Some rambles about our rambles: Sukhothai

Nice pool

After another long bus journey from Chiang Rai we found ourselves in Sukhothai at the Ruean Thai hotel. We can't really say enough good things about this hotel, the rooms were some of the cleanest we have stayed in in Asia and beautifully decorated, the shower was even separated from the toilet by a curtain. The height of luxury. The rooms we stayed in were in a wooden building surrounding a really nice pool. Even better than the hotel rooms were the staff who could not do enough to help us, ferrying us back and forward to the bus station so that we could go and see the sights and suggesting places to eat and helping out with travel information. The hotel restaurant was nice as well. All round a great base from which to explore.

Fancy wooden hotel

After a very nice restful evening we got ourselves over to Sukhothai's main attraction the historical park. Sukhothai historical park is a complex, of mainly Buddhist, monuments that is being preserved. The 20ish sites in the complex are spread over an area of around 5 km and date from one of the earlier Thai kingdoms around the 13th and 14th Centuries.

Main temple at Sukhothai

We hired bikes and spent the day exploring the main park, it was really nice having everyone together as a family.

We don't look too much like trouble

Offerings at Sukhothai

Typical of a Sukhothai style Buddha

After we had had our fill of the main park we decided to ride outside of the old walls to Wat Si Chum to see the large seated Buddha. This was something of a mission accomplished for me as I have wanted to visit this site since seeing a postcard of it on my first trip to Asia. For me it was worth the wait, the size of the figure was second to the beauty of the carving and the peace that filled the space.

Everyone feeling a bit of inner peace we cycled back to bus stop to drop off the bikes, somewhat to Mom's relief (at that point she didn't know we would be on them again the next day.)

We spent November 26th exploring Si Satchanalai-chaliang historical park, again by bike. The park is similar to Sukhothai and from the same period in Thai history but the neat park areas and open spaces of Sukhothai contrast with the slightly wilder feel of Si Satchanalai and give you more of an explorer buzz. A huge flock of, I think, storks flying over the park added another twist. The ruins were again spectacular and as the park was quieter we largely had them to ourselves.