AYUTTHAYA DAY 3

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  Ayutthaya, Thailand
Friday, December 12, 2008

Friday, December 12, 2008

Forgot to mention about our visit to the local fire hall. All the trucks are outside, some of the newer tucks are under the cover of a roof. We rode our bikes in and no one came to greet us or even ask what we are doing there. We said hello to a group of 4 men out on a balcony playing cards, but none were in a uniform so we couldn't figure out if they were firemen. Playing cards mid day we figured they were. One chap in civvies came along and showed us the newer aerial ladder pumper and we took a picture. We looked around and were about to leave when two men came in. One was on the fire rescue and the first chap was going to show us the truck - couldn't get the back roll-up door open. The other chap came over and pushed it down, wiggled it, jerked it, wiggled it more and eventually got it open. They showed us the side compartments and then we got our picture taken by the truck. The first man showed the rescue guy the flash Len had given him. He got quite excited and asked for one, but we had only brought one with us, so we couldn't oblige him. They were surprised to learn Len was a firefighter for 35 years and even more surprised that he worked in -30 degree temperatures. They rally can't comprehend that cold and what it is like. This is the first fire hall we have found

Toilette paper can't remember if I told about the toilette paper in the cute plastic containers to hide that extra roll for in the bathroom. Well, this is what they put on the restaurant tables here, Cambodia and southern Vietnam, and use as serviettes. We did hit the odd restaurant with serviettes in cups or beer mugs.

Today we rented the bikes and went out to see the Elephant coral. It was an enjoyable ride even though it is quite warm out. We are out in the country side where there are some individual homes. We pass an open field where there is a stack of speakers about 20 feet high and 10 feet long just blaring out music and no one around. Just down a bit we then see 3 men putting up lights so there must be a celebration going to happen here.

We come to 4 massive statures of Elephants done in bronze, each one has a handler up top with a sword and an army man in a basket with lots of spears and swords on long sticks at the ready and a person on the hind end as back-up or maybe the stick handler. On each side on the ground there are two men in battle dress on each side, too bad most of their swords have been broken off. There is a large white walled area next to this so we ride our bikes over and down the back. There are the elephants, real ones. There are 5 bigs ones who are chained up and 4 little ones running around free. The handlers are on the other side and don't notice us at first and we snap a few photos. Then one comes over and calls a big one over and gets it to sit, stand on the back 2 feet, and speak. He really wanted us to come in, we would have fitted between the posts in the fence, and take pics with the elephants. We declined and just stood by the fence and watched them. A brave little one came over and Len took it's picture, we don't think he like it as he came charging for Len and he could fit through the fence between the poles! We moved over to stand where the poles were closer together and the little guy (not so little) went back inside. He did try it again and we are yelling at the handlers, but he went back in again. We leave and head back into town after checking out the stands and arena where the elephants must perform.

We head back in to town and find a place for lunch at a little café where we had breakfast this a.m. We are sitting waiting and the young server is sitting talking with an older woman. Who is making our cheese burgers? The older woman comes over and talks with us about where we are from and where are we going and are we staying for the World Heritage Festival. We say no as we are leaving today on the bus to Chang Mai. She says to go over and look at the Thai costumes and music before the bus comes at 8. While talking a man pulls up with a tray and on it is our lunch! It was good and the fries were still hot. We ordered two Sprite and she brings one and then speaks to the man in the restaurant next door. Len is trying to say we ordered two and I said I bet she is getting the other one from him as she has run out! He brought one over and put it on out table! I guess they share quite well.

We decide to ride over to the temple area and check out the vendors and see if anyone is in costumes. It is much busier than yesterday with more food, clothing and you name it vendors. It looks like it will be interesting and fun so we talk about changing out tickets. We go back to the bike store where we bought the bus tickets and they call Bangkok and yes, we can change our tickets. We go back to our guest house and we get our room back for one more night. We are all set.

After diner we go back to the festival area on our bikes and lock them by a street pavillion. As we are going through the pavillion there are singers and a band coming towards us. Len begins to dance and is caught in the middle of them all. Everyone was smiles and laughter. We walke through the main vendor area and it is loaded with lots of vendors and people. They have now set up vendors in the centre of the street. It is quite a party atmosphere. We check out the free stages that we had ridden by this afternoon, nothing is happening, but just loud music playing.

We head over to where the show will tonight and find that we just missed the free show on the stage over here. We get our tickets and in we go. Assigned seating so we will not be lost. We are in the 2nd row of the first row, right up front.

In front there is a stream, then a large field, the wall of the ruins with the ruins behind. There are lights behind the ruins and ones on front it is quite a beautiful scene. The full moon is just off to the left of us and beginning its rise in the sky.

The evenning begins with the anthem, and then the history of Ayutthaya is told and acted out.
"Ayutthaya had consecutively been a prosperous kingdom for 417 years. There had been 33 kings who reigned the kingdom over that period, beginning with King Uthong in 1893 B.E. The kingdom's glorious time ended when it succumbed to Burmese troops on 7th April 2310 B.E., concluding 5 dynasties that used to reign the kingdom of Ayutthaya, namely Chiang Rai, Suwannbhuma, Pra Ruang, Prasat Tong, and Ban Plu Luang dynasty."

There were several battle reinactments with ground troops fighting and the elephants with the fighters on their backs fighting. The lights were flashing, swords swinning and cannons going off all over the place (I think I jumped with every bang!). It was incredible to watch the elephants charge and engage in combat! And we got to see this done two times. In between there were dancers, scenes of the way of life back then, boats came up the stream and kids jumped in off the bridge. They showed rural life and sang songs of that time. There were more fights and horses were involved this time, more cannons and the burning of the rural hut. There were fireworks going off inbetween, lots of lights on and off and a lazer light dancing all over the place.

The performance was 1 and 1/2 hours, but seemed longer and was so different from anything we had ever seen.

When it ended most of the lead characters, dancers, king and queen, elephants and horsemen came and stood right in front of the stands. Everyone could go down and take pictures or get your picture taken with whomever. We walked along the stands looking down at the crowd and all the actors/actresses. We were thrilled with what we had just seen. I was even recorded by a man from Korea! I am sure I am on national TV somewhere.

We went to where the elephants were and the handlers were getting the elephants to perform as if engaged in battle. You will notice one has red on him, only make-up! They held the pose for an incredible long time, enough time for eveyone to get their pictures.

We began to move on and make our way out of the area and back to the bikes. We decided to take a short cut out the side door and got stuck behind an elephant waiting in the middle of the exit. Oops, and then another one came up behind us and now two were blocking the exit. We watched a couple of kids sneak out around the corner, but weren't brave enough to try that, we waited and shortly the elephants went down the street.

We chatted about what we had just seen all the way back to the bikes. It was just so aw-inspiring.

Len has added pictures in back blogs if you want to check them out. I spend a lot of time on it and he only get on it if he gives me money to go out shopping! I went shopping this morning.

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Elephant Show

Obama Sale

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