Ten Years Later: Revisiting Ancient Siam/Ancient City 76 Provinces

After a decade, I once again rode my bicycle through the miniature world of the 76 provinces, witnessing the epitome of Thai civilization. Each resplendent deity is a testament to human devotion, and every intricate, vintage miniature building is a wrinkle in history. In the scorching midday heat of 33 degrees, the blazing sun sliced through the afternoon air. I hurried towards a restaurant, guided by my map, to indulge in a buffet with air conditioning to escape the heat. The indigo hue of the butterfly pea flower drink in my cup alleviated the scorching heat, and the clinking ice cubes seemed to narrate a tale of successfully escaping the sweltering weather. At sunset, I returned the bicycle, retrieved my passport, and bid farewell to the ancient city with a camera full of photos and endless reflections. I also bid farewell to the person I was that day. As I left the ancient city, I suddenly realized that the temples and scenic spots here were not the true destination. They were merely waypoints on the journey of life. We rush, take photos, and write diaries, carving our experiences into memories to look back on. These memories, once they become cherished recollections, might be the true 'ancient city' we build within our hearts.