San Road area. But yet it was a fascinating place, unlike anywhere we have visited before and has to be seen to be believed. In addition to the usual exploring, we visited a few historic sites (finding a buddist monk to take us around one temple was fantastic), took in a Ladyboy show (men in drag at all stages of the 'conversion' process) and spent an evening watching muay thai (kickboxing) at one of the city's stadiums. We will return to Bangkok in 6 weeks time for a couple of days before flying to Hong Kong, and I cant wait! S