After returning to Bangkok to pick up my passport (with China visa), I've started the journey NE towards Laos. First stop, about an hour and half out of Bangkok, is Ayuthaya. This was the former capital of Thailand until it was destroyed by the Burmese in 1767 (history lesson over!).
I've been staying in a recently opened guesthouse - on the day of my arrival they were having the opening ceremony. About a dozen Buddhist monks were enjoying a meal and chanting away. The head monk then proceeded to throw water around the place (I think he was blessing the place, not cleaning it!).
I spent yesterday morning wandering around the ruined palaces and temples (and there are alot of them), and the park - all very tranquil and a welcome respite from the chaos that is Bangkok.
At the local night-market I put my digestive sytem to the test and had fried-mussels in a sort of crispy omlette, with bean sprouts. I'm still alive.
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