Well, everything that I have heard about Bangkok has been true so far!!! It is very hot, over-developed, dirty, smelly, full of tourists- and in spite of it is still an enjoyable place to be! At least for the shopping, anyway. I can see why some people hate it, for the above reasons and more. But from the second that I arrived I knew I was going to like it, despite feeling groggy from the twelve hour flight....

I found it quite sad coming in from the airport on the bus, this route really showed the bad side of Bangkok. The crumbling, shabby and mouldy looking buildings with little garments hanging from the windows. And, oddly, with huge neon signs for 'Phillips' or 'Yamaha' hanging off them, and their surrounding areas grey with dirt. But when you get into the centre, the Grand Palace, standing Buddhah and the temples you can really begin to see the appeal. Although the streets are grimy, packed with people and street vendors, there is something exciting about the bustle.
This is not to mention the locals, who are friendly and charming and extremely helpful (when they are not trying to con you, and I feel it's probably worse in other areas of Bangkok). They are by far the nicest people that could hope to meet, and are very very proud of Thailand. And will tell you everything there is to know about it if you ask. They also have an almost comical obsession with our Country, and will question you on just about everything. Where are from? How old are you? And most commonly- which football team do you support? Start a conversation about Manchester United or Arsenal and they will reel off the latest scores, comment on the crap midfield (if your talking about Man U of course) and tell you that have supported them since they were five. I thought at first that this was just spiel to get you talking, but no! It seems that they are actually huge Man U, arsenal, liverpool and chelsea fans here! Strange but true.
Myself and my brother have had very mixed expierences on our first day here. We went to the 'tourist information' in our hotel just to be sent on a wild goose chase and eventually ending up at the Grand Palace after turning down a visit to the river and to 'Tim the Tailors' shop- an offer by our taxi driver. I was aware that he was trying to take us elsewhere and made it very clear we just wanted Grand Palace. Unfortunately due to my dress I could not enter the Grand Palace (though I was just glad to get out of the taxi!) so on wandering past the temples met a lovely man who's name I could neither pronounce or remember. But he was very helpful, and taught us our first lesson- that Tuk Tuk drivers are not the enemy, unless they have a yellow registration plate! And also the phrase 'Pang Pai!' which means 'too much!' in thai- good for bartaring with tuk tuks. I had got the impression before I arrived that using tuk tuk's (called that, because thats the sound their engines make) was generally a bad idea, but the guys with white plates are fine, and cheap. Our Tuk Tuk driver took us all over and acted as a guide with it. We saw the Standing and sitting Buddhah, and after meeting an extremely friendly Buddhah and taking his advice we headed to one of the factories where Russell had a shirt handmade. We also went to the T.A.T office and got lots of bargain deals on the rest of our journey. I paid 260 GBP for day trips, hotels, flights and packages to cover the next two and a half weeks! They, again, were very helpful so I'd recommend a visit there to anyone coming to bangkok. All in all, I think that it is an experience coming here, it is one of those things that is good in small doses, and I think after tomorrow we may well be ready to leave.