Ayutthaya

After a few weeks spent in Bangkok it is time to move on to see a bit more from this fascinating country. Everybody on the platform!

The train is coming. Well, it is surely not a close relative of the French TGV or Japanese Shinkansen.

Luckily, again the signs are bilingual. We have places in the car number two.

After a bit more than two hours we arrive in the city of Ayutthaya.

The city of Ayutthaya was founded in 1350. It used to be the capital of the kingdom of Siam. Today, you can see its remains in the Historical Park, classified as UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Historical Park is mainly populated with religious buildings, grouped in numerous Wats. Here comes the Wat Phra Ram, one of the most ancient (built in 1369).

The area is large, unfortunately the buildings are in a pretty bad shape nowadays.

Here you can admire Wat Ratchaburana, dating back to 1424. It was built by King Boromrachathirat 11 ( also known as Chao Sam Phraya) who has ascended to the throne after his two elder brothers killed each other in a battle over succession to the throne. He built this Wat at the sight of their deaths, to house their burial remains.

There are many of these conic structures here.

 Then comes Wat Chaiwatthanaram.

Since this is a buddhist temple, we could not miss a Buddha or two. Some of them even come dressed in the traditional orange clothes.

While others are just fine in their stone outfit.

The nature is trying to win back the place with all its strength. You can see it best here, in Wat Mahathat (but bear in mind the fight between architecture and nature started here already in 1374).

I know what you want to say now. No gold? Of course there is a golden Buddha in Ayutthaya as well. We just need to move to Wat Phanan Choeng.

And here comes the golden statue.

You tell me it is a big one? Well, what will you say of this one?

Alright, I propose we sit now a bit and take some rest. Maybe next to a nice lake in the park. It is really warm here (remember that the temperatures here vary during the year between 31 and 37 centigrade).

Just be careful not to scare the local pets!

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This was our last day in Thailand. Beata, thank you again for taking me here! Let's move back to the railway station. And let's do it in style ...