Before today, Ayutthaya was one of the many mysterious destinations of Thailand for most of the exchange students. We heard names like ?the old capital? and ?the ancient city? but ultimately, like most of our experiences here, we were both surprised and exhilarated by what this city really means to the Thai people.

On Sunday, 7 o clock sharp, or 7.15 for some still operating on Thai time, about 40 exchange students proudly adorning our matching polo?s met at the front gate of Thammasat to begin the adventure. The first stop would be Bang Pa-In, or the summer palace. This late 1800s summer get away for Thai royalty was a real treat to walk through. Students flashed their cameras every fifth second trying to capture all the subtleties of the venue. From the largest and most aggressive fishpond I have ever seen, to the Chinese style King?s quarters and finally up the heights of the Portuguese lookout point, I was in awe that the area was open to the public. In a balance that only Thailand has mastered, the royalty had constructed a place where they can relax in the serenity of traditional Thai architecture mixed with the beauty of foreign influence, be it Asian, European, or anywhere else in the world.