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
Neil Armstrong famously said ‘that’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind’. Annually, we visit Whitby and climb the 199 steps up to the Abbey. This year, we have super-charged ourselves and tackled the near 600 steps up to Wat Phousalao. There are definitely more than 550 steps to reach the Golden Buddha at Wat Phousalao in Pakse, Laos. The exact number … Continue reading Wat Phousalao, Pakse
This small town was the seat of the Kingdom of Champasak until the French abolished this independent state in 1945 and created the Kingdom of Laos. The town is even smaller today, more a series of villages that nestle on a pair of roads beside the Mekong River. A string of guesthouses and restaurants cater to the tourists who are visiting the UNESCO World Heritage … Continue reading Champasak
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
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…
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…
After crossing the border from Laos back into Thailand we had a night’s stay in Nong Khai rather than take the overnight train. The thought of arriving into Bangkok at 5a.m. didn’t appeal. Our train departs just before eight, so just time for breakfast before we board the third class compartment for a near nine hour journey. The windows are all open, and the back … Continue reading Nong Khai to Bangkok…
Our first wander around Vientiane has an air of familiarity, yet we have never visited here before. Nestled on the Mekong and with French colonial architecture and wide boulevards in a grid pattern it has shades of Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia. It also shares that same tired look, a little shabby, almost neglected, around the edges. Victory monument or Patuxay as it … Continue reading Vientiane
Okay, there were more than two we visited today but we feel that this pair deserve a mention, well worth a look if your time in Luang Prabang permits. Wat That Luang was the cremation site for Laos royalty up until 1975. Built on a low hill in 1817, close to the banks of the Mekong. If you are imagining grandeur then sorry to disappoint, … Continue reading Two more temples…
Oldest On the Bus 