Bangkok

We have successfully arrived in Bangkok! This is despite what is now an amusing airport story, where I discovered that STA had not, in fact, moved my flight as I had paid them to do. This was resolved relatively quickly, however. Ater a brief stop in Muscat where we decided NEVER to go again, as it was the hottest and most humid combination I had ever been to, we arrived in Bangkok.

Proudly managed to make our way into the city and to a hostel, but this included the most torrential rain I have ever seen and rushing out of a taxi only to fall flat on my face in front of a bunch of people. Good arrival.

Today has been beautiful - we've seen a lot of temples which are ridiculously ornate and very striking in the sunshine. They are covered either in gold or mosaics of colour. We also saw the emerald (actually jade) Buddha and the much more impressive enormous reclining Buddha which you cannot but be amazed by! We also saw a new museum of textiles all linked to the Queen. Was quite interesting, both her and her husband had grown up abroad and didn't see the rest of the country until after becoming king and queen. However, they have done a lot to sustain the population ( google SUPPORT weaving in particular) and she is VERY glamorous with some amazing outfits!

Other highlights: sunset in rooftop pool to ourselves, weird lunch noodle discovery followed by very successful Thai yellow curry supper discovery, catching the boat across the river with lots of school chilren (all in hot looking old fashioned British school uniforms) and going to bed - this is absolutely exhausting!