Showing posts with label Sukothai. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sukothai. Show all posts

Monday, January 17, 2011

My Favorite Day - Sukhothai



My most memorable day was riding into and around Sukhothai. I rolled out of Phitsanulok early in the morning and straight to Sukhothai. A full moon accompanied me for the first hour. As it said it's good-byes and the sun began to rise, a deep mist settled over the surrounding rice fields. Around 6am, local life began to stir as monks began their morning pilgrimage for food, farmers tiptoed out into the fields and small buses cruised by, bloated with day workers. At 7:30am I passed school children walking to school while overburdened mopeds passed me often carrying 2-3 kids and an adult.

I pulled into Sukhothai around 9am into the beautiful Ruean Thai House. The hotel receptionist offered flawless service, offering me a place to shower and cup of coffee while I waited for my room. After unloading my panniers, I jumped back on my bike to ride to the historical park of Sukhothai about 10 miles out of town. Having a bike gave me a huge amount of freedom as I rolled down gravel roads, discovering breathtaking Wats hidden deep in the jungle scenery. I passed several tourists on foot, please with my chosen mode of transportation.
The park is huge and took me several hours to visit on bike.



Exhausted after all of the riding, I grabbed a late lunch for $4 and then hired a truck to take me and my bike back into town.

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Quick Trip Outline


Day 1: Bangkok
Picked up bike
Trip to Wat Po



Wat Po
Train ride outside of town to avoid the traffic.
Rode into Ayutthya
Easy ride to Wat Thammikarat, Wat Kuti Thong, Wat Na Phra Meru, Elephant Krall
Long ride to Craft Center (~40m) not worth it.



Lotus Guest House, Ayutthya


Day 3: Train ride to Phitsanulok
Very few hotels
Grabbed a hotel along the highway
Not much to see there

Great ride
Stayed at Ruean Thai House - great hotel!
30 min ride to Wat Saphan Hin, Wat Si Chum, Wat Mahathat - Amazing!

No hotels
Restrictions on bikes on trains
Grabbed a bus
Rode to Riverside Guest House - Super cheap, great views!




Riverside Guest House, Lampang


Day 6: Lampang
Ride around town
Great mellow place to chill

Day 7: Day off

Half way there visited Elephant Conservation Camp
Lots of hills - hard ride
Stayed at Sri Pat Guest House - request a deluxe room
Definitely stay in the Old City




Sri Pat Guest House, Chiang Mai




Day 9: Day off

Day 10: Day rides to Bo Sang and Hang Dong (not worth it)

Days 11 - 13: Village Hikes

Day 14: Day off

Get up early to see the sunrise
Leave Chiang Mai by 5am

Day 16: Night Train back to Chiang Mai

Day 17/18: Bangkok