Ayutthaya

We made a fun daytrip yesterday to the town of Ayutthaya. Its about a 45 minute drive north of Bangkok and full of temples and ruins.  Ayutthaya was the second capital of Thailand - settled in the 14th century, the kings of Siam ruled there for 200 years or so until the Burmese destroyed the capital.  The modern town has been built around the ruins, so it is something like Rome in that respect.

First, we went to Bang Pa-In, the summer palace of the royal family.  I think it is still used for formal occasions.  Architecturally, it is very interesting.  There is a mixture of European, Thai and Chinese architecture, depending on which king built what.  For example, the main reception building looks straight out of 18th century France, but there is a very Chinese looking throne room building.

Most of the European style buildings were constructed during King Rama V reign. He was the first Thai king to study in the West, and he brought back lots of Western ideas about education, utilities, etc.  The most fascinating building looked like a typical Christian church with the pointed steeple and everything, but it was actually a temple.

For lunch, we stopped at a noodle shop that served a dish called boat noodles (I have no idea how to spell the Thai name in English; it sounds like "kuay tyow").  Super tasty noodle soup with chicken or pork, greens and bean sprouts.  They are called boat noodles because they used to be served out of boats on the canals.

After lunch, we wandered around an old stupa complex that had lots of Buddha statues.  The statues are all dressed in orange robes, like the Buddhist monks.  The robes are orange out of tradition -monks used to dye their robes with turmeric or saffron.

After visiting the temple, we went to the ruins of the palace in Ayutthaya.  You may recognize some of my pictures, as this place often appears when watching shows about Thailand or looking at stock Thai photos.  The Burmese invaded and destroyed the place and cut of the heads and/or smashed most of the Buddha statues around the palace.  It was quite sad to see these statues sitting serenely with their heads tossed in the grass...

European and Thai architecture at Bang Pa-In

Observatory Tower and Chinese Palace

Chinese Palace in Bang Pa-In

Throne room entrance in Chinese Palace

Buddhist temple in style of Christian church

Temple-church interior

Lunch - sen yai (wide noodles) with chicken

Wat Yai Chai Mongkhol - ruins from the Ayutthaya Era

There were Buddha statues all over this temple

Another Buddha

View from the top of the stupa

Partially destroyed Buddha statue in the ruins of the Ayutthaya palace

His head is lying in the grass behind him...

Three stupas that were part of the palace's temple