We're ok :)

Hello, we're safe in Bangkok. We assume that the news of the plane crash would've reached Australia given that Australians were amongst those killed. It's very sad... but the good news is that we're simply hung over (surprise!) in Bangkok.

Bangkok. What can I say? It's big and dirty, with seemingly as many ferang (foreigners) as Thais.

Yesterday we went to Grand Palace and Wat Pad Krapow (hehe - I can't remember what it was really called through the post-alcohol fuzz) which a pretty intesive introduction to Thai baroque in all its golden glory, but unfortunately (like all tourist areas) full of tuk-tuk scammers and ferang. Really you'd think that the con-artists would get a new gig because they pulled the textbook gem scam:

Con artist 1 at main entrance: "You cannot enter palace without skirt - go to gate 2"

Con artist 2 at gate 2: "Hello my friend! Where you from? Ah Australia - Melbourne or Sydney? Where you go next? I no thief I do not steal from you. I write local TAT (tourist agency) which give you Thai prices to Cambodia. You cannot enter the palace because it is closed for prayer until 1 o'clock. If you get tuk-tuk you go to golden buddah, other wat and to TAT for 20THB. No 20THB is what Thais pay - watch - I ask this driver to take you for 20 THB. See you go with him."

... which is pretty much where our conversation ended.

Other scams pulled in the next few minutes were official looking cards displaying what can and can't be worn conveniently held by tuk-tuk drivers ready to whisk you away to "golden buddah". Inside the gate we were asked if we wanted an English guide for 200THB (there are free tours in English running every couple of hours). Another touts headset tours (which noone is wearing) which you can hire by leaving either your passport or credit card. Sheesh - who falls for that??!

I thought the wat was pretty fantastic but Damo thought it very touristy and lacking spiritual presence. Could it have been the Pepsi umbrellas at the offering platform? There was a HUGE thunderstorm while we were there out in the open which was pretty exciting.

Last night we checked out the Suam Lum Night Bazaar which was pretty cool - I bought some really nice silks which I've been keeping an eye out for and which are suprisingly not very easy to find outside of Jim Thompsons House.

We have officially chickened out of the Pat Pong specialties. After being "minded" at a weird lady boy show in Patong we've decided that it's just a bit too dodgy - neither of us are that interested in being beaten up in a nightclub.

We're looking to fly out to Siem Reap today. On Bangkok Airlines, not the dodgy cheapo airlines, not that we have much choice seeing as Bangkok Airlines hold a monopoly on the route. After much reading of how much work it is to get to Siem Reap by land without getting scammed or killed on the shite roads we've decided that flying is worth the extra $400.

Hopefully our next blog will be from Siem Reap - both of us are very excited by the prospect of sunset at Angkor Wat.

p.s. We're sorry about the lack of photos. Internet access is expensive and it's bloody time consuming to get them up onto the site... we promise that more photos will come in the next blog.