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Published: June 13th 2017
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Geo: 13.7308, 100.521
DAY TWENTY-TWO (1/24/13) — Bangkok, The Peninsula
Ancient Capital
Today we travel into the countryside of Thailand. Our first stop is the Summer Palace. Bang Pa-In is a complex formerly used by Thai kings, located on the Chao Phraya River bank on the way to Ayutthaya, Thailand's second capital.
Originally constructed in 1632, it lay empty for many years until restored in the mid-19th century. The complex includes vast gardens, a Chinese-style royal palace and throne room; a royal residence and a pavilion constructed in the middle of a pond. Women visitors must wear skirts covering their knees but these can be borrowed. As always, shoes must be removed.
On to Ayutthaya (Ah-YOU-tea-ahh), the capital of the Siamese kingdom from 1350 to 1767. Ayutthaya was friendly towards foreign traders, including surrounding neighbors and later the Portuguese, Spanish, Dutch and French. King Narai (1656–88) had strong links with Louis XIV of France, whose ambassadors compared the city in size and wealth to Paris. The city (2nd of 4 capitals) was invaded, then sacked and burned, by the Burmese in 1767¸which ended the kingdom in this location.
We move to Wat Chai Watthanaram, still in Ayutthaya, a royal temple which was the most sacred back then. I am experiencing extreme temple fatigue so I quit in the mid-stream to seek some shade, a breeze and a bottle of water. There a woman offers to sell me a "porcelain" plate with the ruins around the perimeter and my face in the center. It's time to go home.
Cheryl has purchased a white cotton gauze shirt with an embroidered elephant on it. Peggy and I would both like one so Banyat takes us to a market in Ayutthaya. We see lots of interesting Thai snacks and some typical souvenirs. But none of the shirts we are coveting.
We then board the Grand Pearl excursion boat for lunch and a 2.5-hour float back to Bangkok. We are dropped at River City Pier. We bid farewell to Gundlachs who head to the airport and on to Chiang Mai. Morleys board the SkyTrain to Peninsula Tailor where Cheryl buys a raw silk suit and David purchases sports coats, shirts and slacks.
Patrick and I head for the Peninsula Pier but make two stops. The first is a luggage store where we purchase a strap to contain the packable luggage which is now teeming with shoes and other heavy items, along with dirty laundry. We
have packed it to the gills and want to make sure we don't test the mettle of the parachute silk.
Second stop is an oasis of sorts for me: a Starbucks! I buy a Bangkok mug to add to my collection at our home in Bonita Springs, FL. And I purchase the first great cup of coffee I've had in three weeks. I'm like the other crazy Americans who clamor for a McDonald's. I'm a happy camper.
Back at the hotel, we begin the daunting task of repacking. This will take the better part of the morning tomorrow.
When Cheryl and Dave return from the tailor, we grab the Peninsula shuttle and head across the river to Mazzaro, a casual, inexpensive restaurant recommended by the concierge. It features Thai and Italian, of all things. I stick with Thai but the others are happy to order non-spicy foods. The ambience and the food are a bit underwhelming.
Morleys head to the bar for a nightcap while my guy and I head to the room. He is beginning to show symptoms of the cold I had last week.
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docfitz
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I enjoyed your blog immensely. Your photos are exquisite! I may never get to see SE Asia, but have enjoyed it vicariously through you. Thank you.