Ayutthaya, Thailand

My day trip to the former royal capital, Ayutthaya (a-yu-thia) was a worthy trip away from Bangkok. The whole experience of taking a train in Thailand was just fun in itself. On the train ride heading out of Bangkok, it was an experience to see all the poor families living near the tracks. I always wonder what happens when the monsoon season arrives and the water starts to rise, what will happen to those people?

Well, once I got to Ayutthaya, there were many ruins to see but for me, it’s kinda that saying, once you see one ruin you seen them all. And, I’m one of those travelers that just enjoys the journey to the destination because the destination itself is anti-climactic….expected… and sometimes overrated. For example, I really enjoyed just taking the ferry across the river for 2 Baht and riding my chic old-school bike around town. I definitely recommend renting a bicycle, it will take you back to ‘old times’ and add value to experiencing the ambiance, plus you don’t have to pay those Tuk Tuk’s ridiculous “official licensed tour guide” prices. But the best part about renting a bike is so you can burn off all that Tom Yum Goon you’ve been sleeping on.

As an American growing up in an educational system focused on studying Ancient European civilizations, visiting these ruins told that, perhaps at the time, Thailand was one of many rich countries in the world. Ayutthaya was apparently a destination for many Europeans and Japanese during 1350 to 1767, until the Burmese finally conquered. I think it’s quite grounding to realize how long civilizations have their “golden-age” and then get conquered. This was another tell-tale sign that every civilization has an end and in perspective America will one day have its end. No empire last forever.

The ruins are definitely worth seeing but for me it’s all about the trip. On the way back I chatted up some English and an Australian. We had a good laugh talking about how we all qualify a place to eat. If a farang is eating at a restaurant and is still alive, then it’s safe to eat there. Or, its funny if you are the first farang to find a place where no other farangs are eating, suddenly they all follow! Of course it’s been such a great time in Thailand and after awhile you realize the food on the street is WAY better than some of the food in the restaurant s…. it just takes some farang courage, that comes over time.

Well….1 day is enough time for Ayutthaya but it can definitely be savored over 2 days or even longer… although i’d like to say that it’s much hotter than Bangkok so be ready to sweat-out’ those banana pancakes you’ve been inhaling.

Trip Wrap-Up

Incidental Money Spent
Train: $4 there/ $ 1 back
Bike: $1.25/ day
Admission Fees: $0.75/ site

Next Time
Leave Bangkok early
Take ferry tour
Stay at Guest House

Highlights
Ferry Ride on the River
Renting a Bike
Wat Ratburana
Sitting in on a Buddhist prayer ceremony

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Shinta Mani