So far Thailand lives up to our memories. Of course there are new hotels and even a mall now but something's never change. They tried, with smiles, to con us before we had even cleared immigration. You could stand in the go-slow queue or pay extra for the fast queue. Interestingly there were no official signs and the immigration officers were working the long queues showing you hand writing bits of paper advertising what looked like their little side deal. They take security and tourist safety very seriously here, even having an on site bomb disposal unit in the airport, who's symbol appears to be a buzzard, no idea why but maybe buzzards are good in a crises.
Arrived in a huge thunder storm. Our taxi driver had to take off his shoes to wade to the taxi to drive it to higher ground for us and the luggage to get in. After some seaweed flavour crisps (tasty) we checked in to have the hotel explain how much extra overnight guests cost - they mean how much you have to pay if you increase the room occupancy by hiring a girlfriend for the night. Then a wander around town to get our bearings. David was observing the local native dancing, which seemed to involve poles, then another torrential down pour drove us into a food court complex- yummy - diner for 2 for £4. Mind it's gone up from our last trip here in 2005 when dinner was £1 each. We found wifi but the only available free public wifi was the Seduction Nightclub. It was all in Thai so we don't know what we've agreed to but David gave their website a long look at just in case.