“The Monastery of the Cricket.” It’s a strange name, isn’t it? We’re standing here, not in front of some bustling temple, but a schoolyard. This is the former site of Wat Rerai, also known as the Monastery of the Cricket. Sadly, not much remains of this once-sacred space. Locals say the last traces of its brickwork vanished when the Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon school was built. We don’t know for sure when Wat Rerai was built or the stories its walls held. The exact details of its history are lost to time. But its very name, “The Monastery of the Cricket,” hints at a connection to the simple, natural world that once surrounded it. Perhaps the rhythmic chirping of crickets filled the air here, accompanying the chants of monks. Imagine them moving through the tranquil gardens, their saffron robes a splash of color against the weathered stone. Even though Wat Rerai is gone, its memory lingers, a whisper of the past in the heart of Ayutthaya.
Garuda Museum
Behold the Garuda, a four-meter sculpture spreading its wings. This is the entrance to Southeast Asia’s one and only Garuda