Arrived in bangkok at 8am, fully rested and feeling a lot better!

We got a taxi to Ko san Road and managed by some miracle to get into the D&D where we stayed when we first arrived! I had emailled them but they had said they were fully booked, and it is the most popular hostel on ko San so we were really lucky!

Once we'd had a shower and breakfast we decided to get the sightseeing doing so hopefully we could sunbathe the next day!

I asked a guy directions to the Grand Palace and he told us that today was Buddha Day (Buddha's bday) so the government were supplementing the tuk tuks that had yellow stickers to take tourists around the city for only 10bhat each (25p) and he marked on the map all the temples we should vist and also the export market which had 15% (tax) off today! As well all the palaces etc were open free of charge today! So we found a tuk tuk driver who was lovely and set off.

First of all we went to The Big Buddha, and then he dropped us off at the Lucky Buddha. When we went inside we met a teacher who taught english at the school nearby and he showed us how to make a wish etc! I also donated about 25p just to help my cause along.

The next couple of temples we went to were closed as there were special ceremonies going on, and by 11am we had seen all the ones we wanted to see. the Grand Palace wasnt opening until 1:30pm as the King and Queen were there at aspecial ceremony with the city monks, so we went to a fabric shop, which was fine as i needed to get Lucie some silk which i did!). We also went to a jewellry exporter and gemma bought some earrings. The last stop before the Grand Palace was the Golden Mount, so we went inside and had a look around but when we came outside the tuk tuk driver had gone. We waited for about ten minutes but couldnt see him and we couldnt figure out where he had gone. We saw some other tuk tuks with yellow stickers and asked them about the government deal but they wouldnt listen and in the end we had to get one for 40 bhat to the Palace. When we arrived the Palace was open but the entrance fee was 350 bhat (7 pounds). I asked the lady about Buddha day and she just replied "everyday is Buddha day". Then Gem figured out that our tuk tuk driver was obviously on commission from the jewellry and fabric shops and once we had spent some money he had made much more than 10 bhat and b*****ed off!!

I couldnt belive we had been duped!!! Whenever we came out of a shop he was like "oooh what have you bought, how much was it???" "oooh thats cheap!!" I thought he was being nice but actually he was totting up his commission, and I even gave him my 10% discount card for the jewellry shop because i thought it could help him maybe afford something nice for his wife or something...I had also been going round for the whole bloody day wishing people "Happy Buddha day!" like an absolute fool!! When we got inside the palace we also saw a sign that read "do not trust strangers who say they will take you to a lucky buddha!" so god knows where our donations have gone to!! So it was all a lie. There were no special ceremonies they just took us there so we would belive the GP was closed until 1:30 and they could get us to the export shops. There wasnt 15% off anything, and it wasn't Buddha Day! To put the icing on the cake though I text Lucie to find out how much silk was in England (i had spent 60 pounds on 7meters) and she text back saying about 10 pound a meter so i hadnt even got a good deal!!!

I just cannot belive we (well me more than gem) fell for it! and how many people were involved! The guy with directions, the tuk tuk driver, the teacher at the lucky buddha, thefabric and jewellry people! Its Crazy!!

I think being in SE Asia for 3 months and meeting such lovely people made us forget how different and obviously how dangerous Bangkok can be! I am a bit gutted about the silk but i hope Lucie will like it which is the main thing and I could have spent more, and we did get to see all the wats on a free tuk tuk! I just feel sorry for the people who spend thousands on jewellry that might not even be real. Gems earrings were 10 pounds and mine were 2 and they are silver so thas not too bad!! The only saving Grace is that these people are all Buddhists and when they are reincarnated they will no doubt come back as dung beetles!

We went to MBK market but that was a bit rubbish so were going to go to Ko san Road to get our final presents before leaving for Oz on Friday but we were both a bit depressed so didnt bother!

We met up with Stephen's friend Rob and his girlfriend Alice that night. Had some food and went for some drinks. They are doing SE Asia for the next 4 months so we gave them some advice on where to stay and where to go...and Rob who has been to a lot of places in USA told us about some things to do. Had a really good night. Also randomly bumped into Jay from the Tubing in Laos. He went tubing for 5 days in a row! I have no idea how he did it but he was still standing!

We found this cart that was selling fried bugs so Rob had a grasshopper and him and Alice ate a caterpillar..Jay and his friend both ate a Scorpion but threw up straight away!!! I think i have had my fair share of exotic foods. I was nearly sick just watching!

The sun came out today for a few hours so me and Gem went to the pool to Sunbathe. We are meeting Rob and Alice again tonight, i am getting my marmite (and not a moment too soon!) and doing some shopping then tomorrow we set off for Oz to meet Si and Steve from Uni. We stay in Sydney for a week, then are going on a road trip to Melbourne. The lads are going to the Grand Prix but me and Gem are just going to relax...