Well we decided to do it. We decided to plan an excursion to the "ex" capital of Thailand, Ayutthaya. We'd heard mixed reviews but mostly that it was hot (shocker) and that it was old (tell me something i don't know, people) and that it required a lot of walking. Our van was scheduled to pick us up at 6:30am at Terminal 21. Anyone who knows Jenna knows that getting up early is NOT her thing. Like not even a little bit. Like not even at all. Anyway, Term 21 is minutes from my apartment and multiple MRT stops from Jenna's. See where this is going? Jenna assured me she'd be there and that she didn't want to spend the night at my place the night before. Ok...
Fast forward to 6:30am the next morning. I was there. Jenna wasn't. But... neither was the van. Fast forward to 6:35am. I was there. Jenna wasn't. But... the van was. Thais are rarely ever on time so I double and triple checked with the van driver that he was actually the man who would be bringing me to Ayutthaya and not some stranger picking up a floral delivery or a thai tea or a thai prostitute. He assured me he was my main man and that yes, he would be delivering me to Ayutthaya. However, he assured me that he would not be waiting for my friend. WHAT? Usually thais are so friendly and accomodating. Please sir? Please? No dice. Jenna was literally minutes from getting off the MRT but my man was putting the pedal to the metal. Was I going to have to go on this day long excursion by myself? Oh hell no. I worked my charm-- broken thai sentences work like a dream-- and managed to get our stop itinerary out of the driver. I called Jenna and gave her the rundown. We devised a plan. She would get back on the MRT and try to catch us at our next stop. Did it work? No. New plan. Hop on a moto. Thais haul ass through the city on motos, especially during rush hour. Bobbing and weaving are practically their middle names. Anyone who knows Jenna knows that riding a moto is NOT her thing. Like not even a little bit. Like not even at all. (Ok, maybe riding a moto is slightly more her thing than getting up early... but barely.) If this plan ended anything like the last one, I would be going to Ayutthaya alone. As Jenna drove I was giving her real time updates of our van's location. (If google maps is hiring then I should be seriously considered.) The van dumped us at our last pickup spot before Ayutthaya. Please let Jenna be here. Please let Jenna be here. 2, 3, 4 minutes went by. Our new driver- I had been abandoned by my main man, but this is commonplace in Thailand- got us all in the van. But my friend, she isn't here yet. He assured me we'd be stopping at the police station to retrieve her. Yeah, just like the last guy who assured me he'd be delivering me to Ayutthaya. Anyway, I got in because what choice did I have? As we drove I saw Jenna. "puan, puan" I yelled. At this point, the whole group was invested in the saga of the overtired american risking life and limb to get to our van. They all cheered when the van stopped and Jenna got in. Anyone who knows Jenna knows that rushed, made it by the skin of my teeth moments, are NOT her thing. Like not even a little bit. Like not even at all. So she put her earbuds in and for the next hour found her zen place. And me? I was just glad to have someone to take selfies with.
An hour later we came upon the ruins that are Ayutthaya. It's amazing to see rubble so old and know that it was once an ornate temple or palace. I wonder if Bangkok's biggest and brightest will ever deteriorate to this level?
Our takeaways- it was hot. it was old. and it was a lot of walking. But, it was also really awestriking to experience the beauty of rubble (kind of an oxymoron I know, but check out my photos and you'll understand what I mean).
What was even more awestriking? Jenna and I were walking near a half intact brick wall when we came across this amazing, epitome of mother earth, pocahontas style grandmother willow tree. All of a sudden the weather started to turn, the clouds started to form and the tree was illuminated against a sky that was hot with lightning but cool with the downpour of raindrops. We ran and ran- although at this point we were already soaked- to a small shelter with an overhang. We waited and waited, because midday rain is commonplace in July in Thailand, but it didn't let up. I caved first. I went splashing and sloshing through the flood because it was imperative that I find a bathroom. Ten minutes, a few botched sentences in thai, and a secret passage through a pop up market later, I found a bathroom.
We then boarded the van and headed back to Bangkok. Although, instead of being dropped at Terminal 21, we were dropped on Khao San Road. In the light of day. What? Is this really what this place looks like? I had never, ever experienced this road during daylight hours. Much less stone cold sober. Is Khao San even a thing during the day? Jenna and I decided to stick around and find out.
We wandered up and down the streets looking at vendors, and then settled down at an outdoor bar. We started playing 'what're the odds'- our most favorite game in Thailand- when we were approached by two travelers much like ourselves. They asked if they could sit so we invited them for a beer. What occurred next was.. well.. I'm not quite sure what to call it. A grown man's tweak, melt down, freak out followed by obnoxious over apologizing. What? Maybe Khao San Road wasn't totally different during the day than it was at night...
Jenna and I decided to hit up another outdoor spot, one with a two seater table so we wouldn't be approached by any innocent looking travelers. After a few more beers, we decided we were going to make a night of it, but certainly not on Khao San Road.
Jenna and I worked opposite schedules in Thailand so we never got to 'go out, go out' together. Because tomorrow was a holiday for Jenna, and because I had already finished working, we were able to spend a night out on the town. We went to one of Jenna's favorite spots for drinks and dancing. Anyone who knows Jenna knows that dancing is TOTALLY her thing. Like definitely more than a little bit. Like totally a lot :)
It was the perfect end to the perfect day!
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