SOUTH EAST ASIA
-
Bangkok to Siem Reap by Government Bus
Cambodian E-visa Scam? July 2014. The purpose of this post is to compliment and update previous articles about catching the Thai government bus from Mochit station in Bangkok to Siem Reap. It has been operational since early last year and is, apparently, the only direct bus, thus avoiding many hassles that reportedly occur at the border. I’ll include links to […]
-
Mekong Motorcycle Diaries Day 2
Thailand 13th November, 2012 Sangkhom (sunrise, a waterfall and temple views) During the night, dogs could be heard barking intermittently in the distance from the island on the other side of the river in Laos. At this time of year the temperature cools enough overnight, so there was no need to bring the fan in from the veranda. Despite the […]
-
Khon Kaen Silk Festival
Khon Kaen, a transport hub in the far north east of Thailand, was never a trading stop on the famous Silk Road. Unsurprising really, given the road was a network rather than a route: but Khon Kaen, as far as I know, wasn’t part of that either. Silk, however, plays an important role in Khon Kaen’s current trading and tourist […]
-
Ho Chi Minh House
It’s a little known fact that Ho Chi Minh spent part of his life as a farmer in the village of Na Jok five kilometres from the Mekong River city of Nakhon Phanom in Thailand. Though, how long he stayed there is open to conjecture, further confused by alternate use of Gregorian and Buddhist calendars; and Ho Chi Minh was […]
-
Myanmar, Taunggyi Balloon Festival
The International Balloon Festival in Taunggyi, Myanmar was held in mid November, 2013, during Tazgaungmon at the end of the eighth lunar month, and is one of the most spectacular events on any calendar, but one I nearly didn’t attend, even though chance deposited me in the right place at the right time …well near enough: within seventy kilometres.
-
Nakhon Phanom, Lai Rua Fai Procession
Saturday – The illuminated boat procession. Like with the Candle Festival in Ubon Ratchathani, I was in the right place at the right time when temple communities began gathering for the day’s celebrations. It was late morning, and from the hotel room guitar could be heard, followed by a woman singing, then flutes and drums completed the impromptu orchestra. So, […]
-
Nakhon Phanom, Lai Rua Fai
Friday. The day before the illuminated procession… Boats, beauties and full moons. I walked down to the Mekong River early to watch the boat races the Tourist Authority of Thailand (TAT) said began at 7.30am, but there wasn’t a water vessel of any description in sight. TAT can be tourist misinformation sometimes, despite their best intentions. There was an alternative […]
-
Nakhon Phanom – returning for Lai Rua Fai festival
Thursday morning. Caught early flight from Don Muang, Bangkok’s original, but now secondary airport. First time flying with budget airline Nok Air. Good service, quick check-in, friendly smiles. The alternative – a 12 hour bus ride to Nakhon Phanom – wasn’t an option this time. Don Muang would give main airports in many other cities a run for their money, […]
-
Nakhon Phanom
The Happy Capital in the Land of Smiles Nakhon Phanom is the ideal Thai city; big enough to have what you need, but small enough to be personable. It has an attractive setting with views across the Mekong River to jagged limestone mountains in Laos. Traffic is leisurely, locals are friendly, food is consistently good, and it exudes a progressiveness […]
-
Wat Phu Tok, North East Thailand
The seven levels of circular walkways, meditation caves and platforms that comprise Wat Phu Tok, rise precariously 200 metres above the Mekong River floodplain. Sometimes referred to as the Stairway to Heaven the temple symbolises the seven steps to enlightenment, and was the inspiration of Buddhist monk Ajaan Juen. The first step, for a traveller, is getting there. I’m approaching […]
To use the subscribe form, please fill in your Feedburner ID in WPZOOM Theme Options.