I was so hot when I got to Ayuthaya, as well as still being exhausted after my flight. All I wanted to do was find a shower and a bed.

When I stepped of the train, I realised I hadn't read enough about this city, and actually didn't have a clue where I wanted to go. To start with, I just followed all the other people who had gotten off the train at Ayuthaya, since they all seemed to be heading in the same direction. We walked down a wide old bitumen road which was lined on both sides by shops, vendors and run-down looking guest houses. Then I remembered the map from my guide book, and realised we were heading towards the moat that surrounds the city. At the moat we all descended a staircase onto a wooden platform (not really a jetty) and jumped onto the bow of a boat that the driver was holding in place against the platform by running the engine on a low speed. After I'd climbed aboard and down the few stairs into the boat under it's canopy, I realised that this may not be the most seaworthy vessel on the water, especially when I could see water in the boat through the floorboards. I also realised that if the boat sank, none of us would have any real chance of escape. The trip was short though and we all made it off the boat onto the pier on the other side of the moat, with the driver once again just holding the boat in place using the engine.

Now I was in the city, but I still didn't know where I wanted to go, except I'd remembered the name of a hotel from my guidebook "Indra". I guess I looked lost, which made me an automatic target for the tuk-tuk and samlor drivers. One of them offered to show me a hotel. I told him "yahk by rongraam Indra" but he'd never heard of it, and since he was offering to show me the hotel for only 20B, and would show me another if I didn't like it, I accepted. His name was Mr Noi.

The first hotel was average to poor. I checked out the room, guided by an old lady who could only speak a few words of English. The room was reasonably clean, and had a private bathroom, but I didn't feel enthusiastic about staying there, and when she told me "no leave money in room. have pocket" I decided this place wasn't for me. I went back down the three flights of stairs to where Mr Noi was waiting and told him the room was no good.

The next place we went to was the Sherwood Guest House. This one was good and I decided I would take the airconditioned room, even though it's price exceeded my targeted daily expenditure. There room was already being used, but the people staying there were checking out at 6pm. In the meantime, I took a shower, and went downstairs, got some coke and water from the bar, read my book and tried not to fall asleep.

As well as the five rooms for rent, the Sherwood Guest House has a bar, a swimming pool, food and drink, which are all open to the public. There is a small group of expats (mostly British and American) who gather at the bar each day at about 2pm after work to drink, read the paper, watch CNN and smoke.

After I ate (Pad Krapow Rad Khao) at about 6pm, I took a samlor to two different ruined temples on the outskirts of the city. At night, some of the ruins are lit up, and they look amazing. Photo's don't do them justice.

I stopped at a night market on the way home at about 9pm for some rice.