Been working my way through Thailand, back through Bangkok on the train from Hua Hin and then train up to Ayutthaya and then coach to Sukhothai and then coach up to Chiang Mai. Train from Bangkok was bottom class and took two hours and cost 30pence, I think our costing structure could learn something from this country! Third class was a bit basic but with the window open for air con it was not too bad, The busses were all air conditioned, none of this luggage on top and old ladies holding goats squeezed into the seats next to you! It's been temple ruins all the way, Ayutthaya being the old capital of Thailand and a very grand and opulent place until the Burmese ransacked it in 1767with the result being the removal of all Buddha heads from statues and the grand temples and buildings being ransacked, looted and left to nature, it was only in the last 40 years that these have become a Unesco World Heritage site and been renovated and cared for, fascinating place with the old and the modern living together, bus trips from Bangkok to see the Buddha head in the tree and elephant rides competing with bikes and cars on the roads, looks like all stops for the elephants....that's how it should be. Very sociable guest house with an old Thai lady that all call Mam, she is an amazing character, ensuring that all the guests have the chance to socialise in the little reception courtyard, first chance to catch up with other travellers and we did till early hours! Got a couple of bikes and hooked up with a Belgium guy called Vince, had a good day cycling around the ruins and a dinner to the backdrop of the river and fireworks for the celebration of Chinese New Year that seems to go on and on! Then back for more social and the show and tell where insects have taken a fancy to a couple of the girls legs, I now understanding the value of a good mozi spray, I have jungle strength from Boots so I have fingers crossed, so far so good. So with an eclectic miix of Germans, Austrians, Belgium, Australian, Canadian and a couple from Essex Ayutthaya turned out to be a great stop on the way. Met up with Vince in Sukhotai and we booked up a cycle tour around the countryside and the historic park which was good, guided by a lovely lady who took us to see homestead BBQing rats, bamboo local business, a teak factory - would not last 5 mins with a good old Uk health and safety inspector, a c*** fight and then around the historic park to see more temples as this used to be the centre of a Thai Kingdon many many years ago. Sukhothai means Rising Happiness, which is nice. A quieter stay for just two nights and then on to Chiang Mai where it is going to be hectic, loads to do.