Hello Postcard

But Martyn wanted to call  todays blog

'This must be where the monks go to get ummmm monked'

 - not my fault, I didn't know if monks were ordained like priests or if there was some other ceremony......next sign I read said 'ordination hall' not fair as Martyn was trying to pick himself up off the floor from laughter by that point.

Anyway, long day. Up at 6am. Had read that if you got up early then you could watch the monks collect their alms. Didn't think it was likely I'd get to see that but I did see three monks whom we decided had probably had a lie in and were consequently a bit late. Bus at 7 up to Ayutthaya, back in time 3 - 400 years to the old capital of Thailand. Haven't got time to go up to Sukkothai which is even older and the first 'capital' so we'll have to come back.

We think we managed 5 temples and palace plus another three temples in the evening on a boat trip but to be perfectly honest we lost count. They were all slightly different though. We are now experts in the different 'tops' they put on......Sri Lankan style is all circles, Thai style looks like a corn cob (but we are a bit confused as to how similar this is to Cambodian and think there might have been some kind of tour guide translation issue) and Burmese style is the other one (but its hard to describe).

We think we've been toWat Phra Si Sanphet; Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit; Wat Phra Maha That; Wat Chai Wattanaram; Chinese Temple; Wat Phra Ram; Wat Phutthaisawan and another one with a big Buddha in it but we can't find it in the book!

Have seen Buddha in all four positions - walking, sitting, reclining and standing and am now beginning to be able to remember what the different hand positions mean.

Martyn says its amazing that 450 years ago whilst the brick work was a bit dodgy (not enough mortar) the rendering was really very good! They could also have done with an improved understanding of foundations as many bits were sinking.

Still, this was very good practice for Angkor Wat and it was good to find another place that had been ransacked and burnt down etc that we hadn't had anything to do with! Ayutthaya apparently means 'undefeated' which was a good name until the Burmese won one.

Got hassled a bit by kids at entrance to one temple. Guess what they were saying ....... ' hello postcard' Always feel more guilty saying no to the little people, still we resisted. Probably is postcard time again though!

Dinner at night market - yummy.

Slow day today - 10am and still not left - ah well, internet here is free and the fastest since we left home so we've done some more photos etc and sorted out some other bits. Had plans to go to museum and a few more temples but to be honest yesterday was enough and after counting out the Baht we're on for another walking day!!

So off we go.... tootling down to train station to get back to Bangkok with the locals. 200Baht for air conditioned bus, 15 Baht for train (about 30p) for a two hour journey - come on British Rail watcha playing at???!!!! Of course that assumes we make it to the train station - have counted, we have to get across three roads.......yesterdays road crossing was the most interesting yet as we stood in the middle of the zebra crossing with a bus and a scooter going behind us and a scooter and a car going in front of us - who needs theme park adrenalin rides???

Martyn is looking forward to the train but is a bit gutted he doesn't get to go on his 'Chav Bus' - saw it in petrol station yesterday, double decker bus with low rider suspension, custom paint job, spoilers, grill at back showing the engine (which I think may be a more practical cooling option but Martyn is convinced is just chav) and a really kicking sub and stereo which the driver left on all the way through the stop at the petrol station and it was still on when they drove off. I personally am glad I'm not going on it - using my ear plugs on a bus would be a bit much really!