Everyone has heard the saying "Bangkok is the city that never sleeps"! Well that may be so but the locals sure don't get going early in the morning! I suppose the fact it was Sunday had something to do with it. We were told Sunday is supposed to be "family day" for Thais.

We started the day walking the streets for our daily exercise. This followed a good breakfast at the hotel for the amazing price of 150 baht for two people! This, of course, was thanks to our hotel group discount card.

I really wanted to get plenty of photos today to post on this site. Early on there was not much happening so I came back to the hotel to update yesterday's blog.

If you remember from yesterdays adventures we had to return to the optometrist to collect Ron's "eye glass". I don't know where they find the staff but there were two new assistants in addition to yesterday's team! I have no idea why I didn't say outside because I endured the sunglasses sales process again. You've got to give it to 'em...the don't give up. Anyway, I left empty handed mainly because I just couldn't explain well enough that I needed polarized lenses in the sunglasses. They thought I wanted Polaroid brand sunnies which they, naturally, did not stock.

We spent the best part of the day browsing the stores and stalls in this part of Bangkok, skipped lunch to save our waistlines and wallets, and as evening fell the famous Bangkok nightlife started to reveal itself.

Street vendors began busily pushing their carts and trolleys into place, every imaginable product started to appear on tables and storefronts. The food sellers prepared for the evening trade and I watched in interest while one tossed fresh ingredients into a large mortar and pestle and quickly turned the assortment into a pale brown prawn paste that was spooned into small plastic bags. Eager customers quickly purchased his product as soon as it was made.

We ate dinner at a small local restaurant with other farangs and some local people. The kitchen was on the outside of the restaurant along the pavement. Outdoor kitchens with indoor dining is very common in Thailand and this arrangement allows customers to easily see the freshness and quality of the ingredients for themselves.

We called into a very small bar almost next door to our hotel for a beer after our meal. If ever there is a bar in this city totally devoid of atmosphere then this is it! The owner said the bar was newly opened, just before Christmas 2007, and she had not the time or money to invest in anything more than second hand bar funiture and five bar stools! Still, it was slightly more sophisticated than the mobile bars that visitors to Chiang Mai would be familiar with!

There was a small portable CD stereo on a small storage cabinet towards the back of the bar that provided the musical entertainment for the lucky patrons. Unfortunately business was not good and we were the only customers in the place. Clearly we were desperate for a cool drink!

Things did not improve as the beer bottles emptied. The music was changed from Thai language classics to English language hits from the eighties. When Ron and John started to sing along to the tunes I knew we were in for a rough night. I don't think the boys realised that some of the songs were not even by the original artists!

We did not want to offend our gracious hosts so we ordered another round and retired to the "outside lounge tables", which were also VERY second hand, to finish our drinks and make a discrete and speedy getaway once we had paid. We dismissed our appaling judgement of this establishment as a suitable party venue as being the result of jet lag and lack of sleep. I must report however that it was John who suggested we enter this place for "a beer"! Enough said.

Let's hope things are more exciting in Pattaya tomorrow!