Well it's day 1, and what a long day it has been. Started off leaving Heathrow at 10pm and landing in Thailand at 9am UK time. The flight was uneventful, apart from one passenger's chair kept reclining and the cabin staff fixed it with a plastic knife. Genius!

We made it to our hotel around 6.30 pm (11.30am GMT) where a mob of bell boys surrounded the car and took all our cases away. By the time we were checked in we had just enough time to slot in a couple of free cocktails in the bar before heading out to find somewhere to eat. The hotel is very impressive, we were upgraded to the club suites which gives us access to all kinds of extras. Not least the aforementioned cocktails and wireless internet access. As I'm sat here typing in my room I'm freezing because I have no idea how to turn the air conditioning off.

We took a walk up the street to find something to eat. We found a nice place inside a shopping arcade. It's the kind of place where you choose which fish you want to eat, you know the sort? Sherie and I went for a mean looking prawn soup whilst Mum and Dad had Thai green curry. Whilst we ate, there was a classical Thai band playing music and dancers dancing which made it all feel very surreal.

Forgot to mention the weather. We stepped out of the airport to be greeted by very warm humid air. It felt so much better than when we left the UK. As we were walking back from the restaurant it was still the same so it's looking good for the rest of the week.

James