hi people. Been a few days so best update you. The last few days in bangkok i went to see Wat Phara Kaeo and the grand palace which are within the same walls. Took a taxi down which cost 50p !! bargin. When i walked upto the gate some 2 thai guys stopped me to tell me that i wasnt aloud in without trainers, long trousers (or past the knee) and a t-shirt on, ( i had flip flip flops, shorts and a vest on !!) so i had to treck half way back to the hotel, then realised that the taxi was only 50p so went back picked up some clothes and went back now fully dressed and swetting my Ar?e off. The place is just covered in gold, gold, gold every where and diamonds, emeralds, rubys every thing just shines. Wat phra kaeo is were the Emerald Buddha sits, the buddha its self is quite small but the area surrounding again in all gold. when you go into the temple you have to take your trainers off and when you sit down you are not aloud to point your feet at the buddha. i managed to stand on some one on the way in haha ne mind. you also cant take photos of this buddha from inside the temple but this is the only buddha it applies to. The next day i went a little further down the road to Wat Pho which is older than the city of bangkok itself (oh yes im full of knowlege now). Wat pho is still full of gold but alot older and nicer than the rest very peacfull. The buddha at this one is the reclining buddha and is 45 meters long, its honestly massive you cant fit the whole thing in on a picture. Later decided to wonder around the streets of bangkok which was good, every one is very friendly, but most of them just want you to buy something. That night met the tour group, they are all yop people. we went out to a local street resturant and eat more spicy food !! Alison im getting used to it, mostly because i dont know what it is b4 i put it in my mouth, Bex you should see some of the fish in the street stalls, some are not even dead you would love it !! he he. erm... ah, then we all went across the road to a tiny blues bar that have a live band (apparently the best in bangkok) and to be fair it was good, played every thing from Ben Harper to Booker t. top night. in the moring did more shopping (every thing is too cheap to say no) have already had to send a box of things on to oz as cant carry them (thaks anna and steve xx) Got the Night train to north west thailand, Chang Mai last night, 13 hour trip from 6pm - 7am, the train was sooooo slow at times no wonder 13 hours !! its hard to explain how but the seats turn into bunk beds. but the whole trip was such a laugh, they have a resturant carrage whice plays music and has disco lights on the roof and the more you drink and the later it gets the louder the music gets and it ends up being full of people swaping tables and singing and drinking and talking and drinking met loads of people from all over the world but we all spoke drunk so it was good. slept ok to say i was on the top bunk of a moving train. so arrived early this morning, had brekfast and went to see another temple way up the the clouds, the taxi's in chang mai are like pick up trick, you put your bags on the roof and if its full 2 people hang off the back, good fun (its fine mum i have insurance xx) we where very lucky when we got there as there was a bonk giving blessings (happens once over week or so not for long) you sit in front of him and he blesses you by first sprinkling water over you and the tying some string round your wrist that you wear for 6 days and will bring you luck. We are going to see a lady boy show either tonight or thurs apparntly very good, John will get you some pics for youer own entertainment. but for the next 3 days will be on the tribe treck which includes the elephant riding and bamboo rafting, so if i come back in one peice (again a joke mum) i will email and update you then. hope every one is well. love nik ps sorry that was supposed to say a monk giving blessings not bonk !!!