Suhothai From Udon/ Pickup This Time Sorry Guys

[ray23]

We just got back from Sukhothai at about 1815 yesterday. we took the pick up, up one day sight see the next and return. That would have been far to difficult for me on the bike.

I tried it both ways the GPS fastest route took us to Khan Kean boring as hell, HWY 12 did pick up some nice curves ext. before Phittslanuk, boring here after, We left at 1000 Hrs arrived 1830. Distance from home 523 klms.

Spent a few hours checking out Sukhothai Historical Park Not bad wife 50 baht me 100 baht. My wife mentioned the people were not to friendly. But, there were loads of tourists from all over the world.

We sit out for home around 1230 Hours, keep in mind I pushed hard on both trips top speed of 140 and a average 79 Klms per hour. Arrived at home 1815 hours this was on the shortest distance of 455 klms. Easy one day ride, the difference if I was on the bike I would have had to stay that night and rest up the back and I would have taken a straight shot back home.

It was funny using thee shortest distance we ended back on 2216 2013 and 203. The only real tough part is 12 with trucks and mountains hard to pass. same with 203 until you hit the four lanes. I hate dodgy passing but if you want to finish in open day you will be doing some. Actually with type of activity I would rather be on the bike it's smaller so easier to tuck it into places. Some of the passing you might actually need to pass nine vehicles rare that you can that at once. So you pick up what you can safely and works around them till you are in the lead.

Curves I was going just as fast as would have on the bike, wife and I both agreed felt safer on the bike. Just a lot easier to control. Sukhothai was great the park is in the old City.

We stayed at Le Charme Resort 850 a night but a real class act (055-833333) 1.4 klms from, the park. Nice pool free breakfast with eggs liked fresh. The restaurant had both European and Thai food and it was good. There are a lot cheaper places all around to include the Old City Guesthouse 450 baht and walking distance to the park. Restaurant 100 meter away with foreign and Thai food.

We don't this a lot so staying in a nice resort is really a treat for us.. Sukhothai is certainly worth seeing once. I would suggest searching the internet for history.

We have a ton of photos down loaded already, next I will try to figure out how to post them.

[kelboy]

SORRY MATE I DON;T NOW WHAT THE POINT IS?

may be to many changs again?

[Lickey]

Good post Ray, im getting a bit like that nowadays, any trip over 150ks, the Ranger wins, usually cos Pan wants to go shopping, and plus the lower back pain on the bike, results of my younger days and accidents i suppose, and yes, its the only time i ride on the wrong side of the road, overtaking trucks/pick-ups/cars,

Looking forward to the pics mate,

Cheers, Lickey & Pan..

[ray23]

SORRY MATE I DON;T NOW WHAT THE POINT IS?

may be to many changs again?

The point is take the time to see Sukhothai, the pick up I normally ride to do these things. Gave two different routes to it from Udon.

I'm having problems with photobucket Likey when I get that resolved I will get the photos up loaded

Ok to sit the stage a lit bit of History Sukhothai was the capitol of Siam in the 13 th Century so the photos will b of artifacts from that ERA.

Sukhothai, meaning the Dawn of Happiness, was a town founded in the 13th century on the fringe of the Khmer empire. The exact year is unknown, but according to the Fine Arts Office it was between 1238 and 1257. Founded by Phokhun Si Intharathit, it was the first truly independent Thai (Siamese) Kingdom after defeating the Khmers. Sukhothai enjoyed a golden age under their third king, King Ramkhamhaeng, who was credited with creating the Khmer-derived Thai alphabet which is essentially the same as that in use today.[2] He also laid the foundation for politics, the monarchy and religion, as well as expanding its boundary of influence. Sukhothai was later ruled by many kings. The province is most famous for the historic city of Sukhothai, the capital of the Sukhothai kingdom. It is located about 12 km from the modern New Sukhothai city. Not far from Sukhothai are the Si Satchanalai historical park and the Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park. Both were cities within the former Sukhothai kingdom and of the same time period.

The province was at first known as Sawankhalok; it was renamed to Sukhothai in 1939.[3]

[edit] Symbols

The provincial seal shows King Ramkhamhaeng the Great sitting on the Managkhasila Asana throne. Under King Ramkhamhaeng the kingdom of Sukhothai flourished the most. ( this is the guy we get blame for the Thai alphabet. that had writings done in that eras language my wife could not read it, so it's changed a lot)

Provincial tree is Afzelia xylocarpa; provincial flower is the Lotus (Nymphaea lotus).

The provincial slogan is Source of national heritage, the Thai alphabets, the best Loy Krathong celebrations, firm foundation of Buddhism, the fine Teen Jok cloth, ancient chinaware, holy Pho Khun Ramkhamhaeng’s mother, dawn of happiness.

[ray23]

Yes I stayed pretty close o the house this year, so not much to Post. definetly good to get out and about even if it;s in te pickup. Also working this new format as well.

Ok to sit the stage a lit bit of History Sukhothai was the capitol of Siam in the 13 th Century so the photos will b of artifacts from that ERA.

Sukhothai, meaning the Dawn of Happiness, was a town founded in the 13th century on the fringe of the Khmer empire. The exact year is unknown, but according to the Fine Arts Office it was between 1238 and 1257. Founded by Phokhun Si Intharathit, it was the first truly independent Thai (Siamese) Kingdom after defeating the Khmers. Sukhothai enjoyed a golden age under their third king, King Ramkhamhaeng, who was credited with creating the Khmer-derived Thai alphabet which is essentially the same as that in use today.[2] He also laid the foundation for politics, the monarchy and religion, as well as expanding its boundary of influence. Sukhothai was later ruled by many kings. The province is most famous for the historic city of Sukhothai, the capital of the Sukhothai kingdom. It is located about 12 km from the modern New Sukhothai city. Not far from Sukhothai are the Si Satchanalai historical park and the Kamphaeng Phet Historical Park. Both were cities within the former Sukhothai kingdom and of the same time period.

The province was at first known as Sawankhalok; it was renamed to Sukhothai in 1939.[3]

[edit] Symbols

The provincial seal shows King Ramkhamhaeng the Great sitting on the Managkhasila Asana throne. Under King Ramkhamhaeng the kingdom of Sukhothai flourished the most. ( this is the guy we get blame for the Thai alphabet. that had writings done in that eras language my wife could not read it, so it's changed a lot)

Provincial tree is Afzelia xylocarpa; provincial flower is the Lotus (Nymphaea lotus).

The provincial slogan is Source of national heritage, the Thai alphabets, the best Loy Krathong celebrations, firm foundation of Buddhism, the fine Teen Jok cloth, ancient chinaware, holy Pho Khun Ramkhamhaeng’s mother, dawn of happiness.

Sorry guys Photos didn't show up here o there is a thread on Gtriders as well, give it some time and take a look the there should be some photos

[ray23]

Looks Like I got the photos on here this time, these are just photos around the hotel. nest time around I will start into the good stuff. Ohh the other thing I learned just cause it say's it's the fastest route on the GPS may not be.

Edited March 14, 2011 by ray23

[MaiChai]

Take a look at Sawankalok; much more interesting than Sukhothai, probably because it has not been restored as much. I spent 7 years up in Sukhothai and learned my Thai there; thats why no one can understand me unless I am in Sukhothai!

[ray23]

This area is not walled there are others areas that are walled and obviously sit up for defense

[ray23]

Note the shape of the blocks Which I believe at one time was a foot path. The clocks used for the main buildings and a foundations looked much larger. The materials appear to be from a Valcano. You can actually see the iron ore in the stone. From where it came from I have no idea.

[ray23]

In this group of Photos you will see a huge defensive wall. At the base of the wall you can see areas for people to stand on I suppose to greet any invaders and being hid at the same time. I believe that may be the difference from a Cheddi and a Wat You will also see stone blocks carved out like chairs, now what they really are I have no idea. You will also note two towere like structures I beleive this refects the Khemer culture. Interesting thing happened at one of them while we were there.

[ray23]

Boy I wonder how old that tree was, it looked like it was about 80 feet high I also noticed a younger tree of the same kind in the site. You will now start seeing photos of where artifacts were stolen.

The one tower it was obvious that people had been worshiping there, burnt ashes and candle on a small alter on the dirt floor. I tried to take a photo from the inside looking up the tower. The flash went of but I didn't get a photo and our camera just stopped working. Changed battery nothing, changed out the memory card still nothing figured photos wee over for the day. But, as got probably 200 meters from the towers, all of a sudden the camera started working.

So we returned this time to the tower on the right there was no evidence of worship going on there. Wife said a little a prayer and asked permission to take a photo in the prayer. This tiem we got the photo o the inside of the tower going up. Go figure

[MaiChai]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laterite

Sukhothai historic park has been extensively remodelled. This was the original town of Sukhothai, which burned down in the 1950s. After the fire, they relocated the town to the new location. However the old location is better, because it does not suffer flooding like the new town! I guess the river moved its location over the centuries? I have friends who live up near the historic park, and we even rented a traditional style Thai house there for 500 baht for a month once. My kids live with their mother near Kirimat on the road to Kampangpet; I often go up there to see them.

Google "wiki sukhothai".

Most of the Thai historic parks are what was left after the Burmese touched the cities; that is why Ahuttaya/Sukhothai/Kampangpet/etc only have laterite structures left. If you go to Burma you can get an idea of what these cities looked like, because the Siamese never touched the Burmese cities like the Burmese did to the Siamese. That is the Burmese ancient cities are much more intact. Maybe one day the political situation will improve in Burma, and thus the country will be a spectacular tourist destination; I would love to drive to the Andaman via Mair Sot. Maybe one day...

Edited March 15, 2011 by MaiChai

[ray23]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laterite

Sukhothai historic park has been extensively remodelled. This was the original town of Sukhothai, which burned down in the 1950s. After the fire, they relocated the town to the new location. However the old location is better, because it does not suffer flooding like the new town! I guess the river moved its location over the centuries? I have friends who live up near the historic park, and we even rented a traditional style Thai house there for 500 baht for a month once. My kids live with their mother near Kirimat on the road to Kampangpet; I often go up there to see them.

Google "wiki sukhothai".

Most of the Thai historic parks are what was left after the Burmese touched the cities; that is why Ahuttaya/Sukhothai/Kampangpet/etc only have laterite structures left. If you go to Burma you can get an idea of what these cities looked like, because the Siamese never touched the Burmese cities like the Burmese did to the Siamese. That is the Burmese ancient cities are much more intact. Maybe one day the political situation will improve in Burma, and thus the country will be a spectacular tourist destination; I would love to drive to the Andaman via Mair Sot. Maybe one day...

Thanks that would be great to see:

This is called the four lotus shrine along with the large Budha, there were supposed to be four smaller ones facing the directions of the compass, they have all been stolen

[ray23]

The statue is of the first King to create the Thai Alphabet. They had something written in marble using that alphabet my wife could not read it. So there have been lots of changes since then. The park is not the only place you can find ruins. Our room was 1.4 klms from the park. But there wee two sets of ruins setting about 200 meter from the resort.

Well that all folks if you haven't seen it worth a look. I also believe they have a bike week in Sukhothai each year