Banking on the back up

Ok, now don't have a go at me all at once but I lost my credit card the other night. I'd like to be able to blame nitrogen narcosis (which brings on foolish behaviour) but it was just me being an idiot really. I wasn't drunk and it wasn't late at night either. Though I was pretty shattered after a day's diving. Anyway, I left it in the ATM machine and didn't twig until the following evening when I went to get some more money.

Normally I'd be reduced to tears by something like that but I think this laid-back lifestyle is agreeing with me. I kept my cool and just shrugged my shoulders and did my best to sort it out. I didn't even lose it with Halifax or MasterCard when it all proved a bit too problematic for them to sort their shit out either! Long story but after about six or seven phone calls I think we finally got there. Thank crunchie I managed to get my new current account card before I came away otherwise I'd be totally screwed for a back up.

I was late for our dive video unveiling but I claimed I was on 'Thai time'! There was only one thing for it and that was to get drunk for the evening, which we all did. Went to a few nice bars, had a bit of a boogie and a nice hangover in the morning but it was all good fun. It's been great hanging out with Jazz and the American girls plus a couple of the divemasters over the last few days. I will miss the island and definitely miss the vibe and the beach.

Back in Bangkok now to do some proper sightseeing round the city at last. I think I am now suffering from temple and Buddha fatigue. You've seen ten, you've seen them all. My visit to the grand palace this morning was a little marred by torrential downpours at first but eventually it brightened up.

I'm convinced there was some kind of bad taste party going on at the palace today, one which I clearly wasn't invited to! Several groups of tourists were clad in the worst brightly coloured, patterned and badly clashing outfits I think I've ever seen - en masse! I had to take some photos just to prove it to you but can't upload them yet. Truly terrible, grown men in baggy trousers with elephants plastered all over them...

I do feel a sense of achievement after a day negotiating such a sprawling megalopolis like this, not getting lost with my map reading, not getting sucked in by scanners and overpriced tuk tuk drivers, not getting the ferry the wrong way down the river and managing to make it home in one piece. There's always a sense of nervousness setting out in the morning, wondering what the day will bring, whether you'll make it to all your destinations but when you're back round the pool by four, things couldn't be better!