These pictures were taken in Ayutthaya City, capitol of Thailand in the 14th century. We first visited Wat Phra Si Sanphet, and then Wat Chai Wattanaram. At the entrance to the first ruins, you have a bustling tourist street with Tuk-Tuks, buses and Elephant rides. Then as you enter the ruins, they all disappear and it becomes calm and serene. I paused several times during the tour to enjoy a sense of peace under the sun with a light breeze and to hear the birds singing. It was a big change from the Bangkok lifestyle.

As you go around the Chedis, you see a modern monastery -- people coming for prayer, monks, street vendors and construction workers. We toured the monastery and ran the guantlet of vendor booths to get on the bus for Wat Chai Wattanaram.

The second ruins, Wat Chai Wattanaram, (on page two of this gallery) were quite beautiful. This temple was built in the Angkorian style and is similar to those found in Cambodia, but with red brick. I liked this park because it was so accessible. The park is well groomed and sizable, but you can almost take in the whole ruins over a sweeping gaze. The river to one side of the ruins also served to give a visual boundary that helped me appreciate the park's beauty. I climbed the stairs of the central prang (tower) and took in the view, then very carefully and slowly descended on the well worn stairs. It's much easier to climb them up. I next walked the perimiter along the walls.

This web site, http://www.ayutthaya.com/ , has a nice still picture of the temple. The World Monuments Fund, http://www.world-heritage-tour.org has a panograph of the temple, taken from approximately where I stood on the central prang.