When she lived with us she was an 18-year-old teenager and we were, well, we were definitely well into adulthood.
Seventeen years later Nang is now an adult, and we are, well, we are even older adults.
So it was fun to get to know each other when we are all adults.
It was the capital of the Kingdom of Siam until the late 18th century.
The location was strategically chosen on an island surrounded by three rivers at the head of the Gulf of Siam. It was equidistant between India and China, making it ideal for trade.
Ayutthaya flourished for more than 400 years and at its height may have supported hundreds of thousands of residents.
Once an important center of global diplomacy and commerce, Ayutthaya is now an archaeological ruin.
Ayutthaya was added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 1991.
Historically, the island Phuket was situated on a major trading route between India and China.
It is considered among the world's best beach destinations with fine white sand and inviting clear warm waters.
For centuries the Thai, Lao, Khmer and Burmese fought over the fertile hills of the Golden Triangle.
Then, in the mid-20th century, the Golden Triangle became the global capital of opium production and the international opium trade.
The more elephants (“chang”) a Thai king had the more status and power he enjoyed.
Known for their size, strength and intelligence, elephants were important in battle and used as weapons in warfare from the fifteenth century.
