Cycling Sukhothai

After the bustle of Bangkok, Ayutthaya, and Lopburi, cycling around the ruins of Sukhothai was like riding through a quiet, picturesque paradise. Albeit a sticky, sweltering hot paradise, but paradise nonetheless. Unlike the ruins at Ayutthaya where the ruins are never out of earshot of the busy city, the various ruin sites of Sukothai, the original capital of Siam, are spread throughout an idyllic oasis of trees, ponds and moats. Herds of cattle meander, keeping the grass perfectly trim. The heads of giant buddhas peak above crumbling temple walls

Sukhothai is considered the birthplace of the Loy Krathong festival, and we could still see remnants of beautiful krathongs bobbing at the edges of all the moats. It must have been quite a celebration here!

Cycling was definitely the best way to cover some ground--the ruins are spread over 70 square kilometers!--but the trick was finding that perfect pace that was quick enough to generate a breeze and dry your sweat, without exerting yourself too much and creating new sweat... it's hard work riding around paradise!

The bike lock they gave us was pitifully short, and the chain kept falling back inside the plastic tube.
Mark was ready to throw it into the river.