Thailand is a nice place, I can see why it is one the main backpacker destinations in the world. You have country with a people that are extremely friendly -always smiling, helpful and with a philosophy that doesn't want to force beliefs on others- excellent food, great infrastructure, beautiful nature and still rather inexpensive. After my trip to Kanchanburi I spent some time exploring Bangkok, an extremely lively city (dirty too btw), before heading up North.My first stop was Phitsanoluk, a small, friendly, little town with few tourist but home to the second most revered Buddha image in the country and very close to the former Thai capital of Sukothai. There were only three restaurants in town, btw, only one was open while I was there. In the evening the youth of the town gathered on the banks of the river for communal aerobics. After Phitsanoluk my journey continued to Chiang-Mai up in the North of the country, this was also were I followed the Thai cooking course. Chiang-Mai is a great place, good place also to pick up handcrafted souvenirs, bit too many backpacker though.
Chiang-Mai is also a great base from which to do jungle hikes or make trips into Laos (on my lits of future destinations together with Vietnam). Afer saying goodbye to Chiang-Mai it was time for another too long train ride, this time to the South, to another former capital, Ayutthaya. The city has many many ruins from the time when it was the social, political focal point of Siam. You have some examples of the greatest Thai architectural styles here. There is a mini Angkor Wat in true Khmer style, to commemorate the defeat of the Khmer by the Thai. There are many Buddhist sites, some use elements from Hindu faith, which I find fascinating btw. Also had some of the best Thai food in Ayutthaya... the kind that leaves you stunned, asking yourself "is this for real?". That good.Ayutthaya is, luckily, rather close to Bangkok. So after a brief 2-3 hour train ride, I was back in the capital to explore all its "mandatory" sights; the reclining Buddha -Buddha dying- the royal palace, its many temples and an excursion to the floating markets to the South. Which also provided a good opportunity to try out many fruits unknown... small, spiky berries, white spotted thingies and others ;)
I was also in Bangkok for Loy Krathong, arriving there shortly after my trip to Cambodia. The festival on the 12th month of the Thai lunar calendar is celebrated throughout the region. In Cambodia they celebrate it with longboat races, in the North of Thailand with fire lanterns. The best place to see it is probably in Sukothai, where it originated from, but I decided to experience it in Bangkok. Seeing some of the most spectacular firework displays over the city.. and of course to let my my little banana leaf raft with candle and incense float on the river...
