Wat's up in Sukhothai

Wow what a place! Glad I'm taking notes as there is a lot to remember on this trip as we've been seeing and doing so much. Quite worthy of the irritating bus trip! To get around we rented scooter # 7. Drove 30 km to the historical park and rented bicycles to tour around the main section. Amazing structures with some restored and others in their deteriorated state. Seven hundred years may do that. Beautiful sites however, temples, Buddhas and wats. Took so many photos the camera overheated as well as us peddling throughout the park. Can you still say "kodak moments" in our digital world? Went to see the buddha footprint and there we bought fish food to feed the massive school of frenzied catfish. It was somewhat gross to watch the fish swim on top of each other during snack time. We did this on the river in Bangkok, but with bread. Later went out for dinner at a Fodor's and Lonely Planet's recommended place and got schtupped. The guide books both suggested the freshwater river fish. A table of Thais beside us had fish and it looked big and yummy. We were served little tiny minnow sized fish, bones and all. We asked our server and she just nodded that that's what we ordered. A nice atmosphere full of antiques, but will not be going back there for the sardines. When traveling we find that these are the moments we get to laugh and joke about. After dinner we wandered over to a bar called Terrace and Trees where live music was playing. Beside us was a table full of Asians with one man having all the fun. Soon he was playing along with a tambourine and gave one to Steve, a few songs later he had Steve dancing. It was so funny all of us were laughing as well entertained. A humorous finale to the evening. Day two in Sukhothai and back to check out two other sections in the historical park. Rented scooter #8 and used it to get around the large park and surrounding areas. It is 70 kms in size. Rode around and parked to hike up to some of the more interesting wats and chedis. The monks built stone pathways to ease the journey. Both days we've seen large groups of school kids touring, waving excitedly and practicing their good mornings on us. We had one group ask if we could be in a picture with them and visa versa. Oh well more photo ops! Sukhothai
had a great vibe with a rural Thai flavour and very few tourists. When checking out of our hotel the manager treated us to the most pimped up Tuk Tuk in the city for the trip to the bus station. It had plenty of chrome with a booming sound system, cushy seats and powered by a chopper up front. Next stop, back to Chiang Mai for the Loi Krathong festival. Scored a top floor quiet sunny room back at the M.D. Guesthouse for only 650 baht. Sometimes a smile goes a long way here. During the festival the Thais release lighted lanterns into the sky and small floats onto the river made of banana palms, flowers, candles, and incense. It represents freeing of the past and family blessings for the future. We've noticed that some travellers look so grumpy wearing scowls instead of smiles. Rosi and I noticed this in Panama and Costa Rica. Just don`t get it! As my Mom would say "pick your attitude". We chose the happy face, :).