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Got to Finsbury Park and the train on the Victoria Line platform was making a hell of a noise. It didn’t look like the doors were opening either so I jumped on a Piccadilly line train instead. Went to Green Park where I heard that the Vic line was suspended because of same train so I was relieved that my timing had been pretty damn perfect.

Checked in online the night before I left but my printer wouldn’t print the boarding card so I was panicking over that, needless to say it wasn’t a problem and I sailed through . Once on the plane though I was stuck between two old dears. One of whom had absolutely no sense of MY PERSONAL SPACE. So i spent the next 6 ½ hours being dug in the ribs or her leaning up against my leg. Most annoying though was her insistence to talk to me when I was clearly watching a film.

So currently in Dubai airport where I’m typing this up, drinking a Mojito (the worst one I ever had for the record) and looking forward to the next part of the flight. Well a bit anyway, just hope I get a better seat this time.

It’s 28o at the moment and my jeans are sticking to my legs. God knows what Bangkoks going to be like. Am thinking of getting out of there as soon as possible.

Part 2

Went to board the plane and there was a massive group of people travelling from (I think) Saudi. They looked like Thai Muslims and were wearing all the long robes and everything but what really stood out was the coughing. At least half of them were hacking away and about a quarter of them were wearing masks. There were 2 Polish girls who came in who immediately covered their mouths with hankies and looked about as horrified as I was. The thought of sitting squeezed in between 2 of them for 6 hours while they coughed and spluttered and passed on their swine flu or whatever it was made my heart sink. Only for it to be lifted again when I was told that I’d been upgraded to business.

So I ignored the coughin club and went to board the plane. Class. Flight was lovely, not much to say about it really as I managed to sleep quite a bit. But seats were comfortable, food was terrific, bit too much wine but that helped me sleep like a baby anyway .

I didn’t manage to pack quite as lightly as I’d hoped and because I had a reasonable sized bag to carry on I checked in my backpack. Well, the Saudi crew caused mayhem again. I’ve never seen so much luggage. There was huge packages wrapped in sheets, hundreds of cases, all with the same stickers on “Arabian Group”. It got so bad that the new luggage coming down wasn’t able to get onto the carousel as it was already full. And there was things falling off all over, plus all these coughing people standing round looking for their identical cases. By the time I got my bag I decided against getting the bus into town, it was 9am before I got out the airport and I figured the bus was going to take an age, so I got a taxi instead. Feel like I’ve been ripped off already because you are told you have to pay 50bht for the expressway fee, turns out it’s 25, then another 45. Tsk. I can’t really complain because that’s only about 70p, but still. Got to Khao San Road in plenty of time, D&D didn’t have my reservation but had a room available anyway. It’s a bit of a shit hole, don’t understand why they have to paint everything brown. Gonna try and sleep a bit but my body clock is all messed up.

Part 3

I did manage to sleep, however my room is right next to the lift and one of the first along the corridor, so I heard every single person walking past. At one point I’m sure there were 3 Thai women arguing outside, one of them was crying. I even heard a Scottish voice that reminded me so much of someone back home. However, I might have been dreaming its all a bit of a blur.

Got up about 2 and went for a walk. Got some ointment that helps clear your nose and also clears up insect bites then went to my favourite bar/restaurant. Bit gutted as they’ve removed the water feature that I used to love. Had a couple of beers there but there was a table full of Aussies and British teenagers all drinking buckets who were getting on my nerves. Oh to be young again though. Going to go up to gullivers and upload this, get something to eat, try and get my bag fixed and then who knows what tonight will bring.

Also going to book my train down to Koh Pha Ngan for tomorrow. Really can’t be bothered with Bangkok right now, theres no sun just haze and don’t get me wrong, it’s nice to be in the warm, but beaches are calling me. I kinda knew I’d feel like this, just wish I’d trusted my gut and I could have even been out of here tonight. Theres plenty of time to mooch around Bangkok at the end of the holiday.

Hotel btw not bad, room is ok and only 750 bht. Happy that I’m here, but will be happier when I get down south and meet up with my friends there. Can’t wait to run into that clear blue sea

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