Bangkok rocks

Helen: We both remember Bangkok being totally manic last time we were here...but compared to Singapore and KL it feels relaxed and chilled out! Maybe it's because there aren't many skyscrapers and you can actually see the sky? Or maybe it's the people - always smiling? Or maybe it's because they're all Hindus and Buddhists? Whatever it is, it rocks.
Got here this morning on the sleeper train from Penang (at the Thai border, v amusing sign saying no-one with 'hippie characteristics' (waistcoat with no under garments and long, dirty hair) would be allowed in - C immediately started smoothing down his dreads!) and...we're leaving tomorrow! Going to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. 12 hours on a bus. Better be worth it!
Right, time for bed. Early start tomorrow. Think we 'did' Bangkok pretty well today - took a busy commuter canal boat into town with the locals, (got lost - de rigeur for us in SE Asian cities at the moment), visited Kao San Rd (all the 18 year olds made us feel really grown up), saw a political protest, and went to a traditional puppet show this evening. Tick.

Hx

PS thought you might find these Malaysian words amusing - see if you can figure out what they mean: kastam, imigresen, stesen, farmasie, notis, kaunter, basikal, motosikal

PPS a bloke came up to us at Butterworth train station to introduce himself - he'd been on the cruise ship too and recognised us...and he was traveling from NZ to Europe overland too! He was slightly more adventurous than us though, and is braving Iran...