I often talk about my wife Panee on here, and say she is my soul mate. I still find it so amazing that we are togther. Well this following account takes in the day I came to meet Panee. It actually stops at the point we met as it is still something I have left to complete. So many things to write and all that. It's taken from a private diary that I wrote over a short period in my life. There is a lot more but some I would not post as quite personal stuff. So enjoy!
My 1st trip to LOS (The Land Of Smiles) was back in December 2001. I went there with some friends for a wedding. I had no idea what to expect and was quite overcome by Thailand. I had never imagined in my life I would ever go to a country on the other side of the world. To go on holiday with my friends in itself was something new to me. The furthest I had been abroad before, had been to Spain with my family. And what followed charged the course of my life forever!
So I went to Thailand with the expectations of late nights, good food and partying and sunbathing, and all in the good company of my friends. Of course we also had a wedding to attend and our itinerary meant we would be travelling around Thailand a fair bit.The trip took me to Bangkok, Koh Samui and Hui Hin.
Bangkok is obviously the 1st place you will hit upon your arrival in Thailand. After probably taking an age to get through Thai customs. I am told probably the longest wait to get through customs, you can expect any where in the world , although apart from my 1st visit I've managed to clear it fairly quickly. I learnt how to jump the que a little.

The 1st thing that hits you upon leaving the airport is the heat and secondly the smell in the air from all the food that is cooked on the 100's of food stalls that inhabit more or less every street corner in Bangkok. Another thing that you cannot miss as you exit the customs area, just beyond a barrier on your left as you come out, are all the taxi drivers and their representatives looking to get some fares and take you into downtown Bangkok to one of the many hotels.

We arrived in Bangkok about mid day. We were met at the airport by Rico's cousin who had, what I can only describe as a minibus. We loaded up and got onto the freeway heading for downtown Bangkok towards our hotel, The Tong Tara. We checked into our rooms and got freshened up. I was sharing with Iain, while Paul shared with Kants, in the room next door. We all headed down to the hotel reception and sat down for a chat and a beer. Taking in the beautiful view of the waitress that served us. One of Paul's friends that joined us, had already been there a day before us, and had a few ideas as where to go out for a meal and some beers. He knew of a bar that was hassle free (meaning that no-one hassled you to buy drinks for them), in the Patpong area of Bangkok. We all went out for a walk and ended up jumping in a cab. We found ourselves in an area with a KFC and McDonald's. l found myself having a KFC, before we returned to the hotel to freshen up a bit and grab 40 winks.
We all then met up in the foyer of the hotel. A couple of beers and an ogle of the waitress and we were ready to venture out into the unknown again, and took a stroll down the street. It was early evening and the sun had gone down. It was still very warm and there was a heavy smelt of cooking in the air. The five of us walked for a while, before hoping into a taxi and going off to a restaurant, Kants knew of. Upon finding it, only to discover it was closed!
We took a walk down a further street which took in the sights of the stalls selling all sorts of merchandise Unbeknown at the time but the street we were on led to the infamous red light district of Patpong. I recall that we went off the street a little to this rather posh dining area, where we stopped for a meal and a few beers. The meal was great although I was unsure what Thai food to try. I decided on a curry dish in the end. Not sure though if it was Iain's curry or mine, that came inside a coconut.
After the meal we headed back down to the street again and continued walking into Patpong.
We were greeted by hundreds of neon bar sign lights as we entered Patpong. We were immediately pounced on by girls outside the clubs and bars. They were wanting us to go in for drinks an to see the girls performing shows an dancing. It was very busy with people and market stall traders, selling their merchandise. We eventually reached this bar that we had heard about, situated on a corner. The bar was called the Musik Café. It was packed with people and there was a live band playing cover songs. One song from that night that stuck out for me and summed up the night by the end was Bon Jovi's 'One Wild Night'. I seem to be humming it for weeks after. There were waitress's getting the drinks for us. We all stood outside drinking ,although there were tables and chairs to sit at. Inside the bar there was a small dance floor with people dancing.
To Be Continued...........

Here's a post I had on another website and I've re-written a little of it, as today would seem the time to post it here, as me and Panee have been married 3 years today!

We got married in Thailand although there was no Big grand Wedding ceremony, as is often the way there. No Dowry to pay (This is usually a Thai custom of money you pay to the parents as a present). We just had the Amphur (same as a registry office) registration, which consists of us signing some paperwork and no vows as such. Just a couple of witnesses and an official tellling us we are now Husband and Wife. We then hopped into a taxi and went to Pantip Plaza to do some shopping. We then sat outside at some tables and had a beer or two, sat chatting and watching all the traffic passing by. We took some photo's and then had a walk back to Panee's room at the time. On the way we bought some beers, a KFC, some Thai food. Then we sat in Panee's room chatting, eating and drinking with a few friends dropping by also. I phoned my best mate and me Mum back in UK and told them we'd got married. My Mum was a little shocked, although this was then the 1st time she and Panee spoke together. Ian was more than a little disappointed as he was due to fly out the following month to be at the wedding, as a witness. But due to the long process's that things seem to take in Thailand, we decided to bring the day foward by about a month, as we were in the process of sorting out Panee's visa to come to settle in England. Marriage on a cheap budget, although the visa cost as much. We are as happy as anything though. Mind you we did tell the British Embassy, when we went for the Panee's visa interview, that we would have a wedding ceremony, when we arrive in England. But we never did have it. But maybe one day in Thailand we will have a Thai ceremony.

For us, the day was what we wanted, and I wouldn't of wanted it any other way. I did all the big wedding the 1st time round and look how that turned out. And did I enjoy it ? No. But that is another story as they say!