Well I arrived in Bangkok in the early hours of Wednesday morning after a monster journey, 2 hours on the boat and 13 hours on the overnight bus (with Thai pop music blasting out). The journey was made even more enjoyable with my lack of ipod, for those of you who didn't know how stupid I can be here goes.... I casually dipped my bag in the ocean and yes it contained my camera, ipod and phone. It was a blonde moment if ever there was one!

Once you arrive in Bangkok you then have to find somewhere to stay at 5am, not the easiest but manageable. My hotel wasn't your standard flea-pit, oh no it had extras... a swimming pool, bar, cockroaches, an option to bring a Thai-lady/man back to you room. All extras came with a receipt. I wonder if you could claim tax back on that at the airport?

I swiftly moved on the next day and I'm now staying in a lovely little place called Happy House. It's a little (lot) more expensive than I should be paying but it is lovely. I'm shamed to say that I haven't been to one temple instead I've shopped until I've dropped. Seriously I'm in real danger of blowing my entire budget here, good job I leave on Sunday after of course I visit the famous weekend market!

Since I arrived I haven't been feeling that great, all I have wanted to do is sleep (nothing new there) and today I woke up with a killer of a sore throat. However a quick trip to the Pharmacy to buy super strong antibiotics and I'm sure I'll be fine again. You all know how much I love pharmacies so it isn't all bad!

Today has been slightly surreal...

I woke up with the monks chanting (after my time in the Retreat I could have joined it) and the cockerels crowing. I then went to the pharmacy and was like a kid in a sweetshop, I wanted to start making up that I had thing wrong with me so I could take one of everything - you never know when you might need it. Also it's so cheap, I was 7 pounds for two types of drugs. You wouldn't get that on the NHS! I then had to make my way across the city to pick up my passport from the Vietnamese Embassy. It closes at 3.30pm on a Friday so I left at 1pm thinking that would give me lots of time, well I spend also two hours in a taxi trying to get there. The whole time I have visions of missing it and being without my passport when I'm leaving for Cambodia on Sunday. Managed to make it in the nick of time, we must have broken about 10 road laws on the way (if Bangkok has any, I'm seriously doubting - more about that later). The driver's English was limited and my Thai extended to making airplane shapes with my hands and pointing to my watch. The whole journey cost just 2 pounds 50 pence including tip - mental.

Just feeling so proud of myself for finding the sky train, trust me it was an achievement Bangkok is massive. Was going for a wonder around China Town but ended up at the shopping malls - funny that! I've now in procession of a new camera, phone and ipod - they are beautiful! Although shopping for them has been the most stressed I've been since I have arrived. I also got music put on my ipod. 5 pounds for 270 songs - it's a lucky dip, who knows what I'll find on that!

Being all traveller like I decided to get the bus back across town, for 10 pence you really should know what you are letting yourself in for. Air-conditioned means the windows are open and the bus still moves when you get on and off. It's an adventure. Although I don't think the crash is normally included. Don't worry I'm not hurt, I had 40 little Thai people to use as cushions.

It doesn't stop there I went to an ipod stall to add movies and tv series to my ipod (Jenny I've downloaded series 1-3 of The Wire - it better be good) and the 3 Indian guys who run it bought me dinner. Not sure if they put something in my diet-coke or if it's the antibiotics.... anyway I'm feeling a lot better! And if I go back tomorrow they will take me out for Valentines Day - how romantic!

Lots of Love from Bangkok