P Lhin (P Lhin = Older sister name Lhin as Thai people call older sister with the word which pronounce like "P" ) who always available for all trip request me to take her to visit Ayutthaya for one day trip. And since she always confused between Ayutthaya and Sukhothai so I decided to take her for one day tour to Ayutthaya. However, there were another 2 ladies (P Hong and Fang) joined our trip then the education trip turned to be funny trip (again).

Since we all are living in Bangkok so meeting point at Asia Bangkok Hotel http://www.asiahotel.co.th/asia_bangkok/  is the best area which all can take subway or sky train and most of all they have a famous bakery shop which open since early morning.

We all arrived on time and as I guessed that everyone ran to the bakery shop to get some bread for breakfast. We left Bangkok around 7.30am (this is the best time to leave Bangkok for one day tour with 2 hours distance).

Today we will visit temples, markets, and experience lunch on cruise with the view of temples, local people houses, church etc., and we started check in.

1st Checked-in : Temple of the Reclining Buddha (Wat Lokayasutharam)

The temple with long history of Thailand since Ayutthaya was a capital city of Thailand. 

From the archaeological excavations of the temple’s premises, it was discovered that the temple was built in the Early Ayutthaya Period and that the temple’s compound had been constantly used until Late Ayutthaya Period in 1954, the restoration of the Reclining Buddha was conducted by re-sculpturing the whole Buddha image on top of the old one and changing the head style to be the style as seen today. There is 3 biggest reclining buddha in Thailand and this one is number 3 (number 2 is the one at Wat Pho and the number one is in Sing Buri province).

Actually, I travel to Ayutthaya many times with difference routing but I decided to hire tour guide for this trip because another 3 ladies never do day tour to Ayutthaya and I'm not the people who know deep details for history. This guide did not disappoint us.

Besides of the tour guide, he was a good photographer as well so this time I got some shot of mine.

We left Wat Lokaya and continue to next check in.

2nd Checked-in :  Wat Mahathat  Ayutthaya (unseen)

This is the temple which you can not miss when you travel to Ayutthaya. 

This is the highlight spot of this temple which all tourist must take at least one shot. But please pay respect to the buddha image as same as us by sitting while you take photo.

The temple is located in the center of old Ayutthaya, between Chi Kun Road and Naresuan Road in the northeast corner of Phra Ram Park. 

The tour guide told us that there were lots of jewelry, gold etc., were found under the main pagoda with around 17 meters deep but now all already moved to keep in the museum. But another interesting told is the head of buddha image at the root in above picture is from the body in below picture. 

They built new head to put on this body and kept the original one at the three roots. P Hong was excited with the history and enjoy listening the tour guide.

While P Lhin and Fang also enjoy with another activities.

Actually, I like this temple as there are many good spots for photos.

And this time I had 3 super models.

And I got one shot of our friendly tour guide as well.

And this is what you can see when you visit this temple. Thai ice-cream only 10 Baht.

Before we left that area I asked tour guide to bring me to one café call "Boran café and Restaurant" https://www.facebook.com/boran... as I heard about the name for long time. 

The café is on walking distance from Wat Mahathat (for me) but actually located in front of another temple name "Wat Ratchaburana". The pagoda which we saw from window in above picture is Wat Ratchaburana.  This temple was built by King Borom Rachathirat II (Chao Sam Phraya) on the site where his two elder brothers were cremated. His two brothers died in a power struggle to succeed their father, King Nakhon In who died in 1424. A series of bell-shaped chedis surround the main prang and a large oblong-shaped viharn is situated at the front.

Wat Ratchaburana is at the foot of Paa Than bridge in Tha Wasukri sub-district, Phra Nakorn Sri Ayutthaya (Krung Kao) district, Ayutthaya province. It is located north of Wat Mahathat and stands only a short distance away from the royal palace. Wat Ratchaburana is one of the royal monasteries built in the Ayutthaya era and the eldest Temple in the province. According to the Royal Chronicles, it was constructed in 1424 during the reign of Somdet Phra Borommaracha II, commonly known as Chao Sam Phraya, on the royal cremation site of Chao Ai Phraya and Chao Yi Phraya. Somdet Phra Borommaracha II had 2 memorial pagodas built on the location where both of his elder brothers fought each other to the death on elephants' backs, and named the pagodas after his borthers' names-Chedi Chao Ai Phraya and Chedi Chao Yi Phraya.The highlight of Wat Ratchaburana is the crypt where tremendous treasures were stored. In the year 1956-1957, looters smuggled through the Prang and plundered a considerable amount of valuables, especially votive tablets made of tin and lead. In September 1957, the Fine Arts Department officially excavated and restored the crypt of Wat Ratchaburana. To their surprise, they uncovered the relics of the Lord Buddha, swords, crowns, golden attires, Buddha images made of gold and copper alloy, royal regalia and a few hundred thousands of votive tablets. Later the Fine Arts Department allowed collectors to purchase these recuperated sacred items, and the proceeds from the sale were meant to build Chao Sam Phraya National Museum.

Fang who never miss any spot.

But surprise is P Hong as since I known her she was not the people who love to be in the frame. But seem today she was changed.

This cafe is nice, they have large area separated by zoning with difference decoration. All are antique style but this is what I like.

Since we had our routing plan for today so we did not have much time at this cafe so we decided to come again next time. But before we left, all got drinks. Mine one is Honey Lemon Tea.

3rd Checked-in : Wat Phra Si Sanphet 

Wat Phra Si Sanphet was the holiest temple on the site of the old Royal Palace in Thailand's ancient capital of Ayutthaya until the city was completely destroyed by the Burmese in 1767. It was the grandest and most beautiful temple in the capital and it served as a model for Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok

The remaining debris still evidently portrays how glorious the country was. At the heart of the temple, there are three adjacent Ceylonese (or bell-shaped) pagodas situated on rectangular platforms. 

It is believed that these platforms were the base of royal houses in the Ayutthaya period. Currently, the temple is regarded as the symbol of Ayutthaya province.

There are 2 ladies who always in the frame under the sunshine. While another lady who is a member of JeLeng (the name of famous cosmetic shop in Bangkok) preferred under the shade to avoid sunshine burning her skin.  But in overall they are happy with all trips.

We left Wat Phra Si Sanphet and heading to the pier for lunch. And today lunch was on the cruise. This is also first time for me.

4th Checked-in : Vela Cruise

We booked Vela Cruise for lunch. There was around 2 hours having lunch and enjoy the view along the river.

I like their policy to make the customer feel assure and more safe during covid-19 situation.

The food are international buffet with dessert, bakery and drinking water.

The menu which P Hong like the most.

And this is the right way to eat Thai food (personal idea).

But for her is difference.

We were enjoy eating and staff keep explained when we passed the interesting places.

There was around 1 hour for cruising and the high-light is this place.

Normally, we visit Wat Chaiwattanaram which is one of important temple in Ayutthaya by car so we saw this temple from difference point today. 

After the cruise stopped at Wat Chaiwattanaram for photo shots then it return to back to the pier.

We all were full with food, view and memories about Ayutthaya. There is not only temple in Ayutthaya anymore. There are many nice café with historical park view, variety of food. 

P Lhin has an idea to stay overnight in Ayutthaya for next time when we travel to Ayutthaya again. Then we can see early morning life of local people. We might visit local market to see and try some local food. 

However, we had very good memories from this trip together and already marked on our calendar for next trip to "Bang Krajao village" by scooter. 

View Images

TipOnTheRoad

 Monday, December 6, 2021 2:49 PM