Tawana Bangkok

... in the first couple of days, but as things turned out we slept loads (blamed it on jet lag) and used internet cafes to plot our escape. 7 of the top 12 Bangkok sites to see are Wots (temples) so we fitted a quick visit in, but as I remember from past visits the one thing Thailand isn't short of is temples. I was all Wotted out after the first week ("you must see this Buddha statue - its the only laying down / standing up / winking / twitching ...

... outside my window looking at the wheel. After about 90 minutes we moved off only to stop and the next station. Eventually we arrived at a place where repair was carried to everyone's relief. The joy was shortlived and we were told that we would to change to another train. Our arrival in Chang Mai was to be at 830 we eventually got there 4 hours later. I had booked a guest house and it was a relief to be met there.<br><br> I look forward to a quieter ...

... I went to a different part of it - to Had Rin in search of life. First night on my own sucked, stayed in a hell hole that stank &amp; I thought I was the only one staying there, as it was at the end of the beach I was too scared to stay out late so went to bed at 9 &amp; read Ben Elton trying not to wonder what the hell I was doing here. Next day I found new digs, Chill House, Julie, Erik, Nid, Luke, Rob, some guy who I never got the name of. all people ...

... as you look in their shops.<br>We arrived by night train which was pretty comfortable (own bunk, curtains etc) while the toilet was a hole (hence I peed directly onto the track!!). Got a rude awakening by Thai women bellowing down the aisles trying to sell fruit at 6am though - you wake me at 6am and I'm not going to want to buy something from ya!<br>Visited Wat Pho to see the renowned statue of the reclining Buddha - laying 60m long and 15m high and ...

... up my orientation and start setting up my classroom. And at the end of the week, we are finally moving in to outr new condo. A busy week!<br><br>We can not thank you enough for all of your prayers and good wishes. Thanks for keeping up with us. We miss our family and friendsdd so bad but are really settling in and enjoying life here. Cant wait till you all can come and visit! Until next week.....sawadee khrup, sawadee Kaa.<br><br>Lauren and Jason :D:D

... English well but could not speak English a great deal. We did stop on the journey to visit the biggest Buddha, it was quite something to see. We were taken to our accommodation which was a bit of shock - it was a house - Thai style, with only the upstairs in use. We had not been told that the bedroom was communal but we soon made friends with Ellen as we all had to live in the space together. The bathroom was a long drop loo, a concrete tank of ...

Thailand, Bangkok, 03-03-2009, nightime.<br><br>Bangkok has turned from a chaotic messy third-world city into a modern affluent mega-town harbouring a well-off middle class and millions of desperate mostly nothern Thais dreaming of a their Break in this sweltering hot metropole, Burmese day workers happy to slave away all day for a full cups of boiled rice with a few chunks though chicken meat.<br><br>It is near 19.00 hours and our Tuk Tuk is moving ...

... glitzy statue.<br>Alas! Not to be! Closed until April. What a clangor! Instead, a new museum complex has been built next to the little temple building with a Thai-style triangular roof housing the metallic edifice. What was I to do? Pay a visit, I suppose. It was all pretentious and sterile; supposedly to add flavor to the area which had little effect in doing so. It was better as it was. However, I followed the other throngs of unsuspecting idiots, and ...

... or advice on backpacking/travelling whilst you're pregnant. Do women not travel at all?! Or are they too scared as no one has done it and told them about it. We decided to go and Spence suggested that I should write our tale of what happened to help other women who want to travel during this time so here it is...............<br><br>Thailand - First stop Bangkok (6 weeks pregnant)<br><br>In true Spencer style, he turned up later than me and was completely shocked at my ...

... to Laos.<br><br>To get to Laos we booked train tickets three days in advance - something we were advised to do on account of the 'holiday rush' (apparently Christmas is now celebrated by Buddhists). On the appointed date we waited all day playing cards, reading and generally preparing ourselves. I went shopping for camera equipment and purchased a good quality tripod that was on sale at a fraction of its 'back home' price. Then, having waited all day, we diligently took a ...