Wat Thawet, sometimes spelt Tawet or Tewet is within cycling distance of New Sukhothai. We made most of the journey there along the roads and paths that run by the river before having to cover the last stretch on the main road. Here is famous for one hundred brightly painted, concrete statues that depict morality tales and Buddhist fables, we were hoping for another Haw … Continue reading Wat Thawet – Garden of Hell
Until Pho Khun Bang Klang Hao led and won a rebellion against the city’s rulers in 1238, Sukhothai was part of the Khmer Empire. Successful in his campaign, he became the first king of the newly formed Sukhothai Kingdom. In sanskrit, Sukhothai means ‘dawn of happiness’, and historians believe that it was here that Thailand’s introduction to the Buddhist religion was introduced. The Sukhothai kingdom … Continue reading Old Sukhothai Kingdom
We are here out of necessity as we make our way to Sukhothai, another ancient capital of years gone by. The more we read about Phitsanulok, the more we discovered to do. It does merit a visit in its own right. Much of the history of Phitsanulok dates to the late fourteenth / early fifteenth century. As nearby Sukhothai was on the verge of losing … Continue reading A Day & a Half in Phitsanulok
We arrived in Ubon via a seven hour train journey from Ayutthaya to a welcome from local students on the railway station. First impressions are good. Ubon is not really on the tourist trail, most western visitors here are passing through, making their way to or from Pakse in Laos. With time to kill, we are stopping for a couple of nights, a new Thai … Continue reading 48 hours in Ubon Ratchathani
OK, it is the temples and the history that deservedly earn Ayutthaya its place as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Away from, or in-between, that side of things are a few other places that are well worth a visit. If you venture a mile or so outside of the island city, you can find the King Naresuan Monument. If you are on foot or bicycle … Continue reading Ayutthaya – Beyond the Temples…
Hua Hin is a famous beach resort in Thailand, yet relatively unknown in the UK. It’s around a three hour drive from Bangkok, on the Gulf of Thailand and boasts the country’s best golf courses as well as fantastic beaches. This once small fishing village became popular when the King built himself a palace here in the 1920s, and it has retained strong ties to … Continue reading Hua Hin
There is hardly a spot in Ayutthaya where you are unable to see a prang, chedi or link to this ancient capital’s past. Our ticket covered what they consider to be the six most important temples to visit, but there are so many more. We wandered around on foot, covering god knows how many miles, and these are our favourite discoveries. They are listed in … Continue reading Ayutthaya – Temples, the Best of the Rest…
Our third day took us off the main island to the east, close to the railway station. We used the ferry to cross the river, the pier is just a hundred metres from the station. Our visit to Wat Maheyong would be the final tick of the big six, or at least the ones covered on the multi-temple ticket. Wat Maheyong was built in 1438, … Continue reading Ayutthaya – Temples, Day Three…
The ancient city of Ayutthaya was the Thai capital for 417 years. The city was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong when the Thais were forced to retreat southwards from Sukhothai by their northern neighbours. Across those 400+ years, thirty-three kings of various dynasties ruled the kingdom. In 1767, Ayatthaya was occupied and destroyed, much of it razed to the ground by the Burmese. The … Continue reading Ayutthaya – Temples, Day One…
Away from the grisly historical side, Kanchanaburi is an attractive town with vibrant night markets, walking streets, riverside parks and even a skywalk. The Kanchanaburi Skywalk was built during COVID at the point where the three rivers of Kanchanaburi, the Mae Klong, Phachi and Kwae Yaï meet. With being 12 meters high, it offers panoramic views of the river and the mountains beyond. The glass … Continue reading Kanchanaburi
Recharged and with a good breakfast inside us, we set off early, keen to get to Wat Mahathat before all the buses laden with day visitors from Bangkok. The name ‘Mahathat’ translates as Great Relic Chedi and the temple was constructed to house the remains of the Buddha himself no less. Legend has it that King Ramesuan was looking out of his palace, surveying his … Continue reading Ayutthaya – Temples, Day Two…
Our heritage walk of Kanchanaburi is centred around the Pak Phraek Road area. This is the oldest community in Kanchanaburi, and its name is derived from the Chinese words Pak and Phek, which translates as the crossroad. When these homes were built they would have been beside the river. These days, they are a whole street further back running adjacent to the Sky Walk and … Continue reading Kanchanaburi Heritage Street and the Old Paper Mill
Oldest On the Bus 