Photo Gallery & Impressions 22b

PHOTO SAMPLER - Ayutthaya, Part I - 30 August 2003 (Saturday) 

Ayutthaya was the capitol of Thailand for over 400 years. This historic city is located a relatively short distance north of the megalopolis of Bangkok.  We had visited Ayuttaya very briefly on our 1998 trip.  We had several nursing students from this city and surrounding area and had missed out on visiting this city with a College field trip. Now we would spend a couple of days here learning more about the fascinating history of this friendly and pleasant city. [See Ayutthaya, Part II for continuation.]

This view from our Krungsri River Hotel room shows some of the popular city that is home to much Thai history.

About 400 students visiting the ancient palace complex, receive instruction & information from their teachers.

Our breath is almost taken away as we enter the spectacular ruins of the royal palace & Wat Phra Si Sanphet.

These 3 tall prominent chedis are almost the "signature" of this historic city.

As we start to explore this large complex of ruins, we are quickly identified by many in the student group as English speakers.

Many of the students had been given the assignment of finding & interviewing English speakers.

We enjoyed helping these students complete their questionnaires, but were soon overwhelmed by large numbers of students descending upon us. We just had to say, "No," to many.

We tried to learn of the lengthy history of this special place & the various eras of building, rebuilding & sacking that took place here since 1350 AD. 

But lurking behind almost every pile of rubble (& this remains of a Buddha image) were groups of more students seeking the few available English speakers.

Keith pauses behind one of the toppled chedi spires.

Peg breaks down one last time to grant another group of students an English lesson.

We continue to explore this vast complex of ruins, finding out of the way places to avoid those orange shirted students.

Peg is impressed with the endless array of visual images found in the ancient brickwork.

We take one last photo of the 3 prominent chedis as we prepare to leave this area.

Nearby we find a parking lot full of the distinctive Ayutthaya tuk-tuks - much different than their Bangkok cousins.

With an elephant just coming in to view, we get this distant photo of Wat Phra Ram & its reflection.

Peg poses just before entering the Wat Phra Ram complex.

This ancient place, just southeast of the palace grounds, was built in 1369 AD.

We were intrigued with the construction & how the brickwork has lasted so long. The placement of found parts of Buddha images was also of great interest.

Here we can see the underlying brickwork & the remains of the decorative stucco & statues.

This area has been attacked, sacked & vandalized often, leaving many of the Buddha images broken and scattered. Here is just a base left of such an image.

Someone has collected & grouped these statue remains - & we wonder, "Is this an archeologists dream or nightmare...?"

Many more of these remains of Buddha images line both sides of this walkway.

After a busy & hot day of sightseeing in the city, this tuk-tuk driver brought us quickly back to our hotel by the river.

At several points around the hotel we found these "happy" terracotta elephants. They made us smile too!

For the huge sum (by Thai standards) of $16 US we find we can both have an excellent dinner aboard the River Princess as she cruises the river around the old island city.

An evening we will never forget, even though few of our photos turned out - a delicious topside meal, a romantic cruise with lights from the city & passing boats - and all the while lightening flashed on the distant clouds.

Ayutthaya, Part II            Return to Photo Index

Hit Counter