On the road again...

Tonight will be my last night in Bangkok. I'm kinda excited, as I've just met my new room mate, Nicole, an Accountant from Melbourne so it's quote cool that the next part of my adventure is imminent!
I do like Bangkok - although the hustle and bustle is tiring. Not to mention the heat, which I think I already have, several times. Repetition is emphasis.
Friday evening I drank like a rich person. At the top of the State Tower is an amazing 360deg view of Bangkok. Dave and I were up there in time for a hazy sunset, followed by a cool, relaxing Mai Tai while the lights of Bangkok came to life. Its a huge city, and easy to forget how the streets feel like they can close in on you from way up there! Dinner at the Night Bizarre next to Lompini Park. Apparently there are plans to bulldoze this great spot for locals and tourists, and put up yet another mall or high rise. Shame.
Saturday was a fun day. A leisurely start at about 11am, and jumped on the back of a motorcycle taxi up to the skytrain station. I know I shouldn't but I love the motorbike taxis! You know you have a professional if they give you a helmet. The weaving and ducking and maneuvering to get to the front of the lights really is something to behold, and they manage it before every green light. Then when the lights change its an exhilarating rush as all the bikes take off like a huge swarm of angry....somethings - just remember to keep your mouth closed! Onward to the boat taxis to head up the river to Chinatown, where I'm sure they don't know the meaning of 'one'. Everything there is in bulk. In just one trip you may never need to shop again. The streets are narrow and crowded, and I'm so impressed by the ambition, and arrogance, of the guys riding their motorbikes through this maze while the crowds part.
As the heat and the invasion of personal space increased, it was time to move on to Jim Thompson's house. An American soldier came to Thailand during WW2 and feel in love with the place, gathering traditional homes from across the country, along with the most amazing traditional art collection from all across Asia, he established himself in Bangkok, and revitalised the traditional silk trade with the western world. Then, while walking one day in the Malaysian highlands he just disappeared...weird.
Yesterday Dave flew out to the UK, and I headed to my new digs, just a stone's throw from Kho San Road. After dumping my bags I was out again, pounding the pavement, on my way to The Grand Palace and the Wat that houses the Emerald Buddha (and I can't spell the name off the top of my head, so that's some homework for you...). This place is is amazing. The sculptures (Thai angels and demons, and assorted guardians of the King) are beautiful, intricate and mostly gold. Similarly the artwork painted on the walls and then gold leafed are stunning. The gold used for the kings and god-incarnations seem to glow and jump off the walls next to the painted everyday scenes.
Next door Buddha was just lying around at Wat Pho. This golden statue is the largest Reclining Buddha, and I can't even tell you how big it is. Its just very, very big. Its hard to get a really good look at it as there are pillars and what not holding up the roof above it, but them you stand down one end and look back, it loses all sense of proportion. But very beautiful.
So today is the first day of my tour. People will be arriving during the day, I'll be getting excited. Hopefully I'll be able to update you again with tales of dicey border crossings, near misses with elephant stampedes, or something equally exciting.