First proper day of my trip started far too early... Not seen this hour in a few months. Bags had to be all packed at checked out by 7am!

We got air-conditioned vans to take us on our day trip. On route to first attraction stopped off to see salt farms at side of the road. It consisted of shallow pits of see water and the sun evaporates the water an eventually leaves mounds of salt.

Then headed to a train Market. This is a Market that is located on top off a railway line. The stalls were selling raw meat of every animal (and every part of each animal) e.g. Chicken feet, frogs, whole pig heads. It was the worst smells I have ever smelt (which is saying something since I have worked with decomposing bodies). Eight times a day a train will need to pass and all stalls would flawlessly fold away within seconds and customers have to squeeze between stalls as not to get hit. It was a close call with our group because we did not realise how big the train was and how much squeezing was required, but many screaming Thai people soon alarmed us. The train passed and in seconds the stalls popped back out and resumed Market life.

Next stop was the famous floating Market. We were dropped off 45mims away from Market and travelled by an engined boat. Passing through canals to see the houses and people in the canal community. The floating Market was great, stalls at side of canals and also boats turned Into mobile stalls.

On the way back to the centre of Bangkok we stopped at a coconut farm and a wood engraving workshop. Their skills are unbelievable, if you draw a picture, they will make a 3d version by chiseling wood away.

Last stop in centre of Bangkok was khao San road. Busy Market street by day and pubs by night. Lots of tourists and so lots of Thai's hassling you to buy things. It was dirty and smelled, not my cup of tea.

17.30 - picked up bags from hotel was WALKED (which involved stairs) to the train station. Did I mention my rucksack weighed 19kg! I thought my back was gonna break! Hopped straight onto our train an settled down for our 13.5 hour train journey. The seats all transformed into bunkbeds with curtains (see picture) I got bottom bunk, was real cosy an comfy, I had a great sleep. Judging by the icicles growing from Rachel's nose and grumpy face, her experience of the top bunk was not as pleasant.

Next stop is the north of Thailand- chiang mai.