Bangkok 20/03/09

So we wake up semi early in Bangkok and decide to head to the Golden Mount, along the way we encounter the usual set of jokers telling us it's closed or we're going the wrong way but we are wise to their tricks and we head on. When we get there we have to walk up a lot of winding steps which is painful in the heat even at this time of the morning 08:30 but when we get to the top it is worth it not just for the brilliant view across the city but also the heavenly breeze!!!

After we have got our fill of the cool air we make our way back down and walk to the bus stop, realise after 20mins we're at the wrong but stop, walk to the right one and wait another 20mins for the bus, I begin to wonder how anyone can get around this city using the bus and get anywhere on time.

Eventually we get to the National Stadium and change for the sky train to Sala Deang so we can go to the snake farm, the coldness of the sky train is so good, like being in a big fridge. When we get off we head towards the snake farm and after 15mins walking in the baking heat we find we are going the wrong way. By now we are both super cranky, sweaty and knackered so we head to the nearest air conditioned place for a drink and something to eat - KFC!

Refreshed and revitalised we again make our way to the snake farm in the right direction this time only to get there and the entrance price has tripled and the 'milking' (getting the venom out for use in anti-venom) is only in the morning not in the afternoon as is stated at the entrance!

Super cranky, super sweaty, and super knackered we drag ourselves back to the sky train, back on the bus to Khao San and grab some pad thai and spring rolls before getting our bags so we can go back to the train station. We hail a taxi and Mattie commits the cardinal sin of asking him how much the fare is to the train station, of course he quotes 3 times the actual price but by now we don't care and jump in, once at the station we just sit and wait for our train and reflect on the day, only now can we see the funny side of things! It's not long before the train is ready to board and we make our way to our carriage but are surprised when all we see are seats and no beds, we're sure we paid for a sleeper train, almost about to go into complete meltdown we finally realise that the seats fold down into beds and are instantly relieved.

Once on the train we settle in and decide we're a little hungry so Mattie goes off in search of some hot water for our crazy pot noodle after being told no by one attendant he finally finds one who will give him some hot water but wants to charge 10baht, somehow he persuades her not to and so we have a pot noodle which is really good and the water was free, a small victory for us in Bangkok!!!!!! After a while the attendant comes round to make up the beds complete with towel like blanket and curtain so we settle down for the night and look forward to our time in the north.

Chiang Mai 21/03/09

We are woken up by the attendant shouting "Chiang Mai, Chiang Mai" so all excited we get up and get our stuff packed up ready to go but we still have 2hours to go!!! I think he just wanted to put the beds back. Eventually he shouts Chiang Mai again and we're actually here this time. After we get off the train we're greeted by the usual, 'Tuk tuk my friend, where you go?'

Eventually we make our way out and discover that there are no buses into town and it's too far to walk so we'll have to brave some other form of transport. We meet up with another guy who wants to go to the same hostel as us so we ask one of the red taxi/pickup thingy’s who knows where it is, 'Julies, yes I know, I will take you 20baht each" Ah ha we think success at last and all pile in.

10 minutes later we arrive at a completely different place, run by Julie he tells us, how convenient you b*****d!!!!! Sulkily we get out and refuse to look at the place he has taken us to and make our own way to Julies only to find it's full! It's now almost midday and both our backs are soaking with sweat as we make our way to another place which thankfully has a room, there is a god and it’s only 250baht (5pounds) We settle in and shower, a long cold shower whilst we both still fume over “it's run by Julie's man" who even gave us his card in case we wanted to go anywhere else while we're in town - really though with you, REALLY?

After we've calmed down a bit we go and get something to eat and find this really great place that makes the most amazing coconut shakes for 20baht then we go on the hunt for a pub that will be showing the Ireland-Wales game tonight which will start at 12:30am here, luckily a good old Irish pub, the U.N Irish pub to be precise comes through and is showing the game, that sorted we just wander round taking in the place, it's really nice here, much more chilled out than BK! In the evening we find a restaurant to eat at which is just down the road from the hostel, the food is good but the Tom Yum is just not spicy enough, I think that they tone it down coz they think we can't handle the heat but it's a little disappointing, the rest of the food is really good though and the staff are so nice.

After dinner we head to the pub just down the where the game is showing because the beer is much cheaper there and at 10pm we leave to go watch the England-Scotland game but it’s already starting to fill up in there and we get stuck in the small room at the back with a bunch of old men, luckily I spot and opening just before the end of the game and we settle in next to another young couple from Ireland who are also away traveling. Mattie and I are both really tense as the game begins which is not helped by possibly the most annoying Canadian man you’ve ever met who is sitting behind us supporting Wales (why man, for the love of god, why?) unfortunately he doesn’t know anything at all about rugby and keeps commentating on it like it’s American football saying D-fence and good penetration!? All mixed in with a lot of that’s that I’m talking abooot! Luckily there only seems to be one other Welsh supporter so he gets the piss ripped out of him when Ireland eventually scores a try the whole pub shouts touchdown! Anyway after a long and tense game we finally win as you all know and the whole pub just erupts, one thing’s for sure we won’t forget where we were when they won, at last!

Chiang Mai 22/03/09

Needless to say we woke up late this morning with very sore heads (damn Chang, it’s so strong and comes in pint bottles) so when we do finally get up we go to the place with the amazing shakes for breakfast and then wonder round town and visit a couple of temples. Slightly recovered by the evening we set out for dinner only to discover the Sunday Walking Market, it’s so amazing the whole massive street is lined either side by stalls and there’s music and dancing and all the little temples along the road are converted into……..food stalls!!!! Yay!!!! It’s the best food, we eat an unreal amount for the bargain price of like 3pounds, kebabs, green curry, fried bananas, ice-cream, everything imaginable! We just keep walking and eating, walking and eating, it truly is the best day for me. After all the food excitement we go to bed as we have to get up really early tomorrow for our Flight of the Gibbon tour.