I can't make a video or post pictures right now, so let me tell you a bit about our time in Ayutthaya, our second city.
We were actually surprisingly nervous to be leaving Bangkok, and not just because we were unsure about the legitimacy of our tickets! We had clung to Bangkok and its tourist-friendly Khao San road as a refuge from culture shock and homesickness, and now we felt like we were plunging again into the unknown. Our train was severely delayed, which Sam found extremely distressing, but when it got going it was a surprise to watch Bangkok fade behind us.
Ayutthaya is a city built into a natural island formed by three rivers. It was the capital of the region, a glittering city of temples and a centre of trade until the Burmese finally sacked it about 250 years ago. Now it is a modern city alongside the scattered ruins, some of which are immense and all of which are very beautiful.
We took a tuk-tuk trip for the morning and visted six temples - we saw the famous head-in-a-tree at Wat Maha That and the massive spires of Wat Chaiwattanaram - this was, as Sam described it, totally sick. The ruins were massive. It was a strange experience for us, who are very used to visiting cathedrals and churches, to step into the places of other people's faith.
In the evening we took a boat tour, which consisted of just us in a tiny boat driven by one woman, with her little son fishing off the back. We watched the sunset from a floating restaurant, and decided, for our first 'on the road' experience, Ayutthaya kicks ass.
