Phra That Phanom Woramahawihan Temple and a Movie at Mukdahan

As I made my way down from Nakhon Phanom to Mukdahan on Valentine day (14 Feb 2019) I had to stop by at the most famous temple along the Mekong river on the Thailand side which was Wat Phra Trat Phanom Woramahawihan Temple which was beautiful and huge with lots of pilgrims. 

Phra That Phanom Pagoda 

I don't know if it was the timing or if it was always like this all year round but around the temple for the few streets adjacent to, it was fully block up with markets selling stuff of all kinds and it felt like a big city bazaar than anything else. 

The Bazaar around Phra That Panom. Me somehow manage to enter the pedestrian bazaar with Bluey 

All the Thai locals were there visiting by large number of tourist bus, caravans, convoys that it was a sight to see where the real Thailand is instead of the usual falang infested places. My cousin did told me not to miss this place while I was touring Isaan for it was the most scared monument and temple of the region. I manage to find the reason, the pagoda contained the chest relics of Buddha. 

Excerpt from Phra That Phanom Woramahawihan Temple Signboard

Onward to Mukdahan for Valentine day and I was alone in a very nice motel for 400 baht a night. I went to see the long anticipated valentine movie of Thailand called Friend-zone. I had been seeing the advert everywhere in Thailand for a while now so it was a major film hype of the month. 

Thai Comedy Movie  Friendzone 2019

I am starting to really enjoy Thai movies .... since they have subtitles in English. It's like a new movie world theme opened up, instead of the usual western blockbusters. Thai comedy especially is a totally tragic story^^ . 

Traveled on : Feb 2019

Life by the Mekong River in Nahkon Phanom

On the way from Sakhon Nahkhon to Nahkon Phanom, there was this signboard along the road that said, Mekong Underwater world. Curious and having plenty of time to space since this was a short ride for the day of only 2 hours, I decided to take a detour. These days the detours are all that makes the trips worthwhile anyway. 

Detour by the Signboard - To Mekong Underwater World - Nahkon Phanom 

The Mekong Giant Catfish - Underwater World Nahkon Phanom 

Mekong Underwater world was a big aquarium showcasing the marine ecology in the Mekong River. For a small place it was extremely insightful understanding how important the Mekong River is to biodiversity. I was there during a primary school visit so there was lots of screaming children running around and I guess that was the kind of place it was built for, education.

Onward to Nakhon Phanom and it was a lovely surprise to what I was expecting. My image of Nakhon Phanom from the web was that it is a sleepy town, nothing worth stopping more than one night but to be honest, I was loving the place so much. 

Temples along the Mekong River - Nahkon Phanom 

Sleepy town it was, however with a lovely boardwalk by the Mekong river filled with old wooden stilts houses which mostly turned into hipster "Mookata" watering hole at night. They also have a quint historic clock-tower that marks the center of Nakhon Phanom and a row of beautifully ornate temples lining up side by side facing the Mekong river which just shines beautifully on a sunset. 

Nahkon Phanom - Mekong River Boardwalk 

Old Stilts Houses turn Niche Eatery and Drinking Places by the Mekong River - Nahkon Phanom

Mookata by the Mekong River - Nahkon Phanom

Mookata by the Mekong River - Nahkon Phanom 

To be frank I briefly considered doing nothing for a few weeks here in Nahkhon Phanom. It had that kind of charm for a sleepy old town. I even made a Pokemon Go Friend while I was battling a gym by the Naga Statue. The guy just walked up to me with his phone pointing and spoke to me in Thai so happily (I figured there was not much Pokemon Go players around). My limited Thai was still fun conversing with a local that had nothing to do about travel. To this day he is still my silent friend in Pokemon Go sending each other gift every other time. 

Naga Monument at Nahkon Phanom 

There was one thing to do in Nahkon Phanom that is quite interesting for the history buff. Nearby lies the actual house of residence of President Ho Chi Minh (Vietnam). Very humbling and also a stark contrast of how he is portrayed in Vietnam. To get there, its about a short ride 15 minutes from downtown to Ban Nachok with barely much sign markers. Mark on GPS and slowly follow. Direction and guide are hard to come by and one may go to the wrong Ho Chi Minh museum nearby. 

Ho Chi Minh Residence in Nahkon Phanom Thailand 

Ho Chi Minh Residence in Nahkon Phanom Thailand 

Ho Chi Minh Working Table 

Traveled on : Feb 2019

Ban Chiang & Sakhon Nakhon

From Udon Thani it was a long ride of nearly 200km to Sakhon Nakhon and in between I had one sightseeing stop which was the archaeological museum and site of Ban Chiang town. It was interesting to see that it was once of the important archaeological find for advance civilization during the early history period in South East Asia.

Mostly the remains of bronze and pottery works were on display and some human bones with many interesting information along the way. Without knowing I spend nearly an hour inside the museum. 

Ban Chaing - World Heritage Site 

Pottery from the Lost World - Ban Chiang 

I reached Sakhon Nahkon easily after the stop in Ban Chiang Town riding slow and just going into a daze observing the simple bland countryside of Isaan. Once at Sakhon Nakhon I had to ask around from one hotel to another the price for there was no information on the net but finally found a nice cosy family hotel and checked in for 300 baht a night. 

Riding though the countryside of Isaan 

The Simple life of Isaan 

Nothing much to do really at this small town by the lake, though i did managed to spend two night chilling and spending most of the time walking around town catching Pokemon. By accident wondered to the square small lake beside the big lake during one evening and saw a small part of authentic Thailand. 

The locals were all there doing a jog or walk round and round the park. Communities of all age from the elderly taking a slow walk to the middle age aunt with their brisk walks to young joggers and athlete sprinting away and kids doing runs with their grandparents. It was peaceful and in some part without thinking i went for a round as well observing the local simple life. It took me 30 minutes to complete the circuit walking

A Walk in the Park - Sakhon Nakhon 

Traveled on: Feb 2019