The journey began on Thursday 22nd January 2009!!!!! After leaving the Folks & Rache at the station (an emotional farewell!!) we headed for London via train. Flight to Bangkok was 11 hours, managed to just about keep my eyes open to watch Batman - no doubt assisted by the free Champagne we were given by Ben!!! (Head Air Steward - friend of Vanessa - cheers!!!).

Bangkok stinks!!!! Soon got to our hotel (just after I tactically left my camera in the taxi - good job I sprinted after him!!!) and the drinking began!! We found Gullivers Bar and were assured the Super Rams would be on - we only had 7 hours to kill after hardly any sleep!!! Any hoo, long story cut short - they lied, DCFC v Forest was not on - I was livid and found internet cafe - Chesney carried on partying with the locals!!!

Woke up the next day at 5pm!!! Whoops!!!! Ended out having another big night out via Ping Pong Show (very seedy and dodgy - had to go to experience it on the advice of Jackie and Arnie would you believe!!! - some of the things them ladies can do with certain parts of their body are incredible - Water turned into Pepsi for one!!!) then Hard Rock Cafe which again was entertaining - the bar allows a number of 'loose women' into the establishment....they harrass Western men - many take up the opportunity - we politely declined!!!! Live music in here was class!!! Then headed back to Khao San Road - met up with Chesney's friend then headed to some dirty club called Spicy....then back to Khao San, breakfast at the hotel and bed for 8am - good fun though!!

Missed daylight again!!!!! Had quiet night then hit all the sights the next day - Big Buddha, Wat Arat, Unlucky Buddha, Grand Palace, Long Tail Boat on Chao Pryan River.......

Today we met Johnny....the scrawny little Rat. I'd left the hotel before Chesney so sat outside waiting - your man Johnny approached me and promised that he'd take us to all the temples, Grand Palace etc for 5 BHAT (despite reading about all the scams I fell for it hook, line and sinker!!!!).

The Tuk Tuk drive started off as planned - we saw a few temples before he then played his trump card.......to get 'Free Gasoline' he'd take us to a Thai Centre - if we looked around he'd get his commission - everyone's a winner........fine we thought - we'd go with it - might pick up a bargain.

The Thai Centre turned out to be a Tailor's (n awful one at that). We walked in, sat down, browsed through a couple of catalogues and walked out.....Johnny's smiling face turned sour - he was not amused as we'd not stayed in there for long enough!!! So he then took us to a jewellers!!! We were NOT amused....said we'd stay in their for 10 minutes then come out....I bought couple of postcards and some hieous ear rings for about 200 BHAT (4 English pounds) - hoping that with his commission he'd leave us alone. The journey continued - another temple, before the scrawny little rat took us to a TAT (Tourist Travel Centre) - what the hell for we had no idea!!!

We walked in and sat down, discussed our plans with an advisor - he then created a package to Koh Samui, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan Ngang etc (inc. diving course) for 500 english pounds - I don't think he quite realised that we were NOT interested. Managed to shake him off, but by this time he'd passed the baton onto his Manager who immediately knocked 130 pounds off the price - we politely turned her down and said we;'d think about it - as we left the little weasel shouted instructions to the scrawny little rat in Thai (I assume it was on the basis of 'Bring them back later'!!!).

We then requested the Grand Palace Tour (as promised) ... another classic from Johnny the man - it was closed until the afternoon......with this we 'cut him loose', I chucked about 40 BHAT at him and we jumped in a taxi - the notorious Tuk Tuk men had got me - b*****!!!!!

Had fantastic view of the skyline form the Banyan Tree Hotel (61 floors high!!!) - really was tremendous - the photo's do NOT do it justice!!!!! After one full day of sun we headed to Vietnam and Saigon!!!!!