Sunday Adventures

Of course as soon as I write a post about how nothing much is really happening in my life, I actually do something on the weekend. Part of that is that I am running out of time- running out of time to be in Ayutthaya, running out of time to visit Bangkok. Before I know it, my time in Thailand will be over, done with, a thing of the past, only memories.

I woke up early on Sunday morning to make a trip into Bangkok with a couple of my friends. The plan- to go to a Krishna event and get free food and then go see the Grand Palace. Unfortunately, the Krishna event started later than planned...instead of getting there at the end for food, we got there at the beginning. It was interesting at first to see the service, to listen to them sing and chant/pray. Once they got to the bible study part though...I was bored. So, instead of listening to the study I took off for a walk. The Krishna event was in a pavilion in Lumphini Park in Bangkok. It was a very beautiful park.

Lumphini Park was like a large botanical gardens. At least that's what it felt and looked like. We were in the center, but it felt like I should look up and see a glass ceiling high above my head. That of course, didn't happen. There were pretty flowers of all colors and trees and ponds and rivers and fountains. And a playground. With swings. That I fully took advantage of. Crazy foreigners and their swings. :)

It was fun just enjoying the park and taking pictures, until it was food time and my friends called me back to the pavilion. It was nice vegetarian food, not quite sure what it was, but it was tasty. They even had some apple slices for dessert. I was with Natalie and Jesse, and Natalie and I left pretty soon after we ate to head for the Grand Palace.

It took a bit, including a ride on an over priced boat taxi. (Foreigner only price on the weekends.) We ended up there rather later in the day than we had planned, so instead of going to the Grand Palace we went to Wat Po. It is the temple with the largest reclining Buddha, right next to the Grand Palace. It was a good choice. The temple was gorgeous and the Buddha was huge. Outside the bricks were covered in tile with so many flowers. It was gorgeous and elaborate. We saw a kitten, stuck in a tree, and many other cats.

Basically the temple was gorgeous. I couldn't help but wonder if that was what Ayutthaya would like like if its temples hadn't been destroyed in the war...if the layers of brick once had many decorative tiles all over them. Or would I have been shocked if I had visited the temples in Bangkok before going to the ones in Ayutthaya? It's very different but no less beautiful.

That was the end of the day...after we left the temple it was time to head back to Ayutthaya for another fun filled week of class. It is so weird and sad to think that next week is the last week of class. The end has come so quickly! I'll be on vacation before I know it!