Day 6 - Ancient City!

Yesterday we went to Ancient City, just outside of Bangkok. This was a trip I was looking forward to after researching it on YouTube. It is true to say, that most tourists only stay in Bangkok for a few days, so Ancient City isn't at the top of most visitors itineraries. Staying in Bangkok for a week, has allowed us to do things, we wouldn't otherwise have done. Ancient City is an all-day trip, so if you are in Bangkok, you will have to dedicate time to go here — however it is well worth it and better than anything I have ever seen before.

We got to the city by 9 am, after taking the BTS Sky train from our hotel in Nana to Kheha, right at the very end of the green line. From the station, we took a taxi, at a cost of THBT60 to Ancient City, which was about 3 km away and there wasn't a soul in sight. We were the first in the queue, just how I like it. I actually don't think I've ever been late for anything in my life, so early starts are perfect for me. That may well change when we meet Justin in Singapore next week, but for now I am enjoying the cooler early mornings in Bangkok! 

It cost THBT800 each, for me and Darrell to get into the park and a further THBT350 for the hire of a golf buggy for an hour. We also paid a further THBT200 for an extra two hours hire, after spending a total of about three and a half hours at Ancient City. To be honest, I don't think either of us really understood just how big the complex was. As soon as we passed the entry point, I was literally awe struck, by the surrounding history and richly decorated buildings — this was Thai decadence at its finest!

Now I am a big fan of Thai architecture as you know, but nothing could have prepared me for the stunning buildings, monuments, temples, and gardens that were inside. This is a Thai theme park in everything but name, and it was amazing.

The weather was a little moist, shall we say. Despite the temperature being in the 30s, the rain clouds were out, and it did pour down at various points on our journey. We were lucky we were in a golf buggy, which kept us relatively dry, rather than a bicycle, which you can also hire.

I really wish I could tell you what the different monuments were called, but I just can't there were too many to mention. However, all of them are related to Thai architecture in some way. From Grand palaces, Wats, native dwellings on stilts and Buddhist statues, everything had a deep connection to the Thai people that lived, worked and gathered in these relics from Thailand's historic past. These were indeed special places, recreated, restored and cared for in a majestic setting, just outside of Bangkok!

As our day progressed, we bumped into numerous school children with their teachers, also visiting Ancient City. I am always amazed by how polite they are and always have been. No matter where I have been in the World, either living or visiting, the local children have always been a delight. They are so respectful and courteous — waving and saying hello, as we walked by. All of them, wearing their neatly pressed school uniforms, gave us a high five and a welcoming greeting; in some cases, telling us how much they loved us. I'm not sure if they used the world love entirely correctly, but their enthusiasm, on seeing tourists, was infectious and Darrell and I were happy to reciprocate, with a wave and a smile.

After three and a half hours of driving around the park, taking pictures and savouring the delights of Ancient city, we were done. Both of us were tired and wet by this point, so made our way back to the BTS train station. We hailed a taxi from the site and were charged THBT120 for the return trip, double what we had paid before. To be honest, I didn't care too much. It was a rainy day and all of us have to make a living somehow. The driver was nice enough, and I was just glad to be back on the train home.

A day at Ancient city is tiring and this isn't a trip you can make on foot, not matter what you think. The golf buggy was invaluable, and it was better than sitting in a crowded tram, surrounded by other people, all fighting for space to take the right photo or video. Darrell and I have got to an age now, where we would rather be on our own, which indeed made for a better experience for us. You of course may feel different and prefer to be around others. However you explore the city, just make sure you do your best to see it all. Around every corner, there is something more spectacular than the corner before, and I couldn't get over the splendour of the place — It was literally a dream come true for a history buff like me.

On the train home, I phoned my insurance company; the wound on my arm wasn't feeling right and something was telling me I needed to see a doctor quickly. Darrell thought I was overacting, but when you suffer with health anxiety, you instinctively know when something isn't right.

My insurance company arranged for me to have a consultation with a local Thai GP over the phone, via the Air Doctor App, which I have come across before. They emailed me when we arrived back at Nana, and I was speaking to a doctor within 15 minutes.

​He looked at the graze on my arm and immediately said it was infected, likely because I had been advised to use the wrong cream and plasters. Boots pharmacy had told me to use waterproof band-aids, which had probably caused more sweating in the humid weather, contributing to the infection bubbling under the skin. He prescribed some antibiotic cream and the medical team at my bank also arranged for a follow-up appointment tomorrow night, before we fly to Singapore.

I have been here before, and I was happy enough to take the advice in a timely manner, before I end up on IV antibiotics again, which happened after my last two holidays. I am of course hoping this won't happen this time and the ointment prescribed will do the job, but I understand just how this can end. For now, I have to treat it three times a day for the next week and that's fine — fingers crossed all works out OK.

After a quick shower and lunch over the road from the hotel, we picked up the immaculately washed and pressed clothes from the laundry. This is what I love about visiting Thailand — having all your washing done for you, so you don't have to do a thing, when you arrive in Singapore.

It did cost me THBT950 for this service, but it was worth it. The ladies had to handwash some of my shirts as they didn't want to put them through the washing machine. To be honest, they are quite expensive European linen shirts, so I'm glad they did — even though I won't be doing it myself!

Tonight, blogging with a view, after a few bottles of beer. This is a view I will miss when I return home. The vibrancy of city life, still pulls at my heart strings, no matter where I am.

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