"Paeng!" - a good word...

First day proper in Bangkok, didn't wake up until around three (still adjusting to time difference). Really enjoyed today. We got a few tuk-tuk rides around the city seeing stuff. Got chatting to a few thai people who were very helpful - there seems to be a very tight line between the ones who are ultra-helpful with no motive and those that are trying to scam every bhat. We met two seperate guys today who talked to us really enthusiastically about what to do and see here. They seemed more concerned about us getting ripped off than we were. "Paeng!" means "too expensive!". They all seem to be really big "Loy Keane" fans as well. Met a tuk-tuk driver who said he "was there when Loy Keane got the captain's armband from Eric Cantona in Thailand". He thought Keane should never have let his hair grow long...

Went to see "the sitting buddha" and "the happy buddha". They were quite cool, especially the happy one, he had a sly glint in his eye. We booked our tickets for Chiang Mai (city up the north of Thailand) and we'll be going tomorrow night - another long journey through the night. Sounds really cool though. Elephant trekking, waterfalls, national parks etc. Should be fun.

And we're off..

Writing this from Bangkok. Finally got here after a gruelling flight throught the night. Thought it was a good idea flying through the night - turns out it's not if you can't sleep!

Anyway, liking it so far though already it's by far the oddest place I've been. Gonna really explore tomorrow - currently in an internet cafe on Kao San Road (backpackers' first stop it seems!). Gots to run now and find somewhere to eat that doesn't give me a terminal illness! Will hopefully have a few photos in a couple of days.

Out.