Anyone know the capital of Thailand?

We'd been told to expect it, but the harrassment we received coming out of Bangkok airport was crazy! Hundreds of taxi drivers, travel agents and hotelliers eager to receive our custom. Consulting the lonely planet, our chosen plan of action was to get out of the terminal building and make our way to the official taxi rank. Having done this, we had our first taste of Thailand bartering and managed to secure what seemed like a decent fee to the Khao San Road - the place to be if you're a backpacker. The walk to our hostel was careful, keeping one eye on our luggage and the other on prospective ladyboys... The 'hostel' was called the D&D Inn and for around 3 pound a night we were expecting something pretty grim... this was not to be however. It was the equivalent of a 3-star hotel and despite the uncomfortable beds and cold showers, there wasn't much wrong with it. With only one double-room left we were resigned to sleeping in the same bed although when we reached the room we breathed a deep sigh of relief as it was probably the biggest bed in the world.

...And eating them!

Waking early the next day we were eager to find some of the bargains that fill the backpacker's story book and so after checking with reception we decided on our shopping location for the day: MBK - possibly a shopping centre but maybe something completely different. Stepping outside we saw the sight that feels every traveller with fear and loathing - monsoon rain... it was nothing short of torrential and thus the majority of taxis couldn't get down the road. Thus we hailed a tuk-tuk (or more accurately they hailed us) and after some great bartering we managed to get the price down significantly, albeit by adding in 'one stop at Thai Fashion' where we'd have to stay for only 10 minutes and wouldn't be obliged to buy anything. This would be our first, and only 'one stop' journey, after we found ourselves again being harrassed by the local shopkeepers who were determined to make us buy something - we went through floors of clothes, jewellery and souvenirs until finally we made our quick getaway and our journey continued. Shopping at MBK was very average and not quite what were expecting... it was a full-on shopping centre and whilst we discovered dirt cheap McDonalds prices in the local restaurant, we also found out that not everything was that much cheaper in Bangkok. Anyhow we had an enjoyable day, bought a few bits and pieces and returned to the hostel where we showered, dressed and left again in search of some evening entertainment...

Epstein in full Thai Boxing Regalia

We found it in abundance, again lots of local tuk-tuk drivers eager to show us Bangkok's banging nightlife... one man in particular managed to get our attention and offering us a very low price drove us close to Patpong, the city's redlight district where we paid a generous sum to see what is commonly known as a Ping-pong show. The ladies do far more than just ping-pongs and whilst I'll spare you the details, I'd advise you all, men and women alike to experience one of these shows at some point in your lives. Just to clarify, they were all proper women and suitably aged... After the show had ended, a shell-shocked Peters and Epstein ventured into town to the famous night market where we picked up a few more bargains, including full Thai-Boxing Regalia - gloves, shorts and head-bands. Needless to say on our return to the hotel we engaged in a little bit of fighting and photo-taking...

Helping to cook my noodles...

Thursday morning and after yesterday's faux pas we checked with Lonely Planet and headed off to another market, which apparently had over 15,000 stalls - more than enough to find a bargain or two. Half-way there however, our very nice taxi driver decided to inform us that the market only opened at the weekends. After mulling through the guidebook we chose another market area where we shopped all morning buying clothes, sandals, caps, dvds, tat, tat and more tat. Venturing into the shopping centre nearby, in search of some safe looking water and a haven from the blazing sun, I decided to replace my camera which had seen better days and decided to stop working all of a sudden. This was a good move and after hard bartering I secured an excellent price. On our way back to the hostel we decided to pop into Chabad House which was only around the block from where we were staying. We met lots of Israelis and had a delicious meal of Kebab and Chips... not quite Schwarma but as good as we were going to get. That evening we went to a dodgy looking club across the road from our hostel sampling the delights of Tiger Beer and Thai Whisky before another uncomfortable night on the D&D beds...

One of Bangkok's many many markets...

Our last day in Bangkok (for the time being anyway) was supposed to be all about culture after spending our previous two shopping. First however, we had to go to the Chinese Embassy to sort out our Visa application and ensure we were going to be allowed to enter the country. After sorting this out and spending a bit of time food shopping in Tesco's, we decided that perhaps our day would be better spent lazing by the pool and thus went back to the hostel to sun ourselves. However soon the heavens began to open and we were forced inside to watch the craziest electrical storm I'd ever seen. We met a couple of stupid Watford girls and listened to them talk rubbish for almost an hour before we excused ourself to go book hunting. One of them lived right next to Ben's road, and the other one had naked photos of herself sent round the Watford Football team's dressing room when she was dating Chris Eagles during his loan spell at the club from Man Yoo... delightful young ladies. Soon enough we were standing in the lobby waiting for the coach to arrive to take us on the next leg of our crazy Thai journey to the magical island of Koh Tao where we'd enrolled for an Open Water Dive course... would the terrible twosome get eaten by crazy Thai sharks? Only time will tell...

The Khao San Road in all its glory...