We arrived in Bangkok on tha night bus, which was very comfortable - infinitely more so than the one from Luang Prabang. That was the day before yesterday. Fortunately the hotel we decided to stay at let us check in early (4am) so we were able to get to sleep and not waste the whole of that day. We got up later and Claire went to visit the Royal Palace (I've seen it 3 times - didn't really want to do it again) and I went to a very nice hospital to get my ...

Arrived back in Bangkok on Friday with Tom. We'd had a great time on Ko Tao, although it was a bit strange because it's the end of the season, so it was much quieter than I remembered it. The weather was good and we did lots of sunbathing (tom got burnt!! I seemed to have perfected the art of not getting too toasted in the sun!! Genius!!) and we also went snorkelling, which was really good - it's so amazing to see all the fish and they swin really close to you! ...

Went to Chatujak market today!! You can buy absolutely everything under the sun there!! From frying pans to puppies (photos especially for you tom (batho)), kittens, clothes, food, arrange parcel shipping, wardrobes - you name it!! Was very exciting - spent the whole day there!! Bought quite a lot of stuff (hadn't bought anything until today) spent 34pounds which is a lot since my budget is 15pounds a day, but i felt i deserved a treat!! (not sure why) Will have ...

Had a very nice day today. Got up late. Went to the Suan Pakkad Palace (used to be a cabbage farm - so it's translated to be the Cabbage Palace in English!! Made me laugh!) It was a really lovely collection of Teak houses on sticks set in a small graden with ponds and fish etc - was very nice and quite different to the rest of Bangkok. To get there I had to use the MRT (subway) and the skytrain. That was cool too - very clean and efficient and some grea...

Went to Indian Market today -lots of colourful silks. went to Monk Bowl Village where they make the monk bowls - the only place left!! Was interesting - especially seeing them make them. They're made from 8 peices of steel (representing the 8 spokes of the wheel of Dharma) and the joints are fused in a wood fire with bits of copper. The bowl is then polished and lacquered. Also went to another temple - this one was good - called the Golden Mount - it'...