will deffo get this going on the morrow - am still suffering from the cold and all sorts happening - like the sister in law arriving tonight and the 80th birthday party - plus the MCFC meeting and all that entails after it - but I am getting hooked now on the TravelForum so it will come first on the morrow

I will do it today = I promise

Sorry its taken so long but at lot going on here at the moment….Day 1

The time in between booking and actually leaving seemed to drag - I could not explain why I just had to be back in Thailand - I had not felt like this about any other country I had ever visited - and I was like a kiddie in a sweet shop the night before - believe it or not I had been packed for two weeks - heather had packed about 6 times

So oft we went tea timeish flight over to Heathrow then a 2130 Thai airways to BKK both flights went without a hitch - we arrived in BKK at 1530 the next day - but the queue for visas was horrific so after that and bags it was almost 5pm before we braved the gauntlet of “want a taxi” - which this time of course we bypassed and headed for the taxi meter rank paid our 50bt and took the ticket - this time it heather of course looking out the window of the cab and pointing “what’s that” “where are we now” “look at that” she was getting the same feeling I did on first impression - I was hoping that the next 24/48 hours would see her come around - we were in the Mandarin by 6pm checked in a booked a table for a meal an hour later - this time my wife was with me so I was forced to unpack - I gave her the guided tour of the hotel - and we sat down in the almost empty restaurant - with a Thai on stage doing karaoke - we looked at the menu and I wanted deep fried salted beef but was hungry after flight so was trying to pick something else - heather also was having probs deciding what she would like so we ended up ordering 6 different items - but as none were more than 100 baht still a good price for a meal in a hotel - washed down with a few singhas we picked our way through most of it - we made an appointment with the tailor for my wife for the next day and left to go to Patpong for a couple of hours we did the market and this time it was heather who could not believe the prices etc - but was shocked when I said you can get that cheaper here or there - also heather is not that good at the bartering so left to me - I told her to use the evening as a spotter exercise and mentally list what she was looking for -we stopped in Cosmos bar for a drink where the bar girls asked did we have a sons and if so could they marry them - Heather was so intrigued by lady boy street that she just had to have a small stroll down it - we got a tuktuk back to the hotel heathers first and she was laughing all the way back a good sign me thinks - back to the hotel and a few nightcaps listening to the thai karaoke and the Thais congratulating themselves and each other on their efforts - have you ever notice they cheat on karaoke when a thai gets up the words are also played along with the music when one of us gets up all of a sudden there are only printed words and music - anyway we fell into bed exhausted at about 0030am and asked for a call at 0830 for an early start the next day - I had a felling that heather was beginning to enjoy this and that she was falling for the place already ………

Looking forward to reading about Heathers first trip.

We have only stayed in Bangkok city once where we met up with my English school friend and her husband. We had a night planned for Patpong but we didn't get there as someone told her Patpong is closed on Thursdays.... and we all believed it

Cheers Geri

You're teasing us Phil, that was way too short!! but good.
Michelle

Day 2
Guess who was up for breakfast next morning - what a difference a wife makes - whilst we were eating Heather was committing to paper that mental list of things she wanted to buy - I was beginning to regret that statement - I rang my taxi driving friend and he could not do the Kanchanaburi trip - so we would have to find a driver for that but we arranged for him to drive us to Pattaya and lift us again 3 days later and also our trip back to the airport at the end of the holiday - list and breakfast finished we went to the tailors where Heather was measured up for a few pairs of trousers and blouses 3 of each and I put in my order for two of my friends supporters club for two flags and the whole lot only came to £60 - we went across the road to a travel agent and asked about available drivers for the Kanchanaburi trip and secured a car and driver for 3000 baht + fuel we were to leave on day 4 - then list in hand we ventured out hailed a passing tuktuk and headed for MBK -

We arrived and had the obligatory smoke before entering as it was impossible to light one on the tuktuk as it weaved its way through the BKK traffic and waged war at traffic lights etc - on a side note does anyone think it crazy that the traffic lights have a countdown light 19 18 17 etc then when its gets to 3 the bikes are revving and off on a 1 sec red light - meanwhile the bikes / cars / taxis coming the other way have a 3 / 2 / 1 green light and speed up to get through and they invariably meet in the middle with a lot of swerving but unique to Thailand no cursing no road rage - just an unbelievable acceptance

As we entered MBK Heather produce her list the top five items all related to footwear as usual - I needed a Thai sim card - my son had asked me to get his I pod fixed if possible (screen) plus he had two broken I pods given to him that he wanted fixed if possible - we wanted dvds - computer progs - etc etc - Plus the usual tourist stuff and money changing - we wanted to feed - and Lubricate - so off we set - I surmised and this is the best way to go that if you need things fixed - sim cards - phones - dvds etc - then do that first as it may take time and mean calling back an hour later etc - we needed some jewellery fixed and cleaning - so the phone was dropped off for chipping and sim card -the dvds were ordered - the rings were left in for altering / cleaning - the I pods were left for various reasons - which all took about 1.5 hours - by this time we needed more nicotine intake and refreshment - which was when I sampled my first BKK iced coffee (which can be great or cr*p) I / we were on a learning curve and enjoying the process

We then went in search of designer handbags / shoes shoes and more shoes - tops , trousers , dresses , bikinis , etc and of course were not disappointed - we then went to KFC - big mistake not the same as UK as the Thais either do not like chicken breast or they export it all to Tesco - the former is of course the answer I now know - shopping is fraught with danger in Thailand you can be ripped off - you can get a bargain - you MUST barter or you will BE RIPPED off - but rule of thumb - IF YOU THINK ITS CHEAP and a bargain then it is - its all relative - or it’s a con - but the fun is in finding out which is which and it need not be expensive to learn - - once Heather was happy with her first days shopping - we then went back to pick up items left i.e. phone I pods etc - the phone cost me 200 baht for chipping and sim card with 50 baht credit - the I pods were fixed and cheaply apart from one which the guy told me he was not happy and could I call back following day and see if he could rectify the problem - I agreed when we went back next day he said I cannot fix to my satisfaction so no charge - this impressed me so much as in the UK it would be - I have spent x hrs on it and cant fix so that’s £30 please - service in Thailand yet again coming out on top - once we had, had enough of MBK we headed for Siam square - where Heather managed to find more shoes dresses trousers bags purses etc that she could not do without - I was already begging to worry about getting home with weight in bags etc - the market in between MBK and Siam square has to be experienced when in BKK - its just great - it was now maybe 4pm and we were hungry so we looked around for an eatery and saw just across the road The Hard Rock Café - remember I / we are still in tourist mode - do it had to be - I must admit it is one of the best HRC in the world as far as I am concerned mainly due to the service -but the food was also excellent - when we were sated - we got a taxi back to the hotel with all the intentions of heading out for the night - but the BKK traffic meant we arrived back almost an hour after getting into the taxi so with HRC and taxi we were arriving back at almost 7pm - so after going to the room and sorting out the suitcases with stuff not to be unpacked before arriving back in UK and that that would be used again we then went to the karaoke bar again and I have to admit we were both induced into the moment and enjoyed the very same stuff that the night before seemed crass - Heather - I was now convinced was falling in love again this time with Thailand and not me but at the same time I was falling again - I just love the place - we stayed till about 1am and had a few nibbles whilst there - the porters now knew our names and were more than happy to help with all our requests including two extra pillows and a few more coffee sachets - so of to bed for more of the same on the morrow - which is exactly what am I am doing right now ………..

this and the following one heathers tuktuk ride to mbk

in the bar that night