Ayutthaya to Sukhothai
Thursday May 17th
Today has been predominantly a travelling day.
We breakfasted in the huge breakfast room of the Krungsri River hotel in Autthaya. There was a good selection of breakfast items but it felt like school dinners. We spoke to a young German couple who were on a bus tour and a French family who like us had hired a private guide. We wished them a good day.
We started the day in the third and best temple complex in Autthaya. We were so early the ticket collector hadn't started work yet. there are two prices the local price and the FOREIGNER price. Usually the difference between 50p and a pound!
Autthaya was the capital of Thailand before it was sacked and the kingdom of Siam moved to Bangkok. The first visit was to the reclining Buddha. Buddha always "reclines" on the right side so that the blood flow is not restricted. Buddha is a fantastic compass. He is always depicted facing East or lying East West. East being the direction of enlightenment. We have learned quite a bit of the story of Buddha and a lot of it makes sense apart from the belief in serial reincarnation. There is no way I am coming back as a cat and that's final!
After Ayutthaya it was a long trip to Sukhotai which was the seat of the previous kings of Thailand befire they moved to Autthaya. On the way we stopped briefly at Lop Buri the "Monkey City"
Because the monkey is revered and they have no predators they have taken over the centre of Lop Buri and they are all over the buildings and ordinary shops as well as the holy buildings of the temple. There are thousands of the monkeys which seemed to be in charge hence "monkey city".
The main highway North is a three lane highway built by the Romans apparantly. Dead straight. The landscape is still flat and rice growing country. We stopped to have a look at the rice growing. The rice plant is not unlike the wheat that we are familiar with except that it can grow in water. Before the harvest the farmer pumps the field dry and nowadays harvests the rice by machine. A by product of the rice harvest is fish and rice fed RAT. Sutthi stopped to purchase the delicacy by the roadside. It had been roasted and separated into pieces on the bone. Pauline was not impressed. We were offered a taste but declined. Sutthi and Sart would enjoy it later. Yuck.
As we neared Sukhothai the landscape changed and the houses became more traditional Thai. Wooden houses on stilts with space for a water buffalo below and living quarters above, with a traditional steeply pitched roof.
We arrived at our hotel for the night about 16.00. It is called le charme resort Sukhothai. It is certainly charming. It is fabulous. It could be the nicest place we have ever stayed, Our room is beautifully furnished with a lovely private terrace overlooking the lily dotted canal which weaves throughout the resort.
Pauline succumbed to an offer of a Thai massage which despite being forceful was relaxing and she returned a new woman. Meanwhile I explored the excellent swimming pool only to encounter our German young couple who are part of a German bus tour and also the French family who like us are on a private tour. The French family were from Lyon and we chatted about places we have visited. the German couple wondered who was "stalking whom" which showed the impressive level of their English.
Tomorrow after visiting the ancient kingdom of Sukothai we head for Chiang Mai the second city of Thailand.
Today has been predominantly a travelling day.
We breakfasted in the huge breakfast room of the Krungsri River hotel in Autthaya. There was a good selection of breakfast items but it felt like school dinners. We spoke to a young German couple who were on a bus tour and a French family who like us had hired a private guide. We wished them a good day.
 |
| Reclining Buddha |
We started the day in the third and best temple complex in Autthaya. We were so early the ticket collector hadn't started work yet. there are two prices the local price and the FOREIGNER price. Usually the difference between 50p and a pound!
Autthaya was the capital of Thailand before it was sacked and the kingdom of Siam moved to Bangkok. The first visit was to the reclining Buddha. Buddha always "reclines" on the right side so that the blood flow is not restricted. Buddha is a fantastic compass. He is always depicted facing East or lying East West. East being the direction of enlightenment. We have learned quite a bit of the story of Buddha and a lot of it makes sense apart from the belief in serial reincarnation. There is no way I am coming back as a cat and that's final!
 |
| Auytthama Temple |
After Ayutthaya it was a long trip to Sukhotai which was the seat of the previous kings of Thailand befire they moved to Autthaya. On the way we stopped briefly at Lop Buri the "Monkey City"
Because the monkey is revered and they have no predators they have taken over the centre of Lop Buri and they are all over the buildings and ordinary shops as well as the holy buildings of the temple. There are thousands of the monkeys which seemed to be in charge hence "monkey city".
The main highway North is a three lane highway built by the Romans apparantly. Dead straight. The landscape is still flat and rice growing country. We stopped to have a look at the rice growing. The rice plant is not unlike the wheat that we are familiar with except that it can grow in water. Before the harvest the farmer pumps the field dry and nowadays harvests the rice by machine. A by product of the rice harvest is fish and rice fed RAT. Sutthi stopped to purchase the delicacy by the roadside. It had been roasted and separated into pieces on the bone. Pauline was not impressed. We were offered a taste but declined. Sutthi and Sart would enjoy it later. Yuck.
As we neared Sukhothai the landscape changed and the houses became more traditional Thai. Wooden houses on stilts with space for a water buffalo below and living quarters above, with a traditional steeply pitched roof.
 |
| Glamour all around! |
We arrived at our hotel for the night about 16.00. It is called le charme resort Sukhothai. It is certainly charming. It is fabulous. It could be the nicest place we have ever stayed, Our room is beautifully furnished with a lovely private terrace overlooking the lily dotted canal which weaves throughout the resort.
Pauline succumbed to an offer of a Thai massage which despite being forceful was relaxing and she returned a new woman. Meanwhile I explored the excellent swimming pool only to encounter our German young couple who are part of a German bus tour and also the French family who like us are on a private tour. The French family were from Lyon and we chatted about places we have visited. the German couple wondered who was "stalking whom" which showed the impressive level of their English.
 |
| Water Lillies |
Tomorrow after visiting the ancient kingdom of Sukothai we head for Chiang Mai the second city of Thailand.
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