Bangkok ....... what an experience!! we arrived in the sweltering heat 35 oC, the first thing that hit us was the pungent smell!! it is horrendous food cooking on street stalls, diesel, sweat all mixed in with sewage!! Was guided down a back street to our hotel, kind man on reception 'upgraded us for free' which is nice as we now have a superior room , would have loved to see the basic room!! but what can u expect for 6GBP a night? Explored Khoa san road that night and the heavens opened , we mean torrential rain, had to buy Manda a Purple Minnie mouse umberella, was the only one I could find , honest ! stopped raining around 11 , sat in a Bob Marley bar talkin to a guy called steve, who gave us alot of info. Left bar and went to bed after we'd heard Bob marleys greatest hits for the forth time in a row.

Saturday got up late and got a taxi to the Grand palace and temple of the emerald buddha, it was only 15minutes dopn the road but if you value your life dont walk - trying to cross the road is lethal!! had to que in the heat for a while for me to get some sexy pants and for manda to get a sexy shirt. Caught tuk tuk back to khao san road which was really funny, it was a bit of a rip off but you have to experience a ride in one.

Sunday: we went to the floating market today, it took an hour and 1/2 to get there on a mini bus. The tour guide was the funniest man wev met, apparently cartwright is a "powerful name" and that "cobras are very lucky for a man it will make him strong in bed like superman". we arrive at the floating market where we boarded a little wooden long boat powered by a little old lady with a paddle, the stalls were laden with fresh fruits, cuisine, thai souveniers (basically tak) but was a great experience, i dont know what happened but half way through our boat ride our little old lady dived her head under the river??? we still dont know why maybe she lost her false teeth. we also got stuck in a traffic jam trying to get under a bridge so we were on the boat for about an hour longer than expected in the unberable heat. next we headed to the snake farm where we saw a cobra show which consisted of 3 thai men breaking all health and safety regulations, never would this be allowed in england lol! saw a mongoose fight a snake, a man do a somersault while catching a snake in his mouth and various other dangerous activities. had a great time i was horrified by the ladies toilet - a bowl on the floor and a brush to wipe your bits!!!

We are leaving Bangkok tomorrow on a 2 day trip to the river kwai to see some beautiful waterfalls and to do an elephant trek in the jungle. we are looking forward to the fresh air in the north. on tuesday we have booked a sleeper train down to chumphon and then we catch a ferry to a small island called ko tao. we will update again as soon as we have internet access. hope you are all well x x x