Hello Bangkok!

Phew! What a manic but wonderful few weeks! Gary and Beckie's wedding was just wonderful. Beckie looked stunning and my little brother was all grown up and did us proud. Lots of love to you both!

Gorgeous! xxx

So...I really don't know where to start! After the wedding, Mum and Dad kindly took me to Heathrow to catch my flight. We were super early (yes, I know...) which suited me fine as we were able to sit down and have something to eat at the same restaurant we ate at last time they took me to catch a flight to Bangkok! After I left them at the airport and had a little cry :) it was nearly time to catch my flight.

My plane!

The flight was lovely! I'd booked an aisle seat for £14 but it was well worth it. And I was lucky as nobody was in the seat next to me! Hurrah! I was able to spread out a bit and managed to get about 6 hours sleep on the flight. I didn't watch any films, but did read Dan Brown's 'The Lost Symbol' which was absolute rubbish! 

So...June, Alexa and Andrew picked me up from the airport. Thank you! It was lovely to see some friendly faces as soon as I arrived in BKK. They took me straight to my new apartment, which is amazing! 

Welcome pack waiting for me when I arrived!

The macaroons were delicious and if I want a refill, they are
available in the bakery down stairs for 89B (for a bag!)

So this is when you can start to get a little bit jealous...

The view from my bedroom windows!

The view of the Chao Phraya river from my balcony.

My apartments (the middle one) taken from the taxi boat that
takes me to the sky train station.

My little compact kitchen.
Oven is rubbish but everything else is ace!

Lounge (the curtain is hiding the balcony!)

Pretty things from home! xxx

The make up station! Will refrain from showing you pictures
of shower and toilet and bath!

Bedroom - huuuuuuuuuuuuage bed! 

Lounge with pretty cushions from Gary and Beckie

So, I think I'll be very comfortable living here! There are 3 pools downstairs that I can use and a gym. There are also a range of little shops and restaurants: a 7/11, bakery, posh Chinese restaurant, good value restaurant that overlooks the river, nice bar for cocktails (I have sampled a number of mojitos - very good!), a Starbucks and a spa. All very nice! 

On my second day here, school took us on a trip to Wat Po, one of the temples in Bangkok. It was a lovely day trip on the boat along the river, and then we had some time to look around. It's all so bright and colourful and impressive. I'd like to go back again and spend some time having a proper look around and reading up about it before hand. Kate - you'll have to come too!

Newly gold-leafed Buddha

Impressive spires, especially against the sky. 

There were many pictures of the human body and all
the acupressure points for Thai massage.

The massive reclining Buddha is breath taking!

Wat Arun, taken from the boat on the way to Wat Po.

More gold leaf covered Buddhas at Wat Po.

I'm looking forward to spending some time reading more about the Thai cultural monuments and temples. Although I visited most of them the first time I came, I'd really like to go and see them again but this time with a bit more context. I've been given a good guide book with lots of information about BKK in there, and will have to get some books out of the school library. Look out Kate, by the time you arrive I'll be an expert and your very own tour guide!

Not far from my apartment is the Saphan Taksin BTS station which is really handy. It takes about 5 minutes to get there on the hotel boat (in the picture below) which is a fun way of getting about town and SO much quicker than the taxis and battling in Bangkok traffic!

Just leaving Saphan Taksin BTS station on the boat. It's a pretty smooth
ride until we get caught in the wake of one of the big boats. Then
it's not so fun!

My nearest supermarket is TOPS in the Robinsons department store. It's about a 2 minute walk from the BTS station which is ideal. TOPS sell most things I could want (including some Waitrose products, like risotto rice! Hurrah!) but doesn't always have everything. There's always the gourmet markets and Villa for those though. And I'm quite excited about the big Tesco store that sells Tesco finest products! Yes yes, I know, I've moved to Thailand and I'm looking for places to buy Western food. But I haven't actually bought much Western food! It's important to know where it is because there is Thai food everywhere, which is brilliant. But it's always handy to know where to get the best sausages from when I'm having a need for onion gravy!

Very different to Paragon but has most things so it's a good
local for essentials. Have already bought my baking tray,
weighing scales and knives from here. 

If I'm feeling energetic, or want to stop at a cheap Thai household goods market, then I can walk to Robinsons along Charoenkrung Road. It takes about 15-20 minutes and is warm! Although nice to see the shops and get my bearings.

This is the road I live on. Soi 68 is two lanes away from me.
My apartment is on Soi 70. 

 So, one of the highlights of my stay so far was seeing Gary and Beckie last Friday. June took us for a lovely afternoon tea at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel which was delicious! So delicious that we got half way through eating it and realised we hadn't taken a photo of the delicate sandwiches and pretty desserts. Ooops! So, this is the half eaten cream tea. I suppose I'll have to go again just so I can get another photo of it all. Sigh - what a chore!

The creme brulees were lovely (which is why they aren't
in the photo) and the chocolate layer thing was
incredible! Yes please!

When we arrived at June's house for dinner, it was obvious they'd known we were coming. There were gorgeous pink balloons decorating the house and a fantastic welcome banner all in the wedding colours. Well done Amatas! 

What a welcome!

We weren't just welcomed with banners, balloons and lovely family (it was so nice to see everyone!) but also a fantastic spread from Pidar. We had massaman curry, greeny curry, chicken and cashew nuts (my favourite!), samosas, spring rolls, fish cakes, stir fried vegetables and lots lots more. I hadn't eaten much Thai food since I'd arrived as I was saving myself for this feast! Gary and Beckie really enjoyed it too. Don't think there was anything we didn't have seconds (and thirds!) of!

Nom nom!

So, that's a bit of a run down of the first few days in Bangkok. Since then, I've taught 3 days at school and am absolutely shattered! Phew! Imagine what a full week will be like. Work is great though, and I'm really enjoying it. Although it's been so busy, I haven't really had chance to do some proper shopping and get the flat and everything quite looking homely enough yet. That's something for the next few weeks - very much looking forward to buying some pretty things. 

Speaking of pretty things, I've been very good and only bought a few pens for work so far. However, I've started scouting out where my first pay packed is going...

Mmmmmmmmm

Watch this space for more Thailand adventures and many pictures of all the pretty stationery I buy over the next 2 years! Paragon here I come! :D