Ayutthaya - reload
After a couple of weeks, it was time to give another chance to Ayutthaya. I realized by now that in Thailand I have to lead a somewhat peculiar life - of two lives, instead. From Monday to Friday, I'm a teacher and - as W. calls me "a businesswoman" - focused on her tasks. On Saturday, Sunday, a tourist must come out from me who follows the flow, and explores the cities and everything - and most of all, doesn't get disappointed or upset by the lack of the routine. This being sad, all my evening duties should be cancelled or modified, otherwise, I can easily find myself in an upset position, again.
Enough of the circtumstances, I decided that I want to go back to Ayutthaya again and visit some more of the ancient temples. I decided on my budget too, and put +300 baht in my backpack thinking that it should be enough. I prepared my map, my GoPro camera, some snacks, food, and water, too then I set out.
The bus trip was all familiar already and I even recognized Ayutthaya when we arrived. It filled me with satisfaction and confidence about the city, I felt like I could do it, to allow myself to explore without being to be a tourist too much. I decided that I would find a motortaxi instead of a tuktuk driver, and luckily, I found a bunch as I got off the van at the market. They even had a well-organized timetable with prices and the places and I asked for the driver's phone number to pick me up. That day, I decided to visit the farthest temple. It was blazing hot, and we agreed with the driver that I would walk around the place in one hour so he could pick me up around 1 pm. He was late so I had to phone him, but I kept reminding myself that today I'm not a teacher but a tourist, so things don't have to go as they are planned - that's the miracle of the world, really, and we do need the element of surprise in our lives.
I really didn't mind it, because meanwhile I could see these miracles.
Which I even drew:
Close to the temple, I noticed that there is a Japanese village in Ayutthaya, too. I had put it into my head that I want to visit this, as well. Unfortunately, my driver didn't understand me very well, what I would want, but he could drive me back to the centre of town where I hired a tuktuk driver - finally. He charged me one hour price for 1,5 hours! So eventually, I got really astonished by his behavior - I might have found the only one who doesn't want to rip off tourists but really do a proper job.
We visited the Japanese village and then a huge temple with a huge Buddha-statue in it. Buddha's pinky finger was as big as a human being! It was enoooooormous! The only thing I didn't like was that the decorations were made by elephant tusks! See here:
I have already mentioned that Thailand is a country of contrasts: next to the statue and the temple, where the guards were all the time showing us not to use flash on our camera, be quiet at all times, etc, well, next to this sacred pilgrim-place there was a dragonboat race going on at the river! A broadcaster was shouting about the teams and about the places where they got into, a lady wanted to sell popcorn and taro sticks, another lady was selling amulettes, and all these sounds jumbled up completely with the drums and shoutings of the people from the dragonboats and from the sounds of the splashing water. It was an interesting feeling, indeed! The drums were beating with the tempo of my heart and even now when I close my eyes, I can smell the scent of incents near the temple and the chanting of the monks. It was a mixture of everything.
It was completely the opposite of the Japanese village! It was organized, well-maintained, meticulous and everything that is not Thailand. Even the signs were familiar to me because I knew some of them from Chinese. It was such a calm experience! I want to go back there, or what's more, I want to go to the real Japan! Those windgates, the spirited place and so on... It had such a different atmosphere apart from Thailand. I think its familiarity attracts me the most. Anyway. After a short meditation, it was time to get back to the chaotic market place, I bought a bubble tea and then we started a more than 2-hour ride back to Saraburi. I have had a lot of fulfillment during this day. :-) It was a lovely day, instead and it brought me real acceptance to the things how they are settled because finally I realized it how I am expected to behave in this culture. :-)
No wonder, after this experience, I slept really well and I was ready for a whole new week!
(The trip was done on the last weekend of November.)
More pictures:
PS: Oh, and a little note on the Japanese settlement in Ayutthaya: actually the Thai King invited them in the 16th century to the river in order to protect the country from the invaders. There, when the danger has passed, the main general decided to stay in Thailand. He eventually married a Portuguese girl - that's why there is a Portuguese settlement in Ayutthaya, too. I'll definitely have to get back to explore more! :-)
PS2: My driver drove around a bit (the one on the motor) and showed me an elephant camp. Oh my, my heart broke seeing those little calves, trumpeting with their trunks so sadly because they feel they can't roam around freely on the countryside. :-( While, boastful tourists were sitting on their backs, under fancy sun-umbrellas. I don't even know where to start what's wrong with this - but for now, I can only choose not to take part in this, so that I don't support this industry. Very little, I know, but... I hope one day I find an organization where I can be a volunteer and fight against this.
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