We’re working our way over three days to the northern tip of Thailand. Today, the middle day, we drove over 200 miles from Ayutthaya to Sukhothai. Several stops broke up the journey.
FIRST STOP
A short distance from our hotel was a market and a massive statue of revered Buddhist monk Luong Phor Tuad (1582-1682).
The market was just setting up, with food vendors preparing fish, making dumplings, simmering broths, selling snacks.
Beautifully presented filleted fish
This dumpling wizard used her spatula to quickly cut and decoratively wrap bite sized little morsels.
Reportedly the largest statue of a monk in the world. 
A much smaller (life-size) statue basks in the early morning sun, slowly shedding its gold leaf.
SECOND STOP
We visited a very long roadside market that was focused exclusively on snacks, especially fried banana chips and shredded tarot with various seasoning, but also tamarind candies and other goodies.
This is perhaps 10% of the shops
The shredded strings are tarot: sweet, salty, paprika etc
Free samples and 36 hangry tourists generated a good Saturday morning income bump for the lucky stands we swarmed.
THIRD STOP
Our lunch stop was a modern, upscale shopping mall. The anchor store, Robinson’s, flowed into and around eating establishments, a multiplex theater and a grocery store.
These “lady boys” were promoting an electric car sales event, complete with costume changes and choreographed routines.
Alternative transportation is provided for those who shop ‘til they drop.
FOURTH STOP
The largest temple is Wat Mahathat (same name as the site we visited yesterday with the Buddha head in a tree).
There were standing Buddhas and sitting Buddhas and walking Buddhas, all sizes. We’ve previously also seen snake Buddhas and reclining Buddhas. Kay was beyond patient reminding people which type of Buddha and what color was their own personalized style of Buddha; it depends upon the day of the week one is born. (Mine is complicated, as there are two Buddhas and colors for Wednesday, depending upon what time you were born.) Then there’s the whole lunar calendar zodiac thing, which lets you know with whom you’ll be most compatible for a partner.
We ended today with a stop at an outdoor market. For about $15 we there collected several dishes from the vendors and brought them to our hotel to share for dinner.
We didn’t buy these but for context, each bowl of little crabs was $1.00.
Sukhothai Historic Park commemorates the birthplace and first capital (1238-1438) of the Thai nation. The park opened in 1988 and was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site three years later.
The site is vast. Originally contained within gated walls and a moat, it covers 27 square miles and includes a royal palace and 26 temple complexes.
The largest temple is Wat Mahathat (same name as the site we visited yesterday with the Buddha head in a tree).
There were standing Buddhas and sitting Buddhas and walking Buddhas, all sizes. We’ve previously also seen snake Buddhas and reclining Buddhas. Kay was beyond patient reminding people which type of Buddha and what color was their own personalized style of Buddha; it depends upon the day of the week one is born. (Mine is complicated, as there are two Buddhas and colors for Wednesday, depending upon what time you were born.) Then there’s the whole lunar calendar zodiac thing, which lets you know with whom you’ll be most compatible for a partner.
There is one walking Buddha in Sukhothai and three in Bangkok. The walking Buddha gracefully steps towards Nirvana. Four in one country is enough to get you in the Guinness Book of World Records. Seriously. Check it out.
We ended today with a stop at an outdoor market. For about $15 we there collected several dishes from the vendors and brought them to our hotel to share for dinner.
We didn’t buy these but for context, each bowl of little crabs was $1.00.
We tried fried sweet potato balls, veggie dumplings, red and black sticky rice, skewers, Thai omelet, two desserts and some other small dishes.
The markets are so colorful! Wow we didn't see the Lady Boys, how cool! Did they walk on your back for your massage?
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