The Long March

Even after being in the country for over a week, I am still surprised by the daunting heat that hits me as I board the long-tail boat that ferries me from the train station to the island of Ayutthaya, the former capital of Thailand. As my travel companion and I push our way through the gaggle of food carts and impromptu markets, I realize that I have no idea where we are going.

I went through my mental guidebook and realized that I had read quite a bit about the historical sites that I wanted to see on this day trip, but didn't pay much attention to the logistical details. I had envisioned that I would arrive to the island by boat and there would be miles and miles of temple ruins bordered by the three rivers that intersected the city. Sadly that romantic vision was not to be. Ayutthaya was a thriving congested city and there wasn’t a temple in sight.