Once more, a night of terrible sleep. Although this time it was due to a blocked nose, wracking cough, bad headache and even some backache. This flu has hit me pretty hard. I took some painkillers, which helped things out a fair bit. I even succumbed and ordered some comfort food - a hamburger (I have rarely eaten Western food while travelling). Although the burger wasn't actually very good. Refusing to let the flu get the better of me, it was now time to go an explore some of Ayutthaya!We investigated some of the guided tours you could take, but decided they were all too expensive. After all, we had legs didn't we? So with me at the map, off we walked down the street to the Historical Park. Ayutthaya is famous for its large number of Wats, almost all of which are now ruins, due to the many wars between Thailand and Burma over the last few hundred years. First stop was Wat Ratchaburana, a particularly impressive ruin, focussed around a large 'Prang', which is richly decorated with stone statues and engravings. We braved the perilous steps and actually climbed right up it to get a great view of the surrounding area. Also scattered around are numerous Buddha statues, most of which are now headless, or otherwise similarly ruined. Some were mere blocks of stone, and only on close inspection could you see the odd bit of decoration that once marked it as a torso.
Across the road is the Historical park housing the ruins of Wat Phra Mahathat. While this complex is considerably larger than Wat Ratchaburana, most of the buildings are in much worse condition. Originally built in the 14th century, it was burned down a couple hundred years ago. It is mostly brick and mortar construction, and after several hundred years, some of the stupas are now on a bit of an angle (like Pisa, only less Italian). This Wat is also home to the famous 'Buddha head in tree roots' thing. It's quite pretty to look at it, but nothing incredibly special. The whole experience of clambering around these ruins, some of which are hundreds of years old, really make you feel like Indiana Jones, or Lara Croft.The heat by now was stupefying (nothing new there). So after a cold drink, a tuktuk to the National Museum sounded like a good idea. It is impossible to walk anywhere in Thailand, especially as a Westerner, and not be constantly hounded by tuktuk drivers offering you a ride. Unless of course, you actually want a tuktuk, as was our case.
We started walking in the right direction, and it was only after walking most of the way there, that we finally got the tuktuk proposition. By which time of course, we didn't actually need a ride. The museum was reasonably interesting. Housing a collection of personal items belonging to an old Thai King from 150 years ago. More impressive was the collection of old ceramics, statues, and other everyday items, some of which dated back to the 13th century!Walked back into town, by now on very sore feet, and am writing this post immediately up (in a nice air-conditioned internet cafe). We have train tickets booked for tonight, to Chang Mai. Quite a long train journey, but having learned from past experience, we booked tickets early to ensure a nice comfortable second class sleeper berth. My flu is still pretty bad (although painkillers are currently disguising it), so I am considering taking a few days off in Chang Mai, and just holing up somewhere and resting. The rest of my plan for Chang Mai involves going trekking in the mountains for a few days, so its probably best done in good health.
On an interesting side note, the tuktuks here are unlike any other I have seen. More of a cross between a regular tuktuk and a songthaew, they are little three wheeled trucks with two bench seats in the back (see the photo). Ten points to anybody who can remember the video game that one of these appeared in.
