Bangkok and Ayutthaya

Bangkok & Ayutthaya

Thailand! For the last few days I've been enjoying the wonderful company of my good friend Worawan Grongthong, or just Fang for the rest of us. :-D She has been gracious enough to show Russell and me around Bangkok on her days off from work. It's been wonderful. I've gotten to see some amazing old temples filled with golden Buddha's and some incredible artwork. The arcitechture of the old temples is also very amazing. And of course she has taken us to some very large and modern malls, along with street vendors an night markets. Thailand appears to be a clash of the past, present, and future. Everywhere you look their is something amazing to see.

I could go on for hours telling you about the Tuk Tuk rides (open air taxi's), or the incredible China town, the elephants, or open street markets... but instead I'm just going to tell you about one story.

Just a few days ago I took a train to the old capitol, Ayutthaya. This city is surrouned on all sides by rivers. Throughout the city is scattered many temples and old palace buildings. Many of these buildings are very beautiful and still have some stone Buddha's (usually very damaged) patiently sitting on their ancient altars. The city has been twice occupied by it's old enemy, Burma. The second time in the 1700's was devastating to the city, and it would never recover. Seeing these old buildings and temples was a real treat, like stepping into the discovery channel and actully seeing where ancient history was made.