Ayutthaya, Thailand

Our latest adventure was to explore another city of Thailand that we have not visited.  We decided to spend a long weekend in Bangkok and take one full day on a private guided tour of the ancient capital Ayutthaya, which is located about an hour north of the city.  The city was founded in 1350 and became the second capital of Thailand.  Ayutthaya was a prosperous and thriving city that came to an end when the Burmese invaded  in 1767 and almost burnt the city to the ground.  We spend most of our time exploring the remaining sites which still provide a glimpse of how impressive the city must have been.  Most of the remains are Temples and Palaces, only made from stone at that time.  The city has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site back in 1991.

Our first stop on our day of touring was the Bang Pa-In Palace, also known as the Summer Palace.  It was originally built by Ayutthayan King Prasat in 1632 but abandoned 1767 and later restored by King Mongkut in the 1850s.  The grounds and builds are every beautiful with European-Style in 1872-1889.

Our next stop was Wat Yai Chai Mongkol where the large chedi built in 1952 can be seen from great distances.  The chedi was built by one of Ayutthaya's greatest Kings, Nareusan the Great, to commemorate a victory over the Burmese Army won in that same year.  The Temple was established earlier in 1357 as a place for Monks to meditate.  The Temple is still functioning today.  

Our next site of exploration was Wat Maha That.  This is one of the oldest and most significant temples in Thailand.  Built in the 13th century it served as an important religious center until it was reduced to ruins in 1767 by the Burmese Army.  It is here that a famous iconic image remains of a Buddha head entwined within the roots of a tree.  Nobody knows for certain how the head became entwined in the roots other than the explanation it occurred during the abandonment following the invasion.  

Next we headed to Wat Phra Si Sanphet.  Situated in the Royal Palace grounds it is the Royal Monastery and therefore no monk is allowed to reside.  The Temple served to conduct ceremonies within the Royal Court.

Next destination for this trip was to Wat Chaiwatthanaram.  This Temple was built in 1630 by King Prasat to honor his mother.  This features the architectural style influenced by Angkor Wat in Cambodia.  

Lastly we stopped at Wat Na Phra Meru.  Built in the mid-15th century it is one of the largest in the city.  

We have been fortunate enough to travel all over the world, however we take ever opportunity we get to explore the country where we live.  We are loving Thailand more and more as we come to the close of our two year assignment.  So much to see and the history is amazing!  Great trip!

Maldives, South Ari Atoll

Since arriving in Asia Pacific region we always had our sights on a dream vacation to the Maldive Islands.  We carefully chose the best place to stay for our family that offered all the luxuries the Maldives has to offer; world class snorkeling, all inclusive dining/drinks, bungalows over the water, water sports and so much more.  Our choice for the resort was the Centara Grand Island Resort and Spa.

The island was truly a barefoot paradise which you could quickly walk from one end to the other.  It was incredible to be staying on an island in the middle of the Indian Ocean and be completely carefree.  Just a little more information on the Maldives..  It is actually comprised on more than 1,000+ coral islands, but only 80 of them have tourist resorts.  The islands were actually not known to tourist until the late 1970's.  The islands are rich in history, marine life and culture.  I could go on and on, however our family knows it best for it's amazing comforts and relaxation!  Only pictures can describe this trip and we hope to return one day to experience the beauty of mother nature at it's best!