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When I woke up, I saw that Claire had TXTed me back at 1:30, my time, to say she would tell Mom & Dad about my safe arrived in Bangkok. Phoned Colour Zone again but was told that Maun was going to be on holiday until the end of the week. Why they didn't tell me that last night I don't know. They would get him to call me when he was next in.

Didn't bother with breakfast and went out side to see a bit of Bangkok. Walked around the block that was rather farther then I expected. It all seemed much different from last night, much warmer for a start. After walking for about an hour I found the Computer Centre where Maun had taken me many years ago to get a 486 CPU for their Integra. Wow, that might have been only in 1998 but boy did it seem so long ago now. Looked at the stalls and shops. Wondered why someone would buy an official copy of Windows for £100 when then could get a "copy" with Office thrown in for £20? Walked around enjoying the a/c. I found a stall on the ground floor selling all kinds of leather stuff and got a bum bag that I could put all my valuables in and it was only £6! It turned out to be a good investment, even if it did make me look like I had a tumour in my stomach.

When I got back to the Hotel I checked out. I`m Not paying £27 for another night! As I left the hotel a Tuk-tuk driver said he would give me a tour around Bangkok for only 25B if I went to three shops so he could get a fuel voucher. I said yes as I quite fancied a cheep trip around the city to see what was worth spending more time to see. Yes, half remembered the taxi from last night but he did say that it was three different shops and I did have to pay 25B. The ride was exciting to say the least. Dodging through the traffic on a three-wheeled rust bucket with almost no brakes. Did enjoy the ride, it's a bit like when you first go on a roller coaster. You are scared shitless, then you start to have fun once you realise you might survive it.

Went to a gem shop that was one of the famous rip-off places. They prey on new people to Thailand that don't know the value of the currency and offer 40% to 60% discounts to make you think you are getting a bargain. The jewellery is very nice but over 6000B (£100) for some earrings! Shit, even I could see that was a rip off. I looked at a few things and quietly left.

The Tuk-tuk driver then took me to some more tailors; one was a place I visited last night. Said enough is enough, just take me to the southern bus station and I will pay him the going rate. I had had enough of this and wasn't interested anymore.

I had decided that I was going to head south and get a place out of the city to stay tonight. He didn't want to take me to the Southern Bus station as it was too far but asked me what I wanted to do while in Thailand. I said that I would like to learn to dive and he said he know a travel agent who could book a cause for me. I said OK and off we sped thought the Bangkok traffic, well until the next traffic jam.

The travel agent was very good and I booked on a course at Coh Tao (Turtle Island) and a train ticket from Phetchaburi to Chumpon. Coh Tao is the cheapest place in the world to learn to dive. Whole package including five nights accommodation and four dives cost only £130.

This still left me with the problem of getting to Phetchaburi. I needed to go to the Southern Bus station to get a bus but the Tuk-tuk driver said the station was too far for him to take me and if I would go to just one more Taylor he would get his fuel voucher and I would only owe him 25B. I said OK. Spent all of five minutes in the next tailors and the Tuk-tuk driver got his voucher, so he was happy.

Gave him 25B and he dropped me at a Taxi rank and spoke to a Taxi drive and told him to take me to the southern bus station. It only cost me 67B, gave guy 70B and he was happy Wai-ing to me for a 5p tip! I could see why the Tuk-tuk man didn't want to take me; it must have been a good 20km from where I got the taxi from and the trip only cost £1.10.

The bus station is hot and dusty. The diesel exhorts from the badly serviced busses don't help. After getting a ticket (a/c bus to Phetchaburi it cost only 90B for the two-hour ride) found I had a two hour wait. Walked around the station trying to keep in the shade. Had some food from the stalls, meatballs and salad with hot chilly source. You get a small wood spear to stab them with and eat it.

Bus arrived on time and was OK. Inside the bus it had lots of picture of Rama5 and monks, to bring the bus luck. It had a TV but the reception was rubbish and was turned off after we left the city limits. It was nice to get out of Bangkok away from the heat, dust, pollution and crowds. Most of the very flat countryside was devoted to crops with lots of canals cutting through the farmland. Except for the steep hills that punctuate the landscape every now and again. They look like the slopes are about 40 degrees and are too steep to cultivate so still have the original covering of unidentifiable trees on them. I looked at the guidebook while we headed south and decided what GH I was going to stay at.

When we got to the bus stop in Phetchaburi after a problem free trip, I allowed a bloke picked me up on a three-wheeled cycle called a Samosa. He looked like he was mid fifties but he could have been younger and had had a hard life. It must be a killer job in this heat. He took me to Radiengrumnum Guest House. I did try and pronounce it but in the end pointed to its name in the guidebook. He charged me 20B foe the three minuet trip. I didn't mind as he looked like he needed the money and it was worth the experience.


The Guest House
The GH is basic, no a/c and shared toilet/shower room down stairs but its clean and only 120B a night. It's next to the river and suffers from having lots of Mosquitoes. No electric in the room so cant use Jon & Jo`s Christmas present, a mozzy repeller that heats up a "pill" with repellent in it so you have to plug into the mains. I eat in the GH restaurant and I have Fried Lentils and Beef, Winged Beans (like runner beans but with four fins running down its sides) and Octopus with rice 120B, not bad. Geckos chase each other up and down the walls. When one catches the other they bite their head and their head bobs up and down. I think it must be a mating ritual.

After diner I walk around the town and see some Wats. One has a Buddha that is lit with a neon tube and has been covered in gold leaf. Some of the leaf waves gently with the light breeze. Heard music and investigated saw about 30 fat middle aged Thai women doing Aerobics in a schoolyard. Found the scene a bit surreal.

Was very tiered, what with the jet lag and taking all the new sites and experiences, went back to the GH. Was in bed by 21:30. Slept well, I was given a mozzy coil so no mozzies to speak of and only the sound of dogs fighting woke me once or twice during the night.

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