Nong Kiau is a really nice place to visit but be prepared to be a hiker and hill climber.
Outlying parts of Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang – Part 2
did you know that Laos was at one time a colony of France? Laos is on the east side of Thailand and the British colony of Burma was on the west side of Thailand. Did you know that Thailand played off the British and the French to get more territory? Did you know that the Lao and Thai cultures are very much the same? Did you know that many of the streets in Vientiane are called “Rue”, french for “street”? Did you know that the Lao and Thai languages, written and spoken, are very similar?
Luang Prabang – The Old Capital of Laos
Getting there means riding the new Lao/Chinese railway fast train which says it’s supposed to be running at 127 km/h. But getting on the train is a complete mess. First you have to line up to get all your documents checked including a vaccination certificate, ID card (passport) and ticket. Then you have to sit and wait one hour until they tell you to line up again to check tickets to get to the platform. Of course the tickets are checked again once you get to your seat. The system was developed by the Chinese and implemented by Lao authorities. The ride was nice.
Vientiane, Laos in the Summer
Leaving Thailand from Nong Khai was just a 10 minute taxi ride from the hotel. With a departure stamp and a bus ticket of $1US I rode to the Lao Immigration office to get my visa on arrival for 1,700 Baht (I understand there is a surcharge on this day I entered, Saturday). From there to the hotel and around town.
did you know that Thailand invaded Laos? Did you know that a large part of Laos was given by the French to Thailand? Did you know that Lao and Thai languages are very similar?
The Emerald Buddha Museum
this museum really commemorates the emerald Buddha which was stolen by Siam (Thailand) and placed in wat PraKeou in Bangkok. Some of the artifacts here are those which went along with the temple which was destroyed.
Pra Bang
Wat Sisaket
this is the only temple which was not burned by the invading Siam army.
Michai
Wat Phra That Luang
WAT = Temple PHRA = monk or buddha image (in Lao language PHRA also is KUBA) THAT = stupah LUANG = Grand
Mucking around in Mukdahan
Mukdahan is an interesting town on the Mekong river, a town I last visited last over 25 years ago. What really surprised me about the town is good food available of many nationalities. If you’re interested to know more about the town I’m including the Wikipedia link explaining everything.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mukdahan
Kwan Yin (KANNON) is a popular image
Serene Surin
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surin,_Thailand
If you’re interested in Surin use the link above to get more information.
The interesting thing about this area is it’s a mix of different cultures; Lao, Khmer (Cambodia) and Kuay. Quote from the museum: “This is the native population of Surin, Si Sa Ket, Buri Ram, Ubon Ratchathani and some parts of Maha Sarakham. They speak Mon-Khmer, and their physical appearance is very similar to the Semang. They have thick lips and curly hair. Some scholars believe that the Kuay are the same group as the people who speak Munda, who live in eastern India. During the Bangkok Period, when Surin was unable to meet Its tax demands from Bangkok, the administrators sent Kuay people as tribute. These Kuay have their own rituals and traditions. The best known is elephant capture, and the healing ceremony with its attendant rituals to cure the sick.”
The Dvaravati Culture in Isan, or northeast Thailand, has its own identity that differs from that in the central and other parts of the country. One of the distinguishing characteristics is the concept in making large Buddhist boundary stones, which are not found anywhere else. These were made of large, flat, rectangular sandstone slabs, with tips shaped like a lotus petal. Some were carved with decorative designs,and others are plain. Most of the designs are relevant to Buddhism, such as the boundary stones from Fa Daed Sung Yang in Kalasin and Khonsawan of Chaiphum. The locations of the boundary stones varied, and were significant in different ways:
1. Some were located around ancient monuments, such as the boundary stones of Wat Dhammachaksemaram. Sungnoen district, Nakhon Ratchasima
2. Others delineated the rectangular space which might have symbolized the ordination hall for monks, such as the boundary stones of Muang Phai, Khornburi district, Nakhon Ratchasima
3. Some stones surrounded large mounds, such as the boundary stones at Ban Khonsawan. Khonsawan district, Chaiphum
In Surin. old manufacturing centers for Dvaravati boundary stones have been found at the ancient communities of Ban Trum.
Sikhoraphum district, and Noen Simma Yai. Non Simma Noi and Ban Plaikhla in Chumphonburi district.
Dvaravati culture in Isan declined in the 11th century.When the powerful ancient Khmer culture of Angkor spread through and began to dominate this part of Thailand. Sera stones at Ban True in Sikhoraphum district,Surin Province
Phanom Sawai Forest Park photos below
Wats Galore!
At Wat Maha Wanaram it seems as though I walked in on a celebration so I just tiptoed and took a few photos. All of the temples in this phlog are in Ubon Rachatani, the Northeast part of Thailand, heavy with old Khmer (Cambodia) and Lao influences. The Northease is often called “Lao” since it was part of Lao until presented to Thailand by the French Colonialist authorities who governed Laos. It is a wonderful place to visit.
Wat Na Kwai
Wat Phra That Nong Bua
Wat Sa Prasan Suk
Wat Tai Phrachao Yai Ong Tue
The potpourri of temples
On to Sisaket!
Fun in Buriram!
Buriram is a province in Thailand located in the Northeast near Laos and Cambodia. It has a mixture of Lao and Khmer (Cambodia) people, traditions and cultural influences.
