Thailand Chronicles: Ayutthaya Elephant Kraal ...

Elephants! 

Clearly, they are one of God's gentlest creatures. 

They are highly revered by the Thais.

So, we couldn't pass up the chance of an elephant ride over at the 

Ayutthaya Elephant Kraal. 

Ayutthaya, Thailand's former capital, is an hour's drive from Bangkok. It is filled with historical architecture and home to a number of elephants, most of which are friendly as they are used to tourists. 

The Royal Elephant Kraal is one of the worlds oldest elephant kraal which dates back to the 1500s or so as we were told by our mahoot (elephant handler). 

For an Elephant ride around Ayutthaya Historical Park, be prepared to shell out 100 - 500 Baht depending on the route. Photos if taken by their official photographer is quite pricey at about 100-150 baht and up. But our mahoot was kind enough to ask a fellow mahoot to take our photo on the elephant using our camera (although we were  getting worried of him running away with our camera tee-hee!!) for a measly tip of 20 baht. :) 

This particular Elephant ride was included in the Ayutthaya tour. For more details on the Ayutthaya tour, be prepared to shell out 1,900 baht for a whole day tour including air conditioned coaches, tour guide, buffet lunch at a hotel and mineral waters and refreshing towels after every stop. :) or check out my other blogpost on the tour here.

For inquiries, contact World Travel Service Ltd at tel (662) 2335900-9 or email them at: kusa@mozart.inet.co.th or visit their website here.

Thailand Chronicles: Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

It was my first time to be at a floating market. So you can just imagine my excitement when it was final that we were going on the Floating Market Tour and have a 30-45 minute boat ride to the famous ...

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market

in Ratchaburi, Thailand. 

It is one of the most famously known floating markets, and a major tourist destination in Thailand.

Our guide keeps on stressing that the market has been around for decades. And riding on the small boat, I thought.. "boy.. she sure wasn't kidding!". On the way to the market, there were inhabitants on the sides of the man-made canals which were there probably for years and years. And I think we passed by a huge pipe or two which was literally connected to a Thai house's restroom!  I almost had a heart attack when the water on the stream was literally splashing on our faces. Talk about a real adventure. hehe.

Of course, I was just trying to be sarcastic about the polluted water. But the trip going to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, was like a trip back in history. It was as if I was living in the era where rivers were part of the main thoroughfares of this culture rich country. Most of the houses we passed by have their own boats so it means that in this part of Thailand, most of them still use the streams if only for the benefit of tourists since the floating market is a major tourist destination in Thailand. So it was obvious that most of the people living there mainly benefit from tourists frequenting the area.

At the floating market, the merchants are literally selling their wares in boats. There were fruits of every kind, food and snacks like traditional Thai rice cakes, and souvenirs for every avid tourist. 

Thailand Chronicles: The Ruined Temples of Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya. 

The capital of Thailand around 1350-1767, located in the valley of the Chao Phraya River. It remained an important city of Thailand for 417 years during which an abundance of palaces and temples were constructed as a sign of its economic success. The ruins of temples and palaces of Ayutthaya, whether naturally worn by time or destroyed by activities of war with the Burmese, are a reflection of a golden and glorious past. 

These are some of the pictures of temples we took from our tour...

 Wat Yai Chai Mongkol. According to our tour guide, "Wat" in Thai means temple. So this is the first of four temples that we were going to see in a series of ruined temples. This is included in the Ayutthaya tour. The picture below shows the big Chedi (Chedi meaning mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics)that is what remains of this grand monastery... 

...along with the rows of Buddhas that seem to stand as sentinels to the old monasteries' grand Chedi.

Wat Maha That. This monastery was said to be residence of the Supreme Patriarch during the Ayutthaya period. It was destroyed and burnt during the war with the Burmese in A.D. 1767.

The Head of the Sandstone Buddha. This is a really interesting sight as the head of Buddha seem to have sprouted inside this Bodhi tree. Probably, once upon a time, even before this tree was here, this Buddha image is erected on this spot along with other relics.

According to our tour guide Angela (her Thai name is really a mouthful sorry:) can't remember it), from years of bringing tourists in Ayutthaya, some tourists smuggle artifacts as souvenirs... and some Thai merchants re-sell pieces like Buddha's head as antiques since they are original pieces. So what we saw when we visited was whats left of it ...

more ruins...

the headless Buddhas in Ayutthaya...

Wat Phra Mane. This beautiful temple was unlike the other ruined temples since it is well maintained. Our guide tells us that according to legend, during the war with the Burmese, the Burmese king himself was firing one canon when it blew up, mortally wounding him. When the Burmese returned to finally take Ayutthaya in 1767, they left the temple alone out of superstition about what had happened to their king the last time.

The different Buddhas symbolic for each day of the week.

Buddhists as we were told usually rub pure gold leafs in the Buddhas. Gold in the form of a thin leaf is an item valued for its purity as a religious offering and for its power to placate spirits and request favors. Postage-stamp-size booklets of gold leaves are always on sale along with incense, flowers and candles at temples and shrines for use as daily offerings.

Inside, the columns are painted a very dark red with gold decorations. The coffered ceiling is also intricately decorated in red and gold. On the dais at one end of the ubosot is a crowned Buddha image with a rather sour face, which is typical of the late Ayutthaya style.

Wat Chai Watthanaram.  The only standing temple  amidst the ruins of Ayutthaya. It was a sight to behold since it reminds you of the splendor of the time past when it was built. This is one of the grandest sites and the most elaborate temple construction in Ayutthaya. It is rare architecture for this city because its design is symmetrical, and it was built all at one time.

This is a small scale model of the ancient grounds of Wat Chai Watthanaram from an artists point of view. You can easily see the grandeur past from this temple.

For the Ayutthaya tour, be prepared to shell out 1,900 baht for a whole day tour including air conditioned coaches, tour guide, buffet lunch at a hotel and mineral waters and refreshing towels after every stop. :) 

For inquiries, contact World Travel Service Ltd at tel (662) 2335900-9 or email them at: kusa@mozart.inet.co.th or visit their website here. 

Thailand Chronicles: The Ancient City

For our first day at Bangkok , we decided to take the 

Ancient City Tour. 

It entails a half day guided tour of the world's largest living outdoor museum, where Thailand's past is re-created in its full splendor.

So even if we have just arrived at Bangkok at three in the morning, lacking sleep and only a late breakfast to fill our bellies, Mr. OSG, me and two of our friends were swished away to a 45 minute coach ride from The Montien Hotel (were we stayed) to the Ancient City.

Our tour guide, Chatchai Jitima, whom we fondly call "Chat" for the engrossing chit-chats he always engages us in. We were so entertained with his witty remarks and informative trivia about Thailand. I am also happy to note that despite his age, he was so full of energy in showing us around the 200-acre park. The Ancient city reminded me of a a more majestic Nayong-Pilipino park back home. 

The Ancient City, as we were told by Chat is maintained by a very rich Thai gentleman. Through his love for his country, decided to recreate outstanding replicas of Thai architecture, its history and way of life. So basically, this park is like seeing the whole of Thailand in one gigantic area. 

The temples featured here were imitations of the real thing down to the minute details like this 3D wood carving you will also see in the actual temple. It is stressed by Chat to be hand carved.

and this hand painted mural on the wall of the Grand Palace replica, which I must say is painstakingly done and an original piece even if our guide tells us everything is just a replica of the real thing. 

And the mother of pearl detailing in this royal daybed which can also be seen in the Grand Palace.

It was a good decision for us to visit the Ancient City first thing since our arrival in this exciting city. It was a rare treat for tourists like us to be able to take pictures inside the replica temples... 

...and the Grand Palace or the Dusit Maha Prasat Palace, the only remaining example of a traditional Thai palace left in Thailand...

...which we never could do in real temples and palaces scattered all throughout Bangkok. Since the Buddhist monks wouldn't allow us to violate their most sacred places of worship by taking photos.

This is another temple inside the Ancient City which as I recall  Chat saying is not in existence anymore in the city. 

The Ancient City Tour is a half day tour which you can book daily either in the morning or afternoon. It is being offered by the World Travel Service Ltd. for a fee of Baht 1,770 per person. Fees includes one hour travel by air conditioned couch to and from hotel pick up points to the Ancient City along with entrance fees and an English speaking guide. 


For inquiries, you can get in touch with the tour operator at tel (662) 2335900-9 or email them at: kusa@mozart.inet.co.th or visit their website here.