Suckhothai

Suckhothai was a place I had never really heard of before and if it weren't for Aun and her friends I imagine would never have gone. Although upon getting back I did find it in Lonely Planet's top list of things to do to my surprise. Maybe they are running out of new and exciting things to suggest?...

Anywhooo I was currently staying in a place roughly 5 hours north of Bangkok called Phitsanulok and Aun's friend's said they would drive us up to Sukothai roughly an hour north of Phitsanulok to show me around the various temples, Buddhas and lakes that were there. I really appreciate it when someone is willing to go out of their way to give me their own littletour of a piece of their country and thought it would be a great way of learning a bit more about Thailand. I assume the car ride was about an hour, I am not entirely sure as I fell asleep in the car for pretty much the whole journey both there and on the way back, it definitely didn't feel like a long way either way.

When I arrived and had fully woken up we went on a little hunt around the many shops just outside the entrance. I have never really bothered with these shops as they tend to sell a load of rubbish you don't really needed but was surprised when Aun and her friends all got out of the car and started looking around the stalls for things to buy. Aun brought a strange little whistle thing and her friends brought a couple of Samurai swords and a few other wooden nick nacks. I thought about maybe buying a back scratcher but thought it would only end up snapping in my bag so didn't. I was just quite surprised they all bothered buying stuff really only because I always assumed the stalls were just aimed at the various western tourists that came to Suckhothai. How wrong I was.

After a brief shopping trip we all sat down for some food. As usual when I have eaten with Thais' I just let them order something for me. I don't really care what it is as long as it's not seafood as I don't really trust it out here. As always they asked if "I minded it spicy" and I say spicy is fine. Then I always seem to get asked "Thai spicy or tourist spicy". I am never really sure how to answer this as I like my spicy food but don't like to be in pain and it is a little hit and miss out here as to the level of spiciness you actually end up getting. So I just asked for an in between spiciness. I can't remember exactly what it was, it was some sort of spicy noodle soup with pork, very nice as far as I can remember. However the main thing I remember about the meal is the very fat boy (pictured) who had fallen asleep next to me.

After the food we went finally made our way to the temples. I had to pay the tourist price to enter, 5 times more than the other, 100 Baht which sucked. As a way of getting around they all thought it would be a great idea to hire bikes to explore the sights. An idea I was also very much up for as I was still feeling a bit rough from my little virus and cycling around was going to so much easier than walking around the temples. However I once again had to pay the tourist price for my bike while the others got theirs a lot cheaper as they paid the Thai price once again. Humph.

For the next hour or so we just hossed around from temple to temple, taking the odd picture and things really. To be honest there was not a huge amount to say about it as it was just a nice little bike read really. Just look at the pictures to get more of an idea.

Unfortunately the day was cut short due to an ill dog called Sa Tang. Aun's friend Nut had just brought a new dog a couple of days ago and had brought it in a little bag to Sukothai with us. It was one of those little Paris Hilton dogs. I can't remember what we were going to go see but there was some other part of Suckhothai that was very worth seeing so we had given our bikes in and where going to take the car their. However just as we got in the car Sa Tang threw up blood so the we had to rush back to the vet as they realised something was very wrong with him. So we all got back in the car and made our way back to Phitsanulok.

It was a great couple of hours cycling amongst the temples of Suckhothai, reminded me very much of my Angkor Watt experience back in April last year. Unfortunately the whole day was cut short but the little dog being sick. Unfortunately if you were wondering the dog did die the next day. Therefore I dedicate this post to him.


Sa Tang the dog
R.I.P
2/12/2002 - 30/12/2009





























30/12/2009