Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya, the ancient capital of Siam, was the kingdom which preceded the country we now know as Thailand. It is home to legendary temples of which unfortunately only ruins remain, ,mainly due to war, but also to the relentless passage of time. The former glory of these meditative shrines always reminds me of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. For most of the trip, we saw dozens of beheaded Buddhas (as well as a few which remained intact) draped in sacred cloth. One of those images you might recognize is the background for Sagat in Street Fighter II. But ancient monuments aren't the only things that populate the area near Bangkok.

Historic, religious and stunning, Ayutthaya was Thailand's capital for 417 years. Once there you are engulfed by the city's grandeur. This World Heritage Site has been a source of inspiration for artists, poets, historians, and every Thai for centuries.