After 14ish hours on the train - approximately 2 hours later than scheduled - we arrived back in Bangkok. We flagged a metered taxi down and were back at the hostel in no time. I was glad we had booked a room and didn't have the usual rigmarole of looking for one! Again everything in Bangkok was still going on as we headed to bed. After a day train experience I think for such a long journey I prefer the night trains. The scenery was lovely and everything but it just feels like a waste of a day when you are travelling for so long.

We woke up even earlier today so we could go to the floating markets 90km outside of Bangkok. We were collected from the hostel, late as usual, and taken to the tour office. Here we waited again before being given stickers for our T-shirts to signal which tour we were on. Burt gave us these - our hilarious tour guide who obviously hated people but loved the power! We were herded into minibuses and started the rather fast and bumpy journey - I was relieved to have a seatbelt.

We arrived at the pier and got into motorised long tail boats which took us to the market via stilted houses that backed onto the river. Off the boat and after a talking to by Burt we went and got into a paddle boat with 6 others to be taken around the market.

It was weird to be taken to stalls and not to be able to walk away when you didn't want anything. There was the usual tourist stuff on sale of T-shirts, dresses, magnets, bags and pictures. I'm sorry to say that we had no cash so couldn't buy anything, but the budget police AKA Neil was very pleased about this!

Off the boat we mooched around the market by foot. We saw people in boats selling all sorts but mostly food. There were also some men with snakes for you to pose with - No thanks! We had a drink and bought some mango for breakfast before being back at Burt's meeting point on time! Here we were again herded back into minibuses and were on our bumpy way back to Bangkok.

Once back in the Khao San Road area I did some girly shopping (hairspray, eyeliner and earrings) ready for our posh honeymoon meal this evening. It's all so cheap out here - it's a good job I have the budget police to rein me in. We sat down for a filling lunch at a street stall before searching out a Thai massage - a treat we had promised ourselves whilst in Bangkok. We lay side by side as we were pulled, stretched, kneaded and cracked! I loved it and felt so relaxed afterwards - 2 pounds for 30 minutes work isn't bad!

It was then back to the hostel to beautify myself for our 'date' - it luckily doesn't take too long to make myself beautiful ;o). We both felt a little under dressed as we only had creased travelling clothes but we did our best and I didn't think we scrubbed up too badly. Once we were ready we caught the boat to the Sirocco. By this time we were both sweating buckets - Neil had long sleeves and long trousers on and I had my hair down for the first time in months!

We went inside the tower and were greeted by a member of staff as if we were royalty. This theme continued with all the staff wai-ing at us. This consists of a bow with hands clasped like a prayer as a sign of respect - it felt strange them doing it to us and we were unsure whether we should do it back or not.

We enjoyed an expensive drink in the bar before being seated. Whilst in the bar a member of staff had seen us taking photos so took our camera and took loads of photos of us together. We were chuffed as we rarely get any together but even more so because it was a special occasion and somewhere we will probably never go back to! We spent a long time taking in the breathtaking views of Bangkok. We were lucky enough to catch sunset too. It was a truly amazing evening and meal. I won't spend ages trying to describe what we could see - I just can't do it justice! The food was delicious and the service we received was outstanding. A very special treat that we will never forget - Thanks Uncle Stu and Co for your contribution.

The world is so beautiful in so many ways and I am so lucky to be seeing so much of it. Each experience is so different but so special.

We came back to the hostel with full tummies and full hearts. We had a special time as man and wife - it was nice to get dressed up and enjoy being together. Simple as that :o) .

We had a well deserved lie-in today especially as we were rudely awakened by some drunken French girls at 3am! After taking our smelly laundry (smelly from trekking) to a laundry lady we went for a yummy breakfast of bacon baguette from our local food stall. We hopped onto the local bus, which is always an interesting journey but it stopped a lot today which made us very hot and sweaty!

We got off at the train station, and avoiding the TAT touts went to the booking window and booked two train-bus-boat tickets for Koh Samui for tomorrow night. Exciting! We got on the metro from here to the visa place to collect our passports. We were a little early so stopped off at a local café for an iced chocolate - it was delicious! We finally headed to the visa office and after a substantial wait were rewarded with our passports in our sweaty hands complete with Indian visas! We were chuffed to bits to have it all sorted out.

We went to MBK via the sky train again where we went to the cinema to see Dark Shadows. It was so nice to be doing something 'normal' and at one point I expected to be going home to our house, but then I remembered we don't have a house any more - that was weird! We enjoyed the film, along with some snacks for the bargain price of 8 pounds 25p for both of us. It may seem like a weird thing to do while travelling, even I would ask why someone would sit in a cinema watching a film they could watch anywhere when Bangkok is on the doorstep but when your life is literally travelling you just need some normality sometimes.

After the film we got the sky train and boat back to the hostel collecting our lovely clean fresh-smelling laundry on the way - 1 pound 20p for a load - another bargain! After dropping this off at in the room we went back out for some food at a street stall and to buy a book for the train tomorrow. Back at the hostel we packed AGAIN ready to check out tomorrow AGAIN!

The usual check out routine happened this morning before we went for some breakfast - fruit salad and yoghurt for me and chicken rice for Neil. We then went on a walking tour of the area. As soon as we started walking we were accosted by the usual taxi and tuk-tuk drivers who don't like taking no for an answer. I don't think they are used to people walking anywhere!

We were startled to see a woman bathing naked in the rainwater and a drain grate on a busy road - sadly her only way of getting clean but admirable that she still cares. We walked past the Royal Palace, numerous Wats and through a few markets - there is always so much nice stuff I want to buy but lack of budget and space means I am sadly restricted to a few bits here and there.

We walked past the giant swing and I was rather disappointed - it was big for certain, but I couldn't sit on it and I definitely couldn't swing on it! We then took our last stroll down Khao San Road back towards the hostel, stopping at a local café for some lunch/tea before the train journey.

Back at the hostel we got our bags together and set off for the station - it was rather black and I was sure it was going to rain but thankfully it held off until we were on the bus. The bus got stuck in lots of rush hour traffic so it was a long hot ride, but we made it to the station with no problems. After a short wait we got on the train, found our seats and set off. This was a longer wait when on the train than expected as we were over an hour late leaving the station. Time-keeping is definitely not one of the Thai's strong points.

The carriage attendant came round making everyone's beds up for them, much to our relief as we had no idea how to do it ourselves. Before you think we can't make up a bed, the whole process is far more complicated than putting a sheet on! The process reminded me a bit of a caravan type bed where the two seats are pulled together to make a bed, once this is done another bed flaps down from the side wall - ingenious!

Now we are both comfortable in our own beds - Neil isn't feeling too good but fingers crossed he will be ok after a good sleep as we are both looking forward to our 'holiday' on Koh Samui.

Lots of love and kisses xxxxxxx