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Have been putting this off for a few days but have now decided to make a start while I work the last of the new years alcohol out of my system.
29/12/08
Arrived into Bangkok around midnight, it's pretty hot and humid here despite being so late, I grab the most 'official' looking taxi I can find and head for the hostel. Got a few views of the city from the taxi, the parts I saw were quite run down (particularly where I am staying!). Every corner has street vendors selling food I'm not quite ready to risk yet....! There are also pictures of the king everywhere, in a lot of them he is holding a map and a camera looking like a confused tourist, quite strange.
Got to the hostel quite late, started chatting to a couple of americans but couldn't convince them to go out so I went to bed.
30/12/07
Got up surprisingly ealry and went on the hunst for some breakfast in Bangkok, after walking around 2 miles and seeing nothing but dodgey looking street vendors I was quite relieved to find a McDonalds, very shameful but I didn't care at that point! I started walking towards the centre and a local started talking to me, within 5 mins he pushed me onto a tuk-tuk (moped with back seats) and I was on my way to the tourist information centre. I was sure I was about to be murdered, conned or possibly both. They went for the second option and I booked a place at a hotel on one of the islands, I'm told this is the spot to be in for new years as it's where they have the full moon parties. It is quite expensive but the hotel looks nice and didn't fancy being in the city for new years, so I book to leave that night.
Got back on the tuk-tuk (riding these is definately the highlight of the trip so far!) They weave around 5 lanes of traffic, not always on the right side of the road, and I can only assume traffic lights don't apply to them (the ones that work anyway...) great fun! He drives me around for half an hour for about 30p, then drops me in Sian Square, which is the shopping centre of the city.
After a bit more sight seeing head back to the hostel and pack up for the trip to the Island. This was a 12 hour bus ride, followed by 30 mins in the taxi, another hour in the bus, 2 hours on a boat and another taxi ride to the hotel.
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