This week I said an emotional goodbye to Koh Tao and began the journey north to Chiang Mai. I’ve been visiting little towns in Thailand that I’ve always wanted to see and traveling by train the whole way. Traveling solo has been a challenge for someone like me who tends to be a bit introverted… especially in my current state. When I see other travelers make eye contact with me I react in two ways: 1) Become a wide-eyed deer in the headlights and run for cover before they can ask me something terrifying like… my name. 2) Burst into tears.
I think things are going well! More on the adventures solo travel later, and onto some colorful photos for now…
Photo A
A beautiful blue sky and a dignified Buddha in Ayutthaya.
Photo B
This wat was listed as one of the top sites in Ayutthaya, according to Lonely Planet. When I arrived all the stupas were covered in scaffolding but I liked the way it mirrored the nearby shrubbery.
Photo C
A reclining Buddha in Ayutthaya, Thailand.
Photo D
A monkey getting up to no good in Lopburi. These little guys run the town and have no qualms about jumping straight on you. A little unnerving!
Photo E
The other thing Lopburi is famous for is rock climbing. I gave it a pass this time but did enjoy the sunsets over the mountains.
I took hundred of photos this week and had a tough time narrowing it down to these five! Let me know which you believe should be Photo of the Week in the comments…
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In other news, reader Vicky is the winner of my beat-up bootleg copy of Tiger Balm! Thanks to everyone who left a comment and entered to win. I’ve already torn through two new books in search of next month’s title…
I’d say photo B..or at least that’s my favourite.
lovely photos. i like no. 3 the most. still haven’t gotten around to visiting Ayutthaya. and i consider myself thailand-based now. one day soon. π
Well I’ve spent about a year of my life in Thailand thus far and this was my first trip there, crazy as it is so close to Bangkok! All in due time.
D or E for sure!
I knew you would like the monkey…
Always torture to choose but B is my fave because of the reason you mention AND the way the clouds follow the line of the bushes and the stupa….
Didn’t notice that before… I like it!
I’m with Olivia—-D or E for sure
I vote for E…it is such a cool picture
Thanks Laura! I always hesitate to put in sunset photos because I have SO many but, well…. I love them!
Hi Alex. Photo A has my vote. Glad to see you survived cycling in that heat. We chickened out and took a tuk tuk when we were there last week.
You know, somehow I have acclimated better than I ever imagined possible! It was about 38 degrees Celsius, or 100 degrees Fahrenheit, and I just peddled on! Never thought I’d get to this point.
I vote D, because I am a little obsessed with monkeys π
Well then you will definitely enjoy my Lopburi posts! Many more monkeys to come…
A! The fact that you took it from behind the Buddha totally makes it, and the angle shows off the scale. Love it!
Thanks Sarah! I feel it’s hard to take a “fresh look” at a Buddha image in Thailand, so I was trying to get creative…
They are all great. C is my favorite. Buddha is the only religious icon in I can think of ever shown in repose and the angle of the photo emphasizes it dramatically.
That’s true… the reclining Buddha in Bangkok is a pretty big draw, as I’m sure you remember.
I like A best, but love the red blossoms hanging above the Buddha in photo C!
They are ALL beautiful, but I like E!
Like the colors! For some reason I keep getting drawn back to the monkey so I’ll pick him as my fave.
The monkey!!!!
I knew you would go for the animal related photo…
Photo C. At this time in your life I like the symbolism found in the ancient quiet wisdom found in Buddhas teachings with the hope of spring.
That was kind of cheesy of me, but I really mean it. π
Thanks Jenna. I’m eating up all kinds of cheese lately π Sadly not the melty kind that comes on tacos…. but I’ll be back in Brooklyn soon enough for that!
Photo A. Since you are touring Thailand, have you been to Sukhothai yet?
No, sadly! I was planning on going there but took my time in Ayutthaya and Lopburi and then had to hurry up to Chiang Mai to meet my friends from Grand Cayman. I know I’ll get there someday, though.
Cool pics. Did you make it to Phi Phi? Wonderful area.
Hi Mike, unfortunately despite spending half a year in the Gulf of Thailand I never made it over to the Andaman side! Always gives me a reason to go back though!