Thursday, March 27, 2008

Ayutthaya Ruins



I spent my last day in Thailand touring a great number of ruins in Ayutthaya. Phra Monkol Bophit features ruins of an old capital city of Thailand.

Ayutthaya is the Thai capital for 417 years. It is one of Thailand’s major tourist attractions. Many ancient ruins and art works can be seen in a city that was founded in 1350 by King U - Thong when the Thais were forced southwards by northern neighbours. During the period of Ayutthaya being the Thai capital, 33 kings of different dynasties ruled the kingdom until it was sacked by the Burmese in 1767.

Ayutthaya is 76 kilometres north of Bangkok and boasts numerous magnificent ruins. Such ruins indicate that Ayutthaya was one of Indo - China’s most prosperous cities. Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, a vast stretch of historical site in the heart of Ayutthaya city, has been included in UNESCO’s list of world heritage since 13 December, 1991.



Ruins of the old city, Ayutthaya, after the Burmese invasion.









Elephant Riding around the Phra Monkol Bophit




It is always a pleasant welcome to learn and observe another culture such as that of the Thais. And as we give part of ourselves to them, we unknowingly take part of them within us in return.

SAWADEE KA and MABUHAY!!!

32 comments:

  1. It's always fun to learn different cultures, diba?

    (:

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  2. Loved to be a travelling fellow through your post.
    Great photos also.

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  3. parang ang sarap sumakay sa elepante! =)

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  4. @ kyels - always fun talaga and amazing.

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  5. @ quintarantino - thank you. just blessed to share my few travels with all of you in other parts of the globe.

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  6. @ coldman - di ko na try eh pero safe naman daw eh. next time try ko talaga to.

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  7. Hi Norman, finally had some moments without having to think on things to do tomorrow and with time to come and enjoy your posts!
    Ayutthaya had been on my list for ages (since the first time in Thailand in 1983. Now, with your posts, it became a priority!
    Great pictures and excellent posts.
    Have a great weekend!
    Blogtrotter

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  8. Nice place to visit. I have a lot to catch up on your blog. Sorry for not visiting but am now back from my vacation. Have a nice day. :)

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  9. LS,
    Thanks for sharing these interesting informations and lovely pictures...!
    :)

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  10. never got that far. just within BKK and Hat Yai in transit to Singapore. Di ka ba na purga sa temples? hehehe...

    btw, sawasdee ka (female) o sawasdee krup (male)?

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  11. I have never been to Thailand and thank you for your posts because I now have an idea about that neighbooring country of ours.

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  12. nice trip. when you visit sagada on april, tell mang joseph (the owner), that i am your blogger friend. happy trip to sagada.

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  13. @ gmg - have a great weekend too. this past few weeks were really hectic at work that I had only limited time to go online. luckily, i still have few shots and photos that will cover my posts until april. i promise to visit your blogs more.

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  14. @ alicesg - welcome back and thank you for visiting. such a wonderful vacation you had.

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  15. @ shades - your very much welcome. glad you enjoyed them.

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  16. @ estan - sinabi mo pa. napakaraming temple.

    ang turo sa akin sawadee ka pag babae and sawadee kap pag lalaki.

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  17. @ vinzent - thailand is just about 3 hours flight from manila and really a fascinating country.

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  18. @ biyahengpinoy - sige para may discount.

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  19. email mo lang ako para pde kitang igawa ng itinerary at refer kita sa mga guest inn na maganda at makakamura ka.

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  20. ah, elephant riding! that's what i missed in thailand. then again, i never really went out of bangkok. haha. good photos!

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  21. such an interesting culture but im planning to visit Vietnam first.

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  22. Able to be exposed to another Culture is an expanding experience. Ahh ayutthaya. Hmmm.. kelan kaya

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  23. ruins but still beautiful. sana makasakay din ako sa elepante :)

    wonderful experiences :)

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  24. Amazing temples...seems you had a great travel!
    Maybe I should travel more outside the Philippines while I am based in Manila. But then... I still have so many things to discover here!

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  25. @ biyahengpinoy - thank you very much for the offer. ill e-mail you agad if talang sure na ko matuloy dun.

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  26. @ collapsingbarrycade - i have never been to the zoo in bangkok but i have seen an elephant in a night market. in ayutthaya, elephant are a plenty. i hope to ride one next time.

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  27. @ the dong - i like vietnam, i hope to go there someday.

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  28. @ ferdz - ikaw pa. i am sure soon na yun. and im sure you will like the ruins there.

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  29. @ ginabeloved - quite an experience indeed. i hope you could ride it someday.

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  30. @ sidney - so many things indeed, i just had a chance to go there and i just grab it. i agree, there are still so many things to explore here.

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  31. Very nice pics bro :)

    I am always amazed by the presence of elephants that seem like the equivalent of carabaos over there :)

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