Day 117 19 October Hello and Goodbye Bangkok

Our plane lands at Bangkok after an uneventful flight from Hong Kong. Due to the recent flooding in Bangkok we have decided to change our plans and we fly straight out to Chang Mai in the north. We only have 2hoursor so in transit and by the time we have passed through customs,collected our bags, checked in again and found our way to the departure gate, we only have a 40 minute wait. The flight is an hour long and again passes easily. The girls are so good on days like this, there is rarely a time when they don't step up under pressure and they are becoming extremely seasoned travellers! Never again will they be able to complain about the hour it takes to get round the m25 to get to Granny Chicken's House! We dont have accommodation booked so while David collects the bags Nicole talks to th lovely lady at the Chang Mai Hotels Association counter who recommends a hotel (always a worry!) Immediately we notice how smiley and genuine the Thais seem to be in comparison to our previous location and it is a welcome relief. David negotiates for a taxi - choosing the "big car" which will cost 20 Bhaht more than the small one. He stops himself haggling when he realises how much he is quibbling over! The taxi driver laughs and jokes with us all the way to the hotel and we visit almost every room in the hotel as we try and find the best set up, eventually opting for 1 large double and 2 mattresses on the floor. The room is huge though - even by Royal Plaza standards. We have air con, a pool, 4 beds and breakfast included all for £27 a night - sorted!