Monday, Nov 7 - Bangkok - Ayutthaya

On our way to our first stop we had a short break at a coconut producing facility.  They had displays of how they clean the meat out of the coconuts and also showed how they make coconut sugar.  We got to try the sugar and it was very tasty. 

Our first major sightseeing stop today was the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. 

One could see enough of the canals and visit many of the shops by walking, but we took a canoe ride for the experience - at many times it seemed we were playing bumper boats…really packed with tourists.  

These markets were originally the primary way for farmers and merchants to peddle their wares.  Now the market is crowded (packed) with boats selling tourist items and tourists buying.  

The canals are lined wall-to-wall with more shops selling more tourist goods.

And there also folks showing off their "pets".  You could take a photo for a tip.

You could also buy lunch or a snack from one of the floating food vendors.  They actually had open fires on the boats!

After the tour we walked around the market, as you could see a lot of the vendors by walking.  After a bit of shopping we headed on to Ayutthaya, one of the ancient capitals of Thailand.  

Lunch was at a restaurant right along the river.

On the way back to the car we spotted a VERY large lizard strolling down the streets.  Later research revealed that it was an Asian Water Monitor.

In Ayutthaya we visited the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace and enjoyed a walk through the grounds.  

The grounds were beautiful and had some pretty impressive topiary elephants.

The Palace was set on a picturesque lake.

We also visited the Wehart Chamrunt (Heavenly Light) Chinese-style royal palace.

Paul climbed to the top of Sage's Tower...

 for good views of the grounds and the Chinese style palace.

Then it was on to a couple of temple complexes.  The first was Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon...

with many Buddha's surrounding the temple...

and there was another reclining Buddha.

Then on to the Wat Maha That temple complex, considered one of the most important temples of the Ayutthaya Kingdom and dating from the mid-1300's.  It is the Seat of the Supreme Patriarch of Buddhism and as such is the center of Buddhism in The Ayutthaya Kingdom.

One of the most of notable features is a Buddha head surrounded by the roots of a tree.

It was raining off and on this evening so we ate dinner at the hotel’s restaurant that was about as warm as a refrigerator – we and several other customers went back to our rooms for sweaters.