Two days ago, we boarded a train from Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok to Ayutthaya. We arrived an hour later then we were supposed to arrive and the train ride was bad but it was only 2$ for all of us. When we got to the station we took a tuk-tuk to our hostel, which by the way was only 6$ (after our Agoda discount). After we read a little bit about Ayutthaya we were ready to go see the temples. Ayutthaya was founded by King Ramathibodi I. The first temple we went to was pretty close to our hostel so we walked to it. It was called Wat Ratchaburana. In the late afternoon it felt like we had the temple to ourselves. In the middle of the temple complex there was a big Prang. Wat Ratchaburana is definitely worth it in the late afternoon.

This is the prang at Wat Ratchaburana. Wat Ratchaburana was founded in 1424 by King Borommarachathirat II.

This is the view of Wat Ratchaburana’s temple complex from the big prang. Usually you go into the crypt of the prang to see an ancient mural but unluckily while we were there you could not go down because of a power outage. 😢😢

This is the sun peeking out from behind the prang at Wat Ratchaburana.

This is my Mom and Denise at a temple called Wat Chaiwatthanaram. We went there for the sunset because it was recommended. There was a lot of grass to sit on and watch the sunset. Wat Chaiwatthanaram was constructed in 1630 by the King Prasat Thong as the first temple of his reign. Wat Chaiwatthanaram was a royal temple where the king and his successors performed religious ceremonies but it is not on Ayutthaya Island.

This is the sunset at Wat Chaiwatthanaram. It was really pulchritudinous.

This is the prang at Wat Chaiwatthanaram.

The next day at 8am we walked to a famous temple called Wat Mahathat. Wat Mahathat is famous for its Buddha head in a Bodhi tree. It is believed that the Buddha head fell off and then the tree grew around it. Wat Mahathat was founded in 1374 when King Borommaracha I built a temple here but at that time it had  another name. His nephew and successor Ramesuan expanded the site in 1384 to build a great temple, and gave it its present name.

This is me standing in front of a stupa (a tower in a temple), at Wat Mahathat.

All around most of the temples are remains of Buddha statues. Some do not have heads, arms, or legs.

These are the huge stupas at a temple called Wat Phra Si Sanphet. Wat Phra Si Sanphet’s stupas were restored a long time ago by putting concrete over the traditional brick. Wat Phra Si Sanphet was founded by King Ramathibodi I.

This is me looking through a window at Wat Phra Si Sanphet.

The last temple was called Wat Phra Ram. It was constructed in 1639. Now we are on an island called Koh Chang and tomorrow is my birthday!!!