Thailand

Before we fly off to Perth at the end of the week, we've got 5 days to kill in Bangkok, though we should have probably headed somewhere else - we soon got bored...

Despite wanting to avoid the place, we found a half decent room off the Khao San Road, at the Khao San Palace Inn - B700 (GBP10) a night, but we get a telly and AC, as well as a rooftop pool. Chris got a bit extra into the bargain - we checked out the pool on the first morning, only to see a nasty man without his Speedos on.

We've decided that Air Conditioning isn't so good, especially at night when it lets out special germs that give you a cold.

Spent a little too long searching for a good deal on a new camera, after our Fuji going on the blink. Got a pretty good deal, but not what we had hoped for - seems that prices at home in England are pretty good for most things. It's a Fujifilm F30 by the way, and well rated on the various shopping and review sites. (We've now used it quite a lot since Bangkok and well pleased.....so far).

Did nothing in these 5 days of particular interest, though got out on one of the big river taxis to Chinatown and onto Wat Traimit to see the world's largest solid gold buddha. The buddha was encased in plaster to protect it from the marauding Burmese in the 13th century. Whilst a very clever plan, the Thais forgot about it until 1955, when it was accidentally knocked whilst being moved. It's valued at about USD14,000,000, which is about GBP25 at today's rates.

We've both lost a little bit of weight, so sorted ourselves out with some new swimmers in the sales.

Tried to get to watch the Thai boxing, but again found it to be quite expensive. This time we asked one of the 'guides' who told us that the cheaper seats (equivalent of a couple of pounds) were now only made available to the locals because they chuck in the extra by betting. Shame it's so (comparatively) expensive (around 12 pounds) - must put lots of backpackers off.

Last day, Culture Chris took herself off to see Wat Arun over the other side of the river, giving it a thumbs up. It's decorated with bits of porcelain, apparently.

Got to fly out of the new airport in Bangkok - opened just a couple of weeks ago. Taxi is the best way to get there, and should cost about B300 (you'll be offered about B600 to start off), that's just about what it would be on the meter, traffic jams permitting.

The new airport is 'okay' - we thought the final asian rip-off would be the taxi, but there's another B500 to pay at the airport for departure tax. I'm sure we had paid all the departure taxes when we booked our RTW ticket.... Another pain with the airport is teh way the Duty Free area is laid out - yep, great bunch of fancy shops, but the strip must be about a mile long and it's a long walk to some of the gates.

ta ta Asia...

Paul and Chris

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