While in Bangkok, we decided to take a day trip to Ayutthaya.  Ayutthaya was the ancient capital of Thailand and is located about two hours outside the city.  I wouldn’t say this trip was a loss, but it definitely wasn’t a win.  We were on the fence about even going, but in the end decided to do it.  Things just started out strange.  Information on the best way to get out there was a bit ambiguous.  We knew we could take a mini-van from Bangkok, by randomly showing up at a local bus station.  We showed up, asked for Ayutthaya and were told to wait in line for the next available mini-van.

Within the next half hour, about twelve of us were loaded into a van with a driver who looked like Tom Cruise straight out of Top Gun and a local woman who seemed to be “organizing” the trip.

After packing us all in, the woman climbed aboard with a huge wrapped package.  “Looks like laundry?” I unconvincingly comment to Julia.  “Right.” is her one word response.  Halfway through the ride, we slow to a roll and the sliding door opens.  The packag is thrown out the door, to a girl waiting on the street. The sliding door closes and we keep moving.  “Shady,” I hear someone loud whisper from the back seat.  The trip continues.

We arrived in Ayutthaya and things progressively decline.  It was exorbitantly hot outside, we were totally disorganized and we had completely underestimated the vastness of this city. We walked into town, visiting a couple of temples and markets along the way.   The sights were interesting, but nothing really resonated with us.

My last straw was walking into town and seeing a row of elephants hauling tourists around the city.  The elephants looked miserable, sick and underfed. I felt tears start to well in my eyes, as I said to no one in particular “Why are we even here?”  Why were we there?  Neither of us really wanted to be there.  We probably would have much preferred to have just spent the day in Bangkok, but something drove us there (and it was more than a Tom Cruise look-alike.)

I have noticed that sometimes when I travel I can get into the mindset that I have to do it all and see it all.  I can hear a voice inside my head shouting: “This is your only change to do THIS, so if I don’t do IT right now you will never be able to again!” While, yes, it’s important to have a carpe diem, seize the day attitude, it’s also important to realize that there will be some bad times on this year-long venture of mine.  Who doesn’t have a couple rough days now and again? Sometimes I have to tell the voice to quiet down.  That no one, and I repeat no one, can do it all and see it all.  I am traveling for nearly a year and there are still SO MANY things I won’t get to see on this trip.  And that’s okay.  Because there is always the next trip, the consequent adventure, the continued journey.

We should have been more prepared, we should have had a game plan, or maybe we just shouldn’t have gone.  It’s important not for me to put judgment on days like Ayutthaya.  It wasn’t good or bad.  After a couple more hours, we paid $4, hopped on the two-hour car ride back to Bangkok, and just called it a day.

YOU are welcome for this.