With the flood waters receding, volunteers are chipping in to help clean up the ancient capital of Ayutthaya. If you’re in the area and feel like lending a hand, another cleaning day will be held on December 5. Contact the Tourism Authority of Thailand Ayutthaya Office at (035) 246076-7.

Saving Ayutthaya
The Nation, 16 November 2011

More than a month after it was engulfed by floodwaters, the province of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya is slowly getting back to normal as the waters recede. Most of the provincial seat is now dry and with houses, museums, temples, palace ruins and roads once again visible, people are beginning the long and arduous task of cleaning up.

In the distance, the slightly leaning Chaiyamongkol pagoda, built to honour the victory of King Naresuan the Great’s victory over Burma, can clearly be seen. The ancient royal monastery of Wat Yai Chaimongkol, located just outside the city island, looks well on the way to recovery, with most of the temple grounds now free of water.

Last Thursday, a large group of volunteers gathered at the temple for Ayutthaya’s big cleaning day. Lay people and monks spread out through the temple grounds, washing, wiping and pulling up dead trees. Sadly, the roots of all the ornamental orange jasmine trees rotted in the water but the hardier West Indian jasmine trees survived and are in full bloom.

Full story here.