Bangkok – Ayutthaya – 83 km
After spending two days exploring Bangkok, I was excited to leave as
I was tired of my run-down accommodation. Luckily, we could leave
earlier than planned as the weather was pleasant and the traffic not
too hectic.
Leaving Bangkok can be challenging, but Tania did an excellent job
and we cycled out of the city without any issues. Once on the
outskirts of the city, we followed a rural path along a canal. The path
took us past vibrant green rice paddies and some enticing-looking
eateries. With its stunning ruins, Ayutthaya was the perfect place for
us to spend the night. We found a beautiful old wooden schoolhouse
with extensive grounds where we could stay.
The following day was spent exploring the ruins and eating our way
through the day. Once the capital of the Kingdom of Siam, Ayutthaya
was founded around 1350. Having an ideal location between China,
India and the Malay Archipelago, Ayutthaya was Asia's trading capital,
a testament to its strategic importance. By 1700, it had become the
largest city globally, with one million inhabitants. Unfortunately, the
city's glory day ended abruptly when it was invaded by Burmese
forces in 1767, almost wholly raising the city to the ground. Today,
these ruins stand as a poignant reminder of its past, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site that we were privileged to explore.