Ride from Loei to Udon Thani

The ride from Loei to Udon Thani had two stops that I made to have a look around.

Erawan Cave

The thing about travelling around on a motorcycle is that you can do day-trips along the way to the next destination instead of wasting a day to go out to have a look and head back again. On the edge of the Loei province was this Eravan cave largely marked on google map and seemed like a very short detour off the direction I was heading. 

The Foot / Base of Erawan Cave - Loei - Isaan - Thailand 

The Climb Up to Erawan Cave Entrance 

As I approached Erawan caves I could see the Buddha statue high up in the limestone hill looking out from what appear to be a cave high up in a rock mountain. I groaned in my mind knowing that this will be a hike up on foot just to see the cave. 

Just a few more kilometres to the cave and in my mind was already a war started debating and contemplating if I would attempt the climb up which most likely involved stairs just to see a view and a few statue of Buddha and be on my way.

Reached the starting base, I saw the steps with no end in sight but somehow with an empty mind I started the climb. Rested a few times along the way and to my surprise barely 30 minutes into the climb, I was already at the entrance to the cave greeted by a sitting Buddha looking out into the sun.

The view out of the cave was beautiful with rocks formation jutting out from the ground and corn plantation filling the rest of the landscape with shades of yellow and green. 

Erawan Caves - Sitting Buddha Watching out of the caves over the countryside 

The Countryside of Isaan - Cornfields

Inside there was not a soul other than myself visiting the caves. It was a fairly deep cave but lighted up well with no guides or entry fees. At times it was a bit eerie since I was alone and every foot steps echos through the caves as I explored deeper and deeper. 

Inside Erawan Caves 

The most famous monument of Erawan Caves .... what does it look like ^^

Dinosaurs in Isaan – Thailand

Did you know there are dinosaurs in Isaan, Thailand?

Heck I was amazed as well as I ride pass road-signs after road-signs that says dinosaur museum up ahead and decided I have to see this. 

Me noticing the small road Signs on the Left saying Dinasours Ahead. 

The museum building was small and the exhibit was more like a one room exhibit instead of the grandeur of multiple level museum but there was actual fossils of dinosaurs which was amazing in a sense since this was the nearest place to see a genuine dinosaur bone in south east Asia.

So I learn many new things today, that Thailand had discovered 10 species of dinosaurs and all of them was in Isaan.

Entrance was 50 baht for foreigners, outdoors were decorated with dinosaur sculpture replica scattered among the landscape which I only assume was the archaeological site previously when they dug up the bones.

Most of the bones seam to be stored elsewhere but there was a very impressive skull and vertebra of a Velociraptor. I feel that this museum could have done better but it is being used for school trips mostly base on the feel and vibe of the area including the kiddish videos explanations of dinosaurs in Isaan. 

Fossils of a Velociraptor in the Museum 

Oh well ... things to do in Isaan .... go see a dinosaur fossil. Later in my journey I realized that there was not just one museum for dinosaur in Isaan but actually a few of them scattered around where dinosaur fossils were found. The best and largest was the one in Kalasin province.

Dinosaur Museum of Nong Bua Lam Phra - Thailand 

Traveled on : Feb 2019

Festival Season in Loei ...

Loei was unexpected good luck. First off was finding a place to stay and my standard internet find on booking.com, agoda.com and all the reservation website seams to be expensive in Isaan with no hostels in sight. Hence I am back to the old school travel scavenging, wiki-travel, blogs, and looking at google maps clicking on each guesthouse not listed on any reservation site to see if there is any review comment to the cheap rooms.

The first place which was supposedly the cheapest base on my limited web knowledge. It was quite a distance from town but heck, I have Bluey so cheap stay trumps conveniences since I was not expecting any crazy outing in Loei. The guesthouse had no people there when I arrived. I could see the signs of guest staying but there was no owner or worker at the reception and all the office was locked and looked deserted. I had a feeling the owner was away for holiday during this season but who knows.

Ride on to then plan B and it was suppose to be expensive and dirty base on the review but turns out to be the cheapest place I could ever hope to find in Loei at 200 baht a night for a private single room which was very very clean and make me feel like being back in my one bedroom rental in Singapore.

Sugur Guest House at Loei - Thailand 

I decided to stay two night in Loei. Need to make full use of any cheap stay while I can. The other lucky thing was apparently there was a festival in Loei and it was a big one too. Sugar Guest House owner told me its at the City Hall front and all the communities from Loei district gathers once a year during this time for a week showcasing everything and anything.

I went there the first night thinking it would just be another night market or so but it was one beautifully merged festival that had performance after performance on stage from dance routine of grandma’s to little kid’s, singing performance, Thai kickboxing demonstration, Sepak Takraw competition, booths selling food, cloths, cars, farming machinery, etc. It was one big mush event that the organizer packed everything they could think of. 

Performers of all Ages waiting their Turn to be on Stage - Loei Festival 

The Main Stage - Loei Festival 

The random visitor audience to the Loei Festival 

That was not even the most crazy thing about this festival, one main stage was not enough and they had another stage with a full boxing ring with matches set up as a tournament. 

Boxing Ring - Loei Festival 

Kids Category Thai Kickboxing Tournament - Loei Festival 

The highlight for me had to be the sepak takraw tournament. So many teams from all districts in Loei participating playing so seriously for the yearly Loei Takraw Championship while people walking around enjoying the festival can just stop and sit on a grandstand to watch the game. 

The Anual Loei Takraw Competition 

Grandstand for the public to enjoy the Game. 

Coupled with bazaar, fun fair, food, vocational school booth, technical school booth, vehicle promotion like tractors, pick up trucks, Mazda car, Yamaha bikes, sexy bike girls and car girls and OTOP handicraft and red cross clinic ? I have to say being in Loei at this time by coincidence to see this mundane haphazard idea of a carnival – festival was something worth staying two night to see it back to back. 

Bingo Tournament - Loet Festival 

Fun Fair Games - Loei Festival 

Autofair with Race Girls - Loet Festival 

Daytime was spend riding outskirt of town visiting the man made lake near Loei called “Huai Krathing” where locals go for lunch on a house boat. Its a beautiful idea and concept and I was there just to have a look but as tempting as it was to get a house boat, floating on the lake just relaxing on a hot day, the cost of 350 bath for a house boat was too much for me to waste.

I ordered the food which was overprice of course and ate in the House Boat but anchored at the bay not going out to float in the middle of the lake. That way I did not have to pay 350 Baht. As lunch came I saw many family and friends all picking their personal house boat for the afternoon and setting out. 350 baht ... a group of 5 or 8 people would still cost the same as one person.

Daytrip to Huai Krathing - Loei 

Bamboo Huts Restaurant Floating on Huai Krathing Lake - Loei 

Traveled on: Feb 2019