Hi All!

Red Light district was a bit weird! Women sat outside little shops looking like their waiting for the bus! Didnt stay long!

So we got up the next day at 5.45am to go to the train station to go to koh samui. But instead the taxi driver took it upon himself to drop us off at his friends shop that wasnt even open yet to buy train tickets! Elly went in to make a hard deal with her new found haggling skills but to no avail the train was apparently full! Then in our sleepy/confussed state we got conned into taking a VIP sleeping coach at 7pm - 12hours away and yes we had checked out of our hotel already so we were stranded in the middle of Bangkok and its seems to be monsoon season at the moment! Great start to the day!

We went back to the hotel to beg for some breakfast but seeing as we had checked out at 6.30 am it was a no! We then spent 2 hours researching the tour company to settle our minds that we wernt going to be trafficked as the tour man stated that over 35 GIRLS had booked this random sleeping bus. Deciding not to waste the day we picked up our bags and started trying to walk to the Grand Palace. This attempt lasted about 3 minutes down the road before we decided to get conned by yet another taxi driver.

We arrived at the palace bags and all to be welcomed by a megaph0one telling us to move to one side for being inappropriately dressed - who knew the flash of a bit of calf was offensive to the statue of the Buddha?! So we proceeded to layer up - elly was told about 3 times she was still indecent looking and endend up in a baggy t-shirt with a tight lace long-sleeved cardigan on over the top! I resembled a gypsy traveller and maria got off quite lightly!

After our trip round the palace which was definitely worth a see we decided to sit in a concrete park with about 30 pigeons. Who knew the thai enjoy teasing english gils by throwing bird seed at them so pigeons flock all over you - maria was so shocked/appalled she fell off her seat! After two of these incidents we thought it best to leave.

It hit 7pm after a 5 hour wait in a dodgy mosquito infested back room with a questionable Australian and his Phillapino escort. We boarded the bus just as a storm broke out. The driver seemed to think the best thing to do to ease our fear of this unknown bus with beds was to show a horror film and turn all the lights off in the bus. So there we were sat in a bus with 30 strangers in pitch black thunder and lightening and to top it off a horror film!

10 hours later we made it and eventually got on the boat to Koh Samui which has definitely been worth the journey! Heading tomorrow to Koh Paghan for the full moon party on Saturday! Will keep you posted!

Lots of love Lizzie x