Thailand, taxis and threes.

So, we arrived, as you might have guessed. The flight was long but by no means the worst flight I've ever taken despite its length. Having arrived, dodged the first wave of locals trying to flog you a 200Baht (4pound) taxi ride for 1100Baht (significantly more) and made our way the public taxi rank we were then driven to our family friend's house in the back streets of Bangkok, while listening to classic country & western tracks such as 'Rhinestone Cowboy' (who knew Glenn Campbell had made it the Orient!). We arrived to find ourselves in a 'proper palatial' (thank you Ollie for summising so precisely) house in a compound, similar to those found in ex-pat areas of third world countries the world over. (We have just been informed today that there is also a swimming pool and basketball court, oh the joy!) We decided discretion was the better part of valour and spent the night chilling out, listening to music and for some, drinking a few beers. All in all, not a bad start to the trip!

Day two, rather inevitably brought both many hours of rather aimless wandering and even more predictably, a wander down the surprisingly short Khao San Road. It is a bustling, noise, chaotic and rather charming road however, with travellers of all descriptions converging together to indulging some shopping, Irish bars, fish foot treatments (which we partook of and I must say it is one of the most peculiar sensations I have ever felt, but I'm sure my feet felt immensely improved afterwards) and sundry other ridiculous tourist traps. Having eaten some food at Mulligan's, thai food all round you'll no doubt be pleased to hear, we then proceeded to try and take in some culture and set out looking for the Victory Monument. This turned out to be a rather boring roundabout with an similarly dull monument on it, which we had actually already seen. By this time, it was getting dark, stomachs were beginning to rumble and tiredness was beginning to creep over us. So, having failed to find a taxi who would take us we ended up getting a tuk-tuk, which is a real experience in any country. Having last ridden a tuk-tuk in India, the experience was actually pretty civilised in comparison, despite cramming all four of us into something not much larger than a small golfbuggy, with Bobby leaning out of the side, tongue wagging like a dog.

Today, thus far has seen us consume breakfast at our usual vulture like pace and decide to take it easy again, perhaps going for a swim and Jon and I have one little chore to take care of, but I wont spoil the surprise for you.

The islands call, so I suspect we'll head down to them tomorrow evening, having visited Kanchanaburi Tiger Temple during the day ideally. Island paradise, here we come!


Joe