Day 7
Ayutthaya

Kat, our Stray leader Coco, local guide Sun and I set off in our mini bus bound for Ayutthaya one of the old capitals (there has been several over time). It was a busy town where we first visited the market. It was a bit early in the day for me to stomach live frogs and the smell of pig bits that we definitely export as a nation. I tried some fresh coconut rice pancakes filled with sweet corn - very tasty. I was really interested to see the fresh produce. I couldn't believe the variety and shapes that garlic cloves come in, I thought they were just one size?!
We then tuk tucked our way to the central temples Wat Mahathat and Wat Ratchaburana. Both were extremely impressive. Really high towers (how had they ever been built?) Buddhas heads that had been lost around tree roots, golden statues. It was all in ruins as it had been burned by the Burmese in the 1700's so it felt very sad to walk around. It would have been beautiful.
In the afternoon we took a boat ride around the town ( the river runs all the way though) to 3 temples (that I didn't keep a note of). From the river it was a surprise to see the prosperity and poverty living next to each other. Grand houses and wooden shacks over looked the river. We had some friendly waves and smiles from children playing in the river. All the temples were different but equally impressive with their gold Buddhas and temple towers. What they all had in common were the dogs who came to meet you from the boat and that just laid in and around the grounds. They lived in prettiest parts of town.

It was then on to the night train. I had been a little bit apprehensive about this part of the journey, a sleeper train from Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai. Apart from being split from my group in a separate carriage for ladies only it was fine. My suitcase just had to stay in the walkway (good luck to anyone who tried to lift it) I spent 10 hours in my top bunk. To say I got a good nights sleep would be a white lie but I did get some shut eye until the train went around a bend and I thought I would roll out. At 6am they came round to wake you and put the beds away. A slick operation indeed. 2 bunks turned into a 4 seater table. With all our train delays we should have these at home. The view from the window was fields and trees I was pleased to be out of the city, I am definitely more of a country girl.

See Facebook for photos: album Ayutthaya