What's the Opposite of 1st Class?
Ayutthaya, Thailand
March 23, 2009
We were up early and went for breakfast. The service was slow and Bill did not wait for eggs. He headed back to a 24 hour internet spot on Khoa San where he can upload some more pics until our laundry is ready at 10.
I worked on the blog until Bill returned at 10:30. We showered, the drain is working a bit better today and changed. I popped the button on my shorts (Bill insists that I include this part) and he sewed the button back on. Maybe I should slow down on the sweets!! ;-)
We checked out and mailed packages to the Elliotts and the Youngs.
We walked up and down Khoa San for the Turkish Kabeb guy, but he was not open yet. We saw his cart parked and locked up. I had Pad Thai for lunch instead and Bill really enjoyed his smoking hot chicken and cashews Theresa on the Train with the Monks. I tried a coconut shake, it was OK, I should have ordered pineapple.
We went back to the hotel to use the internet and pay our bills from back home. For the 1st time ever, all the computers are busy and we had to wait. Finally we were able to get on and I did a bit more blogging.
We took a cab to the train station and bought our tickets to Ayutthaya (Eh-You-Tea-Ah) for 3:20. They only had unassigned seating, but it only cost us 15 bhat each (less than $1). We did not know where to sit and were in the assigned seating section. We were bounced to the very crowded general admission area which was in the monk/disabled area. The guy kicked a drunk out and shuffled a couple of people around for us. I feel very out of place! The lady across from us has a young girl in her lap. Bill gave her a couple of stickers to play with.
we departed late and little did we know that we had a few more stops in Bangkok. We are on the "Rapid" train Waiting at the Train Station. I am not sure what the "Non-Rapid" train is like, but it must be painful. Every time we stop more people pile onboard and more monks come to our section. The drunk guy is moved again.
Bill had to get up at one point and allow the lady and her little girl to sit with me. One monk motioned to the "monks and disabled sign" for me. I guess as long as he has a seat, he is not going to trouble himself for a woman and child. Thankfully she came to my defence and I did not have to stand too. I had to sit all scrunched up with my head in my book for the next 1 1/2 hours because women are not allowed to touch monks and there were 3 sitting across from me. I have decided that monks are a pain in the a$$.
We walked across the street to Ayutthaya Riverside hotel and checked in to a room that was nothing special, but would be OK for 1 night. I don't see any bugs and the towels and sheets look clean.
We crossed a bridge to the island First Look at Ayuthaya Ruins. Ayutthaya was the most powerful kingdom in Siam (Thailand) beginning in the mid-14th century. It was at it's height during the mid-16th century when it was sacked by the Burmese in 1767.
We walked to a restaurant that is listed in Lonely Planet - Malakor. It is near Wat Ratchaburana which is lit up at night. We sat in the upper part of the restaurant. We had to take off our shoes and sit on cushions. It was pretty comfortable. Bill had chicken with noodles and I had a great steamed fish with lime. I ordered iced tea that was sweet, but was homemade and very good.
There was a tin roof that started at the edge of our dining area. 2 cats had placed themselves on the roof for a nice little nap.
Above our table a light is attracting lots of bugs. 5 geckos have positioned themselves on the ceiling and are enjoying a huge bug buffet! We watch the for a while after we finish dinner.
We walked around Wat Ratchaburana and Wat Maha That to take some pictures. We also checked out the night market (mostly selling cooked food that were swarmed with bugs). We walked most of the way home before we found a tuk tuk to take us over the bridge and back to the hotel.
