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Published: December 31st 2005
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Ayutthaya Ruins
Notice the burnt bricks - everything was burnt to the ground and what is still left standing is very charred Happy New Year all - just in case I don't find a computer tomorrow -- actually it is only the 30th for you, but almost the New Year for us, only 12 more hours until 2006!
I also have one note just to let you know why I haven't been uploading photos - I have tried the past couple times, and it either doesn't work, or it takes over 5 minutes to upload each photo - most times I don't have that much time to be on the computer because we have to meet the group to head off on another tour - sorry about that. I promise though, that soon after I get back I will post all photos as a slide show for you all to see.
So, where did I leave off last time -- Ah, Ayutthaya - the last thing we did in Ayutthaya before catching the night train to Chiang Mai was visit the ruins of the old city -- Oh yeah, I have to correct myself. I have been saying that Ayutthaya was the last capital of Siam before becoming Thailand - actually, Bangkok was the last capital of Siam (and the first
and only capital of Thailand of course 😊, the country name wasn't changed until 1939. The ruins were very interesting, but indescribable. The entire city was burned to the ground by the Burmese over 500 years ago. A lot of the brick buildings and monuments remain standing to a certain extend, but you can still see all the charred parts of the structures where the fires were. I wish I could upload a photo for you so you could see what I mean.
After that, it was time for a shower and a trip on the night train to Chiang Mai. That was an exceptional experience. Although our train was relatively easy to get on because we had reservations for night cars, the passenger trains that left before we did were so packed that people were climbing through windows to get in and the train attendants were helping them do it, they had the ladders ready for them! As the train was leaving, people were not only hanging out the windows, but the doors could not close either, there were even more people hanging on to the railings in order to keep from falling off the train as it
Buddha Head
This Buddha head was supposedly buried underground and as the tree grew, it's roots pulled the head up with it. took off.
While in the train, it was quite quiet, uncomfortable, but not too difficult to sleep. The bathrooms were drop holes, which means there was a hole through the floor and you were actually taking a dump on the tracks themselves. I held it as long as I could to avoid polluting the tracks. No matter what the local culture is and what is acceptable, I had a really hard time with that one.
Yesterday, we arrived in Chiang Mai and went elephant riding and bamboo rafting. The rafting was uneventful, but the elephant Sherry (another trekker) and I had was an exceptionally stubborn animal. He didn't want to do anything but head back to the stables and eat sugar cane. He got quite mad at us and aimed his trunk at each of us and blew snot all over us! TWICE! I think I have had enough of elephants on this trip 😉
Last night was a trip to the night market. Chiang Mai is known for its Teak wood carvings and Thai Silk - lots of beautiful things to buy - I spent a pretty penny there, that's for sure! And the highlight wasthe
Our Stubborn Elephant
All he wanted to do was eat. After blowing snot all over us TWICE, he refused to continue our walk and went back to the stables to find food. fried bamboo worms! I bought a container and a few of us sat down to try them before heading to bed. They didn't seem like I was eating worms, but definitely tasted like nothing I have ever had before. I don't think I will eat them again.
This morning, I went to Thai cooking school and learned how to make Spicy Lemon Shrimp Soup, Green Curry with Chicken, Pad Thai (fried noodles), and banana cake for dessert. YUM!!! I must say, I am a REALLY good cook when I want to be 😊 Oh, I shouldn't have released that information, some of you may expect me to actually cook once in a while for you 😉
OK, I have reserved time today for a massage and whatever other type of spa treatment I can fit in before we meet for yet another Wat tour, just like churches and castles in Europe, I have seen so many that they are all starting to look the same 😊
I may have computer access in Chiang Rai tomorrow (our next stop), but if not, I definitely won't for at least 4 days after that. I will be on the trek
Bamboo Worms - YUM!
Yeah, I really ate them! in the hilltribes with no modern facilities at all, stinky, slimy, and only one set of clothes - what fun! I will write again as soon as we get back from the trek.
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