We started the day yestrday with a very very early start so we could cycle 6 kilometres in the dark (sorry Mums) with no helmet and one reflector between the two bikes so we could watch sunrise next to a buddha at the top of a steep hill. But it was so worth it and I may even try to sell some of my photos when we get back.
Got back in time to have brakfast at half 7 and were able to lounge by pool for few hours before packing up and saying goodby to Paulo, our very eccentric but charming host who wrang my hand with great vigour when we said good bye.
Then walked about 1 km with our packs on - I'm so glad I'm not carrying a 75 litre rucksack round!!! - before catching the public non-aircon bus. Thyank god they don't have health and safety here as we would have died if the doors weren't left open just by our seats. Again sorry Mums.
Sat in train station in baking heat but fortunately shade for about 3 hours
Well we finally arived in Ayutthaya last night 2 hours later than planned due to Thai Railways being reliably 1-2 hours late with apparently every journey...
Once we were finally on train managed to get off at the right station!A miracle as most stations are not written in English and I am still no better at reading Thai...hehe
Got our first Tuktuk as a major thunder storm loomed and we arrived at our beautiful little bungalow at 9pm ish.
Slept really well and packed up and left our luggage with another lovely Thai man and his ultra cute 7 month old poodle puppy Kuki whilst we cycled around Ayutthaya. These bikes weren't quite as good and so we wobbled rather more, but fotunately brakes and tyrs held up under torture.
We love this place and wish we had longer here to explore, maybe I will come back one day. We had lunch at a 'Muslim estaurant' where we payed 1 quid each for goat curry, rice and a big bottle of pepsi. Mmmmmm tasty though we were a little shocked to find a whole eyeball complete with membranes and optic nerve in my portion! And then we played the game 'What Wat is That?'. There are so many here and they are all so old and ruined but truly amazing. Dad you would seriously love it here - screw the ancient egyptians and columns, you wanna learn about chedis and wats.
Saw some beautiful Asian elephants walking round the streets (really well cared for) and Safia managed to get some sly photos of some monks walking around the walls of a Wat (girls can't speak to them so we can never ask if it's ok to take a photo...)
Just a little note to say that I haven't forgotten how to spell but the 'e' and 'r' letters on this keyboard are completely unreliable.
Be in touch soon
xxx
Kim
