Bangkok

Tuesday 11th and Wednesday 12th March

Lovely flight, I even managed to sleep a little.  Watched Thor I and Thor II, ended up cross eyed but totally in lust with Thor!  don't tell Rod, and I should know better at my age.

We arrived at Bangkok airport at 9pm and we were in the Novotel by 9.30 that's not bad going. The bed was the size of the camper van, thought I might sleep width ways for a change..... wonderful. Unfortunately we were wide away at 5.30 am.. goggle eyed.

The hotel had a lovely garden on the terrace and we went out and sat in the relative quiet with running water everywhere, until it was time to leave

The taxi arrived promptly at 10am and we had a 2.5 hour journey down to Hua Hin.  It was a fabulous journey.  Firstly we had to go through Bangkok, and then the road continued without a break in buildings all the way down to Hua Hin.  I presume that they build everything next to the road, but it's unending.

There is just commerce everywhere, it's fascinating.  You would have a huge battered looking factory,  then a high rise glass office, then a smartish villa, and then wooden houses, which looked like nailed together packing cases, all next to each other.  I don't know if there are 'nice' areas and less rich areas, but it seemed they were all jumbled together.  When a building falls out of use, it is just left to fall down.

Over Bangkok, thankfully there is a main arterial bypass and you can look down onto the city. Again there is so much building, huge great office blocks and apartments and then if you looked down, little wooden shacks hanging onto the overpass.

I know that Thailand is a major manufacturer to the world but it was endless.Then you would get a huge row of business selling wooden objects, or life size brightly painted animals, or wooden shrines, or funerial shrines.  Every so often in the middle of all the buildings you would see the recognisable colours of gold, red and green temples poking up.  Occasionally there was a huge golden Budda or brightly tiled mosque.

I was completely goggled eyed from taking it all in, so much to see and understand.

At last we reached the Sheraton at Hua Hin.  Gorgeous, right next to the see, huge bed, huge bath, swimming pools everywhere.   aaaaaahhhhh!  will tell you more as we go on.