BANGKOK

A mid-afternoon arrival in a steamy hot Bangkok meant we were being prepared for many changes of clothes per day. Sometimes three changes – a lot of sweat and less outside walking to anywhere. The first night we had dinner alongside the Pratunam Boat station on the canal. It made for interesting viewing as the taxi boats came charging in, loading and/or offloading hundreds of commuters, and charging off again into the dark of the early evening. We thought we’d like to give the boats a go if we could fit it in.

So what to do in Bangkok when you’ve done most of the attractions before? We decided to give the Floating Markets at Damoen Sadek another go. Not a wise move in the end. It required a 6.30 start, about 4 hours on the road [there and back together] about 20 minutes on a long tail boat to the markets [where we were advised not to shop because of excessively high prices] about 90 minutes wandering around trying to fill in time and back on the road to a congested Bangkok were we arrived at about 2.00pm. [Have to say, however, that the coconut pancakes cooked in a boat alongside the village jetty and the coconut ice cream from a street side vendor were delicious and well worth the small costs involved.

Our time really has been dominated by finding places to eat: and we found one place that we actually went back to with cheap meals [mains 130 baht each and large Chang beer at 85 baht] because it was friendly, open air yet indoors/under cover and close to the hotel. Meals were filling, delicious- - and Thai. Have yet to have a western meal in Thailand – and not going to happen on this trip.

Last night we both had manicures and pedicures – to soften and restore limbs that have been punished by something in the region of 850-900 kms walking in the past three months. It was hilarious and at the same time relaxing – and good preparation for a long trip home.

The 3 month odyssey ends tomorrow October 7.