Ayuttaya

After watching King Naresuan, I was totally psyched up to go and visit the land he defended. Didn't really plan the trip. Yoriko and Mai asked me to tag along. I was contemplating because I wanted to go to a function at night actually. But hey, friends like this, parties can wait. Woke up at 9am and we took the BTS to go to Mochit Bus Terminal.



Had morning breakfast first. Cannot take it anymore. The 3hour bus ride can really make your stomach growl if you don't pamper it properly.


ZzzZzZZZzzZz....


While the both of them were snoozing away, Yoriko and Mai got something to say,




The bus actually cost less than 100 baht but the weird thing was, it stopped us in the middle of nowhere. Luckily the girls had a travelbook Japanese version. One guy came over and offered us to be our tourguide for 800 baht I think. It was a reasonable sum considering the fact that this blue songtheaw will be waiting for us at every destination. Our very own personal driver. And she'll bring us around to the important temples and places too. We didn't wait long, pooled our money and hopped on the vehicle.


This was our first stop. We went a few but it was too difficult to remember the names. So bear with me ok?


Royal protection.


Sacred ground.


I wore yellow to pay respects to my ancestor's fellow friend's.


Faith working hard.


These are bats. Yup. Batman's lair.






Finding answers.


Asian faces.


~I found it. Have you?~



Off to see the shrine of King Naresuan. Yup, the man.






Everybody, meet the warrior himself.





They said that nobody can beat a Siam rooster during a cockfight.


Artifacts.



Alrighty then, next up, Big Buddha Temple.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.


There were plenty of tourists paying respects in this one. Must be quite significant I guess.

Cholsu had something to say about this place. Geesh...





~Belief~








~I am still burning strong~


Ok. Hungree. Time to eat.


So we stopped by at a shopping mall where there was a foodcourt. Luckily they had a Muslim stall. Kinda surprising to me. Not that I didn't want it to be there but was a lil surprised on how dispersed the Thai Muslim community is.


Stomach full, hair tied up, now its time to go to the REAL historical site of Ayuttaya.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

From the mouth of the late Steve Irwin, "Ain't she a beauty"




Majestic.

Click on this video.








~Bowing to divinity~








Truly free.


I waited long for this shot. It was worth it.




~Witness of royal descendents~


Now, we're visiting Suriyotai's shrine. She's the queen warrior who traded her life to protect her beloved Ayuttaya.


~From within, she resides~


Her photo.







White elephants represents royalty and power. So back in the ancient days, if the kings were to give a white elephant to their rivals, this means submission or the willingness to become allies to a more powerful country.


Took some photos in the museum.



Royal relics.






The whole vicinity and area was filled with these flowers and was really clean.


Her final resting place.


Her tomb. I climbed it. It was supposed to be out of bounds. But I didn't know mah. So I'm still innocent.


The steps were so narrow that I squirmed on top.




Mai and me at the top.


Yoriko didn't believe that it was scary on top. She screamed. Haha.


~Touched the sun~


Time to leave for the next temple.


I don't know where this is.



There we go! The Central Chedi.



~Dancing in the sea~




Climbing these steps really took my breathe away. Tired siak!





That was how huge it was.


Paying respects.


Doo was getting into it. lol.


I wanted to try and dimensional artistic shot. Take 1!


Take 2! I think this was a better shot.



Tried another shot.


This time I wanted them to do an SMU jump. But Cholsu hogged the whole shot. -shakes head-haha.


Now THIS looks better.


One last shot of King Naresuan before we left on the taxi.


The legacy still lives on and I wonder whether some of the residents of Ayuttaya are descendents of the actual people from Ayuttaya. Your guess is as good as mine.


Next destination will be our last. It's very famous. This is where the head of the Buddha is protected by a tree. You'll know what I mean.


This kid cried when we wanted to leave but managed to give out a peace sign to all you guys out there. =D


Coconut water parade.


The temperature was quite humid by the time we hit that place.


Dawn greeted us.




And it transformed the ruins into a magical spectacle.



Walking in history.


We became part of history.



And I want to create history.


May it be small.


May it be big.


Let friends and laughter be what is left in your mind.


In times when you're looking for answers and you couldn't find.


Take a peek.


At what you seek and when you can find answers from love, peace and perhaps from a cup of vanilla.


Perhaps, you have already attained Nirvana.


So the sun said it's time to go.


The show has ended and we didn't even know.


Good things come to those who wait.


But not for those who wait too late.


Signs are just words to direct us where we can go.


But not necessarily where we should go.


For paths are already predestined. Put in effort and hope it's your destiny.

jamiel
of royalty I'm blessed