Hellfire Pass

For once we were all relatively sensible so none of us felt like crap yesterday.....we had all had a good night's sleep and were ready for the day ahead!! (The hotel was lovely but breakfast left a little to be desired so if you go you might want to skip breakfast and just get some fruit from town!! In saying that - if you like warm bread (toast would not be an accurate description) and odd looking sausages then go for it!!). We headed to the train station and sat and watched the world go by till the train arrived to take us to Nam Tok (This is the last station on the Thai-Burmese line). Chris and I had done part of the journey before when we went with Sadie and Margaret but not the whole trip - It was fab (although you might want to take a cushion as there is no padding at all on the train seats and boy does your bum go numb!!). We got some fantastic photos and saw a Thai guy who's hair was worse than mine much to Moon's amusement!!

After the train journey we grabbed some lunch at Nam Tok and then headed over to The HellFire Pass Museum (We didn't make it there the last time - This is a photo of the Peace Vessel there). It was amazing.....the actual museum itself is really good (what I didn't realise was that the POW's (Prisoners Of War) were actually in the minority and that far more natives (People from Thailand, Burmese and Laos) were killed working on the line!!) - The museum itself is full of items that have been donated by the family's of the POW's so it really makes an impact!! We went down the stairs to where the actual line had been.....looking up at the sheer face of the stone it's gobsmacking that they managed to achieve what they did!! It was weird.....I know that my Uncle Will (my Grandfather's brother) worked on the line and I was standing there thinking 'I wonder if he was ever where I am standing now'.

After walking round we headed to the Tiger Temple unfortunately we were too late (What the guide book doesn't tell you is that it closes at 4pm) so we decided that we would just get some beer and crisps and head home. What a laugh we had - you know I told you that the driver had decided that we were incapable of going anywhere by ourselves....well.....you should have seen the look on his face when he stopped at a service station and we all headed off in different directions - Chris, Tracey and I to the shop, Derek and Moon to the toilet and Jo for a cigarette. I think he decided that each time he would just keep an eye on one of us so at the first stop he decided to follow Jo (she said she felt like she was being stalked by a van as it crept slowly along behind her), at the next stop he drove Derek the 100 yards to the toilet and on the third stop he had to go into the shop to rescue Chris. Jo had spotted three pig fans in a jar in the window and had decided that she just had to have one to go with her phone - Chris tried to buy two of them......he was in there for about 15 minutes and had three people serving him (In the end he only managed to buy one of them!!). So after a couple of beers Jo decided to turn on the fan and, to her delight, discovered that not only was it a fan and a pen it also had flashing lights!! It was at this point the driver put on the sexy karaoke!! The video's featured fruit displayed in suggestive positions (I will never look at a kiwi fruit the same way again!!), a very odd small dancing Elvis on a motorboat (no, I don't know why so don't ask) and some of the campest men I have ever seen - I also have no idea why this was called sexy karaoke but it gave us all a good laugh!! So between that and Jo scaring other drivers with her flashing pig fan the journey home passed in a flash (Get it.....in a flash.....oh never mind!!!)

This is a photo of the love rivals with The Driver!! (now girls....no fighting, fighting, fighting!!)

Hang Hang Hang (In a Bag)

Oh my god you should have seen the state of us yesterday!!! The alarm went off at 7am - Chris and I reckoned we were still a bit tipsy, a very white faced Tracey just looked at me and said 'Oh God......I need painkillers', Jo groaned and refused to let anyone mention anything about last night and Derek was just very very quiet!!

Moon arrived with breakfast.....took one look at us, laughed her head off and announced 'you all Hang Hang Hang today!!' - Chris, Tracey, Derek and I all ate something and had a cup of tea (Jo groaned) then we all filed down to get in the van that was taking us to Kanchanaburi (We didn't do too badly.....we were only an hour late!!). Jo discovered a Garfield cushion in the back seat, lay down and went back to sleep, the rest of us laughed about how bad we were all feeling then either listened to music or dozed!! It was at that point that I was nudged on the shoulder by Tracey 'Quick....I need a bag I'm going to be sick!!' (We had one on stand by..... along with face wipes and mint chewing gum......perhaps I would have made a good girl guide after all......). Whilst we were all teasing her about being sick Jo rose like a vampire from the back seat (honestly I didn't know it was possible to be that white and still alive!!) and asked what she had missed - Tracey raised her hand and said, in the most pathetic little voice, 'I was sick.......in a bag!!' (The rest of the day was spent making 'in a bag' comments). We stopped at a 7/11 and bought a couple of bottles of Hang - this is Thailand's hangover cure, it's full of sugar and caffeine and it really does cure a hangover!! (This is one of their adverts) Jo felt much better after taking it - just a bit tired and Tracey decided, after taking one sniff of hang, that re-hydration salts was the way to go.

We checked in at the hotel, River Kwai Bridge Resort, (which was lovely) had some lunch overlooking the Bridge over the river Kwai and then decided that we would go and visit a couple of temples and that we would do the death railway etc tomorrow. It was a good decision!! We went to Wat Tham Sua and Wat Khao Noi (We decided to give Wat Tham Mangkon Thong otherwise known as the Floating Nun Temple a miss - apparently if you give the Nun enough money she will go and float in a pond and according to the guide book Taiwanese visitors are particularly impressed!!!) which had virtually no tourists because everyone else was only in the area to see the bridge etc. Wat Tham Sua was amazing - it was in the usual Thai style but a little different (as we say here in Thailand same same but different) It had a giant sitting Buddha in the centre and so that your offerings could be put into the giant alms bowl in his lap you put them onto the conveyor belt which ran across him. Whilst we were looking round we could see a section of the temple that we just couldn't figure out how to get to so eventually we gave up and got back in the van.....the driver asked if we wanted to visit the other temple to which we all replied yes......so we settled into our seats as he turned the corner and stopped!! There was a stunned silence then we all roared with laughter.....the section that we couldn't get into WAS the other temple and we could have walked there in about two minutes (It literally was round the corner - I think that this was the point when the driver decided we obviously couldn't be trusted on our own and he followed us round the next temple keeping an eye on us all). The other temple, Wat Khao Noi, was built in the Chinese Style and was absolutely stunning - The guide book said that it was gaudy but if you plan to go don't let that put you off.....go up the tower.....you will not be disappointed!! The views across the valley towards Burma (I can't get used to calling it Myanmar) were absolutely stunning and got better the higher we got.

We then headed back to the hotel, had a beer looking over the river as dusk fell then headed along to a restaurant called Keereetara (The driver dropped us right at the door - even after we had pointed it out to him and told him that we could walk!!). The table we were at had lovely views across the river but only one little candle so we really struggled to see the menu (and the food when it arrived). We ordered waaay to much food (as is our want!!) and Moon entertained us all by telling us that the driver had taken a wee shine to Jo and had been asking what age she was and if she was single and then she went on to tell us that he had also asked if she was attached - this let to much hilarity Jo and Moon were going to be 'fighting fighting fighting' over the driver and we all agreed that we were going to have to keep an eye on whose room he left in the morning. We then had a fish moment!! (now there is something you don't hear every day!!) We were really making an effort to make a dent in all the food we had ordered when the waiter appeared with the ugliest fish I have ever seen (it was cooked and on a plate.....he didn't just arrive wiggling a fish) which we didn't order so we shook our heads and Moon said that we hadn't ordered it......he went away.....the fish reappeared at the table being carried by a different waitress (yeah - as if we weren't going to recognise it!!) and we were told that we had ordered it (probably by mistake!!).....we shook our heads again and Moon, who couldn't think of anything better, told them to take it away as we were scared of the fish......we thought this had worked till a waiter arrived back at the table with the fish.....it was chopped up!!!

By the end of the night my cheeks hurt with the amount of laughing we had all done!!

It seemed like such a good idea!!!

Why!!......Oh why.......do we do it!! It seemed like such a good idea at the time!!

We went over to Georgie and Ben's for a few drinks (well actually we went over and had some of the Pimms that Jo had brought - the deal was that we would provide the Pimms if Georgie provided the lemonade and fruit!!) which was lovely - everyone got on really well and it was decided that we would head to Admakers (ahh.....it started so well!!).

We had a fantastic dinner - spring rolls, prawn wrapped in bacon, spicy pork, ribs, fish cakes, chicken in pandanas leaves, spicy chicken in lime sauce to name but a few and we all got the giggles as the rice arrived when everything else had been finished. (Ben felt a bit bad so agreed to the waiter putting some on his plate but I think he only had a fork full in the end). The band were really good and there was much amusement when Ben, upon learning that Derek plays bass in a Police tribute band, marched up and asked if Derek could play with them......'what was funny about that' I hear you ask.........they didn't have a bass player!! (Derek would also have needed the bassist, if there had been on, to be left handed but this had kind of by passed Ben). We then made a fatal decision - going down to Soi Cowboy was a good idea!!

Oh dear.....not sure how to explain this!!! Ok, for those of you that don't know, Dundee is actually a word in Thai - It means deep penetration!! (Sorry Gran!!) So the look on Moon's face was priceless when Jo announced that she lived in Dundee.....you can imagine can't you!! (Jo now tells everyone that she lives in Tayside) so when we went to the Cowboy (now you know exactly what type of place Soi Cowboy is) we just HAD to go into the bar called.....yep you guessed it.....Dundee!! It was rather grim and the wee wizened woman who I think was the owner was not amused as we completely ignored the girls and provided our own entertainment. There is only so much scowling wizened woman that we could take so we left Dundee and headed to another bar (I have no idea what it was called!!) - Ben by this point was rather the worse for wear (to be fair we were not far behind him) and decided that he would make a better stripper than the girls so took his shirt off and asked Jo to spank his bum (It's a sad day when a stripper comes over to you and asks you to put your shirt back on!!). I haven't laughed that much in ages!!

The next day Jo sent a text message to her friend Gavin 'Things I never thought I would see.....Tracey in a Go Go bar' to which he replied 'I didn't know she had a work permit!!' I don't think any of us will live it down any day soon!!

Jo, Tracey and Derek

We have been having an absolute hoot.....I don't think we have stopped laughing since their arrival!! The plane arrived on schedule and I went and picked them up at the airport (no wrong day's this time!!) when we got home Moon had made the most amazing lunch - Tom Yum Gai, a lovely fish dish which sounds something like Chock Chai (I really need to get the proper name from her) and steamed rice. Jo, Tracey and Derek brought us loads of wine, some Pimms and a Cat toilet!! (It's called Litter Kwitter and it trains your cat to use the toilet.....how cool is that!! I can't wait to watch the DVD). We then went a wee wonder up Sukhumvit Road, met up with Chris in our local bar on Soi 8 then headed to Cabbages and Condoms for dinner (Yes the lights are made of condoms and the man's clothes from birth control pills!!). Jo was most taken with the fact that we had ordered blue/purple food and just had to take a photo!!







The following day we headed out to Jim Thomson's house (Jo bought the most beautiful bag.....I have bag envy) we had lunch there and then went over to MBK where we did a bit of shopping then went to the food court for pudding. (Jo took a photo......this is starting to become a habit!!). Then we went to the mobile phone section - for those who have not been this really is a sight to behold.....I didn't know that you could get so many phones!! - and Jo bought the most truly....erm....actually words fail me.....here is a photo so you can see for yourself!! (I do not have phone envy!! Oh and I will explain the story of the pig fan at a later date!!). We headed home and then went into the new spa, Lavana, that has opened across the road.....we all decided to go for the full body massage with hot herbal ball. It was divine although Jo and I creased up when we saw the black net pant things that we had been asked to wear!! I think we all slept like logs that night!!

On Thursday they headed out on their own - I had a BWG Committee meeting and had to take the cats to the vet (That was traumatic....lugs still has ear mites (He had them before we got him) which means that we have to clean his ears morning and night for the next two weeks and they both had to have blood tests and shots). When I got home they had gone for a look around, had eaten at Crepes and Co (and could now recommend a few dishes that I had not tried before) and Derek was having a little nap. We then headed out to the Night Market and the Joe Lewis Puppet Theatre - Chris joined us after the show and we all laughed at the incredibly dense waiter that was serving us (actually, serving is technically correct but not what actually happened.....it was a little experience). We got Tuk Tuk's home.....Jo and Derek loved them....Tracey was not so sure but I think that had more to do with the fact that the air con is playing havoc with her sinuses and the pollution wasn't actually helping!!

More reports coming in.......

Chris and I have been watching the reports coming in since the attack on Glasgow airport and they are absolutely brilliant!!

For those of you that don't know, there was an airport worker called John Smeaton who, in his own words, 'ran straight towards the guy and put the boot in' then, when asked if he had a message for the terrorists, he said 'You come to Glasgow, we don't stand for it. We'll just set aboot ye'. Absolutely brilliant!!! There is now a website dedicated to him - over 1,400 pints with his name on them have been paid for (Proving once and for all that Scottish people are not tight!!) and are metaphorically lined up on the bar at the Glasgow Airport Holiday Inn!!

There has even been a Flower of Scotland re-write

O John of Smeaton,
When will we see your like again?
That fought and panned in
Two al-Qaeda men.
And stood against him
Osama's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again.
The airport's bare now
And Cherokee's lie burnt and still
O'er land that is saved now
Which brave Sir Smeato held
And stood against him
Osama's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again.
Those days are passed now
And in the past they must remain
But we can still rise now
And be the nation again
That stood against him
Osama's army
And sent him homeward
Tae think again

And if you really want to know more about us Weggie's you can't do much better than 'Weegie Wit and Wisdom' by Ian Black.

If we ever end up back in Glasgow maybe I'll do a blog......I might just call it Only in Glasgow!!!

Terrorist Attack on Glasgow Airport

Bloody Hell.....the world has gone mad!! (Glasgow airport attack linked to London car bombs)

It was a hell of a headline to wake up to - Chris's Aunt Margaret was flying to Florida today and his sister Jo and her friends are supposed to be flying out to see us on Monday!!

Margaret is fine....her plane had already left before those nutters decided that it was a good idea to try and ram Glasgow airport and, having spoken to Jo, it looks like they are still going to make it!!

I am mad as all hell but I can't tell you how glad I am that no-one was seriously hurt!!

Almost back to normal (Well, normal for me that is!!)

Things are going well - Chris is has been out and about meeting with other clients (He's still dealing with 'Client from Hell' but they have improved dramatically and the work is not so intensive!!) so he has been a lot happier since we got back and I am now getting back into the swing of things.

I met up with Susie on Monday morning and had a very productive meeting regarding the NMB (National Museum Bangkok) tours for the blind. We're going to be focussing on tours for tourists (there is another working group looking at tours for blind Thai students) so we are going to meet up at the beginning of September (Lots of people are away for the summer) to do a walk through of the museum to see what we can already use (There are some beautiful sculptures outside the building that can be incorporated) and we can then focus on what is missing. Our first aim is to do something around 'An introduction to Thai Culture' and we are hoping to launch the tours in November. I also found out that one of my photographs (It's one of the ones I took of the roof at the Erawan Museum) is going to be used in a coffee table book commemorating the King's 80th birthday which is being put together by the NMV - I am cuffed to bit's!! (Although it is rather difficult to take a bad photograph of the roof since it is so stunning but I'm not going to focus on that!!)

On Tuesday I went along to the BWG newcomers coffee morning - I've not been to one since I arrived and was feeling slightly guilty about it!! It was a good move.....I got three new volunteers - one is a nurse and she's going to look into doing some work with Aids patients and the other two are going to go twice a week into the offices of a local charity to answer their e-mails. (The Charity get lots of e-mails in English and whilst their spoken English is great their written English is not fantastic). Jo mentioned that she would like to see some of the work that is being done here so I have arranged to take the two ladies and Jo to The Fatima Centre where they will get a tour of the facilities (Sister Louise is going to take them round - she is the one who actually set up the project when she arrived here in the early 60's and is fascinating to talk to). Then I hotfooted it back to the apartment where we had our Welfare Team meeting. We've done a lot so far - books have been bought and distributed to schools in one of the slums, shoes have been bought for children at a local school, a computer and a snooker table have been donated to an orphanage, microscopes have been bought and given to schools at the Burmese border, two children have been sponsored for a year and we have bought medicine and supplies for a hospital. Phew!!!

Today I went along to the Fashion Show meeting - Erm....did I mention that my friend Jenny and I are doing all the graphics for a fashion show that will be held on the 19th of January? I came up with the image (What do you think? Jen calls it my slut shoe) and together we are doing the tickets, programme (which is going to be tricky because we are going to have a lot of sponsors at different levels so we are going to have to make sure we get it right!!) and the set design - it should be a great night. The plans - a band will play whilst everyone has a few drinks and some nibbles, then there will be a three course sit down meal, the actual fashion show followed by dancing and all the proceeds will be going to Charity.

Why was I ever worried that I was going to be bored?