Thailand (so far!)

Last Saturday night, around midnight, we arrived in Bangkok after a full day of flying from NZ, looking forward to our night booked in a nice hotel room, close to the airport, before getting stuck into Bangkok the next day. Then a slight error on my behalf occurred. Our hotel was close to the airport, but unfortunately not the one we landed in. Bangkok now has a swanky new airport, a good 40Km from the old one and our hotel. Bugger.

Not to worry, after an interesting bus ride and a lot of pointing and slow Basil-Fawlty-style English 'if I speak it slow enough, they'll understand!' to our taxi driver, we got to our hotel, tired but relieved.

The next day, we got a train into the city, avoiding the endless taxis and tuk-tuks offering us a ride. All Thais involved in transportation seem to have mastered the expression 'hey you, where you go?' perfectly. The train was 3rd class with no windows and benches for seats, but really cool nevertheless, in all senses of the word.

We bagged ourselves a room in a Lonely-Planet recommended guest house, close to Siam Square, and spent the next few days taking in all that Bangkok has to offer, except the 'love you long time' ladies, you'll be pleased to hear. Wat Pho with it's giant reclining Buddha was impressive, the Grand Palace in bling-bling to say the least, Wat Arun is probably my favourite Wat (temple) so far, with it's top views of the city. My favourite bit of Bangkok has to be cruising the river though, taking it all in from the breezy cabin of an old boat. Lovely.

After a couple of days of mooching about, including a trip to Backpacker-central that is the Khao San Road to stock up on new clothes, sunnies and cheap beer, we set off to Surat Thani by train. Now, Thai trains are really good. Even our second-class ticket got us two meals and and air-con cabin for our 8 hour journey passing endless rice paddies, palm trees and limestone ridges jutting skyward out of the otherwise flat countryside.

At Surat Thani, we caught the night ferry to Koh Pha-Ngan (which was lots of fun, especially after I'd consumed my own body weight in beer prior ot setting off from the pier). Early in the morning, we arrive and bagged ourselves a lovely little beach bungalow with an ocean view and a nice Aussie lady next door, who I taught to snorkel the next day, which was fab.

Today we had a really travelly day, with a ferry journey and two bus journeys (the bus journeys here are something to be believed, to be fair!) to Phuket, where we are now, awaiting the morning ferry to supposedly the most beautiful place on Earth, Ko Phi-Phi. I can't wait.

More soon

-Si