This country has only been named Thailand since 1939. Over hundreds of years of its history it has been different kingdoms under different names. Fortunately for us, relics of important historical sites still exist today. Over a few days we were transported back in time to get up close to ancient palaces, one-of-a-kind statues, and iconic stupas, whilst our guide shared interesting stories of years gone by.
Day three: Ayutthaya
We boarded the bus, excited for another cross-country journey from Kanchanaburi to Ayutthaya, which was once the capital city of the ancient Siamese kingdom from 1350 until 1767 and considered to be the largest city in the world for a period of that time. Today it is a protected UNESCO world heritage site.
Our first stop of the day is Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, which was the holiest temple on the site of the old Royal Palace - until the city was destroyed when a war with Burma ended in defeat in 1767. On conquering the city, many of the buildings and statues were set alight, in order to melt the gold that covered them, leaving only weather worn stone ruins behind as testament to the extraordinary architectural feats of this old civilization. In the 1950's the partial buildings that are on the site today were carefully restored from the rubble that had lain for hundreds of years, including rebuilding the three stupas which were originally the resting place of three generations of Kings.
The most memorable sight for us in Ayutthaya was located in Wat Mahathat, or the Temple of the Great Relic, where a Buddha head, separated from one of the nearby statues, is now embraced within the thick roots of a tree. It's symbolic of the magic and spiritual connection you feel when exploring this region.
In the afternoon we drove out from Ayutthaya and into the central plains of Thailand to the province of Lopburi, location of the Great Buddha of Thailand. Followers of our travels will know that we've had the privilege to be astounded by a number of huge statues, but this one is especially special. At nearly 100 meters high, this dazzling golden Buddha is THE tallest statue in all of Thailand, and the ninth tallest in the world. I was a little naughty and snuck away from the group for a few minutes to break protocol and launch our drone, as only "Dronie" could capture the statue in all its glory, surrounded by the green plains. We then watched as a procession of Monks made their way to the foot of the statue, where we were invited to touch our head to the Buddha’s hand. Some say that it brings good luck to touch the slender golden fingers of the Buddha. If you look hard enough, you can see our tiny group below the hand in the pic below.
As night fell, we arrived in the province of Phitsanulok and our accommodation, Pattara Resort & Spa. We quickly dropped our bags into our rooms and then gathered as a group in the swimming pool to enjoy a few cold Chang beers and chat through the highlights of the day. The pool borders a lovely lily pond surrounded by lush trees lit by various spotlights. However, there were also plenty of mosquitos who came out from the pond area for their dinner at the same time as we did, so no need for cologne at dinner - just the scent of repellent in the air tonight!
Day Four: Sukhothai Historical Park
The next morning, we headed out early for a walk across Phitsanulok to take part in an offering ceremony for the local monks. Forbidden from touching money (physical or electronic), everything that they need to maintain their very modest lifestyle cannot be purchased by them and must be donated. We had the option to purchase pre-packaged boxes containing portions of food, incense sticks, matches, as well as batteries, torches, and other "modern" necessities to present. In return, our monks performed a water ceremony to send blessings and good fortune to members of our families, both past and present. It seems that the longer we spend in Thailand, the more luck and blessings we are accumulating.
We then boarded our bus for a few hours of travel through the flat countryside to the province of Sukhothai, the historical heartland of Thailand as it pre-dates Ayutthaya as the first seat/capital city of the Kingdom from the 1200s to 1300s. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the old city is preserved within the boundaries of the Sukhothai Historical Park. The lush landscape of the park contains 21 ruin complexes and four large ponds.
To help make our way around the sprawling, perfectly manicured grounds, there are a couple of very fun transport options available to zip between sights - bicycles and golf buggies. It was the perfect way to enjoy the sunny morning before the temperatures reached into their 30's. Keep an eye out for the crazy cart drivers being pursued by the local police...
Wow! We're already halfway through the tour, having made our way from Bangkok through the highlights of central Thailand. In our next blog we continue into the mountainous jungles in the far north, and the epic destinations of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai.
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