Foto: The temples of Sukhothai (bron: Ronald van der Veer)
Thailand - At the bike rental, we each pick a suitable bike. On the bikes, we enter Sukhothai National Park. Sukhothai is the old capital of Thailand, and many ruins of chedis and temples are still intact. Our guide Toy is less skilled with her bike. At the first sight, she rides into a hedge. Her brakes don’t work well, she says. At the king’s statue, the future can be predicted. By ringing a large bell and drawing a number, your future is determined. Toy translates the slips of paper. She looks serious at me. I should work hard but will ultimately be rewarded. We cycle on to Wat Malhatat. This temple complex is one of the largest in central Sukhothai. The temple complex contains a collection of chedis, Buddha statues, and other structures. The temples exude a calm atmosphere as you walk through them. However, the peace is soon disturbed by a Thai school class. They practice their English and have prepared questions. Since we are the only tourists at the temple, we all undergo multiple rounds of questioning. Fortunately, not all Thai children dare confront us, and we continue to the other temples. We cycle through the complex. Besides the central part of Sukhothai, there are four more complexes to visit, but these are less worthwhile and would require a full day.
Floating Market of Thailand
Thailand - With the two minibuses, we drive to the Floating Market. Along the way, I try to get some sleep, but the roads aren’t ideal for resting. Near the Floating Market, we transfer to a fast long-tail boat. With this boat, we speed through the canals toward ...
The Golden Triangle
Thailand - Through Chiang Rai, we drive to the Golden Triangle, the tri-border area of Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand. Here, the Mekong and Ruak rivers converge. The village of Sop Ruak is located right at the Golden Triangle. Here, we have lunch at a buffet. Afterwards, ...
The Grand Palace, Bangkok
Thailand - Today the Grand Palace is on the agenda. Strangely, we are the only interested travelers from the group. This means a private tour with guide Toy. We take a taxi from the hotel. Toy agrees on a price in an unintelligible way, and we depart for the Grand ...
Train over Maeklong Market
Thailand - Thailand is famous for its vibrant markets, ranging from floating shops to street markets. One of the most unique markets is the Dee Maeklong Market, located along a railway line. The market is crossed by a train eight times a day, running very close ...
Wat Doi Suthep Temple in Chiang Mai
Thailand - The Wat Doi Suthep temple is located sixteen kilometers outside Chiang Mai on top of a hill. According to legend, a white elephant trumpeted here before it died. Today, Wat Doi Suthep is a large temple complex with many golden decorations. We reach the ...