Wat's Up!!!

Hello my dear friends thought we could squeeze in one more post before the Philippines! In the episode, we find our travelers in search of the past. Get ready for a little history lesson... No snoring!!!

Hey Kanye Welcome to Thailand!

Happy Hour on a cabana in Chiang Mai Beach 

Celebrating the New Year on the streets of Thailand 

We lit up lanterns to chime in 2012!!! 

We found a vegan restaurant called Ethos and Michelle almost fainted. Perfect place for her to get her grub on! 

The first night in Bangkok we stayed on the fabled Khao San Road, where crazy globetrotting backpackers rest their heads.

Years ago... Monkeys ruled the world. As time passed they found there ways to the jungle  and safe havens as man industrialized the world. But in the small, quiet town of Lopburi they run wild!!!! Welcome to the Planet of the Apes! Starring Michelle Hancock and Jason Buhay... No animals were hurt during the picture taking of this blog! Off to our first leg in search of history...

Welcome to the NOOM Backpacker Hostel. Super friendly staff and excellent food. Michelle was a fan of the room! 250 BAHT/ night.

San Luk Son - " The ancient city pillar shrine of Lopburi." The tale states that Phra Ram shot an arrow after victory to level a mountain and Vishnu was assigned to build a city on the marker. Henceforth it was named Lopburi.

Phra Prang Sam Yot - Originally built by the Khmers as a Hindu shrine honouring the gods Brahma Vishnu and Shiva. Then converted to a Buddhist shrine. We hired (were stalked) by a man with a sling shot that warded off pesky monkeys!

Monkeys surrounding the Buddha statue 

Michelle got attacked when a monkey earlier jumped on her head to steal her sunglasses. This monkey tried to steal my water bottle. He was caught in the act!

This might be disrespectful but too much of a good photo opportunity to pass up 

The temple was full of bats and during sundown they escape the inner sanctum and fly off into the night

Michelle feeding the monkeys sunflower seeds 

Reminds me of the game at Chucky Cheese where you shoot ski balls at monkeys, haha! 

A rare breed of monkey only found on the outermost parts of the city. Looks strangely familiar??

Snack Time!

Sarn Phra Karn- Built in 11-13th Century

"Come on ride the train and RIDE IT... CHOO CHOO!"  Only 13 BAHT / person!


Ayutthaya - Welcome to historical Thailand Part Deux. Temples and ruins are intermittentedly scattered throughout this city built over 400 years ago though a long history of kings. It is less than 60 miles north of Bangkok and is an island of sorts being surrounded by the Chao Phraya River, Pa Sak, and Lopburi. By the 1600s it was a metropolis having a population greater than 1 million and a major economic player in the world's trade market. As every great city rises, it fall can be just as dramatic being pummeled by Burmese armies. The royal family regrouped in Bangkok and as they say the rest is history!

Wat Phra Mahathat - Temple of the Great Relic dates back to the 1380s and was the home of the great King Ramesuan and center for major religious ceremonies and holy events.

Buddha head intertwined in roots of a banyan tree

Outside the temple exploring the ruins 

Headless Buddhas that outlined the main gates of the temple 

Special thanks to Hilary for providing us this travel book from which provides the content for the majority of this blog. We were too cheap to buy the audio tour.

Wat Ratchaburana- Built in 1424 by king Borom Racharhirat II as a shrine to his fallen brother. 

Watch your step, Michelle ?!?!

I dared to navigate the crypt of the fallen brother. While excavators found gold jewelry, ceremonial swords, and ornate elephant statues all I found was a dead pigeon .

 Outside Phra Mongkhon Bo Phit

Phra Mongkhon Bo Phit- One of the largest bronze Buddha statues in Thailand standing over 60 feet. This Buddha has been restored  several times. One time as a result of a fire causing both it's arm and head to be detatched.

Wat Phra Si Sanphet - Located on the premises of the royal palace, Sanphet was built in 1488 during the reign of King U- Thong. It served as a placeholder for royal family ashes and their private chapel.

While the camera may appear to be crooked, the architecture is actually about to fall like a game of JENGA. Some areas were even blocked off by caution tape.

Wat Lokayasutha - Reclining Buddha restored in 1954

Buddha and Peach

Wat Chaiwatanaram - This temple was built in 1630 off the river and a spitting image of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. It was engineered by King Prasat Thong. It was being restored by local Thai workers so we weren't able to walk inside the landmark. 

Indiana Jones would have a field day in here!

Wat Thammikarat

Ancient shrine with modern relics

Wat Phu Khoa Thong -  Translated as "Golden Mountain" was established in 1387 by King Ramesuan and later in 1569 when King Hongsawadee Burengnong of Burma defeated the Ayutthaya army. You can see the entire flat region from the top.

Buddha statue protecting the temple

The Monument of King Naresuan The Great

We visited an Elephant Kraal and found some awesome monuments of the Ayutthaya Army. They captured wild elephants and trained them to be in use during war time. Michelle and I decided to put their fighting skills to the test...

I didn't do so well :(

So we are off to the Philippines! Time to get in touch with my cultural roots and for Michelle and I to get our tans back! Love you all!