Here at last!

After long ride here, (including close call transfers, near missed stops and chance encounters) and a good night's sleep in my hotel, I woke up to crazy ass Bangkok. The city that never sleeps and, so far, never stops smiling. The food is delicious (I'll get to that in a minute) and the locals are unfailingly friendly. From passers on the street commenting on how tasty the food I'm eating must be to security guards and tired old men waving smiles and bows, this is by far the friendliest place I've ever been. I'm learning the language by practice.

Food wise I'm just starting out. Having gone to Chinatown and not finding as much varience in the street food as I'd hoped, I snuck down a cozy, hidden alleyway, unseen by most, to find a few old men smoking, and scratching by a pot of soup. Fearlessly :P I asked for a bowl of whatever was on offer, was told to sit down and tucked into my meal. There were definitely eggs (Quails I think) and what I learned to be raw liver and stomach of cow. Honestly, once you get past the first couple of mouthfuls and your own squamishness, stomach (tripe) is actually rather a good vehichle for the flavour of the soup, soaking it up like a sponge and releasing it with every chew. Not so sure about the liver, it was, well, raw liver. Meh. all in all though, Aroy Mak Krap! (very delicious)

I've written up a 'Bangkok bucket list' which I'll complete at least half of before moving on.

Meanwhile, most of my photos will be on facebook at: www.facebook.com/mikeanywhere.

Lots of love to anyone I know.

Mike