Stage 3 - 31st January 2014

It's New Year's Eve - Chinese New Year, so Happy New Year! We walked again today, just around the area near the hotel, which is in the Sukhumvit area of Bangkok, but this time we walked in a different direction. One of the first things we encountered was a barricade of tires which stopped the traffic on the dual carriageway and on the other carriageway there was rows of small tents, all alerting us to the presence of a demonstration. Further on we came across a huge stage which had been set up in the middle of a crossroad and, on stage was a pop group singing an Eagles number. Three of the four roads at the intersection where 'occupied' by the protesters with tents in every street and, like good entrepreneurs, a mall village of stalls selling street food and a whole array of T-shirts, etc. for the budding protester - thought about buying something but wondered how it might go down with the local army! Talking of the army, they were nowhere to be seen and, as a friend of mine said: more like a party than a protest.

We looked into a number of shops - this is the best area for bespoke clothes; in one shop you can buy 2 suits, 2 pairs of trousers, 2 shirts and 2 ties, all made to measure, for a total of $299! I probably have more than enough suits, etc. so didn't buy anything.

It was getting hot so, after about 3 hours of exploring, we stopped off at a roadside bar and had a beer (orange juice for Dianne) and watched the world go by, amused by the number of elderly European men with their very young lady friends. The number of 60+ men out here who appear to be alone is startling.

After we finished our drinks we set off for our hotel, dropped our things off and went for a massage at a local parlour. I'm not in to massages, too worried about old injuries but I've never had a 'real' massage, only the version with oils, aromatherapy I think its called, but I was game! We were given adjoining beds and told to change into some form of pyjamas and, when we were ready, a young lady came in, washed my feet and then set to on my body! I think she was a masochist! She dug fingers, thumbs, elbows and feet deep into parts of my body and, when she thought it was hurting she laughed! The pain was not ameliorated by the fact I had a 19 year old Thai girl crawling over my body. After it was over - an hour and a half - I wondered if it had any effect and I can quite honestly say: no! But it was an experience.

We dined at the hotel tonight.