Bangkok

We're now officially half way through our adventure… Goodbye Latin America & Hello Asia! The lights, sounds & smells combined with the high level of energy couldn't be mistaken for anywhere else other than Bangkok. The Lonely Plants quote is right "you'll be confused & challenged on your first visit, excited & eager when you return & sentimental when you depart for the last time". Luckily for me it's my second time so I was ready to take it all in, however because we stayed on Th Khao San Rd this time it didn't seems nowhere near as over populated as downtown - which was fantastic!

After traveling on 4 different planes & going from -5hrs GMT to +7hrs we were both pretty jet lagged, so much so that on our first night we sat down at a cocktail bar & after our first drink we were both debating whether we'd been spike because of how lighted headed we felt - clearly we hadn't though! Everyone raves about the Thai street food stalls & even though I've been to Thailand twice before I'd never tried it... delicious! Which was great for us being on a backpackers budget as it only cost £1.20 for both of us.

The following morning we went to the Wat Phra Kaew & Grand Palace temples which are stunning, even if you're not one for temples you can't deny how beautiful they are. I knew there was a dress code of long trousers that covered your ankles but in 30+ degree heat it's not that comfortable & Easton kept getting told off for pulling his up! After, we wanted to head to Siam Square for a bit of a nose around & soon as we left the Grand Palace there was a helpful tuk-tuk driver there to give us "gud price"! Course he was… but "gud price" means stopping by tour companies that will give you a quotation depending on where in the world you're from (English always get quoted the highest price so we're working on our polish accent). Siam Square shopping mall is a far cry from the dirty, polluted streets of Bangkok that I remember, the gleaming centre housed the world's most expensive range of shops & needless to say there wasn't many other poor back packers floating around.

Th Khao San Rd was more like it, being known as the back packer's ghetto the streets were lined with cheap bars, restaurants, markets & massage parlours. We decided a pampering day was well over due so we treated ourselves to massage, haircut, manicure & pedicure (and that was just Easton) along with some new clothes. Everybody haggles for everything so Easton was in his element - even over 50baht (just over a £1). That night we'd arranged to meet a Canadian couple for a few drinks so we thought we'd have an hour siesta about 5pm - 6hrs later we woke up! Let's hope we can get our body clock on track in Chiang Mai!