We got an early flight to Don Mueang airport in Bangkok in order to go to Ayutthaya which was one of the oldest cities in Thailand. We got the train after having great trouble finding both the airport exit and train station. Lots of helpful Thais shouted and waved at us as we went the wrong way and we ended up running with our packs as the nice conductor held the train for us while we paid our 30p fare to Ayutthaya – not sure you would get that on British Rail.

We also went to Bang Pa In Palace which is a few stops down the train line (7p journey!) . It is the place the story of the King and I is based at. Again, we were helped by some friendly locals who prevented us getting off at the wrong stop with much waving and pointing and we enjoyed a few hours wandering round the gardens. We were the only tourists in the whole place and the guards stood to attention as we wandered past which was both off putting and amusing at the same time. The dress code was very strict here so I had to wander round not in the shawl I had taken to cover my shoulders but in Callum’s Heineken T-shirt which did bring a smile to the security guards otherwise stern face! It was quite strange to see such western building designs in amongst the very few Thai buildings but this King was trying to show the west that he was modern and progressive. The gardens and museum that was full of gifts given to the King were pretty amazing and the topiary an added bonus.

Ayutthaya was a bit of a shock after sleepy Koh Lanta but we enjoyed the temples – well I did. Our first evening, we had a private tour on the river which was very special and then ordered some street food. We were, very obviously, the only non-locals there which was quite strange after the south. The following morning, we did a deal with a tuktuk and saw most of the central temples. Callum did very well managing 5 wats( temples) in 2 and a half hours with next to no moaning- definite gold star moment.

The following day, we went into Bangkok where we had rented an Airbnb as Kate was staying with us. We had the first night there with Kate’s friends, Dorine and Mayke, in a German bar. It was a fun evening and lovely to get to know them after hearing such a lot about the friends she is studying with. We all did some sightseeing the next day going to a wat we hadn’t been to before, the National Museum and the massive Chatuchak market with 15,000 stalls. Unfortunately, we spent too much time at the first 2 so didn’t get to them all but Callum did manage to get the most disgusting football shirt ever invented- I think there will be a lot of stick at Wednesday night football when he wears it.

The next day, like our sightseeing day, was roasting so we had a lazy walk around Lumpini Park. Callum enjoyed the monitor lizard spotting and then we lazed by the pool. We did also manage to fit in a sky bar before we left and had a lovely cocktail with a view of the park we had walked in. We left Kate the following day and spent our last afternoon in China town where amazingly it is really hard to find somewhere nice to eat. After visiting the Marble Temple (which was sadly closed so we could only look from outside -I’m sure you can hear Callum’s sigh of relief) and massage, we set off for the night train north.