Hi all,

After not having a very nice time in Sumatra, we now have finally found paradise!! We love it here, and don't want to leave!

Last Monday we set off from Penang, Malaysia and hopped on a flight to Bangkok. Didn't enjoy the West coast of Thailand that much when we were there a few weeks ago, (or rather the unfriendly locals there), so we did not know what to expect of the capital either. But we had a great time! Splashed out a bit on a nice little boutique hostel in the Silom business district, which was also close to the shopping malls. It was a great area to walk around in the morning with lots of little stalls selling street food (we had some world class sandwiches right outside our hostel for 12 baht/20 pence each!). In the evening there was the Patpong night market only a few blocks away, and the stalls spread along the road towards our place too. The stalls were then filled with clothes, fake designer watches and Tiffany's jewellery. That was all good, but anyone who has been to Bangkok knows that Patpong is most of all famos for their ping pong shows. That is not a sporty table tennis show for those of you not in the know, but rather an event set in a seedy club where the performers are naked women pushing out ping pongs out of their.... you know. Not a show I'm interested in (agneta)! The normal vendors selling t-shirts etc were not pushy at all (the market is on the same roads as the sex and strip clubs) but the staff trying to get us to watch one of the shows kept showing price lists in our faces and asking if we wanted to see ping pong show, banana show, or make love show. And they would not take a no, or ten no's and a disgusted look on my face as an answer.. instead they'd just turn to Jake (and I wasn't allowed to say 'YEAH OK!' After our first visit to Patpong, we avoided it as much as we could!

Other than the Patpong market we checked out some shopping malls and other markets, but only window shopping for now as we're coming back..

Also visited the Royal Grand Palace and the adjoining Wat's (Buddhist temples) such as the Temple of the Emerald Buddha (a tiny little Buddha made of green jade - not emerald - sitting high upon a throne). It is truly amazing buildings, yet we thought they could have spread them out a bit more for them to fully show off. As it is now there are lots of Wat's within meters of each other. A great place to visit though as the artwork of the buildings are truly stunning.

A word of recommendation: If anyone of you are planning to go to Bangkok anytime soon, I'd definitley recommend to make a trip to the dentist while you are here! I made an appointment for some basic work, and the service was excellent - the best I've had! - and the price is very good too!

A few tuktuk rides, river boat rides later, (and a visit to Khao San road of course), we got on the night bus to Surat Thani to then get the express boat to Koh Samui on the East coast of Thailand in the morning. We've been here for a few days now and the place we're staying in is truly beautiful like paradise and we don't want to leave ever! Check the website out http://www.lipalodgeresort.com/ Jake had planned to do some kitesurfing on Samui, and the kite school got us a good deal for a basic room at this posh hotel next door.. only they gave us a gorgeous room instead! We wake up every morning and have paronamic views of the ocean, the beach is a stone throw away and I've had the gorgeous infinity pool basically all too myself these two days Jake's been learning to kitesurf! It is amazing!!

Off for some dinner now. Today is the Queen's birthday and all the thais are out celebrating.

See you soon,

A&J