Ayutthaya / River Cruise / Blue Elephant
Trip Start
Oct 12, 2006
1
19
22
Trip End
Oct 31, 2006
Bangkok, Thailand
Saturday, October 28, 2006
Ayutthaya Elephants / River Cruise / Blue Elephant Restaurant
Dear Readers:
The day dawns on another birthday, my 54th. Unbeknownst to me, Jonathan has sent an email to the guys to make sure they celebrate it properly, so I am showered with happy birthday wishes as we set out for the ancient capital of Siam, Ayutthaya.
We leave very early so that we get there first and can ride elephants without waiting in line. I recall that my 46th or 47th birthday was also atop an elephant in Nepal. Last year I was mounted on a horse in India. Riding on large beasts seems to be a theme.
01 Ayutthaya
The tour also includes a visit to the Summer Palace, which is still used by the King today.A highlight of the day is a deluxe cruise with lunch back to Bangkok aboard a boat operated by the Shangri La Hotel. The river is at flood level due to recent rains, and the boat isn't able to come as far up-river as usual since there isn't enough clearance under one bridge. We have to drive further downstream than we did previously to board the boat, but the service doesn't seem at all abbreviated. Perhaps they just cruise slower since they aren't traveling as far.
Once we reach the Shangri La Hotel I send the guys back to our hotel via the motorcoach, then Pipop and I set out to make a reservation for dinner our last night in Bangkok at the restaurant on the top of the State building (where we had our farewell dinner last December). Unfortunately, they are completely booked so we go to the Banyan Tree hotel and make a reservation at an even better restaurant on their 61st floor, called Vertigo. It is very expensive, but it will be a great way to end the tour.
Tonight the group gathers at 7:00pm to eat at the Blue Elephant Cooking School. This is my birthday gift from the group, and the food is absolutely delicious. One of the guys signs up for a cooking class on his free day.
After returning to the hotel a bunch of us go out to see a show at the muscle boy club, then I return to the hotel to chat with Jonathan via the internet. A truly great birthday!
Hugs,
Dan
