I finally had the chance to visit the ancient ruins of Sukhothai last September. Sukhothai was once one of the most powerful kingdoms in Southeast Asia but eventually met its demise at the hands of the Ayutthaya kingdom. There are several sections of ruins outside of the main compound (such as this one) as well so its best to rent a bicycle and explore the whole area.

I've found that my camera is a great ice breaker. Whenever I take a photo of someone - after asking for permission, of course (um, usually) - I make sure to show them the photo. Usually, even the most stoic person cracks a great big smile. Such was the case with this woman.

I was wondering the ruins in the early morning at Sukhothai and spotted monks wandering to each and every Buddha statue in the park. They stopped at each one for a brief prayer and to likely give thanks. They moved with grace and ease as the walked around. I gave them a quick smile as they walked by and they returned the small gesture.

There were a lot of things that made me stop in utter disbelief in Thailand, but the Buddha at Wat Si Chum in the Sukhothai Historical Park was probably one of the most goosebump inducing moments. The sheer size of the Buddha completely overwhelmed me. How the heck did they build that? I was lucky enough to be able to add my own wishes to those before me -- you can see that his right hand is covered in gold leaf. Those are all the wishes of those who come to pay homage to Buddha. I was left speechless while in this Wat.

In Sukhothai, every bend in the the road presents a sparkling temple, ancient Buddha statue or team of orange silk-clad monks. . Really, it's like stepping (or, cycling) into a dreamland ablaze with history and color. Such a surreal experience!

While traveling through Chiang Mai during Songkran, I befriended some locals who graciously invited me to join their family for Songkran. Songkran is Thai New Year and a time where families unite, eat, pay respects and give blessings. Here is a photo of my new friend's grandmother, saying a prayer of good luck for the new year as she ties this string on me.