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We learnt a valuable lesson getting to Bangkok, dont sit in the front of a mini-bus as you can see the insane driving of the locals. We had an 8 hour ride from Koh Chang in an absurdly cramped mini-bus (hence we jumped in the front for a lot more leg room). The driving skills of our driver included: going the wrong way up a motorway slip road, driving in an imaginary 3rd lane on a dual carriageway, weaving in and out of traffic to avoid pot-holes in the road, and no respect for braking distances! It was no surprise that we saw 2 crashes on the way, including an over-turned car. Thailand driving leaves a lot to be desired!
Not to be outdone the taxi drivers show quite a good knack for business, 3 didnt know where our hotel was, the 4th dropped us off at the wrong one, finally the 5th got us there! Bangkok seems to be rip-off central for westerners, but the Lonely Planet book kept us one step ahead and we managed to avoid the usual scams. Shopping is a big thing here, with atleast 5 massive (and i mean massive-5 floors minimum) stores within walking distance, plus loads of market stalls with knock-off designer gear.
Mostly we've been visiting temples (Wats). We went to one of the ultra-modern cinemas for a VIP seat to watch Rocky (7 pounds for both of us!), got a tailored suit and dress, and went to the Patpong Night Market. All in all we quite like Bangkok, very much like Hong Kong really.
Off to Melbourne tomorrow, and i know we're both looking forward to being in a country where you're not looked at like a walking cash machine. We have liked Thailand, but we're not fans of the way its accepted that you pay 2,3,4 or 5 times as much as the locals if you're western.
Bye for now!
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