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Published: July 24th 2009
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A powerful presence
While I can't describe the feeling, it is undeniable something exists here. The sun's light is constant, giving a warm feel and glow to all that is open. While the ancient stone statues that have watched over this holy site for a long time will probably not ask me to be quiet, their aura still seems to expect it. Walking through this courtyard, listening to the breeze interact with the trees and the numerous robes placed on the Buddha’s, I am compelled to follow their example of peace. Wondering within these courtyards and temples of Ayuthuya, I wonder how the atmosphere of this place was in its very beginning. While some aspects of this area may have changed, its presence that it invokes is timeless. Powerful, this is the word I would use to describe Ayuthuya.
At this time in my trip, I've been lucky to have some friends to meet up with. Shaw and his family have offered to provide a tour of some of the historic sites of Thailand north of Bangkok. In Ayuthuya, there is so much to see that having a guide makes for a better trip. Beyond just knowing the major sites, Shaw was able to share with me how some of the local customs worked. The
Shaw and his great family
A pitcure of kind and friendly hosts I was lucky to meet. Thanks for everything Shaw! value of having good friends while in a foreign land can never be overstated.
Ayuthuya was the old capitol city of Thailand, or as it known back then, Siam. The city dates back to 1350, and was known to be a glittering city. Around the 1680's, neighboring Burma invaded and sacked the city. This is a bit of history, helping to explain why these two countries are still not on the best of terms. For a long time, Ayuthuya was a forgotten place and not much visited by outsiders. More recently, Ayuthuya has been designated as a historical site by UNESCO, and the visitors have come from all over the world. For me, what really makes this a great place to stay is how welcoming the locals are. Much more laid back than Bangkok, and much easier to get the feel of Thai culture in, Ayuthuya is a place not to be missed.
Within this city, an elephant farm resides open to all visitors. Here elephants that have been in difficult conditions have been rescued and given a much better home. Currently, their jobs are to pose for tourists and take tourists for walk. While posing for tourists
could become painful for many of us, getting all the food you can eat, healthcare, a warm home and good treatment helps to better the deal. Considering how I've had to see animals mistreated in parts of the world, the fact that Ayuthuya makes a place for good treatment of these animals speaks highly of the culture.
Another factor of this city is the freedom to enjoy the area in peace. While the wat's of Bangkok are of course amazing, they can be crowded. Here in Ayuthuya, the ruins extend over a large area, which means with a rented scooter, you can easily find a place of solitude to take in the atmosphere. As the sun sets in silence, the charisma of the ancient buildings and statues shift. The glow of the buildings become more brilliant as the sun gives its last rays, and then, everything becomes quieter, more subtle. Still there is life all around, but it becomes much more hushed. As the night fully takes over the area, it now becomes more of an area for mysterious exploration. As I write, I have decided that the next time I return to Ayuthuya (because I'm definitely coming back),
A new buddy
At a nearby elephant farm, everyone is quite welcoming I'm going to set aside a good amount of time to sitting, relaxing and allowing myself to get in rhythm with its surroundings.
After some moments of serenity at Ayuthuya, taking a scooter ride through traffic that inspires race car driving was a fun change. This scooter ride led to the old Royal Summer Palace. Originally this area was for entertaining foreign dignitaries such as from China, it’s also been a retreat at times for Thai monarchy. As some of the pictures show, this area boasts a great landscape. Seeing the Summer palace means walking quite a bit, but there are numerous places to rest and take in some great scenery.
At the end of Ayuthuya, I bid all of my friend’s farewell and returned to Bangkok. At this time, I had my suits pressed, shaved and cleaned my travelers face and prepared myself for getting another job teaching overseas. Given all that I've seen over the past year and a half of the world, I was convinced of one thing, I have not seen enough yet. The next week included many interviews, nervous moments and some hard decisions. In the end, I will be returning to Asia,
Beauty seems to be everwhere here
Orchids seem to thrive in Thai land. but more in the Eastern area of Taiwan. While I feel quite excited to begin teaching in a new area and meeting more people, having the chance of getting to really know more of Asia makes me feel quite lucky. Goodbye for now Thailand, but know that my adventure has shifted from the Middle East to the Far East. In a matter of time, I'll look forward to coming back.
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