Thailand

Dec 29- Christi:

We wake up a little later than usual today, 9am, go downstairs for breakfast and around 10-ish, we hailed a taxi to Hualamphong Station to take a bus/train to the ruins of Ayutthaya. Upon arrival, we forget that it is the weekend of New Year's, and since a lot of people have the 4-day holiday, they are all going out of town. Buses and trains have already gone, and the only one we have left is a 2:30pm train that would be arriving around 4:30pm, giving us only about an hour or so at Ayutthaya. However, we were directed to a travel agency that would be able to help us out. Anyhow, after talking to them and realizing that Ayutthaya's Wats are all spread out, it'd be better to hire a private car and driver. Since it was only 1900 Baht, we thought $26 a person wasn't bad for a private chauffeur, so we booked the deal.

An hour and something later, we get to see our first Wat in Ayutthaya--Wat Yai Chai Mongkhan, known for its Temple of the lined buddhas.

Being here at Wat Yai Chai was just unfathomable. To realize we were standing amidst the very remnants left when the Burmese sacked and destroyed what was once the wealthiest city in Asia, felt like a part of that history had come alive.

After Wat Yai Chai, we went to Wat Mahatthat-- famed for the buddha head wrapped in the tree's roots.

Next stop: Wat Ratchaburana- Temple of the Illuminated

After that, we went to Wat Phra Ram-- Temple in which the Burmese hacked off the heads of the buddhas.

Next up: Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit-- The giant Buddha statue (16.95 meters high and covered with 3-4" of bronze), was recovered from the East temple of Wat Phra Si Sanphet, and is now housed inside Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit temple.

Last stop: Wat Phra Si Sanphet

The Wats of course, were all--unbelievable. Afterwards, we couldn't resist the cute charm of that kid standing out front, so H went over to give him some gum.

After the going to the Wats, I had to use the toilet, and the only ones we found were off in this market village nearby.

When we got back into Bangkok, I guess we couldn't resist the food stalls we found at Patpong the other night...so we took a taxi there, and the driver looks at us like we are insane and says 'Go there' and points at the sign: Saladaeng Rd and sure enough that leads us right into Patpong!