{"id":5093,"date":"2017-08-27T21:13:19","date_gmt":"2017-08-27T19:13:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/?p=5093"},"modified":"2017-08-27T21:13:19","modified_gmt":"2017-08-27T19:13:19","slug":"traces-of-civilizations-head-in-a-tree-ayutthaya-thailand","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/?p=5093","title":{"rendered":"traces of civilizations \/ head in a tree! &#8211; Ayutthaya, Thailand"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\"><b>Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya<\/b>, also known as Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam. Taking the slow train from Bangkok, we pass Thai countryside at a mindboggling speed. Mindboggling because the train may have a maximum speed of a slug on sleeping pills. Somehow, we do arrive after 2 1\/2h instead of the promised 1h and take a tuk-tuk to explore the temples. Tuk-tuks do a fixed price negotiated beforehand, not cheap, but the most convenient way for a day trip. Still, the THB800 compared to the THB20 for a train ticket from Bangkok are out of proportion. It&#8217;s a tourist place&#8230;The tuk-tuk drivers are quite friendly (compared to BK), communication is done via pictures. There are so many temples to see but we don&#8217;t want to overdo it and settle for four temples.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\">First stop, <strong>Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon<\/strong>. Buddha statues dressed up nicely and the fact that their heads are still attached is a unique feature of this lovely temple.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5095\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/?attachment_id=5095\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5095\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5095\" class=\"wp-image-5095\" src=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_01.jpg?w=750\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_01.jpg 750w, https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_01-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_01-270x180.jpg 270w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-5095\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">buddha statues and matching monks<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\"><strong>Wat Maha That.<\/strong> Beautiful ruins of something grand. Statues with no head, lots of fractured statues and statue fragments. Also home to the most famous photo spot of the whole city: the buddha head in the tree. Historical park is nice to walk around in.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5096\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/?attachment_id=5096\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5096\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5096\" class=\"wp-image-5096\" src=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_03.jpg?w=500\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_03.jpg 500w, https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_03-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_03-120x180.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-5096\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">worn and torn<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_5097\" style=\"width: 600px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/?attachment_id=5097\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5097\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5097\" class=\"wp-image-5097\" src=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_04.jpg?w=750\" alt=\"\" width=\"600\" height=\"400\" srcset=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_04.jpg 750w, https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_04-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_04-270x180.jpg 270w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-5097\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">stone buddha<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_5098\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/?attachment_id=5098\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5098\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5098\" class=\"wp-image-5098\" src=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_05.jpg?w=500\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_05.jpg 500w, https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_05-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_05-120x180.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-5098\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">most famous photo from Ayutthaya &#8211; buddha head in an ancient tree<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\">Our driver asks us if we want to ride elephants at <strong>Wat Chang<\/strong> and we kindly decline. Please, <strong>don&#8217;t ride the elephants<\/strong> and contribute to their misery. There are other things to do.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\">Next up, we pass the corn cob shaped <em>Prang<\/em> of<strong> Wat Phra Ram<\/strong> to visit <strong>Wat Phra Si Sanphet<\/strong> with its three giant <em>Chedis<\/em> and hundreds of small once.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5099\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/?attachment_id=5099\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5099\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5099\" class=\"wp-image-5099\" src=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_07.jpg?w=500\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"591\" srcset=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_07.jpg 500w, https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_07-203x300.jpg 203w, https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_07-122x180.jpg 122w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-5099\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">chedi<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_5100\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/?attachment_id=5100\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5100\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5100\" class=\"wp-image-5100\" src=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_08.jpg?w=500\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_08.jpg 500w, https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_08-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_08-120x180.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-5100\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">pattern of chedi matching the patterned sky<\/p><\/div>\n<div id=\"attachment_5101\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/?attachment_id=5101\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5101\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5101\" class=\"wp-image-5101\" src=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_09.jpg?w=500\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_09.jpg 500w, https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_09-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_09-120x180.jpg 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-5101\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">chedis and ruins<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\">Our last stop is <strong>Wat Chai Watthanaram<\/strong>. Beautiful and relatively undestroyed (see header picture) with big grounds and sheltered statues.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align:center;\">We are outwatted, outtempled and catch the train back. The ride back is about as slow as the ride before. We are getting hungry! Well, I am anyway. Time for some streetfood&#8230;<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_5102\" style=\"width: 400px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/?attachment_id=5102\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5102\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-5102\" class=\"wp-image-5102\" src=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.files.wordpress.com\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_11.jpg?w=500\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"604\" srcset=\"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_11.jpg 500w, https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_11-199x300.jpg 199w, https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_11-119x180.jpg 119w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/a><p id=\"caption-attachment-5102\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">buddha in his cave<\/p><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align:right;\">May 11th 2017<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5094,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4,5],"tags":[48,91,97,106,171,220,253,265,1014,1114,1186,1190,1302,1309,1311,1312,1313],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/1705_ayutthaya_00.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5093"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5093"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5093\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5094"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5093"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5093"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maponmyplate.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5093"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}