After an uneventful flight from Singapore to Bangkok we were welcomed at the airport by our private transfer driver. He was holding a sign for 'Gregory Davies', we assumed he was there for the both of us but as Claire's female, she didn't warrant her name on the card. He led us out to a back car park and loaded us and our luggage in his retro Volvo which choked into action after several turns of the key. We could have been in anyone's car being taken anywhere. Claire got a little anxious when we were still driving around bustling Bangkok 45 minutes later. Luckily we rolled to a halt outside our hotel.

We were due to start our tour of Cambodia that evening, oddly in Bangkok, and we had signed up for the 'basics' tour. Therefore, fearing the worst, we entered our hotel. We had a very pleasant surprise, tucked away down a side street, it was plush and several stars above what we had imagined we would be staying in. It even had a gym and a rooftop pool. We decided to relax for the afternoon and enjoy the air conditioned hotel, have a dip in the pool and lunch in a nearby cafe.

We later met our tour group, sixteen of us in total, with a wide mix of ages, nationalities and personalities. Three guys, thirteen gals. Along with the usual mix of people there's the manic geezer from the UK who keeps every conversation flowing...continuously, there's the dog obsessed Aussie divorcee who's spending some of her settlement money and the 70 yr old Austrian/Australian who oozes negativity. We also met our guide, Fila, a young Cambodian guy who seemed enthusiastic and organised so we had a good feeling about that.

We then went out for our first of many group dinners. We headed to Khao San road in Bangkok, known to most travellers as the party street. Just walking down this road was way too much stimulation, with people selling wrist bands saying rude things, to fried insect stalls and people literally trying to drag you into their bars. Our favourite bar was one with the name 'Very strong cocktails. We do not ID' sadly we didn't step inside. It's easy to see why it's every 18 year olds ultimate party holiday destination.

The group dinner was fun, Greg got chatting to the manic UK ex-music producer and the Aussie divorcee as they seemed most keen for a beer. It was one of those situations we've all been in where everyone is very excited to be in a new place at the start of a holiday but very aware they are in the company of complete strangers. Therefore after dinner and a few drinks we wondered down a couple of streets and then headed back to bed. Early start tomorrow, Cambodia here we come.