As Nigel was playing golf for the day myself & Di booked a tour with Get Your Guide to Ayuttaya including lunch and a boat trip, only downside was being picked up at 7am! However, it meant it was cooler at our first stop at Bang Pa Inn (Summer Palace).

Fortunately, there was only the two of us on the tour with Sasha, our guide (who teaches at the Univ on tour guiding) and Bob our driver, in a very comfortable minivan.

The Summer Palace was built in the 17th Century as a Royal Residence for King Rama V and is a mix of Thai, Chinese & European styles. Lots of interesting history and information on the royal family. Unfortunately, we could only see the outside of the buildings, which have been closed to tourists, due to the damage they had done in the past, despite the warning signs about not touching!

Wat Yai Chai Mongkol, a 14th century temple with an impressive 62ft stupa, reclining Buddhas (which you can pay to have covered over in gold fabric) and large Buddha statues.

Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, the Royal Temple which has 3 large chedi, one of which houses the ashes of a past king. Whilst we were there a huge class of Air Cadets visited the site as part of their cultural education.

Wat Mahathat, famous for the Buddha head entwined in a Banyan tree (deliberately done) and one lovely stupas, including their version of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the Three Sisters and a Prang – type of tower surrounded by flowering trees.

Lunch at a local restaurant followed by a trip on the river, again just us two and our guide on the Choa Praya River, with our lady captain. Saw the local Chinese, Portuguese, Dutch and Thai settlements along with the shipyard for the cargo carriers and tugs we see from the balcony at Dad’s flat. We saw a number of Egrets and fed the local fish, Sasha had picked up some local fruit for us to eat on the trip and then off back home after a thoroughly enjoyable day. Well worth it for £61 each.

Also learnt about the colours for the day of the week you were born :
Monday – Yellow
Tuesday – Pink
Wednesday – Green
Thursday – Orange
Friday – Blue
Saturday – Purple
Sunday – Red

Both myself and Nigel were born on Thursday and for those of you that know Nigel, his favourite shirt & Tshirt are both orange! Di’s favourite colour is green and I like things with bits of orange in the pattern!