After a refreshing night’s sleep in our private matchbox, I woke up to the rustling of sheets as Sarah got up for – as far as I was aware – a morning visit to the loo. It was only when she returned a little while later that she informed me of her horrific night of toilet hugging, as whatever we had eaten the night before wreaked havoc in her poor delicate Western stomach.

After comforting the poor sausage I decided to get myself together and leave the matchbox for some fresh (very loose term) Bangkok air and a spot of breakfast, so that Sarah could get a few hours of rest. 

After around half an hour of psyching myself up and telling myself I’d survive a trip to the shops alone, I ventured past the nearby brothels-come-clothing-stalls and into the nearest shopping centre. Greeted with a salute from the guard at the entrance (which we previously established is a strictly one way gesture…) I strolled around the air conditioned pristine white haven of designer shops in search of somewhere for breakfast. Deciding that all I really wanted was a good cup of tea, I ended up in the safe Golden Arches of Maccas and thought I’d try the local delicassy: a pink chocolate filled deep fried pie. And of course my tea, with coffee creamer for milk due to the bizarre lack of real milk.

 

 
After an extended stay at Maccas and some social media-ing I returned to our matchbox to a sleepy eyed and slightly nauseous Sarah.
A couple of hours in bed and a dose of antibiotics later I managed to convince her that she’d feel better for getting out of the matchbox. The promise of a mani-pedi gave her enough energy and so down we went to the nearest nail salon for some much needed pampering. 

On the way home I caught whiff of some delightful looking vegetable spring rolls being freshly prepared on the street corner, and decided to bite the bullet and take on my first street food experience. Result: crispy, delicious, and somewhat surprisingly, gastro-free. Lauren’s stomach 1, Thailand nil.

With freshly manicure hands and pedicured feet we headed back up to our matchbox for a little snooze and for Sarah to slowly and reluctantly munch her way through half a bread roll. Later we decided some retail therapy was also in order, to appease the “still no backpack” situation. I helped a weak Sarah onto the icy cold sky train and we got off at the Siam centre so she could get some essentials. Thailand’s version of Forever 21 proved successful, and with a couple of bathroom dashes mixed in (damn you bread roll), we purchased Sarah some beach wear to see her through.