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Day 1
Train from
-m10556-r78268-Bangkok-Hotel-Deals.html"
target="_blank"
>Bangkok, Hualamphong Station
to
-m10556-r78268-Ayutthaya-Hotel-Deals.html"
target="_blank"
>Ayutthaya, Thailand
1.5 hours

Road/Ride - Waited for the morning traffic to decrease
and we pedaled out of Suk 11 around 9:30 am.  Traffic
in
-m10556-r78268-Bangkok-Hotel-Deals.html"
target="_blank"
>Bangkok was light at this time.  We
pedaled down Sukhumvit Road, turned left onto
Rajdamri Road and then right onto Thanon Rama IV to
get to the train station.  Wireless Road off of
Sukhumvit toward Thanon Rama IV and the train
station works well too.

Cycling in
-m10556-r78268-Bangkok-Hotel-Deals.html"
target="_blank"
>Bangkok is much easier than we
thought even fully loaded.  Streets and the traffic
compensate for scooters, vendor carts and bicycles.  

When we arrived at the station we had to wait for a
train with a cargo car.  Bicycles are loaded onto the
cargo car and we had no idea that only certain trains
take cargo car
.  
The charge to take the bikes to
-m10556-r78268-Ayutthaya-Hotel-Deals.html">Ayuttha
ya
was 55 b ($1.48) each.  We paid for the bikes just
outside the train station at a booth.  It's better to
declare the bikes when buying your ticket that way you
know if the train can carry cargo.  This particular route
only offered tickets for 2nd and 3rd class cars.   Our
train ticket to
-m10556-r78268-Ayutthaya-Hotel-Deals.html"
target="_blank"
>Ayutthaya cost 15 b each (.40), third
class.  No a/c, no fan, just windows and grates that
rolled up and slammed down with the vibration.  Front
seats in our car are designated for monk use.

-m10556-r78268-Ayutthaya-Hotel-Deals.html"
target="_blank"
>Ayutthaya is mid-sized city with a
mixture of modern buildings and historical Wats and
ruins.  This city is very touristy and a traveler's dream.   
Architecturally, the Wats and the surrounding grounds
are beautiful and worth the time to spend at least one
day pedaling around the ruins.  Every amenity a
traveler needs is here.  Good places to eat, drink and
sleep, plus the basics, a well stocked supermarket on
Chao Phrom Rd (near Soi Thor Kor Sor), two lively
night markets with many food vendors and fresh fruit
and vegetable.  

The city has lovely river views, great sunsets and lots
of history.
Street traffic is light making cycling an easy way to get
around
-m10556-r78268-Ayutthaya-Hotel-Deals.html"
target="_blank"
>Ayutthaya. The streets are wide, flat,
well lit in the evenings. Distances between the Wats
and other sites of interest are varied, at times a few
kilometers apart, so a bicycle makes getting around
fast and fun.

The train station in
-m10556-r78268-Ayutthaya-Hotel-Deals.html"
target="_blank"
>Ayutthaya is about 2 kilometers from
the center and an easy pedal into town.  The train
stopped in
-m10556-r78268-Ayutthaya-Hotel-Deals.html"
target="_blank"
>Ayutthaya around 3 pm and Rich ran
over to the cargo car and unloaded the bikes while I
tossed our panniers out the train window.  Fully loaded
we pedaled from the train station via Rojana Rd over
the river.  Then we took Uthong Rd toward Soi Thor
Kor Sor, in the north eastern part of the city, where
most accommodations are located.

Slept - Suan Luang Hotel
Cost- 500 b ($13.51)
Location -  96 Rachana (Rojana) Road. Good central
location to explore the Wats.
Amenities - Standard carpeted room with double bed.  
A/C,TV with Aussie channel, fridge, hot water and en
suite bathroom.
We read in our guidebook that a hospitality school
runs the hotel and trains future hospitality industry
employees.  The hotel is a bit run down, but nice with
all the amenities.

Bikes were locked inside the lobby area in a side
hallway.  Very secure.

Accommodations in town - Plenty of guest houses in
town.  Mostly concentrated along Soi Thor Kor Sor and
the surrounding streets.  Higher end hotels are also in
this area and along the river.  

Wat Exploration Ayutthaya - Side Trip

The historial area of old Ayutthaya was declared a
UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991.  The area is
spread over 3 sq. kilometers.  Which makes having a
bicycle the ideal method to explore the spectacular
Wats, ruins and chedis built of red-brick and set in lush
gardens, around lovely lakes and lush, forested
surroundings.

We spent the entire day pedaling around inside the old
city and then ventured over the river the more obscure
Wats outside the wall city.
Cycle Touring Routes   >  Thailand   >   Bangkok to Chiang Mai   >    Day