BANGKOK BOUND

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hey, i know that most of you have already read my first two emails so il skim over the first week (or maybe not knowing me!) and pick up properly where i last left you - that is if i ever manage to catch up myself!


Me, Manchester Airport - shaking like a leaf, smoking and drinking at the bar (ok so it was only diet 'cola' but it felt hardcore at the time!) waiting for my flight down to Heathrow absolutely papping myself! I was trying to call people but everyone was either engaged or not answering - how selfish!lol But once i'd gotten that first flight out of the way i felt much better and was ready to tackle Heathrow. It really wasn't as bad as people had made out, but then maybe you did that on purpose? (btw-this keyboard sticks on p,v&t.or should i say , ,& , so do forgive me, im rying!) the only downfall was that i rushed straight for the gate and then found there was nowhere to get a drink etc and i couldn't turn back (just doing what u told me bro!). The flight was fine. It took approx 11hours 15mins and i managed to get some sleep. The views going over Afghanistan and Calcutta were wkd - my first taste of the great wide world. It was 35degrees when we landed and it really hits you when you get off the plane, but it felt good because i was finally here. After all the planning and the fretting, this was it -THE WORLD. I queued for 2hours to get through immigration which was ever so slightly annoying and a tad rage inducing but i kept a lid on it knowing that it had to be done and at least i had arrived safely.

The taxi was there to ick us up after we'd waited another hour for two other girls so the four of us were led to a minibus. First impressions stepping out of the airport? - Oh My Word it absolutely reeked! The stench of the sewage was overpowering but in a slightly sadistic way i kinda liked it, cos again, it reminded me that i had finally made it. I waited a long time to smell that! Driing to the hotel was totally surreal and it was dark so we couldn't see much. The bus suddenly turned down a little side street - wahey! proper Bangkok styley! street vendors on each side of the road - mostly food stalls, children playing with the animals in the road and waving at the bus, dodgy characters staring, a guy in bare feet sat cutting fish heads down an alleyway while a mangey cat stares on longingly. The sights, sounds and smells - total overload for the senses, it was exactly what i wanted and needed. So far removed from the life i am used to but so much closer to the life i want to see. The New World Hotel was nice enough. Clean, good breakfast etc. We had a group meeting with Christy, the tour leader (18 of us in total). The group is lovely, some really genuine people - perfect travelling buddies. Two people share a room. We ate out in a Thai street cafe. The food was fantastic (fork in the left, spoon in the right). I ate chicken with cashew nuts & rice, it was lush! We drank Singha beer, the bottles are huge and its not much over 50p!). The next morning we were up and out early to set off for Kanchanaburi so i didn't have long enough to leave a lasting impression on Bangkok but i can safely say it has left a lasting impression on me. I didn't get to try the food at the Bangkok Hillton so i'm afraid you'll have to find that one out for yourself! (told u id skim over it!lol) x

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