Hello Guys .. We have landed safe in Bangkok. Its early evening, hot but not so humid, which is an absolute blessing. Jade and I now at Bangkok airport deciding which mode of transport will be the cheapest and most cheerful, as the airport is situated on the outskirts of the city. We decide on taking a bus,I stop outside for a cigarette before going to find the bus terminal and we meet a couple who are smoking too (who said smoking is unsociable?); Clare and Angelo from the UK ,who have just arrived from Calcutta, India. They are taking a taxi to Khao San road, which is the next road to the one we are staying on, Angelo offers to share the taxi with us which works out cheaper than the bus and quicker too. We all cram into the taxi and I am sat in the front with Jades bag. We are driving towards high sky rise buildings in the distance, many lights and colours on the horizon too. We pass Temples and other places of interest... we are making mental notes to look on the map later. After the 30min taxi ride we arrive onto Rambuttri road; our home for the duration of our stay in Bangkok, The Green house Hostel. Jade and I quickly freshen up and meet Clare and Angelo in the entrance of Hostel, they have decided to stay at the Green house too.

Khao san road

so on the advice of our tour guides this evening, Clare and Angelo, who are what you would say Khao san road veterans. We head straight into the mixing pot, Its a scrimmage to say the least. A whirlwind of smells and people fill this neon cladded street, Its a complete hustle. There are Thai's trying to sell you everythin; ,Italian hand made suits but why you would want one in this heat I'll never know? Oh yes I guessed it... Its the special price ..men creeping up to you in your ear and saying "Ping Pong show sir" I'll leave that to you readers to guess what that is ! This street is action packed with bars, shops, restaurants and massage parlours , there are street vendors as far as the eye can see. Colourful, noisy, we are both speechless, yes... me speechless! You may think "impossible" but I assure you that it was only temporary as I was too busy filling my mouth with chicken lollipops and corn on the cobb!

We stop at a bar selling the cheapest bucket, the bucket is filled with a bottle of samsong (thai whiskey) over ice and served with redbull syrup (super strength and banned in uk) and sprite, a truly scrumptious concoction if you ask me . It was a very reasonable 4 pounds and enough for Jade and I to share with Clare and Angelo.With all of us now in full swing of the night, we have visited many bars and Jade and I are becoming rather tipsy, Inbetween bars Im again stocking up on Chicken lollipops, we head to a bar with a musician playing oasis and I'm cringing writing this but end up joining him on his pedestal for a good old sing song whilst Jade is laughing her head off and filming me ... we think it is now time to call it a night , what a fantastic experience we have had ... dreading the hangover in the morning.

Grand Palace and Wat pho

It's 9am. which is early for us.(with no hangovers thank goodness) We make tracks to the grand palace which is located about a 20min walk from Khao san road, but we decide to opt for "TUK TUK" the thais answer of the trike , some what a bit more comfortable, and sturdier , than the Filipina trikes,The Tuk Tuk driver swinging round corners its thrill to say the least. As we get out the Tuk Tuk(paying him 60baht which is overpriced ) a lady is pointing at my legs, I'm panicking thinking I have some kind of nasty beetle on my leg, theres nothing, so we head to the entance of this vast fort. "NO SHORTS SIR", a Thai guard shouts at me through a megaphone, this is what this old lady must of been on about. So i cross back over the road, Jade directing the traffic. The lady is laughing at me and has conveniently got a trouser stall set up right outside the gate. So I am now wearing elephant print baggy linen trousers which tickled Jade somewhat (although Jade loved these pants and has now stolen them from my suitcase), they did look rather comical on me I must say.

After this calamity,we head to get tickets, a little walk and you can now see the grandness of this Grand Palace , with the brightness of the sun reflecting off of the gold statues that fill the spectacular grounds.the dazzling, spectacular Grand Palace... undoubtedly the city's most famous landmark, and for 150 years the home of the Thai King, the Royal court and the administrative seat of government - the Grand Palace of Bangkok is a grand old dame indeed, and which has Jade and I in awe with its beautiful architecture and intricate detail, all of which is a proud salute to the creativity and craftsmanship of Thai people. Within its walls were also the Thai war ministry, state departments, and even the mint. Today, the complex remains the spiritual heart of the Thai Kingdom. Also in the grounds is the Emerald Buddha,which is made from hand carved Jade. Jade obviously loved this.

Wat Pho -Wat Phra Chetuphon as the Thais like call it,Thailands Largest Reclining Buddha

After eating some rather enjoyable and fragrant dishes from a bustling street market situated outside the front of the Grand Palace grounds, we take a slow stroll around the walled fort of the Palace. The pedestrian path filled with street vendors selling Royal Regalia, and all kinds of Buddhist artifact. We stop on the bank of the Chao Phraya River, which runs through Bangkok, and is over flowing due to the recent floods of the city. Next stop... Wat Pho temple. This is situated behind the rear of the Grand Palace's huge walls. As we enter the grounds of there is a beautiful garden with a small man made waterfall and pond , there is a Thai Toddler with a cane and a spoon attached, I thought she was trying to catch the fish, Jade points out to me she is trying to scoop the money out. As she is trying though she loses the spoon, Karma some would say, and she proceeds to sob and call for her mum. As we walk around the grounds there are many different Gold Statues of Buddha, 394 to be exact, these have come from the old ruins from other cities. The ground has many Chapels, Rock gardens and array of different types of statues, inscriptions, belltowers, even pogodas made of porcelain. There are many Monks walking round, some are chanting and praying in the small temple situated at the rear of Wat pho. We enter the highly impressive gold plated reclining Buddha which is 46meters long and 15meters high, It is illustrating Buddha in his final state of Nirvana, The feet are encrusted with intricate mother of pearl characters, A skill only one could dream, it would take forever to master this craft. We leave the temple but not before placing our coins in the fortune pots, 108 bowls that depict the auspicious characters of Buddha. By dropping the coins it is meant to bring you good fortune.