THAILAND - Bangkok

Once over the border the journey was very different. We were met by posh minibuses with air-con. But by that point the damage was done i had heat stroke and spent the rest of the journey trying to sleep and prevent myself being sick. I did make it to Bangkok without being ill.

Karl and Clem explored Bangkok without me for the first day there while I stayed in bed, apparently they had an excellent time. Next day I did join them although still not hungry. We did some of the things they had done the previous day so that i could also enjoy them, which was very nice of them. Firstly we caught a Tuc Tuc, a slightly scary experience, to the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre and had a look around the exhibition. We then walked down towards the Arabic area and then to the river to catch a ferry to the temple Wat Pho which is renowned as the birth place of the Thai massage but perhaps more amazingly for a huge reclining, gold Buddha with mother of pearl feet. The temples were quite different to those in Cambodia or Vietnam in that they seemed to be really over the top, some of the decoration almost looking a little kitch from a distance, mainly because they were bright gold with shining reds and blues, etc, however some of the stone carvings next to doorways were brilliant fun.

We were staying in a guest house on Koh San Road. For those who have not been to Bangkok I should explain that Koh San Road must be the most lively road in the city where bars and clubs of all kinds meet in order to try and get the business of holiday makers. It is therefore very much a 24 hour street, perhaps not the nicest area I have stayed in but quite an interesting one!

Unfortunately due to me being ill we were unable to see all that the city had to offer and we were soon on a bus to Kanchanaburi.