AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS........or so

Hay All

Well my impressions of Bangkok have not changed greatly since I posted last. I really think the best way to describe this city is a dirty, sewer smelling, clamy city that only wants to rip you off at every chance they get. There is really nothing to do in this city. It reminds me of Brussells. Feck all to see but plenty of bars. Apart from Siam Square, the various markets and the Emerald palace, bangkok has really nothing left to offer.

As I said earlier there is really not a whole lot happening here apart from a visit to the Buddha Temple and the Kings Palaces. Its really the only tourist attraction they have and its a very good one at that. Some of the art work and the monuments in the 'Emerald Palace' are amazing and seemed to be looked after very well. The gold spires of the temples and the colourfull artwork along the various walls around the temple gardens would make Michelangelo's work look amertureish.

The Markets now are unreal. You can buy cloths, shoes, runners, DVD's - anything.....you name and you'll find here in one of the many Bangkok markets and the best part of it al is that everything is dirt cheap....even if you don't haggle with then. I have'nt been to the night Market yet, Iheard some good things about it so I'll savwe that for my last night - which is tomorrow (Monday).

Tuesday I plan to leave Bangkok and head into the heart of Thailand. Have not decided were yet. I met a guy from Ballbrigan in Bullys Bar the other night. He's heading home on Friday but he wanted to see a bit of Thailand before he went, so we made plans to travel around the place with each other. It beats heading into the 'wilderness' on your own!

Wll thats all from me at the moment. I will upload photo's and videos as soon as I am allowed! ( I've reached the limit for this month on photo's so I haver to wait till August. What I will do is upload them to myspace or bebo and put the link here.

anyway thats it for now

Take care

Colin

Hay Everyone,

I arrived last night in Thailand after a very long and exhausting flight from London. Got a taxi in from the airport straight to the hostel ( it cost around 300bht + toll 70bht which works out at e8.90). I had lost track of time so I decided to head straight to bed. I got up early this morning at 2a.m., thinking of course it was much later. Could'nt get back to sleep so I took a wee wonder around the block. To my amazement the place was as busy as It would be during the day. Unreal. They don't really seem to care what they do for money....just wants they get it.

When back to the hostel at around 3.30am and that was mew out for the count till about 12 noon today. Last night my walk around the block in sandles did not do much for my feet as there was cuts and bite marks all over. I went to put the sandles back on and they seem to make things worse. So on with the runners and down to the market to buy something more comfortable. A pair of slip on runners/sandle style, a irish rugby top and a pair of 3/4 length trousers - all for 1220bht which works out at 30e not bad but I could of getting them cheaper if I really tried. I just needed something quick for my feet!

Right so its off to explore Bangkok today and tomorrow. After that I plan to head up along the coast of Thailand if I can get a good trip at a decent price.

Thats all for now

la-gon

Colin

oh yeah I heard this morning Joe has resigned as manager of Armagh. Damn I betcha all the experienced players will follow suit.

On Tuesday night, myself and my 2 room mates decided that sure we are all moving on tomorrow, lets say goodbye to London in Style. A vote was taken and Camden town was the choice for that nights drinking. On the way to Kings Cross Station to catch the tube we said we would kick start the evening with a quick pint in O'Neills Irish Bar (just up the road from the hostel and tube station). So 1 turned into 2, 2 turned into 3 etc., etc. "Right are we heading to Camden or what?", "eh no, its 1.30am!"

So it turned out without us realising that we had spent the night in O'Neills. Turned out to be a really good night.

Following morning was not easy, we only had about 5/6 pints and all our headings were, well not the best. Couple pints of water and were back on track. My plane was'nt till 10.30pm that evening so I had the entire day to spend in London. The only 2 places I never got to were Maduam Tussads and the Imperial war Museum.

Tussads was grand. More aimed at the young I'd guess. Kinded reminded me of the School tours to the Dublin Wax Museum. After that I caught the tube over to the Imperial War Museum. I spent about 3 hours in this place. I must say the Exhibition on the Holocust is something else. They have some really disturbing pictures and videos on Display.

Right thats it from London. I must say it is certainly an enjoyable city. Lots to do and see. I shall certainly be back at some stage now that I know the main tourist spots to avoid so you won't get ripped off.

Thats it for now

Take care

Colin

This photo was taken at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich overlooking the city of London. So close to the city but you would think you were miles away in the country side.

Hay all,

Well I am just after arriving back in the hostel of spending the day in Greenwich. Tomorrow I depart for Thailand but firstly in the morning its a quick trip to the Imperial War Museum, been meaning to get to it all week.

Since I last updated I've managed to get around most parts of London that were worth seeing. Well apart from Sunday when I just sat in O'Neills watching the Dublin Game!

Harrods
Over those few days I managed to pay a visit to the over-rated, over-priced Harrods Department Store, the jolly old guy on the door would not let me in as I was not dressed suitably......can you imagine some stoping you at Pennys saying you can't get in because your were wearing Tracksuit buttoms and I taught the Beerkeeper was bad! Anyway paid another trip back on Monday to which I was greeted with a gleaming smile as he opened the door for (nice chap!). A glorified Shopping Centre would be the best way to describe Harrods.

Around the Parks to Buckingham
The walk around the parks, both Hyde Park and St. James's, I really enjoyed. It took the best part of 2 hours but was well worth it. When you come out on one side of St James's park you see nothing but bus after bus full of Tourists looking to get a peak at Buckingham Palace. Why? Its just a bland building. If you really want to see what a palace should look like they should check out the royal Palaces in Brussells or the Palace of Versaille in France, at least they have a bit of character and life to them. However I must say well done to the Gardners who keep the avenue leading up to the palace looking really well.

A 10 minute walk around the road and you reach Westminister Abbey and Houses of Parliment these are are impressive buildings that really stand out amoung the modern London Buildings that surround it. Next time your watching Brian Dubson report for RTE standing outside Houses of Parliment don't be fooled by the size of Big Ben in the Background, he aint that big!! Another 5 minutes down the road and you'll come to the famous No.10, Gordon was'nt home to take my call unfortuantely.

The London Eye and Soho

After stuffing my face with a lovely Strawberry, mint-choc and vinalla Ice Cream I head for the highest point in London - The London Eye. Now thats something else....It took me almost 1 hour to wait to get on but it was surely worth it in the end. You can see for miles from the top, must say well worth the £15. Sure after all that excitement a wee drink was in order and what better place to chill out but in Soho, relaxing in a Jazz Cafe with all pints £1.50. Class.

My Last day

Today, Tuesday, was the last full day in London, I was going to just check out Maddam Tuasads and the Imperial War Museum, but that can wait till morning. I decided instead to head for Greenwich. On the way out that direction I took a stop off at the infamous Millenium Dome, quite a site, but I can understand why it failed at the start. Its not in the best of areas and it still looks dirty in certain places. I took the estuary walk around the dome which you can see all the impressive buildings across the Thames at Canary Warf.
A bit of lunch, I then caught the bus and headed for Greenwich village to check out the Maritime Museum and Royal Obervatory. It was extremely interesting and I'm delighted I decided to go. The obervatory host an excellent exhibition on Time and Navigation Travel, it also has a small piece on Summer Time, which is celebratin 100 years in exsistence this year.

So thats more or less it for the moment. I will be updating photo's from a few of the above sites when I get to Thailand. Time to go and get ready for my last night out in London. I think were hitting Cambden tonight.

All the best for now

Colin