In Mid-April I finally got beyond the transit lounge of Bangkok International Airport. I’d been in the airport several times, but always on the way to someplace else. I’d been preparing for several months for this visit to the family of a friend in North-West Ang Thong province. But I still had misgivings. Could I cope with Thailand in the hot season after a New Zealand autumn? Could I cope with the food? The bathrooms? Would anyone understand my Thai?

There are many little things that the Thai people do which make interacting with them fun and help make a trip to Thailand so pleasant. I was on an early morning train to Ayutthaya, moving through the atrocious smog that was waiting for the sun to rise higher and burn it off. Three high-school girls got on, and boldly decided to sit next to the big farang, though plenty of other seats were available. The were talking amongst themselves, and one mentioned Ayutthaya. I said that I was going there, and one girl told me that she attends school in Ayutthaya and will show me where to get off and how to get to my destination.

Today I went to Ayutthaya for the day with some friends. I have probably been there half a dozen times but for them it was their first trip. I guess they wanted a guide but also probably a chauffeur. It isn't that difficult getting to Ayutthaya on public transport (bus/train or even boat) but once you are there you will find that many of the attractions are spread out around the city. I didn't mind taking them as it is a fascinating place. However, even though they found the trip a cultural delight, they were a bit put out by the overpricing. This was something I was aware of from past trips but I didn't realize how deeply it went.