When my friends were visiting me in Bangkok, we took a one-day trip to the ancient capital, Ayutthaya. We began our morning at the historic Hua Lampong rail station in Bangkok, and bought a trip of third-class tickets for 15 baht apiece. The ride is fairly comfortable, with frequent vendors bringing fruit, water, sodas, and snacks through the train. Although the bench seats are not padded, they really aren't all that terrible, and with the windows open and the breeze blowing in, it's quite a pleasant trip!
About two hours later we had arrived a the train station in Ayutthaya, just across the river from the historic island that had once been the capital of Siam. We crossed on the three-baht ferry and rented some bikes from the December House (a guesthouse that I always use for my bike rentals every time I go!) and set off to the Ayutthaya Historical Park.
There's a lot to see out in Ayutthaya, but the park has three really important sites: Wat Mahathat, Wat Ratchaburana, and the Ancient Palace.
What I appreciate about Ayutthaya, like Angkor Wat, is that you can get up close to history. I understand the importance of blocking off ancient ruins in order to preserve them, but there is something to be said for being allowed to reach out and touch a hundreds-of-years-old statue as well. It's human history, after all!
Although the morning had been cool, by the afternoon it was quite warm! We had lunch at a market outside the Ancient Palace, and boarded a minibus for the ride back to Bangkok.
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