Thursday, October 7, 2010

Videos - Bangkok, Ayutthaya and Kanchanaburi...sort of. 2009

....still uploading old videos, finished now, I promise! 

On the last leg of our Thailand holiday we went out to Ayutthaya. 'I' could have spent days out there if it weren't for the heat, I love old architecture, especially if its crumbling. We arrived by mini bus at which time our tour guide diligently dispensed round stickers to our shirts...so we knew who we were! Stray offered to afix mine and proceeded to adhere it to my..well, not in an appropriate place. I could have and should have smacked him up side the head, but there were witnesses.

After visiting a Wat (one that was rebuilt after the Burmese burnt it down)...I cant remember the names and feel a little ashamed, but one can get a bit Watted out  after a while, we headed to one of the large ruin sites right next door. Wat Phra Si Sanphet?

Following that we were shuttled to the Bang Pa-In Summer Palaces, which were very impressive. The grounds are immaculate and rather than walk, we hired a golf cart to see the various buildings.
Then to Wat Yai Chai Mongkol (the one with the reclining Buddha, OK, another one with a reclining Buddha), where I presumed Stray was right behind me on the stair climb...WRONG! that's him at the bottom, centre rear...arms folded.
Early afternoon we boarded a boat for scrummy lunch which ferried us down the Chao Phraya River back to Bangkok.

In Bangkok (not the same day) we went to MBK shopping complex and stumbled upon a concert of sorts...students we think, which kept us entertained for quite a while.

The next (mini) clip (almost a still photo) is from our visit to the Bridge over the River Kwai...
...at Kanchanaburi. We had finished walking the bridge and went for a wander past the markets, where Stray couldn't resist this little fella.

Unlike our experience at Tiger Kingdom (ex Chiang Mai) where we suspect drugs were flowing freely (no, not us) this feisty guy didn't have any qualms about expressing his feelings.

I don't like seeing any animals chained or caged, but he was very well fed. 'Free to hold, pay to feed'. I'm pretty sure he was a living advertisment for a nearby zoo.

Have you been? Any thoughts?

Cheers!

Snap's other blog Chiang Mai Thai

3 comments:

Martyn said... Best Blogger Tips

Snap - Excellent post, I love your writing style and the underlying humour which is generally hovering just below the surface.

I've never been to Ayutthaya but it is a place I have marked down as a 'must do' in Thailand. I must make it there before I'm old and crumbling myself. I'd love looking around all the ancient ruins and whatever is left from the war with Burma.

Kanchanaburi is a place I have been to and one I fully intend visiting again. Myself and the young one had five wonderful days there. I stood on the famous bridge, rode the Death Railway and visited the War Graves. I can't speak highly enough of Kanchanaburi, it's one knockout place and like I said I've got to get back there again one day. Hua Hin too.

Nice post, great clips and I bet there was a queue behind Stray to pin that sticker on you.

Snap said... Best Blogger Tips

Hi Martyn, I'd like to go back to Kanchanaburi too and take a longer look around. We only stayed for a couple of nights, but really enjoyed our short time there.

We've never been to Hua Hin, but it looks a treat on the internet.

The lurking sense of humour is one of life's survival techniques...wouldn't you agree?

Martyn said... Best Blogger Tips

Hua Hin is great, the beach is the nearest you will ever come to seeing island sands without stepping off the mainland. Hua Hin's night market was fabulous too, I just loved sitting there with a beer or two and watching the night unfold. Great memories.

The resort is a little pricey but if you shop around (surf) you can get some reasonable yet cheapish hotels.

Humour can sometimes put you in some very sticky situations. Some people don't have a sense of humour.