Fun in Kamphaeng Phet

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After an hour and a half bus journey we are now in Kamphaeng Phet. This town is home to another Unesco listed Historical Park...it was built in the 14th Century and had a fortressed city wall which was used to defend the invading Burmese armies. Unlike Sukhothai, the park here is mostly forested and much less visited by tourists. The ruins and the surrounding areas are less manicured, more rustic and in some ways more charming.
Again we hired bikes, this time from the super helpful Mr Charin at our guesthouse, but as this town is not geared towards Western tourists we couldn't get any kids' bikes, so we had to make do with doubling the kids on our bikes...which was still heaps of fun. In fact, it's the only practical way to get around as our guesthouse (the only one in town) is quite a long walk from the centre of town and also from the ruins. So we had a pretty crazy day getting around town...riding along busy Thai roads full of the usual motorbikes, cars and trucks...and us with our unhelmeted kids hanging on the back of our dodgy old bikes! It sounds so scary but we managed okay as all the local motorists are constantly watching each other and keeping out of each others' way. At one stage we were waiting at an intersection and Phoebe was being fawned over and having her cheeks pinched by a lady next to us on a motorbike. Then as the traffic took off and we stared pedalling, the lady and her little daughter zoomed up and handed Phoebe a little present as they sped past! We really enjoyed the ruins and Jasper was in full Indiana Jones mode...finding little pieces of rock and artefacts as he leapt around the site humming his adventure soundtrack as he went! We didn't see many other tourists but there were a couple of groups of Thai schoolkids there on an excursion. They were only young and very cute...they seemed to spend the whole day reciting little verses and mantras to their teachers. Jasper and Phoebe joined them for a photo which was nice. The kids definitely lasted the distance not having to pedal all day, so after an afternoon rest we headed off again through the traffic and found a great restaurant situated right on the river (Mae Nam Ping...the same one we went rafting down hundreds of kilometres North). Thai food and cold beers as we watched the sunset over the river was the perfect end to our stay in this friendly little town.

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Photos

On top of Wat Chang Rawp
Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park

Temple Todd
In his element

Thai school kids
with Jasper and Phoebe

Monk
A monk checking out the ancient ruins at Kamphaeng Phet

Get on the bike
ready to check out more of the ruins

Forest ruins
Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park

The kids
Looking for artefacts at the ruins, Kamphaeng Phet

Heading out
This is later in the afternoon and we are on our way out to a restaurant on the river.

Yum
Anya enjoying red curry duck and a cold Singha.