Bangkok

So, Bangkok wasn't half as crazy as we'd expected. Maybe because we chose not to stay in the notorious Khao San Road.

We stayed instead in a hostel called Suk 11 which was like a rambling beach hut in the middle of the city, with lots of little nooks and crannys we kept on discovering right up until the point we left. It's in a much more laid back area of the city too.

We just took it easy in the city really - Alec was ecstatic to find a department store and we both spent about an hour in this very good bookshop just drooling over the masses of fantastic house design books.

We'd planned a trip to the Grand Palace as a highlight of our stay in Bangkok so set off on the Thursday, taking the Skytrain down to the river where we were to get a boat up to the Grand Palace.

It wasn't until we got to the river that we realised that, as well as it being one of the holiest points in the Buddhist calendar, it was also the day of the Ploughing Festival - when all the farmers come to the Grand Palace and recieve specially blessed seeds from the King which brings them good fortune in their harvest for the coming year. Which basically meant that it was one of the few days of the year when the Grand Palace was closed to the public...

Still - we took a trip up the river anyway to oggle at the zoo which is Khao San Road, and repeated out journey the next day when the palace was actually open...

What can be said about the Grand Palace? Well it certainly is grand! It is a spectacular and very beautiful place and there's not really much point in trying to describe it as I could never do it justice, so you'll just have to go yourself.

Ok, ok - we'll put the pics up when we have a better internet connection and you'll get the idea, which will just make you want to see it yourself anyway.

One part of the complex was still closed - the Temple of the Emerald Buddha - as it was one of the holiest days of the Thai year marking the birth, death and enlightenment of Buddha. However, it was only a small part of the complex and the large number of pilgrims circling the temple with their offerings of lotus flowers certainly added to the atmosphere.

Pics soon - I promise.