Sunday, February 5, 2012

Calator in Thailanda 17. Sukhotai, Muang Kao sau Orasul Vechi / Traveller in Thailand 17. Sukhotai, Muank Kao or The Old City

We left Chiang Mai by bus, at 6 o'clock in the morning, to go to Sukhotai. The length of the way was of about 250 km and it took 5 hours. There are 12 buses per day, and a ticket costs 218 bht (5.40 euro).


While many tourists visit Ayutthaya (former capital) from Bangkok, we choosed to visit Sukhotai, the oldest capital of Siam. It is not known the exactly year of foundation but it is thought to be between 1238-1257. The founder of the capital was King Ramkhamhaeng. The name of the place means "Dawn of Happiness".

Sukhotai (aprox. 35000 inhabitants) has a new part - which is not interesting at all for the tourists - and Muang Kao, The Old City, where the Historical Park is. This park is declared UNESCO site. The Old City is situated at 12 km West of the new one, and may be reached by tuk-tuk and songthaew. Coming from Chian Mai, the bus stops firstly in Muang Kao, right in front of the Historical Park.

Some houses, guest houses, hotels, restaurants, a small open market, and little shops - that's all.

De la Chiang Mai am plecat dimineata, devreme, la Sukhotai. Autogara orasului, la care am ajuns cu un songthaew, are multe peroane, dispuse in jurul catorva cladiri asezate de o parte si de alta a strazii, asa ca dureaza pana gasim ceea ce cautam: ghiseul de unde putem lua bilete spre destinatia noastra. Un bilet pana la Sukhotai costa 218 bht (5.40 euro) si primul autobuz pleaca la ora 6. Sunt 12 curse pe zi, distanta dintre cele doua localitati fiind de aprox.250 km. Motaim in autobuz, vazand doar din cand in cand, printre ochii abia mijiti cate un sat, un templu sau un panou urias cu portretul regelui. In rest, serpentine si, in apropiere, jungla deasupra careia se ridica ceturile diminetii. Ajungem la destinatie dupa 5 ore de drum.

Multi turisti aleg sa viziteze, de la Bangkok, capitala mai veche a Siamului de la Ayutthaya. Noi am ales insa cea mai veche capitala, Sukhotai. Nu se cunoaste exact anul intemeierii sale, care se datoreaza regelui Ramkhamhaeng. Se presupune a fi intre 1238-1257. Numele asezarii inseamna "Rasaritul fericirii".

Aflat la 427 km nord de Bangkok, Sukhotai a fost capitala regatului timp de 120 de ani. Orasul are o parte noua si una veche, aflata la aprox.12 km de prima. Cand vii dinspre Sukhotai, prima oprire este chiar in dreptul Parcului istoric, in orasul vechi (Muang Kao). Coboram si, asa cum ne-a scris gazda noastra de aici, inchiriem un tuk-tuk care ne duce pana la pensiune (50 bht). Dupa ce ne instalam, iesim sa vedem "orasul" si sa vizitam Parcul istoric, declarat site UNESCO.

Sukhotai are cca. 35000 de locuitori aflati, majoritatea, in orasul nou, care nu este interesant  pentru turisti. Aici, in Muang Kao, se afla cateva case, pensiuni si hoteluri, o mica piata, restaurante si mici magazine unde gasesti cam ce-ti trebuie, fara a avea insa prea mult de ales.

De pe straduta unde se afla pensiunea, mergem spre sosea trecand pe langa case tipice, care au un fata un sant invadat de lotusi.
 aici e pensiunea noastra
Chiar la intersectie se afla cladirea Primariei. In continuarea ei, cele cateva case care sunt Munag Kao, insirate de-a lungul soselei, mai aglomerata in dreptul pietei. Desi cladirile nu impresioneaza in nici un fel, localitatea este foarte curata.
 primaria
 cutie postala
 straduta laterala
cos de gunoi
 seminte de lotus
E cu cateva grade mai cald aici ca in Chiang Mai si se simte! Din loc in loc, pe strada, vad niste tipsii mari din frunze de banan, pe care se afla fasii de carne cruda, asezate la soare. Acelasi lucru, cu mustele aferente, si la piata. De cate ori am fost tentata sa gust ceva dn mancarea de pe strada, mi-am amintit aceste tipsii si am renuntat.

Soseaua inconjoara o parte din Parcul istoric asa ca avem mereu sub ochi cate un coltisor.







24 comments:

Kumiko said...

This is very beautiful place,full of beautiful flowers!

I love these lotus flowers.

And I'm interested in this lovely bus.

Thank you for sharing.

VP said...

Curious variety of interesting pictures...

Randy said...

The lotus is such and amazing flower. I love the first few house on stilts too.

LifeRamblings said...

looks like a fascinating place to explore. the houses looks so quaint and the lotus is gorgeous.

Traveling Hawk said...

I loved them too, Kumiko! There have been a lot in that area.

Traveling Hawk said...

Thanks, VP! Not much to be seen there. The only reason to be there was the Historical Park.

Traveling Hawk said...

Plenty of lotus flowers there, Randy! I will post more photos in the next posts.

Traveling Hawk said...

Thank you for the comment,Life Ramblings!

Doug Hickok said...

Beautiful lush setting, with tropical flowers and palms :^) Such depth of history too!

Traveling Hawk said...

Thanks, Doug! History and religious art will be more evident in the next post.

Helma said...

Hello Traveling Hawk,

also a very beautiful and diverse blog. What strikes me are the beautiful flowers both in water and on land. Really nice.

250 km in a bus down is not nothing, but you fdan be the most beautiful places. Thank you that we may enjoy along this journey.

Greetings, Helma

mircea said...

Cel mai mult imi place cladirea primariei,e deosebita.Bineinteles,nu pot sa nu remarc autobuzul...

Dani P. said...

Lotusi in strada !? Doamne, ce frumosi sint !!! Tu chiar ai vazut Thailanda in amanunt. Te invidiez, ca poti face calatorii asa de lungi, eu daca plec o saptamina, deja e mult ... Asia mi se pare ceva la capat de lume ...

Traveling Hawk said...

Thank you, Helma. I slept in the bus almost the entire length of the travel:)

Traveling Hawk said...

Multumesc, Mircea. Primaria este o cladire moderna in stil traditional. Da, "autobuzele" acelea sunt foarte haioase.

Traveling Hawk said...

Da, Dani, strada aceea era ca ulita de sat de la noi (asfaltata insa), care avea pe o parte un sant adanc si destul de lat, cu apa. Acolo erau nuferii.

Calatoria a fost doar departe, nu si lunga! Tot ce vei vedea aici a durat efectiv 7 zile: cate 2 (de fapt, efectiv una si jumatate, restul a fost drum)in Chiang Mai si Sukhotai si 4 (de fapt 3 si jumatate) in Bangkok. La Beijing si Seoul, a fost tot cate o saptamana, doar in India au fost doua.

escape said...

it's really nice to see old heritage houses kept preserved. whether it's a spot to behold or a typical traditional house. it's nice seeing it from a foreign perspective.

Traveling Hawk said...

thanks, dong ho, for your comment!

Phivos Nicolaides said...

Wonderful place and excellent shots!!!

Traveling Hawk said...

Thank you, Phivos!

magda said...

Very interesting photos and place!!!
I like the flowers here!!!
Many greetings and kisses

Traveling Hawk said...

Thank you, Magda! There are a lot of flowers in Thailand!

Liliana said...

Lotusul parcă e floare naţională în Thailanda! Aşa de mult îmi place şi mie de numa'!

Traveling Hawk said...

M-am bucurat si eu ca i-am vazut, Liliana, fiindca i-am cautat in India dar nu am vazut decat unul singur si ala pricajit, intr-o fantana din Udaiphur.