First tiger encounter

Ayutthaya (founded around 1350). Once a capital city of Siam. Is one of the most visited places in Thailand. So is it a 'must go' place?

My second day in Bangkok. Still haven't reached the point of realizing that I'm here.

When I planned my trip to Ayutthaya it seemed easy. But the reality was harsh again. One of the main problem in Bangkok is that there are almost no sidewalks. They are either so small that barely one person can walk on it or it's used by motorbike drives.

One of many roads looks like this.

Everybody travels by car, scooter or motorbike so weirdo like me going on feet is kinda rare thing to see.

After one hour walking I made it to the bus station from where I should travel. I had no idea where to go so I was just asking people and then one Thai girl came to me if I need help. She was my beautiful savior. She took me to the desk and I bought a ticket. Didn't take look to see some European looking couple to buy a ticket to the same place. So I talked to them. They were from Kazakhstan and they barely spoke English. We took the same van to Ayutthaya. After hour and a half the driver dropped us at a place full of local drivers who jumped on us like bees on honey.

They started to showing us a map where they can take us and after we said so they put the price. I heard a lot of stories from my friends who warned me from this. So the first time in my life I bargained. And I bargained vigorously. To rent a driver it was 300 bahts for 1 hour and I wanted to be there 4 hours that meant 1200 bahts. So at first I asked for a discount. And she said 1000. To that I said no and I told her I will do it for 750. And she agreed. So I saved a little bit of money.

First place I visited was Ayutthaya Elephant Palace. They were offering Elephants rides but when I saw those beautiful animals looking like they don't even want to live I refused.

Then I saw raw and mercyless nature. Animal able to kill in seconds. My tiger experience. A guy came to me asking if I want tiger picture. I asked him for how much. He wanted 200 I said no. We settled on 100. The tiger was tammed by old lady with a walking stick. She had a firm hand to the tiger and showed me how to sit next to him and hold him. I just hoped that the tiger is tired from all the laying every day and looking at the tourist or that he is on drugs. One little claw sweep after me and I was gone.

After having this experience my body was full of adrenaline so I was walking around that place for a while.

Then we went to see Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon with laying buddha.

There is a small room at the top with well where people throw money and prey to buddha.

There was a rooster palace as well. Why roosters? Apparently they have something to do with Thai history around 16th century.

What an amazing places to be. But there was more to come. This one is called Wat Phra Sri Sanhpet. I guess I liked this one the most.

Wonderful place!

Most komplex place was Wat Chaiwatthanaram. Founded in 1630.

That was really vast place. I met a girl called Eliza from France and some guys from Spain. Such a good feeling to see European people and speak English again.

Next station was Wat Phanan Choeng. Buddhist temple with big golden Buddha. Founded in 1324.

The Buddha is really big. Reallly really big!

And that was all what I have visited. On the way back to Bangkok it started to rain so heavily that the water level raised on all roads. You could see only the top half of the cars wheels. So I was waiting at a bus stop with some guy from Alabama, USA who was wearing Hawaiian flower shirt. Proper American tourist?

I had to take a taxi because of the rain. When I got into the hotel I noticed that my arms and neck was so red from the sun. I guess that the headcover saved me from sunstroke. I gave my laundry to the hotel staff so they do it for me and had a dinner in hotel restaurant. Just chicken and rice nothing fancy. What a day that was!