The plane touched down in an extremely hot and humid Bangkok at 3.45pm on Friday 1st May. Having expected the airport to be incredibly busy and noisy I was shocked to find it very calm - maybe the political problems have deterred some people from visiting. I was lucky to find my backpack waiting for me when I reached the carousel- there's a first for everything - and cleared customs to find a lady holding up a sign with my name on for the airport - hotel bus transfer. Easy! After a short wait for the other 3 passengers going to hotels nearby we boarded the mini-bus and I got chatting to a lady on a career break called Audra who, like me, was just starting her travels.

With conversation flowing it seemed like no time before we reached the Khao San Road where our hotels were situated by.

I checked into the Sawasdee Inn, the room was very basic but fine for the one night I had to spend in it. I then met up with Audra for dinner. We grabbed noodles from a street vendor and took a browse along the Khao San Road. The sights, sounds (and smells!) instantly hit me on this bustling restaurant /market street as I fended off the market stall holders trying to sell me new suits (I've lost count of how many times i've been approached by tailors!) t-shirts and other items. It was too touristy for me with its Irish Bar, Mcdonalds and Burger King but the next street, Soi Rambutri, was quieter and felt far more authentic.

On Day 2 I checked out of the Sawasdee Inn and headed to the Trang Hotel where my GAP Adventures tour was starting. I got a tuk-tuk to the hotel and in doing so got ripped off by being carted to the so called Tourist Information board on the way. It's not the official tourist centre and I think the tuk-tuk drivers get commission or gas for bringing westerners there. Anway, having literally walked straight in and then back out I was then dropped at the hotel which was just a few yards down the road.

At check in I got speaking to a nice couple called Tulgar and Caroline who were both on gap years from uni. They had a few hours to kill before leaving and I was waiting for the tour meeting at 6pm so we went for lunch, had iced coffee and took a stroll whilst discussing our travel plans.

Back at the hotel, the tour meeting gave me the opportunity to meet the rest of the group and our guide. There were 9 of us in total - 5 english girls, 2 danish guys, a dutch girl and me. The guide, Pon Sing, referred to me as 'Mr Paul' which stuck with the rest of the group. After all the important info was covered we went out for dinner and a few drinks to get better acquainted. We sat sipping cocktails outside a bar playing Bob Marley on Rambutri St - it doesn't get much better than that! We got back to the hotel before midnight and I was lucky enough to have a room to myself as there was only 3 guys on the tour.

On Day 3 we took in the Grand Palace and Wat Pho, the home of the country's largest reclining buddha. It's an amazing model finished in gold leaf and is 46m long and 15m high.

In the evening we left Bangkok to catch the overnight train (journey time of 13 hrs!) to the largest city in northern Thailand, Chiang Mai, where our jungle trek began!

More to follow soon!