A great break in Ayutthaya
While we visited Bangkok and had some time at our hands to do something new. We decided to hop onto a train. Trains in Thailand are remarkably convenient. They are cheap and fun. This train ride took only 2 hours from Bangkok and landed us in Ayutthaya, the ancient Kingdom of Siam. Filled with temples and pagoda’s, this destination for us was a perfect break from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
The history of Ayutthaya
Located only about 90km north of Bangkok, lies the ancient Kingdom of Ayutthaya. It is most fun to take 
a train up there and soak up some of the local atmosphere. Anything goes on a train station. In aw we watched people getting their hair cut. And ourselves we enjoyed a wonderful Thai meal at the train station. No problem at all!
The Siamese Kingdom of Ayutthaya reigned from 1351 to 1767. It was a very friendly trade post for foreign dignitaries and traders. The Kingdom was known as Siam although the local Siamese referred to themselves as Tai. The ideology of the Siamese people, or Tai, derived from Hinduism ad Buddhism. The kingdom flourished greatly under an open trade agreement but eventually fell victim to the Burmese.
The Magic of Ayutthaya
The former Kingdom is beautiful in many ways. Incredible temple ruins stand tall along the river and create a fairy-tale-like landscape. One of the highlights must be sunset at Wat Chai Wattanaram. The Buddha statue that can be visited at Wat Mahathat is an infamous image that is used for many postcards and promotion materials. The most important temple of them all is Wat Phra Si Sanphet with its three large chedi’s. A day in Ayutthaya is easily filled with all of its highlights. Traveling around on a mountainbike made it all easy and fun. We easily spent two full days around the temples unlike most people, who actually only take a day trip from Bangkok. Trust us and take at least one night in Ayutthaya. We guarantee you it will be well worth it!