Ayutthaya

I love a bargain and the trip here certainly was!! The former ancient capital of Thailand, Ayutthaya, is only two hours north of Bangkok, evenso the train fare worked out to about 50 cents each.

Mr Noi, the tuktuk tout, took us on a tour of the main sites. He did not actually give us any useful information, and inbetween dropping us of at sites managed to get the family to the market, fill up with 2-stroke and other assorted chores.

This city was in full swing from about 1350 to about 1780, then the Burmese sacked the place. The history of Burma, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia seems to be, to the untrained historian, one country overrun another place and then it was someone elses turn next time. Maybe we will get a better handle on it as we go.

Ayutthaya has been recogises by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. There are many, many, ruins in this area, chedis, which are the bell shaped domes, wats(temples) and Praangas (upright towers). Some are situated on the island formed by the convergence of three rivers, where the centre of town is located.We are also staying at a guest house on the island. P.U's is good value at 350B, about $15, with fan cooling and our own bathroom. This about the standard and the money we would like to pay.

Today we hired bicycles at under $2 for the day and visited some of the sites on the island.We also spent a quiet hour or so enjoying watching the 30 plus elephants that are available for tourist walks to wats, or posing for pictures when feeding and playing soccer!! Only the young ones play.

I had a spectacular fall of my bike when I was coat hangered by a stray string keeping a brolly on a food stall on place. Luckily the fried chicken remaned in place, the elephant was about to walk around and after immediate concern from many, I was able to straddle my bike again, with less dignity than before.

Jenny

Oct 1, 2006

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