5. 16-19th July. 2 becomes 3!!!!!!

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16/07/07
We left our hotel at 11am where we got picked up by a mini bus. We didn't realise at the time that driver was going to take us for a drive that would have us appreciate our lives more at the other end!! We got to the ferry port in about half the time and when we arrived we realised that he had been racing his mate there the hole way!! As we were waiting at the port a couple was sat next to us. The girl screamed as she was going through her packpack and shouted out that she thought there was a scopian in her bag. To be fair, Matt and I both thought that she was being a typical girl about the situation. You all know what i mean about that as well before you give me a hard time ladies!! A spider is always huge when you see but ends up being the size of a grain of sand!! Anyway, the boyfriend started looking through her bag by hand when i thought what if she was telling the truth and didnt exadurate the situation. I told her boyfriend he best just tip the bag upside down on to the floor and so he did. What came running out...........a scorpian baby!!! Just fairly awesome!! The girl didnt look to impressed though!! We got the ferry shortly after that which took about 3 1/2hrs to get back to main land Thailand. At the other end we got on to a bus to take us to the train station and on the bus we sat at the back with two dutch blokes. The bus was in amazing condition and we even managed to have a shower while sat at the back. Yes, there was a pipe leaking at the back and by the time we got of the four of us was drenched!! The two dutch guys spent 4 months in Oz and were heading back home which they were gutted about. However in Oz they had their belongings stolen including vidoe footage of their time in Oz.....4 months worth!! The bus dropped us of with no time to spare since the train arrived 5 mins after we arrived which was lucky. We found our seats/bed for the night and who walked past with a huge smile on their face...............yep, the he/she waitress from the journey down south!!! She recognised us and could not hide her delight. I wish she could of done since she sat opposite me and started grabbing and slapping my legs and she is a tall, strong looking woman. I think she left bruises on my delicate body!!!! Anyway after she had gone you are left with the anticapation of who you are going to have sat opposite you and sleeping above you the rest of the journey. To my plesent suprise i had a very friendly Spanish girl called Maku sat opposite me. She is a photographer and works in the film industry in Spain. We shared many stories of our travels so far and she also had all her photo equiptment stolen. Sounds like an experience that everyone shares when they go travelling!! We were both kept amused by matts mossy fetish!! He doesnt fancy them he just has to kill everyone in sight even if it means jumping over someone to get to it!! Maku and i swopt email addresses with the chance we might bump into each other again before she goes back to spain in a week. Was asleep by 11pm after a long day!!

17/07/06
Got woken up at 5am, got of the train and said our goodbyes to Maku. Matt and I had only taken 30 steps out of the station when we got approached by two he/shes. Yep, we are backin Bangkok for sure!!!! After walking for about 15mins (well, i was limping!!) we decided that we completey misjudged the distance and got a Tuk Tuk to Khoa San road. We found Donnas guest house but had to wait around till 12pm till we could check in so ended up at an internet cafe. 30b for 80mins compared to 2b a min what we were paying!! After that we wnet for breakfast and met a bloke called Matt from Chelmsford. He was leaving today and was also very upset to be going home to England. Eventually got our new home sorted and only had to pay 300b for an air con room. Air con baby!!! Matt and Amy only had to pay 350b between them. Bargain!! We got to the airport to pick Amy up and her plane was delayed 30mins. She arrived and matts eyes lit up like the stars in the night sky.......makes me sick!!!!ha I was expecting them to do a stupid slow motion run towards each other but i was spared the embarassment and they kept their cool!! Thank god!!! Being more experienced now we managed to get a taxi back for 300b compared to the 800b matt and I first paid when we arrived! We had dinner at the Vegetarian restauarant which was awesome.......and i love meat?!!!! The rain poured down while we were eating and yep......a giant rat ran past our feet. Welcome to Bangkok Amy!!!ha We put our names down to be extras in a film on the 20th but not to sure if we are going to be here for it.Would be a laugh though and we would get paid 1000b for doing so. We decided to go out for a drink and ended up with a tower of Chang beer!!! We got fairly drunk and joined tables with a group of Irish people. Matt and Amy left at 11pm but i stayed and met two dutch people. I cant remember their names but i remember it was one boy and one girl!! I staggered home at 1.30pm.

18/07/06
Pineapple for breakfast and was blessed once again with heavy rain. Almost got blagged into taking a trip on a Tuk Tuk but with our combined experienced heads, we said no!! We shall not be taken advantage of! We shall not give our money over so easily! We are British and we want to be tight with our money!!!!!! We got a normal taxi on the meter to the large shopping mall where i was hoping to find the shop that could fix my camera. Ended up buying a new phone for 5600b (for my mums peice of mind!!) and had no joy with the camera. Since i had to wait about getting a new phone Matt and Amy headed of home since they had things to sort out themselves. By the time i left the traffic was unbelievalbe!! I got talked into by a taxi driver to go on the back of a taxi motorbike. I had the choice of spending an hour in the traffic or taking a motorbike that would apparently get me home in 15mins. Its not very often someone here talks you out of them getting a fare so i trusted him and joked with the motorbike driver i would kick his arse if he killed me!!! They gave me a bright blue helmet and of we went on an amazing new exeprience!! We were overtaking cars where i thought there was no room while at the same time the driver was facing me having a conversation about family and football!! Anyway i got back alive and laughed all the way!!! The three of us went for a massage before dinner and to our unpleasent suprise Matt and I got massaged by two blokes. Once again we soaked up the new experience like a sponge and saw it through. To be fair it was quite nice!! A bit wierd though when they ask you to bend over though while they are doing your back?!!! It wasnt till dinner when i brought up something that was playing on my mind as being rather strange. I asked matt if his massage involved face rubbing......and it didnt. I then asked matt if his involved ear rubbing.......and it didnt. Nor did he have his bloke doing stuff with his hair!!!! So my suspisions had been comfirmed!!! I thought i felt a bit awkward for about 10mins of the massage!!! Anyway earlier in the day the three of us were walking through town when i somehow started talking to a bloke called Trevor form New Zealand. He only invited us to stay at his Auckland Farm for the night if we needed somewhere to stay for free?!!! How awesome is that!!! He gave me his details and said goodbye. A productive encounter indeed!!!

19/07/06
E-mailed Olympus in the morning to try and get their advice on what to do. What would be the easiest and most of all, the quickest way of repairing my camera. We visited the Grand Palace where your eyes are stunned by the magnificants of all what is inside!! It is definately something you have to visit if you get the chance!! The Emerald Buddah is awesome and all the buildings/temples are covered in gold leaf and gems. It was a sunny day as well which made the buildings that much more stunning to look at!! The inner wall of the Grand Palace is covered in paintings which if you follow the wall round tells story after story about different battles and other happenings. I think we spent an hour looking and trying to understand what stories the paintings were trying to tell us. I found it remarkable and that all the paintings were done in 3d format. Everywhere you go around the Grand Palace there are artists touching everything up to maintain its beauty(ok, so i sound a bit gay now but it is awesome!!). In the huge complex there is even a weapons museum which was good looking at all the manly swords etc(hope that gains my manlhood back lads?!!). Somehow we managed to find ourselves in the situation where we were feeding pigeons and ending up paying for the pleasure, even though we told the bloke before hand we were not going to hand over any money in the first place. He wanted 150b but considering wer paid 250b to get into the Grand Palace we only paid him 50b and i gave him a lecture as well free of charge!! As we were close to China town we thought it would be an idea to give it another visit with Amy. We were walking down streets where we didnt see another backacker for about an hour which for some reason feels like your doing something in the proper spirit of things!! We got back home, had a lovely chicken kebab(i know the secret now is to add homus to it!!) and matt got measured up for a suit. But while doing so matt had an upset stomach, so kept on running to the toiled every 5 mins!!ha Yes, i am very sympathetic!! They went home early and i went out looking for Maku who we bumped into earlier but could not find her so ended up looking for a camera instead. I did find myself however down some very dark, strange alleys feeling very aware that i wanted the safety of my bed!! Was home safe and sound by 11pm!! Another very good day!!!

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Comments

[Mum]

New top
Love your new top, Barrie, but would find out what it says!!!! Must say you are looking really well. You have a great tan and can understand why you are getting sexually harassed!!! Mum