Touch down in Bangkok

---

Christmas lunch with the family is past with Mike (my sisters bloke) making several comments along the lines of "Make sure you check the adams apple" and "Have you seen the crying game?" - suprisingly enough my Grandma actually shakes her head at one of these, im sure she must be misinterpreting the meaning as world wide travel, and more to the point, cross dressing bangkok lady boys were not really around in her youth. The rest of the afternoon is spent in that rushing around state that everyone goes through where you are sure you've forgotten to quadruple check your passport and flight time. A friend of Mike's pops round and having been to bangkok many times, reccommends a hotel for me to stay at when i land, this makes me feel a bit better, as I have done no planning. I say my goodbyes and set off to Heathrow. The last person to say bye (I make him carry my bag) is Tom, and its always hard to say bye, even though after an hour with him I sometimes want to!

---

I sit on the plane after blowing what remaining english money I had on magazines and expensive designer deodorant and a book from a vending machine - Russel Brands 'My Booky Wook'. On the plane, i sit and wait for the nutter to come and sit by me. Luckily the person is an interesting guy called Rupert hes travelling alone and works in Marketing. As I watch us pass over the circuit board towns of England I relaise that this is the last time I'll feel the cold for 5 months, I allow myself a smile.
Airline food is famous for being pretty bad, but I was pleasantly suprised to see it was 'Designed' by Gordon Ramsey, and it is actually bloody good - Leek mash and salmon steak!
Channel 29 shows the progress of the flight, and after a sleep of sorts, we are over north africa and I see huge winding river systems, it reminds me of A Level Geography -but this is real, and massive. I watch The Bourne Ultimatum, which passes some time - I could get used to this flying busienss.
After changing at Singapore, I go back north to Bangkok, its a 2 hour flight and before I know it, I collecting my bags and preparing to step outside into the 28 degree night air of Bangkok city. I sweating already, and realise that Ive packed too much. Everyon else seems to have neat little bags, and there I am, like some sort of turtle, bent over and wearing my strange new Nike Air Rifts which seperate the big toe balance - I need all the help I can get.
Mike friend pointed me to the 'Dynasty Inn' off Sukhumvit, Soi 4/4-5. Addresses in Thailand are difficult to figure out, the city has been developed so quickly its all a bit of a mess. The ca driver seems to understand, and we set off. I can not describe the driving in Bangkok, but lets just say, we are passed by a moped, going the wrong direction.
After bumping into an elephant, and dodgin the bustling night scene in Nana (sex tourist central) I find a bar where they are showing the Man U game. I feel more at home there, until im approached by several Thai girls, and the most cliche Lady Boy you could ever imagine. Adams Apple is present, and I make haste to find my hotel. Comfortable (and alone!), i get a decent tuna salad and pass out to sleep off the jet lag.

---

Comments

[Matty]

Great News!
Glad you're there safely mate! It's snowing in the good old UK today. Keep us updated as much as poss, the thought of you having the time of your life is about the only thing keeping me sane at this "trying" time of year ;-)