Since it's Saturday I decided to go to Chatuchak - Bangkok (and the World’s) largest weekend market. On the way there I met a nice German who I got to chatting to on the Skytrain since he was wearing a Capoeirista's Batizado (baptism/grading) t-shirt. He was on the way to the market too and then to the North for some scenery and fresh air. We had essentially the same ideas about where to go next and what we wanted to do and I guess if I hadn’t wanted to be alone for now and if he wanted some company we could have explored the market together and met up to travel onwards. I can see now what people say about how easily travel companions and new friends can be found. When I arrived at the market I wished him well and went my own way and within seconds of getting out onto the street and experiencing the humidity, I knew that I wasn’t going to stay long. That’s the upside to solo travel. You can change plans at the drop of a hat and please yourself. Within the hour I was at a huge and air conditioned mall sourcing out a cinema, some upmarket eateries and familiar but up-market clothing stores. It’s good to know where to go to find familiarity should I need it. I also realise how extra important it is to be able to be assertive when travelling. Especially whilst alone. When wandering around a temple yesterday a Thai man stopped me and started giving info about reduced fees to enter temples etc and even gave me a tourist map and marked out the tourist office but when he hailed a tuk tuk and instructed the driver to take me somewhere I was all out. I won’t have anyone dictate to me about where I will go and when. Unsurprisingly, he was more than a little put out that his kind advice was not being followed to the letter. I don’t think that I was necessarily at risk of anything bad happening but I couldn’t know for sure where the tuk tuk driver would take me, how much he would want and how I would get back to a familiar area afterwards. I always follow my instincts and if something doesn’t feel right, I assert myself and get out. One thing is for sure, I want out of the big city. Like London, Bangkok has a lot to offer if you know what you want and where to look but I tire of hussle and bussle and crowds pretty quickly and I want to find some more calm and quiet somewhere with more to see.

This morning I checked out of my pricey (1200 baht a night), noisy but nice (though windowless) hotel room in Banglumphu near the Khaosan, stored my luggage in their locked room and went off to the river boat again. This time I caught the local boat (15 baht instead of the 40 baht tourist boat) because I'm practically a pro after yesterday and went off to see the temple of The Reclining Buddha.

  I hadn't settled on new accommodation for tonight but I wasn’t going to let that ruin my day. After seeing some gorgeous Buddhas and the main reclining one of course, I had a cheap and great Thai massage in the well reputed school located within the temple compound.

  When I returned, I went wandering about looking for a cheap guesthouse. It is common and acceptable practice in Asia to ask to see an available room before paying so I looked at a few and some were still fairly pricey whilst other, cheaper places had reasonable rooms but were full. It was 7pm and a Friday and I was starting to get a little concerned that I would have to keep overspending on rooms due to running out of daylight and planned options, when I stumbled on a guesthouse with a large and clean en-suite for 490 baht. I nipped off to get my bag on foot (checked the reviews online having learned my lesson on my first night) and walked it over. I paid for the room after confirming it was the same one that I was shown earlier and was off out for my first beer. Ever. I usually drink Baileys but with ice being off limits, I decided that it was time to choose a beer and when in Thailand....Singha :0)

The highlight of my evening was a group of young Thai men turning up some hip hop and breakdancing right by my street-side table. Good vibes!