that breakfast was already paid for so I might as well eat. Beautiful warm day, a little windy for my floaty skirt but not hot, just right. I was out to pick up my purchase and pick up my tickets for my flights to Taipei and was able to take the Sky Train (Bangkok’s relatively new metro) right to where STA Travel is (except that I went the wrong way and added an extra 20minutes to the journey). Money spent tickets received and it was time to return for some sun and lounging by the pool. It was a real effort not to get off at the shopping center, but the excess baggage experience still very fresh in my mind I chose two hours of swelter, swim, swelter, swim, swelter, swim, instead. I had to head off to Khao Sarn Rd to meet friends, but in my keenness to have someone to talk to means I showed up an hour early - not like me. Nevermind, chit chat, gabble, gobble, dribble is what took place for the next 5 or so hours, complimented by authentic Pad Thai (friend noddles) and Tom Kha Gai (hot and sour chicken soup with coconut) - YUM. I also got me a new pack for around £23 - Lowe Alpine don’t you know - yeah right.) Just for authentification I took a tuk tuk home, wind in my hair, skirt held steadfast between my knees, the night air all around and white knuckles to hold me down.

Day 3. Off to Taipei - breakfast - taxi - check in my extra luggage. Was a bit early as wanted to speak to BA/Qantas about the extra luggage and if they could do anything about it. However their airport office doesn't open till about 5 minutes after my flight was due to take off. Determined not to give in I asked airport information for help, and they gave me the head office number in Bangkok and directed me to the free local call phone - I tried about 10 times and got cut off each time - so thought about approaching the Qantas/BA lounge - but they don't have one anymore... A bit pissed off but resigned to the fact that no grovelling would be done about my luggage this day I went to the gate and settled in to wait for the flight. KLM is not as luxurrious as I thought it would be - no individual tellies - and the inflight system wasn't working anyway (missed out on seeing The Tuxedo - boo hoo - ha) so I fell asleep :o) Oh yeah forgot to tell ya that I had accidentally - really - forgotten about a pair of scissors in my carry on luggage - anyway they found them on the x-ray and said that I could pick them up in Taipei (good of them not just to throw them away I thought) - however upon arrival in taipei I was told that I could pick them up but it would be tomorrow, as usual airport is in the middle of nowhere so I asked if I could pick them up in four days when I checked out again - no problem. Anyway backpacker mode hitting in - bussed into taipei - few changes immediately noticeable - less road works in the middle of the city - and Sean picked me up and we went out to his glorious apartment complex out in the mountains near neihu - very flash complex - all mod cons, swimming pool in and out, gym, shops, great view and all that. I just kipped on the couch.

Day 4. Went into Taipei for old times sake and took Anna with me (friend staying with Sean) we went in to city centre so I could buy some film for my polaroid (no digital video camera yet) and went into Shi Min Ding market so I could show Anna some of the cool stuff about. We also visited a lovely temple in the middle of the markets, and the lady that was playing the piano to a group who were singing, saw the foreigners and Anna with her camera out and invited us in to take pictures of the singing group and introduced us to the director and conductor - so lovely and sweet. Feeling very special but tired of walking about we headed back to home, and I cooked dins. That night we went out to a bar that 2 friends of mind and another 2 foreigners have openned up in Taipei called Citizen Cane, and I caught up with a whole bunch of my old friends, it's truly amazing how many of them are still there and plan to stay. A real tribute to the lifestyle. Anyway proceeded to get heineously drunk and have a wonderful time chatting and dancing and being stupid till 5 or 6 in the morning. Don't remember much of the journey home, but managed to throw up all over Sean's floor - thank god it is only tile - and slept the rest of the day - hangovers - blurgh blurgh blurgh.

Day 5. Well that was it just sleeping till I realised that I had promised to go out again that night (SAT) packed my stuff and took it down to Shawn's (best mate in Taipei) and we roused ourselves up to do it all again. Bonus though got to see more friends who I had missed the night before at the night club - party back at Sean's after the club closed - this is technically Day 6 now. Being old and sensible I tried to get some sleep as had promised to meet up with some Taiwainese friends - but the walls are literally paper thin and only managed a couple of hours. Ah well, that's what happens when you come into town for 4 days. Took it easy that night.

Day 6. Time to get out of there. But had such a lovely time in Taipei, that it got me to thinking that maybe, if things don't workout else where, I would definately consider moving back to Taiwan, I really do love the life there and my friends. More catching up, then Shawn whisked me out to the airport (where true to form I was able to pick up my scissors and put them in my check in luggage) then I was back off to Bangkok for the night. This time I took the bus to Khao Sahn Rd, got a cheapish room with bath some fluids and mosquito spray, a real-fake student ID then passed out.