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Other entries in Ayuthaya

Ancient Wats, Wild Dogs and Lotus Ponds

Everyone else on our bus was heading for Bangkok and it was only us who wanted to get off in Ayutthaya. The bus pulled on to the hard shoulder on the edge of a motorway and we were told this was it. After crossing 12 lanes of traffic, getting set upon by a gang of very angry dogs (We have learnt the best defence is for me to throw stones at them whilst Sophie runs) and getting a crowded sawntheaw we arrive faintly in the right area of the city. We find a charming guesthouse and collapse exhausted, the bus journey was 6 hours and to get the 6km or so from the motorway to the city took 2 hours. Just by coming South by 6 hours the heat and humidity had increased lots. Just walking down the road broke us out in a sweat.

Our reason for stopping in Ayutthaya 2 hours from Bangkok was the amazing array of ancient ruins of long forgotten temples and palaces. The sprawling city is hemmed in by 4 rivers and was upon time was a religious centre. We rented out bikes (in the heat) and spent most of the day peddling around these ruins, most made out of brick or laterite stone and in pretty bad shape with an impressive amount of Buddhist statues, but never complete, they all were missing limbs or heads. 

 Truth be told we are still a little 'templed out' from the mighty Angkor Wat and probably didn't concentrate as much as we could have. We enjoyed more cycling around the old royal parks, over the bridges of old moats and lotus ponds. We made friends with a lotus flower cutter who swims in amongst the lily pads and cuts down the unopened lotus leaves, presumably to sell at the market. She gave us a flower but not having anywhere to put it we gave it back.

 In the afternoon we got a train to Bangkok, 3rd Class, wooden seats. 2 hours for 15 baht, about 25 pence, Bargain!

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