Historic city: Ayutthaya

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya is the former capital of the kingdom of Siam until it was razed down by Burmese in year 1767. The vast amount of ruins and temple would give you an idea how prosperous it was back in the days. Made a trip to the city of Ayutthaya on 6th & 7th September after the Thai government declared 7th September as a substitute holiday for Songkran festival.

It was a last minute decision to visit Ayutthaya, hence we went for the less conventional local home stay at Athithara Homestay for this trip. Wifey loves to stay near the river, maybe she has a thing for mosquito bite. Anyway, a happy wifey means a happy me. 

360 view of the living room

View around the property

View around the property

They raise squirrels here

A nice pavilion outside the living room for me to sit, relax & glares into the far away land. Not that far la, level 2 nia, what you expect? Love the wind though.

View of the pavilion from inside

Living room

Life in a prison in Thailand, just joking. Nice view though.

Decoration from the living room

Here's something you would not get to see from Agoda, see the holes? 

Welcome to the buffet party~ (with you as the main dish)

Breakfast provided by the home stay

I would give it a 7 out of 10.

All in all, I love the environment but make sure your partner is okay with the condition of a home stay. After all, it is a cheap accommodation, what do you expect?

Things you should take note:

Very likely you will need to use the shared bathroom. (I do not remember seeing any room with a stand alone bathroom.)

There will be mosquitoes as it is near the river.

As there are holes everywhere in the room, you might want to pray that it does not rain during night time.

Total cost 1171.46 Thai Baht (SGD 51.09) for one night. Breakfast is included.

Boat Noodle

Ayutthaya is famous for boat noodle, we started off our trip with boat noodle at Lung Lek Boat Noodle. The locals will tell you this is the famous shop, used to be packed with people the last round when I am here but not anymore. I am not quite sure why. Maybe because it is not located right opposite the temples. Had our meals and headed south to the temples while I saw more people eating at other boat noodle stalls.

Lung Lek Boat Noodle taken from Google Map

My Tom yam boat noodle

Bought some Thai satay to prepare ourselves for the long walk later.

Simply cross the road and walk south, you will then arrive at Wat Ratchaburana.

View of Wat Ratchaburana

View from the top

View from inside

Oh ya, you will have to buy tickets to come inside

Withstand the test of time

Next stop, walk further south and we will arrive at Wat Maha That

To be honest, it is not worth it to pay the ticket to enter Wat Maha That. The only reason you would enter is to see the famous Buddha head embedded in Banyan tree.

View of Wat Maha That inside

View of Wat Maha That inside

View of Wat Maha That inside

The famous Buddha head

I think I came here to enjoy the kiwi smoothie @ Sanho at Ayutthaya

I love Thailand for its slow pace of life outside Bangkok. Ayutthaya is exactly such a place to hang out at. Simply bring along your sunblock lotion or umbrella and explore! My usual SOP, eat some food, check out the temples / attractions, hang out at the coffee house and move on to the next location.

River view from Sala Ayutthaya, opposite is Wat Phutthai Sawan

Chalawan Pale Ale, 5%

Bold yet smooth, this award-winning beer features notes of tropical lychee and citrus

Regret ordering this beer, might as well drink my favorite Heineken.

Khao Pad Pla Salid Hor Kai

Wok-fried jasmine rice with local salted fish, hot basil and chili, topped with salted fish and accompanied with a Thai omelet 

This is not bad, remember to mix the basil and chili with the fried rice and eat with the fish, else it can be quite bland.

Goong Mae Nam Sauce Makham

Locally-caught Ayutthaya river prawns, golden fried in crispy batter and served with tamarind sauce, fried shallots and dried chili

Another regret, I should have gone for the sea bass.

Paying for the view.

The view after the sunset is great

Mango Sticky Rice

Coconut Ice Cream Tad Boran

A traditional Thai dessert of chiffon cake with coconut ice cream and jackfruit

Actually wanted to stay at Sala Ayutthaya but it is fully booked, if you do not want to spend too much and still want to enjoy the view, you might want to come after 7pm and only order dessert & drinks instead.

Inside Wat Phutthai Sawan

Inside Wat Phutthai Sawan

Inside Wat Phutthai Sawan

Inside Wat Phutthai Sawan

Sleeping Buddha hiding somewhere

We took grab car and visited Wat Phutthai Sawan which is located opposite Sala Ayutthaya the following day before heading home. Spent all my money on dinner last night, hence we ate free breakfast from the home stay and simple lunch from eateries near the bus/van terminal. Till next time!

A Short Trip to Surat Thani

12th of August is the Queen's Birthday, as well as Mother's day in Thailand. Hence wifey and I decided to make a short trip to Surat Thani to visit her mum.

Surat Thani is the 6th largest province in Thailand and is the largest of the southern province. Surat Thani means the "city of good people".

Taken from Google Map.

Day 1, 11th Aug 2020

As usual, I leave office quietly right before lunch, went home, wash up, pick up wifey near her work place and make a run for Don Mueang Airport.

A round trip at 4149.80 baht for two (around SGD181.20).

Quite a swift journey, we reached Surat within an hour 30 mins.

Right outside the airport, you can see a few shuttle bus parking there. Just ask them if they are going to the city. Usually it will cost around 100 baht per pax.

Bus terminal, taken from Google Map

You can either show them where your hotel is and they will try to stop if it is along the way or nearby. Else you can alight at the bus terminal.

Wifey actually wanted to stay at the CBD hotel, but since it is fully booked, we stayed at the Rajthani hotel. Cost around 550 baht per night, SGD 24. 

We reached the hotel around 1930, left all our things in our hotel room and immediately went to the nearby San Chao night market. We are craving for Surat's delicacy.

Surat's Pha Thai. 

It taste totally different from central Thailand's pha thai. A bit weird when you had your first taste of it, and then its gone. Love it!

Wifey introduced this to me, not sure the name for it. Taste like our Chinese yam cake, but in crab shell.

Day 2, 12th Aug 2020

Usually tourist do not come to Surat Thani, they pass through Surat, maybe stay a day or two before heading to the nearby islands such as Koh Samui for its full moon party. However, wifey and I came at the wrong timing. It is monsoon season, a week before we are here, a ferry sank due to the bad weather.

God bless them, so back to my usual hobby, eat ah!

Seree Taeteam, a Chinese restaurant that serves Dim sum, porridge & Malaysian style Bak Kut Teh.

For dim sum, just choose, pass to them and they will steam on the spot before serving it to you.

I love their baked char siew pao, especially the sesame seeds all over it.

Bak Kut Teh.

Fish Porridge

Fat Die Me...

As usual, after the meal we will take a walk to digest before our next meal.

Surat Thani City Pillar Shrine

When you enter you can go to the counter to ask for prayers required items. Sama sama temples in Singapore. Just point, ask the price and donate the required amount into the donation box.

Usually we will lookout for shoes on the floor and go bare foot when required.

Follow custom, need to knock the gong thrice.

Tie the cloth around the pillars. Reminds me of Myanmar.

Saw @Spinning_Top ! What are you doing here? Go have your haircut please.

Mother's day will see chrysanthemum flower everywhere.

Wat Sai Temple

Had an appointment with Mom and another Aunt for lunch opposite the river at Café Pla Daak. In the event that you want to go to places further away from your current location in Surat Thani, you can always flag down mini van (usually in orange or blue colour) moving along the main road. Do prepare your google map and google translate in advance if you cannot speak Thai. (We do not see much taxi around, you might want to rent a motorcycle if you have an international license.)

Cafe Pla Daak

Lime Smoothie

Crab meat fried rice

Thai Hot & Sour Fish Soup

River view from the Cafe

Guanyin Temple near our hotel

What is interesting are the prayers in Thai language placed on the table. I listen to wifey reading it, she is reading Teochew. Epic moment of my life.

Went to night market to eat green curry noodle for dinner.

Day 3, 13th Aug 2020

Keo Pla Noodle Stall. Delicious fish noodle stall near our hotel, a must try. Its fish and flour ratio is no joke. Cannot find in Singapore given its price here. A bowl for 50 baht (SGD 2.20).

You can order it is plain soup with wide noodle.

Or in tom yam soup with thin noodle.

Wanted to try this at the night market since day one, but it is always crowded with people

Lucky it is raining today, hence the crowd reduced. It taste like Otah in Singapore with chopped long bean in it.

Tried Surat Pha Thai from another stall. Still prefer the other kind though.

Day 4, 14th Aug 2020

Last day in Surat liao, followed mom to eat some local food. 

Usually when you eat at Thai stall, they will give you a plate full off washed and chopped vegetables. 

It is a vegetarian paradise!

 Me however, I will be very kind hearted and return back the same amount of vegetable given to me.

Green curry, the green green thing is actually chopped young banana with its skin intact. Taste like potato to me though. 

Stir fried vegetable wrapped with egg

Random shot

Random shot

There is shuttle bus to airport too, you can purchase it here.

That is all for my four days three night in Surat Thani. It is monsoon season, so there is not much to show except food. Fat die us! 

Do stay a night a Surat when you are passing through for the islands, the food is worth the stay. Till next time.