We have successfully found our way up to Ayathuya, where the pace is a little slower than in Bangkok. The train took around 1.5 hours, and still a little dazed from the heat, and sleepy from a poor nights sleep, I didn’t think to find out the other options for the rail fare – 315 bahts each for 2nd class air con cabin, which had its own stewardess and a meal included! Apart from the train officials, there was only one other group of passengers. We felt a bit silly, but enjoyed the air con whilst it lasted!

We tried a few guest houses, and decided on the TO TO guesthouse (350b a/c) on the main backpacker strip, next to the street lamp bar.

We went for a wander around Ayathuya, and stopped at a place that sold cold drinks — this was attached to the bus station, and was operated by 6 or 7 very giggly and friendly Thai ladies, only one of whom spoke some English. We sat down and through mis-communication I managed to inadvertently order food! Given the choice of chicken or pork, and noodles or rice I somehow ordered both! It turned out fine, and through fits of giggles from the smiley Thai ladies we managed to pay. A delightful experience — we never worked out what the joke was — it was probably us! 🙂

In the afternoon we got a tuk tuk (80b) to the floating market – which was really just like one of those outlet centres.
We both tried the foot eating fish thingy, it tickled and Laura didn’t like it much – so I got an extra 10 minutes.

In the evening we went to the night market, which seemed a little empty. It turns out Chicken elbows are eaten quite a bit by Thais, I ordered some by mistake — to me it just looked like chicken bits on a stick – but crunchier :/ we didn’t finish that delicacy, but we did order something random from a street vendor, which had shrimps and stuff in it with noodles.

Finally we headed back to backpacker street and ate more food while drinking beer — my throat seems to react to Chang beer and gets quite sore, so I’m off in search of throat sweets in the morning.