Ayutthaya - posted from Yacht Haven, Phuket

Here the OMCTG (Oh mighty chief tour guide,S,) earned her brownie points. The route from Kanchanaburi to Ayutthaya involves two local buses - non-aircon and little legroom - with a lunch stop in Saphanaburi with all staff fussing to ensure that the farangs have eaten and gotton on the right bus even if found in the toilet!.  We were fortunate that they were not full so we both had two seats to ourselves - the locals generally seem to prefer not to crowd up against a farang - possibly because we are generally larger! Unfortunately on the way to Kanchanaburi bus station R had lost our new (April) smartphone, which was clipped to his belt.  Fortunately it only had the balance of 100 baht phone credit and 5 days data left on the local prepaid SIM card.  The password for our email account was rapidly changed. Continuing the losing streak R then managed to leave his sunglasses on the lunch table in Saphanaburi! On arrival at the chaotic bus station in Ayutthaya a tuk-tuk completed the journey to our "homestay" just inside the UNESCO historical park where we walked in the evenings.

Buddhas, Wat Na Phra Man

Tuk- tuk rates are 200 baht an hour, a bicycle 50 baht per day. The park is a fairly compact  7 km around island ( nicknamed the Venice of the east) to the side the town.  Between tuk-tuk and shank's pony we covered what the OMCTG considered the main sites starting at one of the buddhist monasteries that is still operating, where there is a large buddha image and some smaller ones covered in gold leaf applied by devotees. 

Wat Phra Si Samphet

The ruins of Wat Phra Si Sanphet were next, the audio guide was worth the 100 baht.  This temple was adjacent to the royal palace which was the base of the kings of Siam up to the late 18th century, when it was sacked by the Burmese.









The tuk-tuk left us at the museum in the historical park which, as well as many buddha images, has impressive golden objects retrieved from the crypts of some of the temples - after robbers had removed an estimated 75 kg of gold.

Wat Ratchaburana

The main treasures were found in the crypt of  Wat Ratchaburani but access is closed off.














Garuda - Wat Ratchaburana



Captured Buddha - Wat Matha That

Wat Matha That's main attraction is a buddha's head totally enclosed in tree roots.
While the ruins are many and impressive in their own way there are few of the impressive bas-reliefs that adorn the temples at Angkor or to a lesser extent Borobudur.
The site is well marked out and has what the other two sites lacked - many signs telling the locals not to climb on their heritage!