Hey all,

well we arrived in a very hot and humid Bangkok Monday. We made it to our hotel about 6.30 so didnt get up to much on Monday. We are really struggling with the jet lag as it is 7 hours in front here. Its a bit of a nightmare when it is also 97 degrees outside!!

Bangkok is a bit different from what we expected. The first thing that hit us when we came out of the airport is the heat, but not like brilliant sunshine heat, more like humid/pollution heat, it really is so sticky here. It's quite weird to see but all the wee traffic police look like something out of robocop, with their wee black outfit and pollution masks! It is quite poverty sticken in places which are right next to plush modern hotels, offices and shops. There are lots of little shacks here that I can only assume are people's houses and even the shops look like little mental sheds. Even though everything is in Thai and English and all the shops/big companies are American, no one can really speak English or understand what they mean. There are loads and loads of stray dogs here too, just roaming about the streets. It is really is another world, although it does seem a bit familiar with Tesco, McDonalds, KFC etc. Our hotel is not very central so I think that we are getting to see the different side to Bangkok rather than just the touristy bits, which is a good thing. The food here is amazing and touch wood both our tummy's are feeling fine!

We took a wee trip into Chinatown last night, OMG what an experience that was! They are in the middle of monsoon season here and we got caught up in a tropical storm! But it was still something else...Chinatown is just a sea of street vendors and small cramped alleyways. We got absolutely soaked to the skin within 5 seconds of leaving the taxi, with nowhere to shelter and no brolli me and lee just looked at each other and laughed as it was a bit surreal. We just took a stroll through all the stalls, selling some weird stuff, before heading back to the hotel as we couldn't have been wetter if we had been in a shower!

We also took a wee trip to Tesco! haha it was a bit surreal to say the least. The best part is that they have Dunken Donuts over here mmmmm...good times!

We still have lots to see and do in Bangkok. We are taking a trip to the Ko San road tonight, mainly because we are in desperate need of people who speak english haha!! We also are off to see the Grand Palace tomorrow and some temples. Although I don't think that Bangkok is really the place for us it has been such an experience but we are looking forward to leaving the smog, smell and concrete behind in favour of some sunkissed islands.

The taxi drivers are mad over here, it is like wacky races! and they all try and get away with not putting the meter on so they can get more money. Honestly it is worse than edinburgh on a saturday night!!

Lots of love Siobhan & Lee