07.01.2017 - Jordan

 

​

    Today is the final goodbye to the 'Trip’lets'. We will meet again end of August in Vendée! They continue to the south of Thailand while we leave to Ayutthaya, North of Bangkok. Ancient Capital of the Siam Empire, it has been destroyed several centuries ago by the Burmese kingdom. But before we embark on this new adventure, we're going to visit Jim Thompson's house. 

 

This house, transformed into a museum, puts in image the life of Jim Thompson (1906-1977). This American, former OSS agent (yes yes, like the French movie OSS117!), managed to revive the export of silk in Thailand. Mysteriously, nobody knows how he died; he disappeared during one of his travels in Malaysia! 

 

Even though his story is intriguing, the architecture and the collections of objects are the fabulous ones. The house is composed of four wooden old mansions that he found in Thailand. 

It's a very open place in which the vegetation is combined. Besides, the colours of the exotic plants make the wood appear almost red. This place is a true haven of peace. We are in nature, surrounded by building and in the middle of a crazy megalopolis. The whole giving on a small canal. 

 

​

​

________ 

​

​

​

Here we are at the station, we climb the train for 15 baht, 2 hours and 80 miles. I might as well tell you that the journey for half a dollar is rather profitable ! Ayutthaya here we come! 

 

The path is nice, the train full. It's slow and stops every five minutes. We are going through also poorer neighbourhoods, a premiere since our arrival in Thailand. People are even picnicking on the rails! There's a real life coming from these cabins flanking the rails. The night falls, we enjoy the sunset. We're a bit asleep also. Just before we get off we meet a couple from Nantes, France! But we do not tarry, the station is close. We jump of the train, and take a boat to cross the river which surrounds the city of Ayutthaya. 

 

​

​

Quickly we: 

Find a hostel, 

Jump in the pool, 

Eat 

and go for a nocturnal adventure in this city. 

 

​

​

Ayutthaya by night, it's special. It's empty. A small town with wide roads. And not a pilgrim, if not all the stray dogs yelling at us. Not very charming the whole thing. It takes us out of the hectic life of Bangkok! 

 

Finally we come across a little hype bar. Yes hype! It must be said that Thai people are often classy. We even have the joy to see the Thai hipster population! Little moustache, long hair or haircuts like Mireille Mathieu (old French singer), roll up jeans, tattoos, etc. They make us think about the 90's but with even more style! 

 

A few beers finish us: the backpacks were heavy all day. Finally and simply, we're going to bed. Tomorrow we will prove that the city has more charm by day than night!