Ayuuthaya has long been the summer home of the King of Thailand. I can imagine His Majesty with his retinue boarding a Royal Barge and setting off from Bangkok for the serenity of what has become a beautiful UNESCO site. This was at one time a golden city until Burmese soldiers in 1767 burned the city and took off with the gold. Now it is a city of temples, temple ruins and Bang Pa the summer palace. Our group what finished most of the tour of the gardens when a summer thunder storm sent us running for shelter under a partially covered gazebo. This storm did not pass over quickly and we sought shelter in the gift shop. A final stop at temple ruins and we checked into out hotel. Outside our window the river tells a story all its one. Royal barges have been replaced with modern ones, pleasure boats and sanpans share the space. Lovely homes back up to it and a modern highway crosses over it bring Thais, tourist and even the King when he comes here for a rest. This evening a tuktuk ride to the night market for a supper for street food and a final visits to Wat Phutthaisawan to listen to the monks chant was the end to a wonderful day.
