January 8, 2013
Yesterday
was probably the most adventurous day of the Southeast Asia trip so far. Early in the morning we drove out of
Bangkok, through the countryside and rocked up to the ancient capital of
Thailand that is known as Ayutthaya.
In Ayutthaya we saw the ruins of the center of the old civilization and
explored the lands that were inhabited by a thriving community hundreds of
years prior.
On the way to the ancient city of
Ayutthaya, we got a real sense of just how far the city of Bangkok stretches,
and once we got out of the dense traffic of the inner city it was smooth
sailing through the outlying suburbs.
Eventually we would past the local communities that are satellites to
the main city and enter into the vast countryside of Thailand. Traveling on this highway I could see
out for miles in every direction as the haze of the city’s pollution cleared
and the rich and beautiful outlying land revealed itself.
At
the actual historic sites I saw some really great things, from reconstructed
temples to ruins that were unaltered and allowed to naturally decay. Much like the recognizable theme in the
city of prosperity being situated next to slums, I drew a parallel between the
elaborately decorated reconstructions and the natural standing remnants of the
old society. It made me realize
the inner beauty of the history and reinforced the idea of just how rich in
culture the Thai people really are.
No matter how things may look on the surface the same cultural values
still exists and it just depends on what form they take on and how it is that
this prosperous culture is transmitted.
Later
on in the day after visiting the ruins of Ayutthaya and the summer palace of
King Rama V, my group hopped on board a river cruise boat and we enjoyed the
many sites along the Chaopraya River.
This was really a great experience because it gave us the chance to kick
back, relax, and take everything in.
The river cruise was another way to see the city of Bangkok and was a
great way to wrap up my last day in Thailand.
At
this point I am on a bus headed to the Thailand-Cambodia border and the new
adventures of exploring the next country await. Cambodia here I come!
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