Day 2 – We have finally arrived at our first destination in Thailand – Sukhothai, a 1 hour plane ride north of Bangkok, around 6:30 pm (local time) after 3 flights and a ride in the back of a pickup truck from the airport.
Our first impressions: The Thai people are incredibly friendly and willing to help you out – be it helping us find oue gate, bubbly water, or choosing your transportation. As we crammed onto two benches with 8 other travellers and our bags were packed on top of the cab of the pickup, Siri and both commented – it reminds us of our peace corps days. Actually much of it brings back good memories of living in the Dominican Republic and in Indonesia. The flat open countryside of rice fields, banana and palm trees all around, a few dogs running loose, concrete and brick single story houses, being passed by scooters and motorcycles. Even the small fruit stands, coffee shops and stores on the side of the highway. Similar large billboards ads, just in a different language. The hustle and bustle of the countryside – not of the big city.
The main reason we are here is because it is our stopping off point for our first elephant adventure that starts in three days – BLES – Boon Lotts Elephant Sanctuary.
But, as we now chalk it up to “karma” or “luck” we are blessed to find out that this is also the first major capital of the country that would become Thailand and is one of the top 5 destinations in SE Asia – right up there with Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
Sukhothai means “dawn of happiness” and our first lodging is the “dorm of happiness”, all of which we will take as an auspicious sign for our trip.
Sukhothai’s heyday was from 1248 to about 1438. Their third King, Ramkhamhaeng (we will have to get used to the long names), united much of the country including parts of Laos and Myanmar. He established Theravada (Hinayana) Buddhism as the official religion, introduced the forerunner of the modern Thai alphabet and made the city a melting pot spiritually and economically encouraging trade like inviting Chinese potters to create a ceramics industry. Sounds like quite the melting pot. We plan to explore the several temples and ruins tomorrow.
Sukhothai also happens to be THE place for the annual lantern festival, called Loy Krathong and Yi Peng. Think of hundreds of large paper lanterns being let go to float into the sky – just like the scene from Disney’s “Tangled.”
We happened to have arrived on the first day of the eight day festival and are greeted by some lanterns already in the night sky … and fireworks. We had thought they only did this on the last night, but are pleasantly surprised that is actually every night.
We debate quickly about heading to the festivities tonight, but after having been on the road for over 30 hours and finding a comfy bed, we decide to take a cool shower (it is still over 80 degrees and humid at 8:30 pm) and call it a very full day. Tomorrow we will be better rested to explore the historical capital and the temples.
And hopefully light our own lanterns as a symbol of letting go of bad feelings and embracing new beginnings.
Siri and David Adventures 