NewZeaLinz: SE Asia Holiday Part 2: SUKOTHAI!

So after my first day of solo exploring in Thailand, it was time to join my group and bus tour!

I used an agency called Stray, they are very popular in New Zealand and just recently branched out to touring SE Asia. I met the group and our guide at the Stray Office in downtown Bangkok in the morning, and off we were!

A minivan took us to the Bangkok bus station, where we'd board our (non-Stray) bus to Sukothai.

Here are Anna and Chris waiting patiently for our double decker bus departure. :)

The bus station was a nasty reminder of air pollution-- after two years in New Zealand, it had been a long time since I saw so many carbon emissions happening in one small place... YUCK!

Our four hour bus ride was pretty straightforward (thank goodness for air conditioning!). We arrived in Sukothai late afternoon, and our first stop was here!

BIKE HIRE! We rented bikes and cruised off to explore the Sukothai Historical Park.

Sukothai means "Dawn of Happiness". It was the first kingdom of Siam, established about 800 years ago. It's a very small town with the park being its only real attraction. The Historical Park has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. As you can see above, the city is walled, and inside the walls are a grand palace and 26 temples.

Below is what's left of the "wall"--- just a bit hump of ground! I was expecting something a bit more...let's say... protective?

It was great fun biking around the park and seeing all the ruins.

There were a LOT of Buddhas here (and all over SE Asia!). I learned to pay attention to the pose they are in, as each means something different. The three Buddhas below show the common pose called "Earth Touching". The right hand is resting on the knee with the fingers facing downward, just about "touching" the earth. When the Buddha attained enlightenment, he called on earth to witness it, thus the symbolism of this pose. The left hand is resting in the lap, palm up, in the mudra (hand gesture) of meditation. The combination of these hand poses represents the union of wisdom and method, Nirvana and Samasra.