11/27/06

After Lop Buri, Tony and I split up. He went northward while I made my way south back towards Bangkok stopping in the town of Ayuthaya for one night.

The town of Ayuthaya is a great little city. At least in the part of town I was in, the residents were very active jogging and exercising in a huge park which had little rivers running through it. Largest night market I had seen so far next to the park. To get to the park I crossed a river in a ferry boat then took a "motorbike taxi" (=got a ride on the back of a moped:). Walked through the park and looked a the various and structures. Got some decent dusk time shots.

Ayuthaya is the old capital of Thailand and at one point had 1 million residents. Now it has less than 100,000. In the late 1500's it was sacked by the Burmese, but was soon taken back by a Thai king and successfully defended several more times.The next morning hopped back on the train to Bangkok. The 2 hour train ride (3rd class, no AC) was 20 baht, while the 20 min ride from the station to the area I would be staying was 70 baht.

Stayed at the Marco Polo again for one night, then stayed another night at K-S Guesthouse.Met up with a couple of rainbow brothers/sisters and spent the evening hanging out with them.

Took a plane to Chiang Mai. Significantly cooler here in Chiang Mai. The humidity level is probably the most obvious change (vs.Temp). Found a room for 150 baht a night in a very cool little guest house. 16 rooms and has more character than by far than anywhere I've stayed. The bathrooms are shared and the bathrooms floor is covered with little smooth rocks. Love these little back streets and haven't stepped off them so much yet.

Couple of very nice little restaurants serving American food :) Ahhh... Very nice. My first meal here was a decent sized omelet with vegetables and fresh bagel with butter and jam and a bottled water for 50 baht.

Had a lengthy conversation with a fellow named Jack from London. He's been here in Thailand for 2 years. Most of it spent in Bangkok. Seemed a good guy. Relatively laid back. Suprised me when he said he's hugely attracted to crazy/wild Thai girls. And not just the type that like to party. The type that chase him through the streets with huge knives. When he asked "what are you doing??" she replied "Not want kill you! Want kill myself!" and slices her arm. For some reason he loves this craziness. A little drama okayyy...But that type of drama not for me :)