Brief stop in Bangkok

Our time in SE Asia is mainly outside of Thailand where we have flown into from Hong Kong - just a handful of days straddling a month or so.

We decided to grab a little more luxury here and booked into the Asia Hotel, which was one of the cheaper options we found at www.hotels.com (no problems booking through here).

Getting away from the current airport (new one runs from late September 2006) was nice and easy and cheap, on the airport bus (number 2, dropped us at the hotel) - took about 40 mins.

The hotel was fine and well placed - about GBP25 a night, and bang in the middle of the shopping district, and handy for the Skytrain (there is a walkway straight into the hotel from Ratchthewi station), which was just a bunch of concrete pillars when we were last here in 1998.

Was great to have a swim, though the pool wasn't huge. Not too much of a problem, as not too many people in it. Was also good to get to use the gym for a run or two - two hot and muggy outside on the street.

Things have changed massively since 1998 - a shopping mall back then was a poor experience - today, they're up there with the best in the world. The food court at the Siam Paragon is out of this world.

Getting around the place is a lot easier now too - the Skytrain quick and cheap (though doesn't cover a huge area), as well as their equivalent of the Underground. Didn't bother with tuk-tuks this time, nor taxis - traffic a nightmare at most times of the day. The taxi drivers don't like to charge against the meter either if there's a lot on the road.

Shopping aside, we did do a bit of culture, Chris enjoyed her trip to the Marble Temple by water taxi. Also tried to get to see some Thai Boxing, but arrived on local championship night and was a little too pricey - will try again when we get back to Bangkok in October - worth seeing.

Of course, a stay in Bangkok wouldn't be complete without a visit to Khao San Road. Not much seems to have changed, just the prices - still a busy place full of backpackers.

Spent an evening around Patpong (for the night market!) - Chris not impressed with the sleaze and the opportunity for some ping-pong. Of course, Paul not impressed either....

Dinner that evening at 'Cabbages and Condoms' - highly recommended, great food and setting, can be found around Sukhumvit 13 (I think), and about 100 metres back off the main street. This place was set up to help fund the humanitarian work they do, which started with family planning issues, latterly AIDS, but also wider humanitarian projects. Accompanying the bill - not mints, but....condoms.

Again, just 3 days here before moving on.

Have decided to change the itinerary a bit. We were advised before we left home that a month in Cambodia may not be necessary, so will take just under a fortnight in Laos, starting in Vientiane, and working our way down Route 13, hugging the Mekong River all the way down to the Camdbodian border.

Our Laos experience started with the overnight train from Bangkok, heading north to Nong Khai....

Paul and Chris