BKK airport and last day madness (Saigon moto drivers are lightweights!)

There's a hole in my pocket, dear Lyla, dear Lyla....

At least I'm sure that's how the song goes, and that's how it feels being in a city...regardless of what I try to do, the money seems to keep falling through and imaginery hole in my pocket!

Today wasn't a highlight to be honest. Again, no chill out time in BKK after a not so great kip. I got up, attempted to sort my luggage out then gave up. Well I kinda had to as I realised I had lost the receipt I desperately need to complete my camera insurance claim. I grabbed a cab, realised how bad the traffic was, thrust some cash in the cabbies not too happy hands, jumped out, and flagged down a moto driver. We were there in minutes.

To say it was an exciting ride would be an understatement. No junction was too much - it just meant he had to turn the wrong way then cut across the pavement, sneaking through the smallest gaps in traffic. I got my receipt, a replacement card reader, some DVD's to back stuff up, then back on a moto to get back near Khao San road.

It would have been all worthwhile if I wasn't sitting in the taxi to the airport realising I couldn't find the receipt again!!!! I think it will have to be a pleading call to them, and the insurance company. With transport, a new guidebook, a new book, and all the other crap, I've spent about 40 quid, and I still haven't eaten since breakfast!

Roll on a few days in Krabi when I'll hopefully have some accommodation secured for the festive period, as I desperately need to sit somewhere for a while to chill out! Bring on some diving, and hopefully climbing...although of course, that'll cost me! I hear your hearts go out to me.

If anyone is reading this back in blighty - have a merry festive period!! It doesn't feel like xmas here, which is a bit of a bugger as I have some presents to buy (some of which I think I've misplaced - sorry mum!)

Me sitting outside Bangkok airport on wifi! :

Last night in BKK

Well what can I say...it's my last night in BKK. I've just went for dinner with the family, checked my email...and basically can't be arsed to write anything.

Today has been pretty rushed...great plans of getting up, sitting by the pool, then hitting the dreaded shops after buying a tshirt, a new guidebook, getting my haircut.

The reality was getting up at 10am, waiting ages for breakfast while on wifi. Spending too much time on that. Rushing to throw my overweight luggage together. Checking in to another hotel, then traipsing around the Siam area looking for knock off CDs at rip off prices (compared to Vietnam) and hunting down overpriced cameras, and still being unsure of which one to buy.

I opted for an Canon IXUS 850IS, but was desperately wanting to purchase a Canon G7 but wasn't sure if the bulk of it would frustrate me for shots in the pub. I mean even my newly tailored custom made jeans have pockets that are too small to get my notebooks in. Now I need to find an Ikelite waterproof housing that won't fit the strobe flash I have been lugging around for months.

I left the new camera battery charging tonight, and already missed out a shot.

I went for a pee after the meal (a starter with meat and leaves, fish cooked in lime and chilli, then some of James' Green Curry), and the urinal had a sign on it :

'Out off work'. Amazing. Sounds like it usually gets paid for what it does.

Tomorrow I have to check out and head to the airport for 4pm, so no doubt I'll sit by the pool (after watching the family head to Chiang Mai), check out, and rush around in the afternoon.

I need to get out of this place. Not because I'm ready for it, it's just that there are too many temptations to spend money. I bought a second external hard drive as well - the first one is full already!

Good night.

Getting ready for the next phase.....

Grand Palace :


Tomorrow I'm flying to Krabi with Jonathan I met in Vang Vieng in Laos. A couple of days later my folks and sister join me.
Ciara left to head back to the UK yesterday as well so it's all a bit changeable for myself, kinda just crossing my fingers that we manage to find accommodation in Krabi!! Everywhere you can book is full.

Bangkok was and will be pretty much trying to avoid consumerism! I've still to buy a new small camera, and have been spending way too much money in comparison to other countries in SE Asia! I went to the Grand Palace again and a massage at Wat Po massage school, but this time got massaged by a lovely young Thai with soft delicate feet, not the big bruiser bloke I got last year!

Anyway, off to change hotels to be at the same one as my folks, so will write more soon - probably from Krabi!

Not sure which one felt more active when this was taken :

Back in BKK!

I arrived back in Bangkok yesterday for the third time this year. Isn't it weird how before, a place used to seem cheap, and now it's expensive?

For example, a not so legitimate CD costs almost 6 TIMES the price it does in Hanoi, as as for beer - unless you're in Khao San road or similar it's almost two quid a pint. Now that may seem tight moaning about, but when you come from 8 pence a glass (albeit the strength of pisswater) then that's quite a difference.

Even a t-shirt from the trendy BKKer is 'cheap' at 300 Baht for a tshirt from a genuine artist, but at over 4 quid, it's expensive compared to my 75 pence Vietnam one from Hoi An!

Anyway last night was spent dashing around BKK taking advantage of the relatively dirt cheap cabs. We headed from near Khao San to the Pat Pong night market, over to Sukhumvit for dinner and a walk along Soi Cowboy (to get pinched by one of the ever friendly girls on the way past), then back to Pat Pong for a drink at Radio City, then back to Khao San.

Today my mum and step-dad arrived fresh off the plane from Scotland, so we had a quick trip to the Jatujak Weekend Market.

All shopped out, I'm off to the pool. Cameras will have to wait until tomorrow!

From the Perhentians to Bangkok

Just a quick update as just arrived in Bangkok. I've spent a few days on Perhentian Kecil just before they pretty much close up for the season. A few days more would have been good but I had to get up to Bangkok to try and get a Myanmar visa on Monday.

I did a dive on the island and saw a blue spotted Ray, turtle, and many more. We went snorkelling the following day and saw a load of stuff, despite the visibility not being too great - razorfish, and then went swimming with a turtle and ray...particularly the turtle - didn't want to freak out the ray after recent news! Absolutely amazing. We met a decent bunch on the island which meant more folk to eat and drink with, and share the boat trip costs for snorkelling trips. We stayed on Long Beach and also walked over to Coral Bay to snorkel around there. Climbing was planned for one day, but some late night booze put paid to the others, but hey, we managed to get swimming with the turtles. I never realised there was rock climbing on the Perhentians, but someone has bolted a few sports routes on the sea cliffs from french 4a to 7b. I made a few enquiries about doing a divemaster there next season...'just in case'. I was also told you can stay there off season for next to nothing sometimes if you are willing to help repaint the places.

I seem to be having a few issues about leaving stuff around recently. I've left my travel speakers somewhere (Labuan I think) which is really annoying. I left my shirt somewhere yesterday, but amazingly found it again on the beach today, next to the taxiboat station we used yesterday! How many places would you manage to that in nowadays! There were only a handful of folk on the island now though. Apparently it can be great surf there off season - 3-4metres, but no-one has cottoned onto it yet!

I'm already experiencing some of the 'issues' of travelling with company. Its great to catch up with folk though, but I was on the budget side and Tracy was on the 'lets get up there with least hassle', so our procrastination ended up in us paying £150 to fly from KL to Bangkok at the airport. Kerching!! I preferred the 'up through the thai border' option but the guidebooks warn you about the area so I had quite a bit of convincing to do for that option!

Anyway, Tracy's mate Jeff very kindly picked us up from Bangkok's flashy new mega airport and took us into town to find accommodation, so we have a night in a hostel at Sukhumvit before heading to rather quirky Atlanta Hotel tomorrow.

Hopefully Monday will see me get a Myanmar visa issued so we can head off there for 7-10 days on Tuesday or Wednesday.