Sawadee

Hi Everyone, I thought I would bring you up to speed with the latest activity from Bangkok.

Yesterday (11th) we left Bangkok for the morning and took a 1h 30m drive to the oldest floating market in this area. Our guide collected us at 7am and we headed off in the minivan. As usual we were only going for about 5 minutes and we needed to stop for fuel, our guide was very bossy and seemed to be doing a hundred things at once, one of which was giving 2 girls on our trip a hard time!!!!

On the way she told us that we would board a James Bond boat and the prospect of that was quite exciting. We got to the jetty and our boat was waiting for us, a roaring and spluttering 2 stroke engine attached to the back, the scenario looked really promising sat in a longtail boat on a narrow river system, we chugged off and waited for our driver to open up the throttle while all the other James Bond boats roared past us we kept on chugging. I think we had the donkey amongst thoroughbreds but we did manage to stay dry and get a few good photos.

Our skipper dropped us at the market and our bossy guide was waiting to explain the rest of the morning to us, she yelled at the 2 girls again for not paying attention and asked if anyone would like to go to the "Best show in Thailand" the cobra show where they put a cobra in with a mongoose, this was not for us or most people but one or two took her up on the offer. We boarded our paddle boat and took a ride past all the stalls selling things. Both Mel and I thought that the market had evolved into a market solely for tourists and had lost a bit of charm but we did manage to get some awesome noodle soup off a lady on a boat. It took her 30 seconds flat to serve up the noodle soup and it was delicious.

Everybody got back to the meeting point with time to spare, as they were all afraid of getting yelled at by the bossy guide and we headed back to the city. Spent the afternoon by the pool then took a stroll down Khao San Road. This is getting an expensive past time as Mel who hates shopping picked up another piece of tat and I ended up with a little nik nak as well, the sellers are persuasive but we both got what we thought were bargains and our bartering technique is spot on now!!!

Today was a big day as Mel had decided to get her haircut but first we had Wat Arun to visit.The lady at the jetty tried getting us to pay 500THB/7 quid but we stood firm and took the express boat for 36THB/50p.

Inside the gates I got busy snapping Mel behind one of those cut outs that you poke your head through and a lady approached and demanded 40THB, we were both shocked but coughed up the money. Our change was being handed back and it blew out of her hand and to stop it Mel put her foot on it as a knee jerk reaction, this in Thailand is a big No No as the king is revered and you cannot even lick stamps here.The lady got mad and Mel was lucky not to be arrested and banged up as it is a criminal offence here!!!!

It was then onto the business of haircuts which Mel nor I were looking forward to after the last visit with Jill in Melbourne cost us 45 quid!!!!! My anxiety was short lived as Mel found somewhere to get her barnet done for 200THB/3quid not including drying but a right bargain and it looks perfectly fine, people had haircuts like it in the 80's all the time!!!!

Tonight will be more Khao San Road action where we will hopefully not buy anything more than dinner.Tomorrow evening we have booked for the theatre so will be in touch again soon.

Lots of Love

M & M

xx