First stop: Bangkok

So, after a 14 our flight, we finally arrive in Bangkok. I've never been outside Europe before, so I haven't a clue what to expect. All I have to go on is what I've seen on TV, ie mopeds, smog, sweat and filth....I wasn't wrong!

We touch down in Bangkok International Airport and head towards Arrivals. The airport is amazing! Glass all around, with a luxurious garden inside with well kept trees and exotic plants! Ya woldn't get this in Ireland!! I'm impressed!

We finally make it outside, after going through a very cultural airport! This is where rality hits! There is literally people everywhere clammering to get our business, be it taxi, or tour of the city! We had already been nabbed by a taxi service inside so we had our "VIP Taxi limo" waiting for us when we got there. All our hopes of a fancy drive to our plush hotel vanished when a grey Hiace van pulled up and some local man started shouting at us for our bags. He loaded them into the back and herded us into the back. Luckily it had air conditioning!

We told him we were going to the Sawasdee Inn on Khaosan Road and we were on our way.

About halfway there, it came to light that he didn't know where this hotel was! We had to stop at a toll bridge to ask the local Police there. After a few minutes he came out, looked at a map, and we set off again. Around 20 minutes later, we were dropped at a hotel in the middle of Bangkok. The lady there was nice, and the locals seemed friendly. The lady was quite helpful and told us that in fact this was not our hotel, but ours was only down the road, but she'd take us there. So off we set, bags on our backs, down the road to what seems like their Grafton St! We spot an Irish bar! We'll be in there later, we agree!!

The lady stops halfway down the street and points down an alleyway. We seen a sign above it saying "Sawasdee Inn". We're home, it seems!

We walk down the alley. Its full of cats.....well, not cats as we know them, but more like rat cats! They're scrawny diseased looking yokes! Not nice at all! But we get to reception anyway. Not impressed. We check in, get to the rooms....not impressed! The rooms were horrible! The bathrooms were small! You could have a shower while sitting on the toilet, while brushing your teeth in the sink....but not with tap water, coz that will give you diarhoea!! I miss Ireland already!

We'll go exploring tonight. Hopefully first impressions can be changed...