return of the man who walks through doors sideways

ok, i accidentally deleted comments when i deleted this minimalist post, so now that i'm doin it proper-right pls readd yr comedy spiels peoples.
to maintain discontinuity, presenting bangkok!
ok bang off the plane into really underfunded taxi (and driver). split cab with aussie couple from seat in front of us on plane (i tell u, u can't get away from these oz bastards; just now here in dahab i've got them harassing us to come down to their overpriced bar! folks in bangkok were nice, but).
went to the shanti lodge, which is a hell nice kinda place to chill for 6 days n eat thai food and drink beer that is as cheap as it is great. so we did.
this is yuan. she ran the shanti like a tight ship while we were there. the girls at the shanti have a reputation in the lonely planet (which is getting it's own reputation, don't u worry - ask michael berkman) for being a tad unfriendly. in the thai lonely bastard at the shanti someone had underlined this sentence and written "it's true!" however, once u make a wee effort to learn some names and demonstrate yr not quite the wanker farang u look they're really pleasant. and considering the place was kinda crawling with thick eurotrash backpackers and faux new-age american tossers (example: two american guys having an oh-so-nice pissing contest about who knew more about the possibility of matriarchal society in early human society) i can't blame them too much for sporting a bit o jade.
yuan remembered ash and naomi (another adelaide gal ash was travelling with) from the last time they were there 12 years ago, nice.
to be continued...