We got a taxi to the bus station 'Mo Chit'. This bus station is full of mini vans, buses, taxis, etc.. We keep asking around but the language barrier is rough. Mel tries a security/info desk. I try a ticket window. We are asking and it's to no avail. Really need to learn a little more Thai, haha. We make it easier for us, but just longer by staying 'ayuttaya?' And we are pointed where to go. It's across the station. Unsure if where 'pointing' meant to go we just went ahead and tried asking more people... Eventually we'd get to a vehicle right?
One after another we keep asking. We find our way into a small mini van that will cost us 60 baht each one way. Sweet. Approximately 2 USD.
Arriving in Ayuttaya right across the bridge, we are greeted by the wonderful 'HELLOOO TUK TUK! I show you many things.' We say no thank you and keep walking. We hae time and we see that Ayuttaya isn't that large of a place so we can see the things we want to see, or majority of what we want to see fairly easy. We decided to walk almost everywhere. From walking through the older ruins and hearing people bein blessed by monks, to hearing music and seeing elephant rides/shows happening in the near distance, we were please with what we saw.
The architecture was actually really interesting. I couldnt to stop looking at how the bricks were layed and cemented over to form the taller spiers. I'm not sure what the correc term is for the things I'm describing, but seeing the chips and pieces fall apart, the deformities in the structures was almost soothing. You could see how long and what efforts were put into building this piece of artwork. To see it being preserved and idolized is refreshing. Not sure why, but I'm hoping to connect with that more later, or disconnect... I just want to understand more.
Mel and I walk and walk and walk and take pictures and pictures and pictures and then we just think about what we want to eat eat eat.
We decide to walk across the other end of town to a restaurant that is in our books, but it's kind if difficult to find. We see it, but don't know how to get there. The canal doesn't really allow for easy crossing unless you venture behind all the buildings on the other side. We decide to try. We find our way to a temple, strolling on through and finding different pathways that lead to beautiful flowers all around. We don't really care what happens were just happy to be here. Finally we reach a guesthouse of some sort. Maybe this is it?
Woah this isn't it, but it's a damn good guest house. Has some extra curricular activities, and it's all very nicely displayed. From the furniture and the wooden legged structures it definitely seems like a place I'd enjoy. Anway, the owner sees us because it's not really peak season and no one is around. He leads us through to the correct way through the temple and towards our destination. Thanks kind man!
Despite the vicious dog's territory we were passing through, we made it! Sadly... We wanted to eat on the boat but this is when the rain got rough. And I mean ROUGH. I think this is the hardest of the monsoons we've seen. The plastic and plates and food is blowing in the wind. Across the river, from where we came, we see cars stopping to wait it through. Honestly we could hardly see the cars. Barely even the lights. The rain was falling so fast in so much volume that I was truely amazed. It's like you can read things and see things in tv but you really just don't know, until you feel it like that. - like climbing to a high elevation for the first time and the struggles that you can encounter/ not expect. It's so difficult to describe.
Nonetheless, we were dry. Sitting and eating under a roof next to some older women sharing food. We all laugh with each other after we've relocated a few times haha. WowZaaa.
The restaurant/guest house helps us get a tuktuk/taxi back to the bus station. No way we were goin to go in this rain walking. It did slow down a lot so it wasn't as bad. We take a ride back on another minivan, get of at victory monument and walk around for some food and maybe some shopping. This is a huge hub for transport. We arrived in the evening and the night life came alive. Second hand shops everywhere. Were enjoyin our last time strolling through Bangkok together. We find extremely cheap food, and take some back alleys that seem a little less traveled. Of course it's all been traveled before. It's Bangkok. Tourist central. But it's the last bit of adventure we can find.
Back at our hotel, we sleep. The next morning, is an early one. I have to meet up with my group and hop on another van, that will take take me to Hua Hin, where I will take my TESOL course with XploreAsia. It's a fast morning and I'm hugging Mel all too soon looking through the glass door widows as she walks away. I'm thinking about her on her day alone, what she will conquer and what she will see. It's one last day. Live it up, safe travels home, and thank you SO much, for giving me the best vacation of my life. No one will take this from us, it was our time and our experiences. I loved it! Love you, Mel!!!!!!!
Here we go. Teacher Harry is back.
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