Ayutthaya

Yesterday we all went to Ayutthaya, 60m miles north of Bangkok. It was the capital from 1350 to 1767 and apparently had a population of around 1m in 1700 (double London’s) before being destroyed by the Burmese. Nowadays it’s a largely anonymous town but with a UNESCO-preserved centre full of ruined temples. We took a coach trip there, stopping off at Bang Pa In summer palace on the way – a lovely though slightly sterile collection of buildings in European & Chinese style.

Once in Ayutthaya we explored one ruined temple, one working temple, and one large reclining Buddha in stifling heat – an appetizer for Gary & Pat who are off to Angkok tomorrow. Perhaps the nicest part, though, was the slow, sedate cruise down the Chao Phrya River back to Bangkok. Buffet lunch then just relaxing, watching life on either bank drift by. Towards the end they played The Three Degrees’ When Will I See You Again on a kind of loop, and Pat and I found ourselves singing along with it. Funny to see A embarrassed by daddy singing a slushy love song.

Finished off the day by watching a DVD of Anna and the King. A real Thai day for once.