I am in Bangkok now. Got a cheap room with a fan at Khao San Road for RM 10 per night. That's the best price, I think, in Bangkok. This place is a bit like Petaling Street back home. Here's where all budget travellers congregagate for cheap rooms, cheap travels, cheap food etc. Lot's of life, with streetside eating, shopping, tatooing, hair braiding, pubs ... till past midnight. 

The weather here is very hot, averaging 34 celcius. When I am out in the streets, I get sticky and sweaty very fast. At night it's warm like oven too. But with the fan on full blast, could still get some sleep. 

Just came back from a Thai traditional massage. Was nice, having people kneading the pressure points on your body for an hour. Today was spent walking around the metropolitan of Bangkok. It was busier and more traffic than KL. Air was quite polluted with fumes. Things here are slightly more expensive than in Malaysia. But clothes are very cheap, especially ladies clothes. They've got very nice and colourful blouses for only RM 5 to 10. 

Also, lots of food to eat and try out. At almost every other lane there'll always be something to satisfy your palate ... BBQ (sotong, chicken, sausages ...), little cakes, porridge, noodles, rice ... It's a shopping and eating haven. But seems like ppl here don't speak much English. Passed by the Chulalongkorn University in town. Some uni students could hardly understand English, giving me blank stares when I asked where is the Medical School. Also, because I look a bit like Thai, usually the shoppersons and stallowners will start talking to me in Thai. Could only nod and smile. The trick is to just point to the food, show a one finger, and pay when the food comes, keeping mute all the time. They must be thinking I am either too lazy to talk, or just acting cool. 

Went for an organised 3-in-one-day trip with a travel agency in Khao San Road. Visited the Floating Market. It didn't have to be a floating market, since platforms are built all around it, and ppl can just shop from the platforms. The paddle boats are just for tourists, most of the time. Also, visited the Bridge on River Kwai. That's the Death Railway, where Japanese soldiers took Prisoners of War from all over to build this vital link during  World War II. And it was bombed by the Allied Forces, with the bridge full of POWs made to stand there by the Japanese. Then there's this tallest monument in Thailand thing. 

Extended my stay here a bit. Plan to spend a night in Pattaya. Also spend a day in Ayuthia. Will be going there on my own, since I picked up a secondhand Lonely Planet Thailand for RM 40. (Jun, do you want to buy this book from me ? Otherwise I will sell it off before I leave Bangkok). Will be flying out of Thailand on Friday early morning at 8.10 a.m.. When I reach KL, will take an airport bus to Nilai, then Komuter back to Seremban. 

Please pray for a safe and fine trip. Some unpleasant things did happen. My haversack arrived in Bangkok Airport, opened and ransacked. Luckily only a lighter and a roll of duct tape was stolen (they didn't steal the expensive medical books, luckily). It must have happened in Kathmandu. Unpleasant things ... spoiled the fun of travelling. 

OK, thats all for now. Hope to watch a bout of Thai boxing before I leave. The thought of having to start final year a few days after coming home, sounds too scary to be true. 

Anyway, that's about it. Thanks for your emails and faithful prayers. Catch up with you all some other time. 

Mum and Dad : will be coming home myself. Very troublesome for Alvin to come alone to pick me up. Not too much baggage anyway. 

Hock Chen : when is the new semester starting for freshies ? I mean after their quarantine time in Haluansiswa. 

Mira : sorry the last email from me was accidentally sent to you in hotmail, instead of yahoo. 

Cheers, 

Michael 
Count your blessings !