Bangkok

Have we died and gone to hell - oh no we're in Bangkok. What a hell hole . We wandered about China Town last night and this morning ; it was a slight improvement in day light but not much. However we are in a really great hotel called Bangkok Central Hotel which is on the edge of China Town with great views over the city.
We travelled away from the north of Thailand a few days ago. We spent a couple of nights at a great hotel in Khon Kaen which was typical of the enigma that is Thailand. On the surface and in parts of the city it was sophisticated but under the surface or around the corner was traditional Thailand and quite a lot of poverty that exists everywhere.
We then travelled down to Ayuttaha which was the first capital of a united Thailand and is full of ancient Wats and replicas of Buddhism. We once again had to rough it as there were no rooms at all in all the best hotels or indeed any of the hotels. One hotel finally had pity in us and we stayed in an annexe which was grotty and had the most uncomfortable bed imaginable- serious grot! However we enjoyed our wanderings around the ruins and eventually returned our car to the airport with no scratches on it and having only seen one crash in our entire journey around Thailand.
We are now in Siam Square in the more sophisticated part of Bangkok and indeed have been able to use this internet site free of charge next to Starbucks!