Pot Heads

  Sukhothai, Thailand
Wednesday, March 16, 2005

16-Sukhothai

Sukhothai Historical Park reminds me so much of Ayyutaya, Though most of the temples are in ruins beautiful Buddha statues stand guard. The air is full of the sound of cicada. 

Sukhothai

We get on a little shuttle that takes you all over the historical park. Each time the shuttle stops the salesmen swarm the cars. They are selling textile goods, carved knickknacks and many other things. We have been responding with "Mai Ow Ka" and they try politely once and then move on. Usually giggling at our pronunciation and repeating it back to us. Mona smiled at us with pride. I asked if I was pronouncing it right and she said yes. She was pleased that we were trying to speak the language.

It wasn't long before the some of the others in the group noticed. They quickly asked, "What are you saying to them?" I explained that Mai Ow Ka was the polite way to say that you don't need what they are selling. I also tried to explain that a woman ends with Ka a man ends with Krup. Unlike western languages where you put the male or female on the word like Mr. and Mrs., the Thai people refer to themselves as male or female.  

The sales men would follow the shuttle on mopeds trying to keep up with the shuttle making sales all along the way.

Nok and Mona took a group picture of us. It was so funny watching them pass camera after camera to take pictures for everyone.

Sukhothai

26-Sukhothai

We stopped at a textile factory. It told the history of textiles in Thailand and of course sold textile items. Out side was a wonderful ice coffee place. Cory and I enjoyed the big cup of iced coffee before we continued on.

Sri Satchanalai Ancient Ceramic Kiln was a stop along our way. Nok gave us information about the ancient Ceramic Kiln, showed us ancient broken pottery pieces and talked to us about the history of ceramics in Thailand.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1ELFt2CQm0