Ayuthaya, ancient capital city, sacked by the Burmese. This �view is looking south from inside the moat toward two different wats. �The wat in the foreground is in ruin, the one in the distance has been restored.

See a larger version (36K) of this image, then click the Back button to return here.

This sitting Buddha is about three meters tall. �Without the white stucco, these ruins continue to deteriorate. May be a catch-22 there, because to do�such restoration may detract from its archaeological and cultural�value. (Ayuthaya)

Venus in the sunset over an illuminated chedi. To�the right, out of frame, are two more almost identical chedis in line with this one. The center chedi has a colony of bats that�were streaming out�for their evening meal as I made this photo.

Two chedis. �The foreground structure has lost its stucco. �It seems that although much of�the stucco has been lost due to weathering over the last 300�years, at least some of the�monuments had been covered with gold. The Burmese took it all.

Dragonfly on a lotus flower. (Sukhotai)

A�monthly Thai cultural performance is done (mainly for Japanese tourists) on the most spectacular site of Sukhotai's ruins. Here is a group of what must have been a total of about 50 performers.

See a larger version (40K) of this image, then click the Back button to return here.

Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Red-Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha Buddha...

See a larger version (40K) of this image, then click the Back button to return here.