Thai New Year. The first I notice of New Year is when I arrive down stairs in the morning and am presented with a flower necklace and perfumed flour mixture. When later I head outside there is a continuous stream of pickup trucks filled with local children who are armed with water guns, and bowls of water, while others wait in ambush at the side of the road with more water and hosepipes. As I wander down the street it doesn't take long before I also become a...

Riots! On our last evening in Bangkok we visited Khao Shan Road, a popular tourist center for Westerners. On the return journey, the roads around the democracy monument have been closed. We walk through anyway and see people all dressed in red t-shirts listening to speeches being broadcast from a lorry. After some enquires, I gather that these are anti-govornment protesters and that a large meeting is planned the next day. In order to avoid the city center, ...

Seeking a break from Bangkok, we decided to head north of the city to the old capital of Thailand. Ayutthaya was the capital city until the 1750s when it was demolished by the Burmese. Throughout the center are many Aztec like ruins which are quite a contrast to Bangkok. Suffering from a lackof time, we decide to take a tuk tuk driver upon his offer and try to see as many temples as possible within an hour. Once finished we head for the station for the delayed...

Anyone who thinks that London is busy and overcrowded, that France is cheap or Spain hot, should come to Bangkok! Roads are filled with cars motor bikes and tuk tuks while the footways have inpromptu market stalls every few metres selling food of every description. Scattered around the city are several wats or buddist temples which provide a welcome relief to the noise. There are far too many to list here but highlights include the emerald buddha (made of jade),...