Ayutthaya Thailand

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Ayutthaya Thailand: One of the temple ruins.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Reclining Buddha. It is big... at least a hundred feet from head to toe... and the toes are large enough to hide several people.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Reclining Buddha. It is big... at least a hundred feet from head to toe.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Another of the many Wats in the island area, this one includes a sitting Buddha.

Ayutthaya Thailand: This elephant is being fed by a handler. She sits right beneath his mouth and shoves tidbits into his waiting trunk-mouth.

Ayutthaya Thailand: This is part of the cluster of food vendors which congregate directly across the street from the train station.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Some of the river traffic passing the ferry dock.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Some of the several dozen elephants used as taxies in the main temple ruins area.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Some of the river traffic passing the ferry dock... this is another ferry boat.

Ayutthaya Thailand: A modern Wat on the bank of the river.

Ayutthaya Thailand: A lovely hidden Buddhist temple which seems to be used exclusively for cremations. Note the tall tower, blackened at the top from smoke.

Ayutthaya Thailand: One of the many outdoor restaurants.

Ayutthaya Thailand: My hotel sat at the river's edge and I could watch the river traffic from my window. Here a tug pulls a four barge train down the river.

Ayutthaya Thailand: My hotel sat at the river's edge and I could watch the river traffic from my window. The land on either side of the river is crowded by buildings.

Ayutthaya Thailand: My hotel sat at the river's edge and I could watch the river traffic from my window. My hotel is "off island" and I used a small ferry to reach the downtown area on the island.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Within the historical area on the island are many Wats or temple ruins like this one... Wat Suwandawas.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Within the historical area on the island are many Wats or temple ruins like this... Wat Mahathat.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Within the historical area on the island are many Wats or temple ruins like this..

Ayutthaya Thailand: Within the historical area on the island are many Wats or temple ruins like this... Here a sign tells some of the history of the area.

13 January 2003

Hello from Ayutthaya Thailand.

After arriving from Bangkok by bus I spent three nights in the $37 Krungsri River Hotel which is located right on the bank of the Pa Sak River. The ruins are in varying degrees of repair, but the overall impression is one of grandeur. On the fourth day I jumped on a train heading north for Chiang Mai.

Add anecdotes: 10 year old girl encouraging her mother to buy many different kinds of deep fried insects and eating them in front of her. My name? Rumple... little girl shoots me a wry look and I whisper "Stiltskin" and she grins surreptitiously. Her mother never knows what passes. People touring the park on the backs of elephants. Watching the ever changing river traffic from the river facing window of my hotel room. Marveling over the huge hundred foot reclining Buddha... MORE TO WRITE FROM JOURNAL NOTES.

Peace

Fred L Bellomy

Ayutthaya Thailand: One of the temple ruins, this one sitting next to a lake.

Ayutthaya Thailand: This building houses an enormous golden sitting Buddha.

Ayutthaya Thailand: One of the temple ruins.

Ayutthaya Thailand: One of the temple ruins. This triple tower site is a landmark.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Reclining Buddha. It is big... at least a hundred feet from head to toe.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Reclining Buddha. It is big... at least a hundred feet from head to toe... and the toes are large enough to hide several people... not to mention my little hand.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Another of the many Wats in the island area, this one includes a sitting Buddha.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Some of the several dozen elephants used as taxies in the main temple ruins area.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Some of the river traffic passing the ferry dock.

Ayutthaya Thailand: A lovely hidden Buddhist temple which seems to be used exclusively for cremations. Note the piles of wood stacked ready for use.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Typical street scene in the downtown area.

Ayutthaya Thailand: A big pan of pineapples on display for sale on the street.

Ayutthaya Thailand: My hotel sat at the river's edge and I could watch the river traffic from my window. My hotel is "off island" and I used a small ferry to reach the downtown area on the island.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Within the historical area on the island are many Wats or temple ruins like this one... Wat Suwandawas.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Within the historical area on the island are many Wats or temple ruins like this.

END

Ayutthaya Thailand: Within the historical area on the island are many Wats or temple ruins like this... Wat Mahathat.

Ayutthaya Thailand: One of the many temple ruins on the "island."

Ayutthaya Thailand: One of the temple ruins.

Ayutthaya Thailand: One of the temple ruins. (10 of 62)

Ayutthaya Thailand: One of the temple ruins. Here a large group of school children finally settle down to perform their school chant before invading the ruins.

Ayutthaya Thailand: One of the temple ruins.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Reclining Buddha. It is big... at least a hundred feet from head to toe. People afix gold-leaf to the bare surface, but it is a hopeless task to cover the entire statue.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Another of the many Wats in the island area, this one includes a sitting Buddha.

Ayutthaya Thailand: This is my hotel sitting at the Krungsri River's edge, appropriately named the Krungsri River Hotel.

Ayutthaya Thailand: This is my hotel sitting at the Krungsri River's edge, the Krungsri River Hotel.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Typical street scene in the main downtown area.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Some of the boats docked along the river.

Ayutthaya Thailand: This is the only mosque I saw in the city. The area seemed to be home to quite a few middle eastern folks.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Fresh vegetables and fruit being offered for sale on the street.

Ayutthaya Thailand: My hotel sat at the river's edge and I could watch the river traffic from my window. Here a tug pulls a four barge train down the river.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Within the historical area on the island are many Wats or temple ruins like this one... Wat Suwandawas.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Within the historical area on the island are many Wats or temple ruins like this one.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Within the historical area on the island are many Wats or temple ruins like this... Wat Mahathat.

Ayutthaya Thailand: Within the historical area on the island are many Wats or temple ruins like this... Wat Mahathat. Here a sign tells some of the history of the area.