Thailand

This ones going to be pretty short as i have done jack all of anything interesting since i have been here.

I had a little bit more time on my hands than i originally reckoned on, so i headed to the second city of Thailand on the worst 12 hour night bus of my life. Chiang Mai made up for it and turned out to be perfect for some hardcore relaxation. Funnily enough in the room next to me were some guys from Oldbury and were villa fans. I hadnt watched a game in ages and the Blues game was next day so was looking forward to it. We met up later that evening to watch saturdays games in a sports bar that had everything showing. Quality and to top it off free popcorn by the bucket load. I really don't remember Thailand being as cheap as it was this time. I for the last few days even in Bangkok have been eating decent meals for about $1. This is all well and good as ive been trying to limit my spending as i have had to take out $1100 dollars to cover the whole of the next month in Myanmar and Thai atms are costing a fortune.

Despite this I did manage a couple of good nights out and a feast at every fast food restaurant i could find to make up for three months of rice and noodles. Subway has neither smelt or tasted so good ever. I also to pass the time joined a Thai cooking course and spent an entire day preparing but mainly eating a variety of great Thai dishes all made from fresh produce at the market. The cooking was all of 15 minutes a piece but i am properly enthused to give it a whorl when i get home.

The last night was pretty much the same as the previous although the football was abysmal and the memory was left behind in one of the many empty glasses. Ill say one thing about Thai beer never get drunk on the stuff. I don't know whats in it but a Chang'over as its known is dreadful.

So after three really great days i took another night bus twelve hours to Bangkok this time and rocked up at 6am. Great i thought head for Khao San road and there will be plenty of places. Never have i been so wrong, the place was rammed and after an hours wandering i finally found somewhere to crash. Sleep has never been so welcome having not had a decent nights sleep in well over a week.

Bangkok is Bangkok and i largely despise the place although it does have the plus side of being pretty much the only place in South East Asia where you can obtain the things you need before Myanmar. My check list was as follows

1) $1100 dollars in brand new notes. (absolutely no creases, not older than 10 years, in small denominations, no marks, and neither serial number AB or CB)
2) Strong mosquito repellant
3) 20 copies each of passport and visa
4) phrasebook
5) more malaria tablets

In total i went to 32 banks (yes i counted) and was only able to obtain notes from one of those and in pretty high denominations which means i will be right royally shafted when it comes to paying for small things. The phrasebook was also a no go and the type of malaria tablets i am on you can only buy in Singapore.

I leave tomorrow and i am not as prepared as i would have liked but i really hope all goes well nonetheless. At the very least i can say i have been to Myanmar, but as it is the main place for me i will be gutted if i cant carry out my albeit fairly ambitious plans.