So where did we leave off...? oh yeah, Saturday night, we went out as a big group for some food to celebrate that we had managed to not die or get run over by a tuctuc in our first week. We went to this massive buffet place round the corner from my street. it was quite nice and they had lots and lots of seafood...I ate a HUGE big snail....I cant say I liked it, best bit was our waiter was a lady-boy who insisted on showing me how it was done properly before feeding me a big slobbery looking snail on the end of a cocktail stick. Obviously it was kinda gross but he/she was looking at me so intensely that I kinda had to rub my belly and go 'mmmmmm' before rushing off to the hole in the floor to spit it back out again...yuck! Sunday: we went to judajak market, this is one of the biggest weekend markets in the world. It is HUGE! It is HOT and it is BONKERS! they sell everything you can ever imagine from monkeys to fried chicken feet to bed linen and hair products...I saw a pet stall where they had thousands of little animals all in cages that were hardly big enough to put the animal in stacked up on top of each other, some of them were even dead but still in a cage. What was worse was the huge sign above saying 'no photos' which meant that the people running the stall obviously knew they were not being nice to the animals. Its not new thought because you walk down the street and there are many many dogs with no legs, broken legs, open wounds with maggots the lot, and you see people throwing things at them and kicking them...it's completely different to the UK...
Monday: I went to Kosan Road again today for lunch with a couple of the people I work with, It was nice. We went to the road which runs just next to it, its slightly less expensive and the music is much more relaxing. They don't play hardcore music at all hours of the day. I ordered a cheeky wee cocktail which came out in a tiny little tumbler...it was incredibly strong and i felt very very drunk with only one glass. It was kinda funny after that as I was walking around with a huge grin on my face while people were trying to sell me stuff...from there we got a bus to MBK which is a massive super mall...its bigger than the ones I went to when I was in the USA. The top floor alone was miles upon miles of mobile phones and laptops....I was looking at the ipads and I can get the new one with wifi for £300...I( wouldn't mind knowing if that is a good deal as I have decided I need to buy something to get skype on.) Anyway I soon had enough as I was shattered so I went home to sleep...
Tuesday: Did my first teaching project today....we were working with a load of kids from the troubled area down south. They were lovely kids, all very smiley and they were ever so excited to see us. running up and giving us hugs... :D I obviously forgot what I was doing and did my whole lesson wrong but hey...the kids didn't notice as I don't think they really had any idea what was going on...we were just a bunch of white people that were playing games with them. I learnt a couple more things in Thai today, like how to ask for the bill and directions...I got over excited about this while I was having my tea and announced at what I thought was going to be fairly quietly but came out like a fog horn...check bin noi ka...and the waiter almost fell over in hysterical laughter...
Wednesday: Observed a holiday club today, there were two small boys who are like the Thai version of d*** and Dom, they were amazingly cute and very very funny. i kept being told by all the Thai Teachers that these kids were a MASSIVE deal...so I guess i can now say I have taught someone famous. lol. After a long day of observing me and a girl called Vicky decided to go on a hunt for more work trousers...everything I own is sooooo hot! We went to kosan (i think that place is going to me the death of me) on a hunt. We managed to find 2 pairs of black linen pants for 150 bht...not a bad deal. we then decided to have a small cocktail to celebrate. We ended up in a nice bar with a big pond and amazing toilets with scented hand towels and everything. We lost track of time chatting about nothing much and then had to dash home ready for another 5.30am start. :( I managed to direct the taxi in Thai back to the apartment block so I'm hoping very soon to be able to top up my phone and ask for an international phone card... this whole not speaking the language thing really is a massive problem when you move somewhere. If someone ever tells you people speak English in Bangkok-they are lying!
Thursday: I observed a chap called Stef today working in a school with pre-school and kindergarten kids...yeah thats not for me. They cry and scream so much! In the evening I cleaned my flat and did a whole lot of un-interesting stuff that I wont bore you with.
Friday-This was a LONG LONG day, I was working in a Catholic school. It was a lovely school and the day was good, but I was in the office from 6.45 to 4.30. I was shattered. The worst thing was the school had no aircon so I was sweating like something else...and no matter how much water you drank it didn't get any better. i really hope I climatise soon as this is starting to become painful. Once again the toilets were much to be desired...although I have now just about mastered the art of using the hole in the floor...these guys didn't have loo roll or paper of any kind...they had a scoopy thing, and some news paper...I'm just thinking that a big mess waiting to happen with running ink the lot...but what ever floats their boats. I guess I'm just going to have to man up and realize that I will not be using anything like Andres for the next year or so...After the day had finished I went to a bar near work for a quick drink...it was good. Although once again half a bottle of beer and I was giggling like anything. I guess Thailand makes me a lightweight. After finally getting home we arranged to go out for dinner. We ended up in a new place not far from the flat that we had not been to before. It was AMAZING! It was without a doubt the best food I have had since i have been here. I think I have now found where I am taking Sam on his first day in Thailand...its a good place to try traditional food. Although as a warning to anyone...if you don't like spice...eating here is HARD!!!! best bit about this meal was that it was only 45 bht for rice and an amazing prawn soup!
Saturday: Had a long lie in, it was amazing! I then went on an adventure and we found an army base near the flats which have a swimming pool. :D we were advised on the route to take and we got a tuctuc, it wasn't far, but we went through some crazy looking slums. There were 4/5 high containers piled up on top of each other...with holes chopped out of the sides and ladders running up to a slightly bigger hole....we went past and people just stared. I really want to go and help but I'm scared at the same time. I know I have to wait until my Thai is much better but I hadn't realized that there was a worse slum near me than the one i live next to... :( The rest of the day was good. We just hung out in the pool and chilled. It was ace...I got a bit of colour and feel much better. for the evening we had a couple of drinks and stuff once again in Kosan...we have decided we shall not go there for a while as we seem to live in that place. Before getting a taxi home we saw an on street club.It was a DJ stand playing tunes and then someone plugging and un-pplugging lights while a group of hippy looking people danced around. There were loads of them...as we walked past we say it was a reggai night so obviously they must have all been high or something which seems weird as its one of the big things people get deported for. The homeless guy was then round the corner...we see him lots, and he was just laughing away to himself. I was trying to figure out if it would be worse to be homeless in Bangkok or London...I know that sounds weird but its warm here...and you can buy water for as cheap as 1bht...I think this is going to be a thought that will be continually on my mind.
Sunday: Woke up late again today, I have been a little sick this week as I think my stomach has finally set up a protest to chilli. I went back to the pool and did some serious sunbathing and swimming...it was lovely! I think i may have found my weekend haven! :D i know i should want to sight see but I kinda want to wait until Sam gets here as nothing seems to really be that interesting when your tagging along with other couples...Sometimes I find myself feeling a little bit lost and not knowing what to do. People are really nice but its not very friendly and I think I'm starting to miss my friends and family. I know I will be fine in a few days and its all part of the experience...but 2 weeks in and its kinda becoming a reality rather than a day dream...and you know what I miss the most....TOILET ROLL!!!
The over all week has gone well-I am struggling with the heat and stuff but I think that is more because of the cloths we are expected to wear. I need more suntan loation but Im finding it very hard to find anything which doesnt have whitening in it... :S strange thing that. Oh and bug bites suck...im and head to toe covered in blisters from the reaction I seem to have to the wonderful little flies! Not impressed. I just hope things start calming down soon as I'm really not in the best of shape this weekend...blisters, bad stomach, hot and sweaty and well a grumpy grumpy Charli! :p