We decided on a day trip to the ruins of the central plains north of Bangkok today, and thought the best deal was to take a bus tour up there (about 70km) and take a river cruise back. We went with the Grand Pearl company, very organized! From Bangkok to the Royal palace, Bang Pa-in, super peaceful and calm, then on to the ruins at Mahathat and then Ayutthaya. The huge gilded Budda in the temple there was very impressive, and we were able to feed and pet the "royal" elephants. the guide then took us back to the river where we boarded a boat, and had lunch cruising back to Bangkok. It was a very hot, tiring day, but after a swim, we headed out to find a restaurant that was in the fodor's guide:
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