Ayuthaya Thai.

Next day, caught the train from Bangkok to Ayuthaya, a distance of 60km but took us 1.5 hrs due to the narrow gauge railway. A similar experience to our Indian travel..very basic(wooden seats), but nevertheless efficient and 'on time'.
Arrived at Hostel after .75hrs walk from station, a little frazzled and very hot. However, the Hostel(once again), is very friendly and we feel more relaxed as the evening passes by. A lovely Thai meal in a restaurant by the river helps us unwind.
On to visit several temples the following day until around 2pm(siesta time for us). At 4pm we take a river-boat trip(2 hours) which circumnavigates the city(more temples en-route)...beginning to feel 'templed-out'!

Another lovely evening meal in a different restaurant by the river and we 'call it a day.'
Catch-up day today(12th Dec) but also visit to Museum and later(8.30pm) we take the night bus to Chiang Mai(10 hrs!!!!).

Bangkok Thai.

Well, we always knew that Bangkok would be a culture shock, and after spending some time in Delhi a few years ago, we should have been prepared for the scams and con-men, but I think we must have left our brains in the Hostel this morning!! Taking a canal boat ride to The Grand Palace, we immediately came across a very friendly Thai gentleman who informed us that the Palace and temple was closed for prayers until 2pm, and he could arrange for a tuk-tuk to take us(half-price) to 3 other different temples, returning us back to the Palace in time for re-opening!! He also mentioned that we were so lucky, as there was a special convention on that very day, which we would get to visit, where we could also buy Thai goods. He was so convincing, that, before we knew it we had climbed into the tuk-tuk and off we went! As soon as we got moving we looked at each other and knew that we has been duped and that we were heading for a high-power sales presentation at some time during the next few hours. We re-negotiated with the driver not to visit the convention, for double the tuk-tuk fare(50p), but he wasn't happy so we got him to stop and found our own way to the Palace!! Dohh!!!!, stupid or what??
Spent the rest of the day looking around the palace and then took a taxi back to the Hostel.
Determined not to repeat our mistake of the previous day we travelled by Transit rail(overhead system) the next day tp Chatuchak market, a huge open-air affair on the outskirts of Bangkok to view everything from poodle-grooming, dry-fish stalls and furniture making to Fashion goods and handicrafts. Bangkok was preparing for Christmas...strange!!......I thought we'd left all that behind, but no, Weatern influence has turned this into a shoppers parsdise!!Pam bought some nice little casual tops for 39 baht(60p)!! Evening meal at an ultra-modern Paragon shopping centre in central Bangkok where one could buy anything, from a pair of Marks & Sparks socks to a Ferrari, rounded off the day(and what a day)!
Next day out to the Chao Phraya river(again by MRT..this time changing lines..cocky or what!?), to catch a 'river express up to Wat Po(the reclining Buddha) and then over the ferry to Wat Arun(Temple of Dawn). A visit to Lumphini Park on the way back for a little peace and respite and then back to our Hostel after evening meal.