Sunday 25th October
Well, our week at the Naked Villa was just incredible. Pure luxury and decadence, a complete and utter rest! I could get very used to having a maid to cook for us and clean up after us! In fact she was so good that Bruce and Tik have offered her a job as their maid! It was with a very sad heart that we left there. However, we still had one last big event before our homeward trip – meeting Shelley and Sarah!!!! Our two lovely friends were stopping off en route to Bali to spend three days with us! How brilliant is that??!!!! So, when we flew into Bangkok from Samui we only had a couple of hours to wait for their flight. Great planning!!
It was so good to see them! They always make us laugh! And then we went to the hotel that Sarah had booked us into – The Intercontinental, Bangkok. My God! This is the poshest hotel I’ve ever stayed in! How absolutely magnificent!! It’s a far cry from some of our hostels over the year!!
We’ve had a great time together yesterday . Plenty of beers, canal trip (amazing!), Wat Pho, Koe Sang Road, plenty of beers…. Some brilliantly funny times too – Sarah wasn’t allowed into the temple until she’d covered her arms and legs with a borrowed skirt and shawl that made her look like an Amish woman. Shelley, despite the solemnity of the surroundings, was giggling uncontrollably like a small child on acid!! Then later, at lunch, we realised that Shelley (classy as ever) had sweated through her shorts, making it look as though she’d wet herself. You can take the girl out of Geordie land….. Not to forget her snorting with laughter on the tuk tuk…..😅
And last night we met up with Bruce, Tik and Katy for a superb meal in a beautiful restaurant on the river. As always, we let Tik order all the food, and plate after plate kept arriving. And a tower of beer!!! And then more beer! What a dining experience! In England, I would have expected the bill to be about £300 for the seven of us, but here, just a fraction of that! (For the very last time, please can someone give us a reason why we live in England????? I personally have no idea. Self-punishment???) and before people start shouting at me, I do love where we live, most of the time, but I’ve not yet been somewhere this year that hasn’t beaten it!
To spend our last days over here with our amazing friends has been an absolute privilege, so Thank You chaps!!!!
We’re currently relaxing at the roof top pool, then heading to the markets this afternoon, and maybe a small shandy somewhere…
And then!!!!!!!!!!!!! Tomorrow starts the journey home!!! Haha! But we’ve got two months til work, so we’re going to continue our adventure in England. Plenty of places we haven’t been there yet, and we might even squeeze a few more days days of winter sun in foreign climes……. Nothing is impossible!!! Looking forward to moving into the new flat, cycling again, running, getting fit, and even mildly entertained by wondering where on earth my work is going to put me????? They actually have no idea what to do with me! Every department is being told to make cuts! Funny!

Lovely!

32 years of friendship! Probably the only person in the world I’ve never fallen out with!!!

Being with good friends. Priceless.

Beautiful ladies!!!!!!

More beautiful ladies!!!!!

The utterly incredible Reclining Buddha

The Grand Palace from the river

Incredible houses

More memories of James Bond!

A fantastic restaurant and market in the canals

On the long tail boat in the Bangkok canals

After leaving the temple, Sarah was taking the pony and trap into town to thresh some corn…..

More fashion tips from our mental friends!

Shelley, showing all her class and elegance….