On our first full day in Bangkok (second time round) we were up nice and early so that we could visit the Chatuchak Weekend Market and do some serious shopping. Chatuchak is the biggest market I have ever seen and absolutely brilliant; you can buy everything there. We spent several happy hours getting lost in it but when we found ourselves peering down airless row after airless row going 'I'm SURE we've been here before' (which happened around the same time we became too sweaty to actually try any clothes on) we decided it was as good a time as any to leave. We hailed a taxi to take us straight to the deliciously air-conditioned MBK shopping mall, also excellent and filled with bargains. The day after we went shopping again, this time down and around the backpacker ghetto that is Khao San Road. Altogether we bought about twelve tops, six dresses, three pairs of shorts and four...well, I lose count around here, but the point is that we bought quite a lot - and it all came to less than £100!!! Bangkok is like one big Primark!!! Heaven.

On Sunday night we went from shopping to drinking on Khao San Road. We started off with cocktails/beer at a roadside bar then went to a rock bar with live music, where we bumped into some people we know. At closing time none of us wanted to go home so we bought some beers from a lady with an ice cooler and started dancing in the street. Passers by kept joining in and soon there were about 100 backpackers just partying in the road. Someone switched the music off at 4am but if they hadn't we could easily have carried on until daybreak as there was such a good atmosphere. It was probably one of the best nights out we've had whilst travelling, a real swansong of a night :-)

Of course, with every drunken night comes a painful morning. When we woke up yesterday we attempted to cure our hangovers with pizza and a pitcher of Pepsi before admitting defeat and crawling back into bed around 2pm. Our last proper day in Bangkok and we spent it in a thoroughly depressing hotel room on a rock-hard bed (which, by the way, I swear is bug-infested, I come out in strings of lumpy bites whenever I lie in it). We intended to do something cultural, like visit some temples or a floating market, but when it came down to it we just couldn't be arsed - and what's the point if you're not feeling it?

So, today = last day = mixed emotions. We can't wait to see our friends and family (and to sleep in our own beds!), but it's weird to think that this amazing experience is almost over. Mostly though, we feel bloody lucky at having had the opportunity to do this and to see all the things we've seen. So if you're reading this and thinking of doing something similar: JUST GO! You will not regret it, I promise.

Our flight home to London leaves just after midnight so we are trying to get in one last curry, one last massage, one last quick shop, one last of everything, before then. Feels like the time is slipping through our fingers...