Feb 2

I have noticed that some of the photos seem to be cut off.

If you double click on the photo, the entire picture appears

Feb 2 My last day in Ayutthaya

My last day of sightseeing on this trip.

I am pretty well "templed out". Thailand has more temples than Canada has Tim Horton coffee shops. Hard to believe.

I am staying in Ayutthaya. This city was founded in 1350, as the capital of Siam, after the Burmese over-ran Sukhothai. It's about 400 km south of Sukhothai. This part of Thailand is very fertile agricultural land. Lots of rice fields along the way.

This site was chosen because it was an island, at the junction of three rivers, and was easily defended. It's location also made it ideal as a trading center between China, India, and Malaysia, and also Europe.

By 1770, Ayutthaya had a population of 1 million, making it the largest city in the world. I checked Google, Istanbul had a population of 700 000, Beijing 650 000, and London 600 000. It's temples and riches were known worldwide. It had representative communities from several European countries.

Everything was going well, until those nasty Burmese invaded and burned Ayutthaya to the ground in 1776. 

All that is left now are the ruins of some temples and palaces. Anything not made of stone was burned, and looted. One of the Bhuddas was melted down, and yielded 160 kilos of gold. Makes invading worthwhile.

The ruins are right in the center of the old city. I visited early in the morning. First it's not too hot, and secondly the tour buses haven't arrived. Ayutthaya is a popular day trip from Bangkok, only an hour away. Every tour company in Bangkok sells tours to Ayutthaya, so between 11 and 4 Ayutthaya is over-run by tourists. Mornings and evenings are much quieter and cooler.

An interesting little tidbit...the tuk-tuks are quite different from city to city. A piece of interesting, but totally useless bit of information.

Another thing I have noticed. There are some fat people here. I can't recall seeing any overweight people in Northern Thailand, or in Cambodia and Laos, but the good life has arrived in the South. I even saw quite a few chubby school kids. I remember the same thing in Vietnam, obesity was only in the south.

To top everything off, there was a beautiful sunset tonight.

Back home tomorrow 

Ralf

Tuk-tuk in Sukhothai 

Tuk-tuk in Ayutthaya, they come in many brilliant colours

The lobby in the hotel I stayed in Ayutthaya 

This head of a Bhudda, overgrown by a tree is one of the iconic pictures of Thailand, and is on many postcards. After the Burmese burned Ayutthaya, this head became entangled in the tree, and this is the result after 200 years

Another big Bhudda, made of brass, it stands, or sits over 20 m.

Feb 1 On the way to Ayutthala

I spent last night walking through the night market in Sukhothai. Every city I have visited has what is called a night market, or "walking street". They are basically flea markets, but specializing in selling stuff to tourists. Not a lot of quality wares, mostly cheap tee shirts, lots and lots of harem pants, and knick-knacks. The only one that was a bit better was the one in Chiang Mai. It was roomier, had street musicians, and some interesting crafts. The problem is that by 8 you can hardly move.

The one yesterday was quite different, because Sukhothai doesn't get a lot of tourists, so it's aimed at locals. Lots of food stalls. Great variety, and cheap. Most items were less than a buck. The problem is, for me, I have no idea what I am eating. The highlight was a small, what looked like a mini hamburger, which turned out to be pig's blood patty. Didn't taste bad, but I decided not to get a plate.

The other thing is that even their food is colourful.

I slept well, surprise, surprise, on my bed of stone.

Today I travelled to Ayutthala by bus. I thought it would be a 4 hour ride, but ended up 7 hours. We stopped for lunch, along the way, and were given a coupon for a plate of rice, with our choice of topping. I have given up on ordering a meat dish, because the amount of meat is minimal. I am sure one chicken would be adequate for a wedding banquet. One pig would feed Dundas, and one cow the entire Golden Horseshoe.

You also get a "mystery bun" on the bus. I have encountered these on plane trips, and other bus trips. It is the size of a small hamburger bun, sweet bread, with a variety of fillings, which you can't identify until you take a bite. I've had, tuna salad, mystery meat, and today the sweetest custard I have ever tasted. I think they added sugar to honey...not a great taste.

One of the fun things during the bus ride, is to observe some of the unique structures along the highway. 10 foot roosters, dragons, huge pineapples. 

I have resigned myself to getting ripped off by taxi drivers. When I land in a new city I have no idea where I'm going, so I'm at the mercy of the taxi driver at the bus terminal, or at the spot on the highway, where the bus lets you off. For example my 7 hour bus ride, with mystery bun, and a meal was 14 dollars. My 20 minute taxi ride to my hotel was 8 dollars. My contribution to the local economy.

I do remember, in Norway, a 10 minute taxi ride was 40 Euros.

I have moved up a notch in hotel accommodation. The "Good Morning by Tamarind" is 24 dollars a night, and is lovely. Free coffee, (instant), water, cookies, and even fresh bananas.

And the bed is fantastic!

I walked around town and saw some first. My FIRST actual grocery store. Everything up to now were 7-elevens, no meat, no fruit. There was also a Dunking Donut, KFC, Swensen ice cream shop, and a Pizza Hut. And I also saw my first live rat.

Happy dreams

Ralf

I wasn't kidding about the colourful food at the night market

Seen along the highway