05.03.2008 Ayutthaya

Meeting K's parents

Today K and I went to Ayutthaya the former capital of Thailand. K introduced me to his parents who live here. After our arrival we had dinner with them and his aunt who was also there.

After lunch we drove to Singburi, north of Ayutthaya, where we dropped K's mom and aunt off at a temple. They want to spend a spiritual week up there. At some point I was left alone with K's aunt. His parents speak English but she doesn't. It was time to show off my Thai but it's not that easy to have a conversation with a a vocabulary as limited as hello/goodbye and thank you. She said a few things to me in Thai, I smiled and said a few things back in English. I think I did pretty well ;)

Back in Ayutthaya it was time to explore the city. I enjoyed sitting in front of the house soaking up the sun, while K got the bikes ready. We then took off for a bike tour around the city center and I really enjoyed the exercise. It was interesting to look at the ruins of these ancient temples.

On our way back K stopped at a stand next to the street, bought Roti Sei Mai and asked me to try it. Hard to define what it is but I'd say it's kind of like cotton candy that you put on a pancake and roll it up. It's so so good :)

In the evening we went to have dinner with K's dad and then we took another short bike tour along the night market of Ayutthaya.

That night we stayed at K's parents house. I really like spending time here because I get to live with a Thai family and that way I experience the culture a lot better than I could ever just being a traveler. It was also my first experience of Thais only (I guess not all of them but I faced many cold showers after that) having cold showers. Oh dear, I really don't like to take cold showers...brrr!

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Part of trip: Round-the-World Trip Part I

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