A tuk tuk, a coach, a walk, a van, a walk, a boat, the metro and a walk found us in Bangkok and it only took us 13 hours. Visiting the Thai capital one last time was no big deal, we had a couple of days before our train to Malaysia during which time we had to renew our Typhoid inoculation and top up our medical supplies.
The first vaccination centre was in the lobby of a Holiday Inn, we got an indicative cost of the jabs plus the doctor's fee, it was pricey, but not as costly as getting typhoid. We decided to go and check out a couple of other places before we committed to anything.
We found another hospital in the other direction, doormen greeted us at the door and bowed low as they said "Sawadi kraap", as we walked into the lobby, it looked more like a 5 star hotel than a hospital. Every receptionist, administrator and nurse seemed to be working on brand new Apple Macs and the oversized comfy leather chairs indicated that this may end up costing us a lot of money. We found our way to the right department and discovered that looks can be deceiving. Having the jabs here would cost less than half of getting it done at the first place. We signed up. Within an hour, we had been assessed, consulted the doctor, had the jab (complete with panda plaster) and paid. Immediately, Jan's shoulder became sore, she couldn't raise her arm out to the side at all and so we headed back to the hotel to rest. The next day my shoulder was sore too, I made sure Jan knew by moaning and whimpering at every opportunity. I had a fever too and I let Jan know this as often as possible also. There was only one thing that was going to make this right. A pizza. We ordered the pizza and it was crap and so my misery and suffering continued.
We had time to reflect on the last four months of our trip. Thailand and Laos gave us some of the most amazing memories not only of the trip but of our lives, riding elephants through the jungle, celebrating Loi Kratong and floating down a river in an inner tube through breath-taking scenery. Vietnam and Cambodia, though in parts are equally beautiful, still seemed troubled and their dark histories have left haunting shadows in our minds.
And so we move on to Malaysia, a country we know very little about, yet holds great appeal to us.