Thailand
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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, […]
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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 […]
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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, […]
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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 […]
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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 […]
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Mekong Motorcycle Diaries – Day 1
I hired a motorbike from Sam, who has a makeshift booth on the footpath a street back from the Mekong River. Well, I think his name is Sam – it’s what he wrote on a piece of paper along with a phone number to call if I ever got in trouble
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Ubon Holds Up A Candle
I am sipping an Americano outside Jazz, a blink-and-you’d-miss-it cafe in Khuangthani Road when I hear drums and guitars, followed by singing. Then villagers appear wearing green tops and checked sarongs. They clap and dance spontaneously to the music, oblivious to the light rain. The temple communities are arriving with their floats to set up for tomorrow’s parade, and the […]
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