After a gruelling flight over from London and a quick stop over in the Militarised zone known as Mumbai I had arrived in Bangkok, much much hotter than the rainy days I had left behind in the UK. There was me, whiter than a sheet with a hoodie on...I did not think this through. At 7 am local time it was already a whopping 28 degrees outside. Having heard about all of the potential scams I was about to face, I took Bangkok head on with a pinch of salt.

Being so tired, I thought I'd just take a taxi and get there faster despite the expense. It was a nice air conditioned taxi with a rather cheerful driver since he had been working all night. On first impressions Bangkok is a huge city packed with towering buildings everywhere you look, the roads are crammed with traffic jams and there are motorcycles packed high with more people than should really be safe.

Arriving at Soi Chanasongkram, close to Khao San Road (but far enough away for it not to be too noisy) I had a classic 'Sarah' moment...I couldn't find the guest house, despite there being 15 ft giant letters right in front of my face I still asked for directions and then realised why he was laughing. Stupid moment number 1! My room is on the top floor (no lift) in the hottest part of the building...I was beginning to wish I had sprung for the Air Conditioning...

I have been told that the first night in Bangkok is always something to remember, most people get drunk and go and see a Ping Pong show, not me...I was going to be different. Instead I got drunk with an Australian guy called Troy who I met that night and went clubbing. It's so nice being able to walk into a club and not be turned away for what you're wearing. The sorry mate you're not wearing black shoes, really does not apply here! Arriving back at my room at 4.30 am to realise, damn it's still hot.

The following day I woke (Later than planned) to walk round The Grand Palace. It was beautiful in it's own way, you wouldn't think something covered in that much gold would be awe inspiring but it was. My ticket included entrance to Wat Phra Kaew which houses The Emerald Buddah, I didn't have much time to appreciate the outside though, as having to take my shoes off you do not realise how hot the floor is going to be, so running into the shade was quickly done! It was worth it though, I spent the rest of the day riding the River Express boat to various locations and made it back to the guest house. Shopping is really cheap in Bangkok and of course it is true that you can get just about a 'copy' of everything here. However...if I don't stop shopping soon I'm going to have more Harem pants than MC Hammer.

Booked my onward ticket to Chiang Mai and tomorrow I am going to visit Kanchanaburi and the Floating Markets, 6 am start. Met up with Troy again tonight and we went to get some soup, and had the most horrible 'desert' (if you'd call it that) before going to the markets at Patpong in Silom. I shouldn't laugh but if I don't hear the words 'You want ping pong' again it'll be too soon! The night markets at Patpong are a place where you can probably buy just about every kind of 'knock off' you can think of. After waiting what seemed like forever for Troy to come out of the piercing place, I couldn't believe it took 7 different taxi cabs to agree to use the meter to take us back to Khao San.

Which pretty much rounded off my first couple of days in Bangkok, I've learnt a couple things whilst being here...most of the PR women for bars are actually men and not to get on a Tuk Tuk, they are motorised, dangerous versions of golf buggies that are damn expensive! OH and before I forget...taxis do not have seatbelts!- Troy's amusement at my realisation!