This is my first posting as "Mark". I have been posting for a couple of years or so as "Mark2", as our esteemed administrator shares the same first name as me. But when I saw that Mark is registered as "Markadmin", what the heck.

Anyway, I hope everyone's well and I look forward to reading the posts.

By the way, for accommodation in Bangkok, I can highly recommend the Grand Business Inn on Soi 11, Sukhumvit. It is not listed on some of the travel websites (we found it on Travelfish.org). It was renovated in '05. Nice and clean, quiet. Nice good sized room. We paid 1600 per night. It is really close - like, 30 seconds - from Nana Station on the BTS. We have stayed at the Manhattan, which was quite ok, but I think the Grand Business Inn was a fair bit better. Only downside - no in-room safe. They have safety depossit boxes near reception but, inexplicably, they wanted to keep both keys. Apart from that, not a bad word to say about it. Great location. Good food. Friendly staff.