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Travel Blog November 2005 Page 3
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In November 2005 we set off on a trip starting in Western Australia covering Brunei, Sabah in Malaysia, Thailand & a brief visit to Cambodia. Whilst away we maintained a Blog for the world to see. Following is a cleaned up version of that original Blog - spell checked and with some trip photos included!
Bangkok to Khon Kaen
We arranged a minivan and driver to take our party from Bangkok 450 km to Khon Kaen in North East Thailand. Costs were 1500 baht for the van and driver, with fuel costs of 1600 baht (we had to pay the fuel for the return trip). Not bad and beats Avis' prices.
The trip took around 8 hours with stop offs at Saraburi for lunch and a visit to an enormous temple complex under construction outside of Khorat, all built by a local film star and housing an enormous image of a monk. Pleasant grounds and lots of Thai day trippers makes this an interesting stop.
We were in Khorat for a quick look around this busy city by mid afternoon and reached the outskirts of Khon Kaen by sunset. After a short drive through the congested inner city area we checked into the Kaen Inn on Klang Muang Road, a bargain at 660 baht including breakfast.
"No hot water tonight" they said , promising it would be working by morning. And it was.
Kaen Inn, Khon Kaen
Monday, November 14, 2005
This hotel in downtown Khon Kaen has enough character to warrant a post. 660 baht a night which includes breakfast - buffet or ala carte depending on the whims of the management.
The coffee shop is presided over by an aging "lady man" who rules the roost over a half dozen or so staff. One staff member we nicknamed "the grasshopper" is a trainee and so timid he barely dares to take away your plates.
Rooms here are best described as fading 70's with air con, tv, bathroom. Our toilet overflowed, the door jammed and the phone wiring was rather dodgy.
Nonetheless a place with character, friendly staff and they have everything on site - live songstresses in the evenings crooning Thai love songs, a karaoke lounge, a sleazy night club, 24 hour room service and a travel agency on the premises.
Sometimes the lifts work and sometimes they don't.
Not a place for the Holiday Inn set but this hotel has charm in a Fawlty Towers kind of way.
Silk vendor, Khon Kaen
Wandering Khon Kaen
This rapidly developing Thai city 450km north east of Bangkok enjoys cooler weather and life is definitely at a slower pace than Bangkok.
First stop for the day was Wat Nong Wang, a towering multi level chedi that offers superb views across Khon Kaen and its popular lake, Beung Kaen Nakorn. The walk around the lake itself is worthwhile and is around 3.5km.
The city centre is compact though commercial areas are spreading out along the main roads for several kilometres and masses of housing developments are springing up on the outskirts.
There are plenty of hotels, restaurants and pubs and ample shopping. Local specialties when you get hungry include grilled chicken and "fresh" spring rolls which you assemble yourself from the supplied skins, vegetables, pork and chilli.
Ubolrat Dam
Day Trip to Nong Khai
We set off early by car to Nong Khai, 176 km north of Khon Kaen on the Mekong River border with Laos.
First up was a stop off at Ubolrat Dam, a huge reservoir with a pleasant restaurant. We then headed for the nearby mountain top temple with its enormous white Buddha which is visible for miles around.
We were hailed on the way up by 2 female monks who were kind enough to open up for us when we reached the temple.
The views from the temple are superb - you can see for miles around. The serenity of the place was broken only by a series of Thai fighter planes which buzzed the dam several times.
We hit Nong Khai by lunchtime and it was grilled catfish and pork ball soup in a restaurant overlooking the swirling Mekong River with great views across to Laos.
After lunch we wandered Nong Khai's riverside markets- home to endless shops full of electronic goods from China, food, souvenirs and the distinctive local snakes head Buddhas.
Then a 10 minute drive to Wat Sala Keo, which features several acres of massive statues - Buddha images, giant snakes, monkeys, elephants and much more. Touches of Hinduism, Animism and maybe even a bit of Lewis Carroll behind it all.
This place is huge, weird, and well worth a visit.
We stayed to feed the onsite pond full of catfish then left as the sun set.
The drive back to Khon Kaen at night was just like a racetrack event, with everyone overtaking everyone else at top speed. You just want to close your eyes when huge trucks come careering towards you, the drivers relying on providence to get them home safely.
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