First full day in Bangkok

I have been sold (ok they tried to sell me) at least 2 dozens suits, one tuk tuk tried to con me into not taking me to see one of the main monument of bangkok (wat Pho) because 'it was closed' and wanted to show me 'other things' (I let your imagination go wild there !)

Except for that, and feeling still jet lagged (mind you, i didn't get to bed until 11 o'clock last night.. and not the most sober either.. so no surprise I'm still feeling rough. I did sleep like a dream tho !

I was thinking about hitting the red district tonight (and finally meet those ladyboys :) but I might give it a miss.. I met some guys last night who are going to watch the footie tonight (england australia)... ok I don't care about footie but it could be fun and it'll defnitely be cheaper then the red district (had a meal for 45 p at lunch time.. and not bad at all at that!!)

Other than that, impressions of bangkok.. noisy, smelly, hyper active, dirty (not so much the streets, but the buildings), VERY polluted... at the same time, I quite enjoy it, it's a bit of a culture shock but it's modern enough that it is easing me into it.. and Khao San road is so full with westerners that it feels pretty harmless. For those who worry (!), I have discovered that I can get someone to wash my clothes for 30 baths (35 p per kilos).. so no crisis there :)

I'm stuck here till monday now as I have got an agency to get me a visa for Laos which won't be ready until then. I have done Bangkok today (well the most important bits) so need to decide on what to do tomorrow... maybe make it to the Death bridge (the one on the river kwai) or the old capital... and if i get up early enough (yeah right) i might go to the floating market.

Yeah, today I went to see Wat Pho (which is where the biggest buddha in Thailand is, 43 meters and lying on the floor as he prepares to enter nirvana)... covered in gold leaves, it was pretty impressive, the rest of the ground had temples of various buddhas in various positions as well as funeral monuments. From there I went on to the Grand palace, which used to be the official royal residence. That was pretty cool, it's divided in two parts, one for the emerald buddha and one for the old royal residence.. The emerald buddha area is v impressive with various temples and religious monuments. The royal residence were all being done up.. so not much photo opp !

And this afternoon, I went with some guy to China town.. that was brilliant, heaving, hot, smelly, cramped, bustling.. some VERY weird looking foodstuff... and we bumped into a procession of Chinese dragons, acrobats and boudhist monks, all that adding to the noise and confusing.. great fun.

Well, that's about it for today... Oh yes, also, I have spent part of the evening yesterday and the day today with some canadian guy.. and good old me helped him decide to divorce his wife !!!

Ok, it's not strictly true, i just helped him think it through... (quite boring story.. which I'm getting tired of, so I'll pass on the details)

Anyway, everyone take care

Bisous