All went well until we had to turn back and make an unnoficial stop at Karachi to take off a passenger who was taken ill mid flight. However it is another country checked off - and the forward and downward cameras meant you could watch take off and landing on the seat back screens

These are general shots taken on my many walking expeditions around Bangkok - which for some reason always seemed to end up in Siam square. TukTuk rides are an experience not to be missed - though not sure the word "safety" exists in Thai!

At last a proper day's sightseeing - the palace is spectacular and a reminder of the days when the film Anna and the King was set

after leaving the Royal Palace headed across the river to a huge market and then down the River on the river bus to walk back through Chinatown

taxi from Bangkok to Pattaya to stay with Dennis and Mit in Casabella. They seemed to have "aquired" Bang who is Mits half brother, on a recent trip to Mits village. The guest house is on the only Hill in Pattaya just off a street that leads down to the small hill beach - which you access throught he Cabbages and Condoms complex - more of this in folder 7

before 1968 Pattaya was a small fishing village which expanded to meet the R&R needs of american troops in the Vietnam war. This is what gave rise to the fairly large and colorful sex industry in Pattaya along with its go go girl and go go boy clubs. In Thailand there are not the distinctions drawn between straight and gay however Large areas of Pattaya are now aimed at family holidays.

A large (and expensive) resort complex which devotes part of its profits towards providing condoms and education to sex workers as well as providing for things like school meals. A lot of the businesses in Pattaya, including the guest house where i stayed, support activities like this

This is a small island way down the coast - walking the rickety pier, jumping the gap to the boat, and riding in the back of a truck along unmade roads are all worth it for the experience of this lovely island. I had the company here of Bird's sister and two of her friends who came to party the night away on the beach. I lay no claim to the sunrise shots which Bird shot between 5 and 6.30 am while i lay in bed providing a feast for the mosquitos! We only spent one night on the island but it is somewhere I would love to visit again for longer

I ventured up some poorly signpposted tracks to the top of the Hill to see the whole of Pattaya below me and a temple - then on up further, via a chinese garden shrine, to reach the "big buddah" that looks down on the city. Had an excellent Tarot card reading here and as I type this I am waiting for the promised money to come flowing in !!

Well this has to be for kids really, thank goodness for Bang! Although the elephants "perform" it is really a sanctuary for former working elephants which have now been retired. I never thought anyone would get me on the back of an elephant but..... all i can say is thank goodness we didnt go near the bungee jumping centre

another place where you feel more at home with a child there -thank goodness for Bang!! - well its a big glass tube with a fish tank full of sharks etc around it - what more to say
 

Despite appearance this is a modern construction started over 20 years ago by one man to keep wood carving skills alive - they reckon it will take another 20 years to complete and the revenue from tourists provides work for 200 people. The entire structure is made from wood and although it uses metal nails now these are even to be replaced by wooden ones. Did I mention the dolphin show - ah well they are trying!

this is the festival of light where people gather in their masses to sail colorful flower boats with candles down the river. There was a sanitised version in the hotel but the swimming pool didnt seem right somehow and met up with Dennis and Mit and Bang to see the real thing- wonderful. then on the last day saw the new Harry Potter film 7 hours before anyone in the UK! before going back to the airport for the flight home.