Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya is the ancient capital of Thailand, an hour or two north of Bangkok, depending which train you get. It was rather a novelty to pay 15 baht (around 40p) for the train journey, although as we cooked inside the 3rd class carriage under broken ceiling fans, we were glad to know that at least we hadn’t paid much.

It was still nice to arrive in somewhere smaller after time in crazy Bangkok, and instantly the town felt less pressurised. Walking around, there were temple ruins everywhere - sometimes in complexes with small fees to enter, and sometimes just sitting next to quiet roads. We headed to Wat Ratchaburana (one of the best restored original towers) then Wat Mahathat (huge complex, most famous for its Buddha head that a tree has grown around) for sunset. Once the sun had gone down, Ayutthaya was quiet. Most people come for day trips from Bangkok, and you could tell - we struggled to find even many restaurants open, but did eventually get some food and found a bar to play pool in.

We visited Wiharn Phra Mongkhon Bophit (modern museum building built in traditional Ayutthaya style) and Wat Phra Si Sanphet (more ruins, famous for three restored towers), then Wat Lokaya Sutha (huge reclining Buddha statue) and Wat Worachettharam (a temple on a small island with well preserved Buddhas). It was a little odd seeing such well preserved relics next to modern life - school children playing on temple ruins, old towers next to main roads. But it was a good place for a flying visit and a glimpse in to Thailand’s past.