Our flight with Jet Airways was great, the latest Harry Potter ensuring the time flew by. A city bus then took us to the backpacker heart of Bangkok, Koh San road, and a 10 minute stroll brought us to our hotel. The shock of having to pay 15 pounds for the room was slightly dampened by the fact that we then headed out and had a large meal for under a quid, a single beer then more than doubled the price! Although we had come to Thailand for the beaches we could not stop in Bangkok without a trip to the palace
complex and Amy was still keen despite having been 6 years ago. It was spectacular, gold was everywhere, statues of Buddhas and demons abounded, intricate paintings lined the covered walkways and at the very centre was the fabled Emerald Buddha wrapped in its winter dress. Next stop on the river boat, a great way to avoid the traffic and see the city, was China town. Once we got off the main street packed with restaurants from the upmarket to canteens (which we chose!), the small streets felt like jumping back
in time by several months. Everything under the sun was being sold and spilled out onto the narrow lanes on overflowing tables. It was then time for some refreshment which was our first real night out for longer than we remember (maybe Kathmandu!). We had decided to head to New Zealand after Christmas and so needed to buy our flights. Scouring the travel agents we quickly realised that the entire Kiwi population was flying back home after the festivities and so we ended up getting a flight that landed in
Christchurch on the 31st December for more than we had hoped. Oh well, needs must and all that! A random trip to Jim Thompsons house, a collection of traditional Thai wooden buildings, then filled the time before the nightly Muay Thai or Thai boxing at the large stadium a short walk from the hotel. In the cheap "seats" we were surrounded by the hardcore fans screaming and placing bets left right and centre which provided a much more exciting atmosphere than the ringside seats filled with other foreigners. Things peaked for the 2 KOs we saw, pretty impressive considering each fight only lasts for 5 rounds of 3 minutes each.
Our flight with Jet Airways was great, the latest Harry Potter ensuring the time flew by. A city bus then took us to the backpacker heart of Bangkok, Koh San road, and a 10 minute stroll brought us to our hotel. The shock of having to pay 15 pounds for the room was slightly dampened by the fact that we then headed out and had a large meal for under a quid, a single beer then more than doubled the price! Although we had come to Thailand for the beaches we could not stop in Bangkok without a trip to the palace 
complex and Amy was still keen despite having been 6 years ago. It was spectacular, gold was everywhere, statues of Buddhas and demons abounded, intricate paintings lined the covered walkways and at the very centre was the fabled Emerald Buddha wrapped in its winter dress. Next stop on the river boat, a great way to avoid the traffic and see the city, was China town. Once we got off the main street packed with restaurants from the upmarket to canteens (which we chose!), the small streets felt like jumping back 
in time by several months. Everything under the sun was being sold and spilled out onto the narrow lanes on overflowing tables. It was then time for some refreshment which was our first real night out for longer than we remember (maybe Kathmandu!). We had decided to head to New Zealand after Christmas and so needed to buy our flights. Scouring the travel agents we quickly realised that the entire Kiwi population was flying back home after the festivities and so we ended up getting a flight that landed in 
Christchurch on the 31st December for more than we had hoped. Oh well, needs must and all that! A random trip to Jim Thompsons house, a collection of traditional Thai wooden buildings, then filled the time before the nightly Muay Thai or Thai boxing at the large stadium a short walk from the hotel. In the cheap "seats" we were surrounded by the hardcore fans screaming and placing bets left right and centre which provided a much more exciting atmosphere than the ringside seats filled with other foreigners. Things peaked for the 2 KOs we saw, pretty impressive considering each fight only lasts for 5 rounds of 3 minutes each.
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