Ayuthaya

This fabled city, the fallen city:  Ayuthaya crowned the pinnacle of ancient Thai history and defined the country's ascendancy to regional domination.  The city was built at the confluence of three rivers and has been called "the Venice of Asia".  This city-state was the capital of Thailand from 1350-1767 when it fell to Burmese assaults.  Today -- the rivers remain; moats and lakes fill the old city area; and hundreds (well, lots) of silent ruins are scattered everywhere.  The busy town just sort of "goes around" the ruins.

One of the most revered Buddhas in Thailand 

Lots of brick monuments; all wooden buildings long gone.  They seemed small in size and rather in poor shape.

The Burmese invaders removed the Buddha's head.  Thousands of "headless" statues are everywhere.

40 years ago this was covered in jungle.  The stupas are royal "tombstones" from kings and family members.

A snack to keep up the energy as we rode bikes around town.  This is a Muslim dessert:  roh-dee sai mai.  You roll the thin strands of melted palm sugar in a warm roti.  I could do one more temple.....