Foreigners follow in the footsteps of Khun at Phra Nakhon.

The Allure of Old Bangkok: A Journey Through Time

The recent surge in popularity of the historical drama "Love Destiny" has sparked a renewed interest in the ancient city of Bangkok. This captivating metropolis, steeped in history and charm, offers a glimpse into Thailand's rich cultural heritage.

While the current fascination with the series may be recent, my own journey to Bangkok began much earlier, in the middle of January. However, I chose to delay sharing my experiences until now, allowing time for the development of my photographs to fully capture the essence of the city.

Through my lens, I invite you to embark on a visual exploration of this captivating city, where the echoes of the past intertwine with the vibrant energy of the present. Let us delve into the heart of Old Bangkok, where history whispers its secrets and beauty unfolds at every turn.

This is an example of a photograph I took.

And this is the young French man who happened to meet us and made various impressive things happen.

-- Camera: Cannon Eos55--

Film: Kodak Gold

:

Let's start with a brief overview of the journey and some of the places we visited.

Train > Hua Lamphong - Ayutthaya > Ferry

Transportation: Renting two motorbikes (250 baht/bike, fuel not included, approximately 100 baht total for both bikes)

Accommodation: Hostel 'Early Bird' - 1 night for 3 people - 600 Baht + Breakfast

Regarding the places we visited, we didn't have specific destinations in mind. We just knew we had to visit certain temples, and they were all located close to each other. Anyone who has been to the Grand Palace area would know this. However, walking or cycling was out of the question, as we would have surely fainted from the heat. Therefore, we opted to rent a motorbike as our primary mode of transportation for this trip.

As mentioned earlier, we traveled by train. Our starting point was Hua Lamphong Station, where we had a little time to take photos before heading out for lunch.

(The selfie photos were taken with a friend's Casio camera. We tried our best to edit the colors to avoid making them too vibrant. This is the best we could do.)

If there is really time, instead of spending time gossiping and eating, there would be more time to walk around and take pictures of some corners of the station.

Please check your tickets to confirm the departure time. The train is very punctual, and we had to run to catch it, panting as we boarded.

While on the train, I didn't take many pictures of the scenery. I was too busy talking to my new friends. As a result, I only managed to capture a few photos during the journey.

The photos are few and far between.

Upon arriving at the station, everyone went their separate ways. For those of us on a budget, renting a tuk-tuk was the easiest option. Exiting the station, we crossed the street to the opposite side to board a boat. We crossed to the market side to walk to our accommodation.

She finally joined us on the boat.

After the boat took us across the river, we opened GPS to walk to our accommodation.

We recommend calling a motorbike taxi or tuk-tuk if you can't walk.

:

If the weather is cool, it's comfortable to walk, but if it's hot, it can be frustrating.

Finally we got here!!!!

We finally walked to our accommodation, hostel early bird

But I'm so sorry I didn't take a picture of the accommodation.

The room is a shared room, right? The bathroom is shared. I think we stayed in a room with 8 or 10 beds.

The bedside table is about this size.

If you've stayed in a hostel before, you'll understand the vibe. For those who haven't slept in a mixed dorm with a shared bathroom, this is another option for you to try. The staff are friendly and helpful.

-- However, there are no motorbikes for rent here. If you want to rent one, you'll have to go to another alley. Ask the staff for directions. --

After checking in, storing your belongings, and washing up, the accommodation provides a map and recommends places to visit and things to do.

Our first stop was a motorbike rental shop. Once we had our wheels, we were free to roam wherever we pleased.

We decided on our first destination:

**Wat Lokayasutharam**

Wat Lokayasutharam is widely known for housing the Grand Reclining Buddha of the city.

Another recommendation is coconut water from the corner shop near the motorcycle parking lot. The service is excellent. As soon as you get off the car, buy a coconut water to drink and forget the heat. After drinking the coconut water, buy flowers, incense, and candles to worship and make wishes as you wish.

One thing we noticed from tourists visiting this temple was that foreign tourists did not know that lying down and taking pictures with the reclining Buddha in this manner was inappropriate behavior. The fact that they had a guide with them made it seem even more inappropriate. The flower vendors shouted to tell them not to do it, but the best part was that they spoke the language of that nationality. It was amazing! Fortunately, the tourists quickly got up and stopped taking pictures in that manner. However, we felt that the guide who brought them should have stopped them or warned them about what is and is not allowed in each place.

-- That was a bit of a long rant --

Let's move on to the next place.

'The Temple of the Emerald Buddha'

The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, also known as Wat Phra Kaew, is a Buddhist temple in the historic center of Bangkok, Thailand. It is regarded as the most sacred temple in Thailand and is located within the grounds of the Grand Palace. The temple houses the Emerald Buddha, a highly revered Buddha image carved from a single block of jade. The temple was built in 1782 by King Rama I, the founder of the Chakri dynasty, and has been the site of many important royal ceremonies and events. The temple is open to the public and is a popular tourist destination.

The sheer size of the temple is undeniable, a testament to its status as the royal temple of the ancient palace.

Can you imagine the vastness and grandeur of this royal temple?

A little closer.

Even if we only try to photograph the pagoda, we can still feel the grandeur and sacredness of the place.

Tourists flocked to take pictures around the pagoda.

Learning outside the classroom is fun.

Cut back to us

This angle is nice and empty, let's give it a shot

Walk around and find a suitable spot, then take a lot of photos.

The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.

Take a break if you're tired, it's okay, because the sun is scorching hot.

We entered one door and exited another.

We were exhausted from walking all day in the hot sun.

Our hunger and thirst were unbearable, and we desperately needed something to eat.

We were so hungry that we were starting to get cranky.

We decided to stop at 'SAY Cafe & Gallery'.

We had been wanting to visit this cafe for a while, but the sun, the heat, and our fatigue were making us feel weak. We decided to order some cold drinks and a snack to help us regain our energy.

The restaurant is located opposite Wat Ratchaburana.

This means that after you finish eating, you can go to the temple right away.

The view is quite pleasant, but unfortunately, the weather is a bit hot.

This view is amazing! It's like the foreigner who comes here regularly and sits down to lecture on his notebook with great enthusiasm.

Now, back to us.

Heads down, eyes glued to their phones, they tap away. Didn't they say they were hungry? Order something!

The ending cut is at

Cool water and a large plate of snacks

While waiting for the snacks, let's take a quick picture

The interior design of the shop is a mix of loft and minimalist styles.

The bakery will be arranged in a very appetizing way.

The dishes we ordered have finally arrived.

For our part, we went with lemongrass water, which was very refreshing.

Followed by

Wow, I can't believe my friends' orders are so strange. It seems like my life is really just about drinking water.

Let's take a look at what our Korean friends ordered.

It's tempting to eat coconuts one by one. Wow, it's so tempting.

Let's take a look at our dessert.

Which angle should I look at?

Our pancake looks so delicious, my lord.

This is a paragraph with no text.

Every angle is tempting.

We think this restaurant is great, maybe because it was not crowded when we went. It was a weekday.

The place is spacious and the staff is friendly and welcoming. The upper floor is a gallery, but we didn't go up. We'll have to go back.

The view is amazing, even though the lighting was not ideal when we went. We still got a great view.

If you're in the area, try the food, desserts, and drinks there.

The next location is none other than

'Wat Ratchaburana'.

I pinned this location because my sister told me I had to come. I hadn't done any research before she told me, but after looking it up, I realized it was worth a visit.

This temple is said to be one of the largest and oldest in the city. According to the popular drama "Pitsawat," the temple is a repository of ancient treasures. A group of thieves attempted to steal from the crypt within the main prang.

(Based on the information I found, it seems like you can walk around the crypt to explore it, but to be honest, I don't dare. And it's almost dusk.) We decided to walk around the temple instead.

There is no text to translate. Please provide the text you want me to translate.

Oh, our dear Kao, you're only a little left.

Is this with your eyes open or closed?

We would like to have some pictures from your side.

It took approximately 10 shots to capture this stunning image.

The result is truly beautiful.

One more angle, please.

A lone bird flies by.

The main prang is very large, and we were amazed by its size and age.

The area is very vast.

This indicates the great prosperity of the city at that time.

When her legs started shaking, she couldn't climb any higher.

So she decided to sit gracefully and wait below.

Oh, look! There's the foreigner we were talking about.

It's amazing how he managed to find the perfect seat.

As a result, the four of us ended up going on a long trip to the last temple of the day.

This is because we told him that the last temple we were going to visit had a beautiful sunset.

This backpack style is irresistible.

Let's go anywhere together.

Let's go!!!

The temple we are going to is not just any temple.

:

Wat Chaiwatthanaram

Wat Chaiwatthanaram is a royal temple where successive monarchs have performed royal merit-making ceremonies. It has been continuously restored throughout history and has served as the cremation site for almost all members of the royal family. King Rama VII was cremated at this temple after his death.

This is a film photo, right?

The Ubosot

The Ubosot, located on the eastern side outside the covered walkway, houses the remains of a primary Buddha statue in the meditation posture. The statue rests on a base, with only the base of the Ubosot pillars and the outline of the boundary stones remaining.

Lost in conversation, the sun is about to set.

The sun has set, leaving only a faint glow to illuminate the scene.

This soft light provides the perfect opportunity to capture stunning photographs.

Walking around, you can still capture some beautiful photos. As it gets closer to dusk, the staff will turn on the lights, adding more colors to the scene.

I'll post it as a film photo later.

They are all waiting with their cameras ready.

The sight of the food made us hungry, so we decided to go find something to eat at the night market.

After having lunch, we rode a motorcycle to send this woman to her accommodation. We made an appointment to go out together the next day.

She said she would go anywhere we took her.

Great.

The first temple we visited on the last day was:

Wat Mahathat

Located on the east side of Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Mahathat boasts a remarkable sight: a centuries-old Buddha head nestled within the roots of a banyan tree. This sandstone head, the only remaining part of a larger statue, showcases the artistic style of the Ayutthaya period. It is believed that the head fell from its original location during the fall of Ayutthaya and became enveloped by the tree's roots, creating a unique and captivating spectacle. This wonder has garnered significant attention, making the temple renowned among both Thai and international visitors.

When taking a photo with the Buddha's head, it is recommended to sit down.

This captures almost every angle.

The sentence is already in English and does not require translation.

This is a paragraph with no text.

Tiny living things

Extremely high

A quick bite to eat.

My stomach is growling so loudly.

Let's go to the floating market.

Ayutthaya Floating Market is our next destination.

We parked the car. The Chinese and Korean tourists are so excited to see the elephants.

How does it taste, cat?

Let's cross the bridge and go shopping.

There will be a lot of things on Saturday and Sunday, right? On weekdays, there will be fewer things.

After the floating market, we have to return the car, right?

But for the remaining time while waiting for the train,

Let's rent a tuk-tuk and visit two more temples.

Leave your luggage at the train station and rent a tuk-tuk for a long time.

Wat Mahaeyong

The History of Wat Maheyong

The history of Wat Maheyong is fascinating, as it reflects the spiritual devotion of those involved in its construction and maintenance over centuries. Today, the Fine Arts Department has registered Wat Maheyong as a national archaeological site since March 8, 1941.

According to the Northern Chronicles, King Thammaracha, the eighth king of Ayutthaya, had a queen named Nang Kalyani, who is credited with building Wat Maheyong. King Thammaracha (1844-1853) was the first son-in-law of King Suwannaphum, who built Wat Kuti Dao. Queen Kalyani, the chief consort, built Wat Maheyong. If the Northern Chronicles are accurate, then Wat Maheyong was built during the Ayutthaya period, at least 40 years before the founding of Ayutthaya.

Khok Phoi Area
An earthen mound located to the east of the Buddhist temple, almost square in shape, 58 meters long and 50 meters wide. It may have been the site of the pavilion of King Hongsawadi Tabengshweti. Later, when King Thasara renovated the temple, he may have built small stupas or other structures, as there are several low mounds resembling stupas. Many brick and tile foundations have been found. (Currently the site of the Dhammajaksusala.)

Our next stop is

Wat Ku Di Dao

Wat Kudi Dao is located in Ban Phai Ling, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, outside the city island on the east side of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Railway Station.

The architectural style of the temple resembles that of royal temples during the early to mid-Ayutthaya period. Exquisite craftsmanship is evident, reflecting the artistic style of the Ayutthaya era. The large central stupa is round in shape, with a base measuring 30 meters wide. Parts of the bell-shaped structure have collapsed and sunk into the ground, leaving only portions visible. The size of the stupa is truly impressive.

A very large pagoda

This is a paragraph with no text.

Hehehe

After visiting the temple, my stomach is growling.

Back at the train station, I invite you to try the desserts at

The Station Ayutthaya

Itching and scratching, delicious and enjoyable.

As for our Honey Toast order, it was surprisingly large, unlike the small ones we usually see.

This restaurant is great. The location is perfect for waiting for the train.

The staff is also great, very friendly and helpful.

We had a great time eating and talking, exchanging ideas on various topics.

A short trip near Bangkok, plus meeting new foreign friends.

In conclusion, we didn't get to see P'Khun or P'Muen, but we got this foreign friend instead.

Happy.

See you on the next trip, right? Let's see if we can get a ฝ or a เกา as a new friend, right?

Thank you for all information from https://en.wikipedia.org