Have Bicycle, Will Travel!

One of the many ruins at the original capital of Thailand - Suhkothai.
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The overnight bus was the classic argument for twenties traveling.   Not that traveling isn't great at any age, but it's wonderful to do it when you can afford to get poor sleep, be cramped for hours, and still hit the next day full force.

So, yes, the movie was blaring at full volume on the first leg.  Yes the lights were intermittently off and on all night.  Yes, it was freezing.  No, I wasn't comfortable.  Yes, my leg fell asleep.  Yes, my butt fell asleep.  Yes, I got a crick in my neck.  BUT - after a somewhat arduous adventure from Bangkok - including switching terminals on opposite sides of the cities and piecing together a few tickets when the direct route was sold out - we made Suhkothai by 8:00 a.m.!  We checked in, had a quick cat nap, and were off to the ancient city!

Off to the ancient city!

How we get around. Sangthew's aren't always this full, but they can be! At least it has free air-conditioning! ;)
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Suhkothai (the ruins, not the current city) was the original capital of Thailand way back in the day, and the structures made of materials that hold up in tropical climates are the only signs of the city that remain.  Temples, buddhas, and more temples!  On the sangthew ride there (a pick up with benches in the back and a canopy stretched over a frame), we met Jeff.  With his New Zealand hat, of course we thought he was a kiwi.  Turns out he's from Iowa and has been teaching English in the mostly untravelled NE for over two years.  We spent the day biking around the old city visiting temple sights with him and getting all our questions about Thai culture and food answered from a "farang" (foreigner) perspective.

My new favorite market treat. It looks like a beastly turnip having an 80's flashback, but tastes delicious!
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The bike riding felt great and is the preferred way to see miles and miles of ruins.  (I guess we could have rented motorbikes for ten times the price, but why?)  We probably biked a total of 10-15 miles today in the soaking heat stopping every 1/4 mile or so to explore a ruin in the jungle and countryside.  The "free air-conditioning" felt wonderful, and the heat was only stifling toward the end of the trip when we happened upon a fruit juice stand next to the road.  Turns out the reason the proprietor spoke such great English is because she spend nine years in Australia where she also got her master's degree in International Business.  She made me an awesome fruit shake of pineapple, banana, apple, lime, and dragon fruit!  It was my first introduction to dragonfruit, and I LOVED it!

The classic Thai Buddha shown meditating (they have three poses - sitting (meditating), standing, and reclining.
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After we were finished with the ancient city, we stopped at a road-side market and were introduced to three new foods by Jeff.  One shower and one internet session later, we were back with Jeff at "Poo" Cafe (yes, Poo - it means crab).  Some yummy soft-shell crab curry and coconut soup stuffed the group, but we saved space for ice cream with dutch chocolate and fried bananas!  MMMM!!!  I will miss Thai food dearly!