Hello again!

We finally have (limited) free internet access so we're making the most of it. This will be a quick one as we're only allowed 30 mins and most of it was spent uploading the pictures!

We're now back in crazy, urban Bangkok after a fantastic 2 weeks in Surin. It was so sad saying goodbye to the elephants and mahouts but we're glad to be moving on. After a long 8 hour train journey and our last ride in the back of a truck (wont miss that) we arrived in Bangkok and were greeted by the customary wall of humidity! We've been to Kaowsan (i think thats how its spelt) road, done a lot of haggling at the market stalls, had some amazing pad thai (peanut noodles with beansprouts and meat) and chilled out in the hostel. Its nice not getting up at 6am every morning to the sound of cockerels competing with each other for the loudest squawk! But it was a bit of a shock coming back to the bustle of the city after weeks of elephants strolling casually by our window and the calmness of the village.

Today there was a big anti-gov protest in Bangkok which went right past our hostel, but we left early this morning and avoided most of it; but it was unnerving to see riot police with shields and army trucks gliding by, as well as truckloads of shouting people waving red flags. We had a nice taxi driver back to the hostel (had a minor mishap with one yesterday who started getting very aggressive and shouting at us for more money!) and we said bye to Kate :( who is starting a tour of the islands in the next few days. We're planning to meet up in New Zealand though so if all goes to plan we'll see her soon!

More about central Bangkok is needed i guess...its absolutely crazy. So much fun bartering at stalls but you get constantly harrassed and if you so much as look at a tray someone is carrying around you will not be released from their clutches until you've bought a wooden frog or a wallet or similar.
Kaowsan is a bit like Englishtown- its clearly built for tourists and it was almost another culture shock seeing so many westerners strolling round: in the village in Surin we got honked at just walking down the road to the cafe each morning! But its nice to feel a bit less conspicuous. Can't wait for Australia, we're getting homesick for a good western meal and not having to mime at taxi drivers so they know where to go! But we're having a great time here.
Plan for the next few days is Grand Palace tomorrow, monday we're hopefully going to Ayutthaya (old capital of Thailand) which looks amazing in the rough guide. Tuesday will be chilling out and packing, then Weds we fly to Cairns! Exciting stuff. Hope everything is alright in the wall of corn. Missing you alllllll.
Well, I lied, that was a very long blog indeed. Hope you didnt get bored there.
More update before we leave! lots of love, luce and em xxxxxxxxxxx