Bangkok

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So I finally got here and proved the doubters amongst you wrong! The journey was fairly unpleasant as the planes seemed to be designed to fit the hundreds of tiny Thai and Malasian people who use them, and the legroom is fixed accordingly. Having said that, it's a small price to pay really.

First impressions of Bangkok: Mental! I thought the bus journey from the airport was pretty frightening, that was until I took a tuk-tuk later that day which put most rollercoasters to shame! Crossing the road is more of a matter of luck than judgement, although I have taken to waiting for some locals to cross and going at the same time. It's also boiling hot which will take me a good few days to get used to (so far I'm "forced" to stop for a beer or a fruit smoothy every hour to cool down a bit).

Banglamphu where I'm staying is absolutely heaving with backpackers and it's been pretty easy to meet people to chat to so far. It does still seem like a popular area for the locals however, with all the teenagers hanging round in the evening shopping for clothes and jewellery on the Khao San road and generally checking out the latest western fashions.

I think I look like an easy target (my pasty complexion gives away the fact that I've just got here) because people selling anything and everything have been approaching me and they're quite persistent. I haven't been persuaded yet, but I have seen a few people buy tourist-tat just to get rid of sellers while they're trying to have a quiet beer. The kids are the worst - trying to guilt-trip you into buying roses off them by sticking out their bottom lips, or worse by challenging you to a game of paper,cissors, stone and cheating!

The toilets here are still a bit of a mystery to me - no toilet paper, but a shower-hose instead. Not quite sure exactly what's going on ther, but I know I'm not keen!

I may also have experienced another Thai mystery in the past few minutes - I've just seen my first ladyboy! I may be doing the "lady" who runs this internet cafe a huge injustice, but she has a strong jawline and a deeper voice than me!

Right, that's enough from me for now because I haven't actually done anything of note yet, but I'll keep you updated as and when.

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Comments

[Stu]

Lady boys
Just don't take up any girls/ladyboys on their offers of connect four in the bars mate as a) they're ace at it somehow (maybe the effect of Chang/Singha makes you worse) and b) when you lose they have slightly high expectations and slightly misinterpreted recollections of what you agreed to play for ;-) enjoy mate!