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Ayuthaya, Thailand
Wednesday, May 03, 2006

The Old Kingdom

David Murray
2007-02-23 23:18:18

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Luckily this morning, we didn't have to rush to much. After packing our small bags, we left the big ones behind, hailed a cab, and we were on our way to catch an 08:20 train to Ayuthaya. As it was this time in the morning, we encountered numerous traffic jams, and at 08:10, we arrived. Tried to buy a ticket, but was told we didn't have a chance as it was about to leave and that we would now have to wait until 11:00. Fuck that, we jumped onto the underground and made our way toward the Northern bus station. Once off, we wondered around like headless chooks, before biting the bullet, grabbed a cab, and he whisked us away. Jumped on a bus, five minutes later it left, and just over an hour later we had arrived. Actually, we arrived before the train, but it cost a load more, but at least we are here, and as this is the old Capital, there are loads of temples to be seen.

Having been here six years ago, I was keen to come back, and as we are going to go to Cambodia to see the temples of Seam Reap, I thought this would be a good little taster for Lucy. Yeah, she has seen shitloads over the last year, but these are different and she needed to break her Ayuthaya virginity !!!

The usual shit with the hotel went down, so we had some food, walked across the road, asked for some pushies, and then remembered that we are only here for one night, and we needed to see them fast, and as it is fucking hot here, riding a pushie is not a good idea, so we grabbed a scooter instead. Off we went, straight to our first Wat. Maha That. The thing to see here is a Buddha head, that has now become part of a Bodhi tree, so Buddhists pray to this item. Fuck, I must have been on drugs not to see that last time !!! Actually, I wasn't, I just refused to pay the entrance fee. I did try to jump the fence, but was escorted off, so I am glad I paid this time. There are loads of stupas in varying conditions and there are Buddha's with and without ...