A dancer is all smiles at the hilltop Wat Doi Suthep located in Thailand’s northern capitol of Chiang Mai.
From Penang, Malaysia I took a short AirAsia flight into the capitol city of Bangkok and just like that I had arrived into the Kingdom of Thailand - the land of smiles.
What’s not to smile about?
World class beaches such as Ko Phi Phi and Ko Pha Ngan - check!
Exploring Buddhists temples - check!
Nonstop shopping in the capitol of Bangkok in huge modern malls - check!
Sipping Chang or Singha beer on the famed Khao San Road where all backpacking trips begin and end and watching the world go by - check!
Trekking with elephants - check!
Getting a history lesson at the ancient capitols of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai - check!
Trekking to minority tribes in the mountains surrounding Chiang Mai - check!
The food, the glorious food - check!
From the independent flashpacker like myself to the resort-umbrella in the glass-tourist, Thailand offers everything under the sun for all types of travelers to find their little slice of paradise.
Be sure to pack your camera, sense of adventure and a big smile!
Check back for more of my Thailand adventures!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Facebook | Google + | Twitter | Pinterest | Photography Blog | Travel Photography Gallery
Tags: Thailand Southeast Asia Photography Southeast Asia Travel Photography Travel Destinations Chiang Mai Northern Thailand Land of Smiles Siam Girl One Girl Only Yellow Color Image Colorful Portrait Child Portrait Thai Dancer Thai Thailand Photography Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep Buddhist temple Chiang Mai Province art asia asian beautiful buddha buddhism buddhist cultural culture dance dancer female flower gold gorgeous jewelry ornaments outdoors person smile temple tourism tourist tradition traditional travel traveler trip zen Doi Suthep Vertical Saturated Color Cheerful Asian Ethnicities Southeast Asian Ethnicity Indigenous Culture Smiling Tropical Climate Cultures Day Traditional Clothing Religion One Person Beauty Young Girl Thai Culture Gold Color Photography Toothy Smile Candid Thai Ethnicity Vibrant Color Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep Happiness
© All Rights Reserved
"When someone seeks," said Siddhartha, "then it easily happens that his eyes see only the thing that he seeks, and he is able to find nothing, to take in nothing because he always thinks only about the thing he is seeking, because he has one goal, because he is obsessed with his goal. Seeking means: having a goal. But finding means: being free, being open, having no goal."
- Hermann Hesse - from the novel “Siddhartha”
Ayutthaya was the ancient capital of the Siam dynasty and was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong. It was later destroyed in 1767 by the Burmese army. Located north of Bangkok, it makes for a great day trip from the modern capitol, but I would recommend an overnight stay to fully appreciate the ancient ruins.
Check back for more of my Thailand adventures!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Facebook | Google + | Twitter | Pinterest | Photography Blog | Travel Photography Gallery
Tags: Ayutthaya Thailand Bangkok Southeast Asia Buddha Canon EOS 5D Mark II Sam Antonio Photography Built Structure History Architecture Travel Destinations Horizontal Outdoors Plant Old Ruin Statue Ancient Sky Cloud Day Ayuthaya Province Buddhism Color Image No People Photography Male Likeness Human Representation Spirituality Religion Ayutthaya ancient capital of Siam dynasty North of Bangkok The Past Place of Worship Shrine Ayuthaya Thai Culture Stone Ancient Civilization Ancient History Capital Cities brick historical cultural sculpture park travel wat landmark culture worship buddhist spiritual old chedi traditional stupa building asia faith religious historic thai siam temple siamese scenic tourism artistic Cross-legged Tranquil Scene Front View Sitting Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya UNESCO World Heritage Site Wat Worachetha Ram
© All Rights Reserved
The beautiful city of Ayutthaya, Thailand which was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong and was the capital of what was then known as Siam.
Check back for more of my Thailand adventures!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Facebook | Google + | Twitter | Pinterest | Photography Blog | Travel Photography Gallery
Tags: Ayutthaya Ayuthaya Thailand Thailand Photography Thai Culture Thai Sam Antonio Photography Southeast Asia Photography Canon EOS 5D Mark II Ruined Achievement Lifestyles Vacations Travel Destinations Vertical Outdoors Asian and Indian Ethnicities Sculpture Sitting Statue Pagoda Ancient Famous Place Flower Religion Buddhism Doorway Buddha Incense Worshipper Building Exterior Tourism Travel Spirituality Built Structure The Past History Architecture Old Ruin Place of Worship Shrine Sky Cloud Day Ayuthaya Province Color Image No People Photography Stone Ancient Civilization Ancient History Capital Cities Male Likeness Human Representation Wat Worachetha Ram Bangkok Day Trip Land of Smiles Amazing Thailand archeology art asia asian ayutaya ayuttaya buddhist building decor decoration door Siam Photography Tips religious Happiness Uplifting Colors
© All Rights Reserved
You may license this photo on Getty Images. Please click the link on the sidebar.
===================================================================
The beautiful city of Ayutthaya, Thailand was founded in 1350 by King U-Thong and was the capital of what was then known as Siam. This is Wat Phu Khao Thong or the “Monastery of the Golden Mount”.
Can you name the four neighboring countries along the borders of Thailand? No Googling!
Check back for more of my Thailand adventures!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Facebook | Google + | Twitter | Pinterest | Photography Blog | Travel Photography Gallery
Tags: Ayutthaya Ayuthaya Thailand Thai Culture Thailand Photography Southeast Asia Photography Sam Antonio Photography Clouds Cloudscape Thailand Vacation Buddhism Land of Smiles Amazing Thailand Wat Phu Khao Thong Ayutthaya, Thailand Siam Built Structure History Architecture Outdoors Asia Southeast Asia Low Angle View Staircase Temple Blue Famous Place Sky Day Religion Photograph Color Image No People Building Exterior Photography Travel ancient art asian attraction buddha buddhist building culture design destroyed faith famous gold golden green holiday landmark old pray religious ruins spiritual spirituality stone thai tourism traditional wat worship Pagoda phra phu khao thong prayer unesco world heritage theravada holy journey meditation Happiness
© All Rights Reserved
“Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera!”
-King of Siam from the movie “The King and I”
Wat Ratburana or Ratchaburana was founded in 1424 to house the cremated remains of King Intharacharthirat (pronounce that fifty times). All was tranquil in the Kingdom of Siam until 1957 when grave robbers broke in and looted priceless gold relics buried alongside him. Most of the relics were later recovered and you can see them today in the Chao Sam Phraya Museum.
Et cetera, et cetera, et cetera!
What is this? The History Channel?
At the main entrance of the wat (temple) you will see the main prang (the largest one in Ayutthaya), or tower, framed perfectly by the doorway of the grand hall. Simply stand there and click the shutter button. Life as a travel photographer can be so easy!
At the base of the tower I climbed a small set of steps where I had excellent views of the ancient city of Ayutthaya. Nearby was a staircase where I descended into a crypt full of ancient murals. It was definitely an Indiana Jones experience minus the satchel (sorry I carry around a Think Tank Photo Shape Shifter backpack).
Check back for more of my Thailand adventures!
Happy Travels!
Text and photo copyright by ©Sam Antonio Photography
Facebook | Google + | Twitter | Pinterest | Photography Blog | Travel Photography Gallery
Tags: Ayuthaya Thailand Thai Culture Ayutthaya Siam Wat Ratburana Ratchaburana ancient antique architecture art asia asian blue brick broken brown buddhism building chapel color culture decoration design door east eastern entrance facade faith historic holy knowledge landmark light oriental outdoor pagoda shadow sky style temple texture thai tourism traditional travel wall wat monument ratburana royal phra spiritual obsolete stone religous tower spirituality statue chedi southeast history heritage zen old famous indigenous sri stupa siamese ruins capital past UNESCO World Heritage Site
© All Rights Reserved