Ok so early train into Bangkok and we headed for our accomadation which we'd arranged last time we were here. Once we had dropped our stuff we took no prisoners and went straight back out to Chatuchack Market. We continued our we dont need taxis unless absolutely necessary and got on the canal taxi (poo boat) and then the sky train. It was soooooo hot but we both bought some t-shirts and many food items - yum yum. We got back and struggled to get the Mongolian visa forms printed off largely because most places seemed to be under the misconception that they were printing on gold leaf so charged a fortune but finally got there.

Monday saw us visit the Mongolian embassy which was like a top secret 007 camp in a back alley guarded by big mean dogs. But we handed our forms and passports in and were told to come back Wednesday, although they seemed a little surprised anyone would want a visa.

Today was tourist day where we were aiming to tick off the main Buddhas and get some royal things done. We walked to the area and started to notice very flooded shops and yes after last nights storm the river had burst its banks, not majorly. ALthough one street we walked down seemed to have alot of cockroaches escaping the sewers so it was preety bad. We navigated the sea of cockroaches without screaming - yay! We headed to Wat Pho, for the Reclining Buddha ignoring the crazy, scammy tuk tuk drivers - " Its closed today" - Lies!! The Buddha was very cool, very big and just amazing. ALthough my blond moment for the day was had "How did that get it in?"
Then to the Grand palace ignoring again "its closed" - no it isnt! It never is they LIE!!!!
This was interesting and Ive decided I love reading the Thai history of the temples of images largely as they dont make sense or dont match anything else Ive ever read. The Emerald Buddha was small and Im going to be honest everything that houses it is the most amazing beautiful things. After another street food stall lunch we went to the Siam museum which is new but is free till tomorrow and it was great fun. Told the history of Thais but it was reall interactive. There were buttons - Janec could have stayed there forever. Another astronamic storm stopped a night out tonight but we did get soaked to the absolute skin.

Today we though lets see a film as it was Siam Paragons Cinemas cheap day so we headed out on the poo boat and saw 'Red'. it was good. Ive still got to get used to standing fot the national anthem. We also managed to get anouther memory card - hes filled one think how many photos that is. We decided to drink tonight and somehow managed to drink a bottle of SAngsom at our hotel then we decided to go out just to see the action on Khao san Road (as it is a SAngsom party at hte moment) we ended up very much staying out and had another Sangson which constitued my first bucket. yay! We did manage to get home in the wee hours.

Waking up on Thursday was hard but Janec didnt trust me to go get the passports so he went. Im never trusted, I may have fallen pver walked into a road and got drunk but Im a fully growm adult. ANyhow we got a visas although the Mongolians managed to spell Janecs name wrong, an impressive feat considering they had his passport. But its all OK. The afternoon saw us head up the Golden Mount where we saw a beautiful temple and got some great views of Bangkok.

Today we headed to Chinatown on the river taxis (not so pooey boat). We wandered the amazing markets and then went for the caviar of the east, birds nest soup. It was tasty very sweet almost like rice pudding.

Tomorrow we are heading to the markets and making last preparations for our border crossing to Cambodia. We will be stopping the night on Sunday in the Thai border town.

Bangkok has been great, not as bad as people make out but weve tried to use different forms of transport which has made it fun and cheap. Its also meant we get to see another side of it.

Anyhows hopefully next time we'll have made it to Cambodia with tales of Angkor.

Much Love

Ruth and Janec

xxxx

PS there is a new blog before this from Kanchanaburi too.