Great Residence Hotel Bangkok

... agem store or a tailor shop. Yup you guessed it we fell for the scam lol. they told us the monks were praying and we would have to come back at 1pm but in the mean time they could take us to another palace for 40 baht return which they did but insisted on the gem shop etc as well.

People had to get what they were wearing checked out by officials to
see if it was appropriate. No ...

... listening to the bartering and watching as children in makeup and costume put on a strange performance, their mother (I presume) working the cd player. Occasionally the vendors would scramble to put some of their items away. We figured out that some of the items were illegal, polo for example, and they were always looking out for the police, while most items were okay.

Feeling rejuvenated we continued our exploration purchasing a few things and feeling very satisfied ...

... within his seedy little club. We escaped to and regrouped within the sanctuary of a 7-Eleven, where we bought some Red Bull and decided on our plan. We walked back down the street and eventually spotted a place, the steps up to which were manned by a comically-dressed little Geordie bloke. I though this was a good sign, and somewhere we could perhaps trust, after hearing stories of people being vastly overcharged for drinks and being forced to pay for them by menacing bouncers ...

We got into Bangkok at about 9pm, later than planned but once you're there who cares? If I were arriving anywhere else at this time I would worry about having to search the streets in the dark for somewhere to stay. But not the KSR. It heaved like normal, this place doesn’t sleep it just rests and it lit up our minds as once again my Bangkok experience consisted of nothing more cultured than being propositioned by prostitutes and their tuk tuk pimps… ...

... will miss getting a huge bottle of beer for about $1.50...). We wandered around Khao San Rd, and then spontaneously decided to get pedicures while drinking our beers. It was pretty funny. Then, as we admired our beautiful toes, we decided it was time for a Khao San Rd bucket...because that is what you are supposed to do on Khao San, just join the masses. Might as well, right? Then in our tipsy state, we decided it would be a good time to get piercings. Seems like an ...

... time .........Bonus!!......oh and weather is great too!!!!
Transfer to and from hotel plus very nice room and breakfast $48 .............BARGAIN!!

Leave for Chiang Rai tomorrow..........

.......until then.............Cheers!!!

... t have confirmation of the fine because the office in London isn't open yet because they are ****ing useless. I even had to spend some time explaining why I had to pay, as to begin with they said there was no fee to pay... That might seem good, but the look on the woman's face was one of "I really have no clue what your circumstances are, so I will fob you off with a load of ********". I know that look well as I have made it many times in the past. It might seem like a piece of ...

... It was better as it was. However, I followed the other throngs of unsuspecting idiots, and obediently queued; payed a visit, and a visit I did. All the interior consisted of was a museum depicting the glorious movement of Chinese historical relations with Thailand; something I couldn't really relate to at all, considering I'd lived in the country (China) for five years. Big deal. It was boring passing through then, and equally boring ...

... which runs above the city, and we take advantage of
it's good views to see a bit more of the city, riding back and forth
until we have our fill.

Roll on more time.... and after a bit of
impressive map reading and some rambling and good fortune we stumble
across Lumphini Stadium... bring on Muay Thai Kickboxing. Tickets are
somewhat more expensive than we'd thought, but it's one of those once
in a life time things right? And when you convert the ...