Quick update to let everyone know I'm still alive..

After a very smooth and overnight flight from Istanbul I arrived in Bangkok. As expected, the woollen suffocating coat of hot air, pollution and humidity hits me. Did my body secretly forget how it was in Cambodia 6 years ago.. Anyhow, I took the train and decided to walk the first bit. (you've been to Asia, or travelling in general, you know to avoid the first loud drivers in front of the station) The first bit became a near death experience of a two hour walk... When realising it was quite a bit further than expected but at that point I was on a one-way street that didn't end until I'd reached my hostel. On the way I saw fascinating foods, a guy having a wank and a pedestrian strip where they were dancing for exercise (it was 32 degrees may I add).

Two hours later I was checked in and made a friend at the hostel. We went for dinner at Thipsamai, world famous for its delicious Pat Tai (rice noodles stir-fried with fresh shrimps, bean sprouts and egg). Sorry foodstagrammers, no photo as I was hangry. As I couldn't sleep I went out with one of the other guys from my dorm to drink beer until the early morning.

Bangkok is way too big to see in a day or two. yes, i know, it's a given but I don't really enjoy capitals (even though 'Ive lived in one for four years). To be able to tick all the 'must see' boxes, I had to stay four days! bit unexpected. I'll rush you through them;

Day one

I met up with a girl in my dorm. We spent the whole day eating everything we could find (fish soup, sweet coconut balls, octopus skewers, different bowls of veg, eggs etc., coconut and bean dessert, eggy dessert, durian and sticky rice, tom yang gung, jackfruit) and saw some interesting sights of course.. a boat tour over the Mae Nam Chao Phraya, which runs trough the northern part of Bangkok. A hot visit to Wat Po ending in a 30 min foot massage on site. I walked on clouds afterwards.. which was needed as we've finished the day on Kao San Road..(!) awful tourist mania! expensive beer, girls in revealing outfits, clothing/bag/sunglasses/selfie stands EVERYWHERE :s Glad to say i've not returned to that crime scene.

Day two

I've dragged myself into another tourist attraction, Chatuchak Market, this one was widely visited by locals as well as tourists and had a less pushy atmosphere. Plus, it was a lovely day so if the people became too much I simply grabbed a coconut juice, my book and sat just off the market itself. It felt like an organised and clean Camden Staples but with sun. Busy but enjoyable. From there I took the metro towards China town and went all in on grilled octopus with a side of vegetables i've never heard off. Spicy and delicious! (It looks live i've done nothing this day but trust me, the walking takes up every minute).

Day three

Time for mooooore... I had to book myself into the hostel (Chern) for another day or I would not have time to see the absolute 'tickers' of Bangkok; Wat Phra Kaew and Grand Palace and the Jim Thompson House/ Museum.

The first reminds me of Angkor Wat.. yes, the buildings are absolutely beautiful but it feels wrong to make a tourist attraction out of what is used as a spiritual place. It seems impossible to take a photo with other people in it and it seems more of a 'who-has-the-best-insta-shot' than a general interest in the site itself. Oh the agitation.. as I'm slowly strolling around reading up on everything my guidebook says about every step I take (yes mum, you taught me well). I even told off a couple that were taking photos of the Emerald Buddha (yes I'm a nerd) having that said though, since the King has died and I was there during the 160th day of mourning, local Thais were giving their respects in these temples. The least you can do, if you want to go against the rules and take photos where you're not aloud to, is to show respect when hundreds of locals come into the temples to mourn and hide your bloody camera (idiots).

After being baked for a good four hours and strained my eyes for the same amount of time due to all the shimmer and shine on the buildings, it was time to go to Jim Thompson's house.

My tour guide was an incredible little Thai lady and the tour around the property was very impressive. However, him being a Western man well known in the Thai silk industrie I thought it weird that we didn't actually get to see any of the craftsmanship of silk. Must be me and my city's textile background that I'm actually interested in that. The museum however is immaculate and the tour very well presented. totally worth every penny of your 150 Baht!

I went back to my hostel via a beautiful walk down the canal behind Sir Thompson's house. Last supper was served just around the corner from my place and seemed to be a well established restaurant called Yen Ta Fo, yes the same as the dish, which I ofcourse had to order and was scrumptious. As it is, I do have Instagram worthy photos of this edible feast. I have to end this update with saying that, even though I'm used to it due to my Cambodia experience, I still find it interesting to hear that those places on the streets where you can eat are actual well organised/ well presented open air restaurants. The lovely Thai couple that sat opposite me asked me out of curiosity why I'd chosen 'this particular restaurant'. Well, if locals eat here from 9am until midnight.. it must be good! and it is.

Today, 36 degrees, is not a day to travel but I had to get out of the city. I took a train from Hua Lamphong station and arrived about an hour 1/2 later in Ayutthaya. I'm staying at Baan are Gong guesthouse which is a century-old teak building, right on the river. It's time for a beer, a stroll and dinner.

Lotsa love.

Kuss