On October 23, 2016, we had the opportunity to ride a "steam locomotive," an old-fashioned train that uses steam pressure to move. This type of locomotive was discontinued in 1974 and was reintroduced on March 26, 1986, the anniversary of the establishment of the State Railway of Thailand. Therefore, the steam locomotive 953 Phalu 962 was arranged to run a special train from Bangkok Station - Ayutthaya - Bangkok. This was the first time that a steam locomotive had been run on a special occasion.

This special train runs only 3 days a year: the anniversary of the establishment of the State Railway (March 26), the day of King Rama V (October 23), and the King's birthday (December 5).

The train left Hua Lamphong at around 8:00 am. We arrived at the train station early, so we were able to take some pictures of the locomotive. We got some great shots, it was beautiful and classic. We loved it! Today, it was even more of a star than a hundred million baht movie because people were rushing to take pictures of it.

As the train slowly pulled out of Bangkok, it became clear what it was like to ride a steam locomotive. Regular trains are slow, but steam locomotives are even slower. But it's understandable, as steam locomotives cannot accelerate and rely on steam pressure to propel the train. So we moved slowly, enjoying the view of the rice fields and other things along the way. Oh, I forgot to mention that this trip included free drinking water, sticky rice with fried pork, and dessert. Isn't that great?

At approximately 11:00 AM, the steam train arrived in Ayutthaya. We had approximately 5 hours to explore the city before returning to the station by 4:00 PM. Our journey began with a visit to "Pa Lek" boat noodle restaurant near Wat Mahathat, followed by a tour of the temple itself.

The Significance of Wat Mahathat in Ayutthaya

"Wat Mahathat" stands as a prominent landmark within the Ayutthaya Historical Park, serving as a crucial religious center during the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Its significance stemmed not only from housing the central relic of the Buddha but also from being the residence of the Supreme Patriarch of the Kammavasi sect. Sadly, Wat Mahathat met its destruction following the fall of Ayutthaya during the second Burmese-Siamese War.

Despite being destroyed twice, some pagodas remain beautiful. We really like the color of the bricks in the ancient sites. It gives a retro feeling, especially the walls. We think it's charming. Don't miss the "Buddha Head in the Tree Roots" today. It is a sandstone Buddha head, only the head remains. The body of the Buddha is gone. It is a Buddha head from the Ayutthaya period, placed in the roots of a Bodhi tree next to the Rama Vihara. It has become a major attraction for both Thai and foreign tourists.

We then headed to "Wat Thamikarat," another beautiful temple in the province. It is another Ayutthaya temple that was burned by the Burmese, leaving only the head of the Buddha statue. Currently, it is kept at the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum. This bronze Buddha statue is also considered a hallmark of U Thong art, or the art of the pre-Ayutthaya period. Its square face and stern expression led the villagers to call it "Luang Pho Kae" (Old Father Buddha).

In addition, there is a round chedi with 20 stucco lions surrounding it. Although it has been damaged over the past 900 years, many of them are still intact.

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The trip concludes with a visit to the gatehouse of the **"Wat Phra Ngam"**, surrounded by Bodhi trees, known as the **"Gate of Time"**. Visitors can also admire the octagonal pagoda.

After a tiring day of exploring, we decided to recharge at "Wiwa House," a charming café on U Thong Road. We relaxed and enjoyed refreshments until around 4 pm, then headed to Ayutthaya Station to capture the iconic steam locomotive. This time, we managed to photograph the train as it emerged, billowing smoke into the air. This alone made the trip worthwhile! (Hehe) The train brought us back to Hua Lamphong Station around 7 pm.

**Farewell Ayutthaya, until we meet again. "I love you... Thailand."**

Expense Summary

1. Round-trip train fare: 250 baht
2. Noodle soup: 50 baht
3. Water: 65 baht
4. Tuk-tuk fare: 800 baht, shared among 7 people, 115 baht per person
Total: 480 baht
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