28/07/2009

We’d only just signed our contract when we bump into other farangs (a mix of Canadian and American) who live in the condo who have already invited us out for drinks. Fantastic. One chap, who we’ll call R Canada for now, has already been a great help in terms of where to go shopping for stuff, etc. E and I grab a cab to take us to the local mall however we get lost in translation and R Canada gives the driver directions in Thai over the phone. We end up sitting in one spot for about 15 minutes and I spot a Carrefour across the road. I decide we should get out and just go there to get our bed linen, cleaning liquid, etc. When we get in there we find everything we need but at prices akin to those of your average department store in the UK. By this point we are exhausted and agree to take the trolley to the checkout. It comes to 90 quid (4,500 Baht) and therefore we’ve made our first major mistake in Thailand – don’t be lazy when it comes to shopping and go for your nearest air-conditioned store. The prices are hiked and are there to accommodate the upper middle classes. The car park was empty when we got there – that should have been a sign. As I write this (13^th August) we’re still unsure as to where to get decent stuff for the flat but we believe it must be the various markets peppered around Bangkok which we are yet to explore. The ‘bed set’ we bought was one pillow case, one single bed fitted sheet and one oblong shaped case – not what we had in mind. Ah well, its too hot for duvets anyway.