A Day trip to Ayutthaya

---

I decided that I need to go to the beach, so with that in mind, and to make sure I didn't miss it, I decided on a day trip to Ayutthaya.

Unfortunately the night before, I had met an ex-pat, owner of the Oh my cod restaurants which are in both Bangkok and Pattaya. So we sat and drank and talked. One beer too many left me feeling wonderful at 6 o'clock when I needed to get up for my trip. Luckily the breakfast supplied at the restaurant of my new found friend, was as english as I have ever found out here and lovely. It certainly went a long way to help with the way that I was feeling. To anyone that comes to Bangkok and is looking for a good english breakfast, I truly recommend it. Located just to the side of the Rambuttri Village Inn (Which, although a bit more than alot of the hotels around here I also highly recommend. Clean with two roof top swimming pools).

We quickly picked up all that were on the trip and the journey to Ayutthaya was short, and mainly spent dozing.

Never being good at making notes of the names of the places we were taken, I am unfortunately unable to tell you what Wats were visited. The first was outside the city, and unlike most of the ones we visited was still standing and in use.

It was quiet and quite pleasant, you just had to avoid the cow pats that were all over the place, left by the half a dozen resident cows.

We were then quickly hustled back onto the buse, and visited a reclining Buddha. Not much more there to see apart from the Buddha and the remains of the temple behind.

Off then into the city itself, and several sites the were the remains of the old city that was destroyed by the Burmese when they invaded and torched the place.

Most of the Buddha's had been destroyed, with heads and hands chopped off. They had seemingly just picked random bits of what was left and had tried to put them back together again. I assume that the statues were all that were left, but they certainly weren't the bits that were meant to go back together.

Our guide did speak english, but he spoke so fast, that I am not sure that any of us really knew what he was saying at any particular time.

We then stopped for a buffet lunch, which was simple but nice. And then one last trip to another ruined temple, which also had a market and a troop of performing elephants, which was quite sad, as I saw several Mahmouts using there sticks with a bit too much enthusiam.

I have a feeling that they may have decided not to visit at least one of the places that was mentioned in the tour, as we were meant to head back at 3 o'clock for Bangkok, But by 2 o'clock we were herded back onto the bus one more time and heading back to the city. I think to cover the fact that we left early, the driver decided to take a detour. As it took twice as long to get back as it did there, and the traffic was not an issue.

Getting back I decided to go and get some food, but sat at the Gecko bar and ordered a coke before realising that they had stopped serving food for the day.

Whilst sitting quietly reading my book, I was accosted by several thai ladies and their Austrian friend who gave me an afternoon of amusement. I am sure that they saw a walking ATM and were trying to get me to buy them drinks. One of the girls had even made me her boyfriend within the first hour. So I am sure they were disappointed when I didn't buy them drinks, and after a mai tai and a big chang said my farewells and headed off to finally get some food. Good old Pad thai with chicken and egg from a street vendor round the corner.

All in all a good day. I am just off to hopefully book a ticket to Ko Chang for tomorrow. I think a week in Bangkok is enough for me on this visit. One last day by the pool, and then hopefully the beach and sea it is for me.



Take care all

---