I'm here!

Hi! I am now safely in Bangkok and having a wonderful time! Mum, I tried to text you to say i had arrived but international phone code things confuse me so i rather doubt it got through. this is bound to be full of typos etc, as I'm short on time and some of the keys keep sticking. Anyway, here's what I've been up to (as written in my journal):
At the departure gate
OK, got a bit teary-eyed going through security after saying goodbye to my lovely family (and Sydney, my new adorable cuddlemonster) but i suppose that is only to be expected. I'm now sat in the lounge at gate 13, without much to do. to my delight, however, they have a BEN AND JERRIE'S VENDING MACHINE! i can't actually stomach a pot right now, but knowing such things exist makes me feel a bit brighter.
i can see the place through the window and its huge!
there was a fight in the terminal lounge, but i missed most of it. joined the crowd anyway.
on another note, I'm not sure my flight socks are actually flight socks, but they are comfy so they stay (don't worry, I'll move my legs a lot).

the flight
so, it turns out economy long haul flights are not much fun. not much lg room, very difficult to sleep. however, it does come with a lot of food. i mean A LOT of food. a ricey/veggie starter, beef and Guinness pie with mash and greens, a roll, a rich toffee mousse and various beverages for dinner, then they handed us a 'snakc bag' with polos, water, a chocolate cookie and vegetable crisps. THEN, for breakfast, orange juice, yogurt, a cinnamon whirl, tea/coffee and a choice of a pile of cooked stuff or muesli. i couldn't eat the vast majority of that.
we have flown mainly over land, which would make for great views except we had to keep the window shutters down until breakfast. booo.
estimated 1 hour 4mins until we land in Bangkok
...
OK, just as i finished writing that, they handed out forms. bleeh. did my best to copy the nice woman next to me, and got through immigration at the airport no problem. on the way there from the plane i got talking with the two girls who were sitting behind me for the flight. they thought their hotel was probably close to mine so they offered to share a taxi. i declined, being the adventurer that i am, and made my way though customs in good time and found my way to the taxi rank. problem: the woman who sorted out taxis needed to know where the hotel actually was (i.e. which district) and i, in my infinite wisdom, never actually checked the address. there were information stands with maps nearby, but the grande ville hotel wasn't listed on them. commence panic. i had on hour until the welcome meeting, and i knew it could be an hour long taxi ride to the hotel if only i could actually gt one. i had my mobile with me, so after a couple of false starts trying to work out the country codes, i got through to the hotel. i asked here which district they were in. she told me. yeeeah, there was never any chance of my being able to pronounce that to the taxi lady. panic continued. more maps were searched in vain. then: BRAINWAVE: I called the hotel again and got the taxi lady to talk directly to the hotel lady (pretty clever for a jet lagged, terrified person, i thought). success! the nice taxi driver got me to the hotel with 15 minutes to spare, and got a large tip.
TO BE CONTINUED (right now, hopefully, i just want to upload this before my session runs out)