We live in Bangkok and work in an office. As salarymen, our weekends are Saturdays and Sundays. If we want to take a short trip without a car, we can leave on Saturday morning and return on Sunday evening. Therefore, for this trip, we traveled by free train.

This trip, I just flew back from Chiang Mai and landed at Don Mueang Airport. I crossed over to Don Mueang Railway Station to take the free train. I confess that at that time, we were looking for a suitable time to travel by free train because we didn't know if there would be free trains in the future (traveling at the end of February 2017). But in the end, the free train service was extended.

The journey began at 6 pm. My wife met me at Don Mueang Railway Station. The first friendly encounter was a conversation with an elderly gentleman sitting opposite me. He soon disembarked. This trip was an opportunity for me to test out my new camera. The beautiful images were captured using my Sony A5100.

The journey didn't take long. As the sky gradually darkened, we continued our journey without having booked accommodation in advance. However, we had a rough idea from Agoda that we would stay near the train station.

It has been almost 10 years since I last visited Ayutthaya. I used to come here with my father, driving ourselves, but we never stayed overnight. We would arrive in the morning, pay our respects at the temples, and return home in the evening.

We were excited because we hadn't traveled by train for a long time, about 2-3 years. We got off at Ayutthaya station. As soon as we got off, our feet touched the station floor, and we saw The Station coffee shop. It is a restaurant and coffee shop with air conditioning. I like this shop, but I would like to criticize the service for staring at customers and wanting them to leave quickly. (This happened in February 2017.)

After getting off the train, we looked for food and saw a 7-Eleven and a sign for accommodation. We decided to eat first. There was a restaurant in front of Lotus Express and 7-Eleven, so we went there. While we were eating, we looked around for nearby accommodation. We used the phone to call before walking in because it was already past 8 pm.

We secured accommodation by calling to inquire about availability and then walking in. It is located in the alley next to the 7-Eleven/Lotus, opposite the train station.

Tharin Boutique Guesthouse is located by the river, but I didn't get any river views. I just wanted a comfortable place to sleep with my wife, good air conditioning, and good Wi-Fi. But I left the lights on all night, haha.

The room is nice. The bathroom is very large, with a separate shower and toilet area.

We arrived in the morning and had breakfast at the สายฝน Guesthouse. They also offer motorbike rentals, so we rented one there.

However, the prices are quite high. If you're on a budget trip, the train and accommodation are affordable, but the food is definitely targeted towards tourists and can be expensive. So, be prepared to pay a premium for your meals.

We embarked on a journey on our rented motorbike, guided by the question: "Where in Ayutthaya can we go, besides temples?"

We went to the Japanese village. Google Maps was our guide, but since we were unfamiliar with the route, we ended up going around in circles.

This multimedia presentation provides information about the Japanese village. Click here for more details.

Instead of working on my laptop at home, I decided to take a break and enjoy the fresh air. I usually spend my days writing articles, blogs, and making videos, but today I'm filming a vlog. As you can see in the picture, I'm currently recording.

The key point here is to sit and stand, looking at the water like this. It's a good way to relax and clear your lungs.

Take a picture.

The upper floor houses a museum, while the lower floor is occupied by a coffee shop.

Please note that there are opening and closing times. In the picture, the sign says "closed," but you can enter through another door.

The museum is very well done. No one can walk up to it directly, but you have to pay at the coffee shop and then the staff will unlock it for you to go up and see it.

The walk was very informative.

This section features a glass floor that allows visitors to walk directly over the original ruins, providing a unique perspective of the archaeological remains below.

The original trading post's upper floor features a camera that allows visitors to compare it to the original building from the past. It's definitely worth seeing in person.

Initially, I planned not to visit the temple, but I did. It was drizzling at the time.

There are actually more photos, but they are couple photos. Haha, I'll keep the couple photos private. Hehe.

This photo wasn't taken from the water. I walked down into the water and then walked back up to take the picture. It's important to note that Ayutthaya has two sides, and when we explore the city, we often cross bridges to move between them.

Feeling hungry, let's grab a bite at Wat Tha Ka Rong Floating Market. (Super hungry!)

I enjoyed my meal today. The food was affordable, and I was able to make merit while also satisfying my hunger.

After a satisfying meal, we continued to the Million Toy Museum of Krirk Yumnuan (spelled "Million Toys" in Thai). Getting there was a bit of an adventure, as we followed signs that led us in circles until we finally found our way back.

The house has two floors with a vast collection of toys displayed in cabinets. Additionally, there is an extensive collection of hobby-related items.

During my visit, a teacher was instructing students on drawing children.

This place is worth the money to see for yourself. You could easily spend hours looking at the toys. There is also a souvenir section.

Within a few years, rotary dial phones have become museum exhibits.

After that, I still had a lot of time. The train didn't leave until evening, so I went for a motorcycle ride. It started raining, haha! But I kept riding until my clothes and hair were dry. Then I went to eat at The Station restaurant. The food was delicious, but the service was a bit pushy. The staff kept asking if I wanted to order more drinks, even though I had already finished my meal. (Just a little complaint.)

It's time to return to Bangkok by free train. After a whole day of sightseeing, I'm exhausted and sunburnt, despite wearing long sleeves and sunglasses.

On the way to Don Mueang, on the way back to Hua Lamphong. At that time, I was going to take the MRT back home, but it was late and I was tired. I went into a noodle shop and ordered rice porridge. I was very hungry.

Thank you for following. I am grateful to Readme for inspiring me to write about travel again.